You’re at a swanky party and in walks an attractive couple. You know, nicely dressed, well appointed. Clearly people who care about how they look and the impression they leave you with. You nod admiringly as you watch them cross the room toward you. You reach out to shake the man’s hand and you catch a glimpse of his watch. A Rolex. “Nice!” you think. You glance again and realize – with a slight shudder – the watch is…

A fake.

Oh the dilemma. Does he know? Does he care? You question yourself – are you sure? Should you tell? Since you’ve only just met, you elect to not say a word and let them go on their way – leaving you to wonder what other things they’re wearing are not as they seem.

But how could you possibly know the watch is a fake? It’s getting harder, but it’s still possible to spot a fake Rolex. The counterfeiters are improving their creations, but Rolexes have some distinctive characteristics that will always be hard to imitate.

1. Rolexes are perfect. There aren’t any blemishes, things slightly askew or malfunctioning. They are the epitome of the well-oiled machine. If something looks off, it’s a knock-off. A poorly made Rolex never sees the light of day beyond the factory it was made in.
2. Rolexes are designed with exacting standards. Nowhere is this more evident than the glass over the date feature. Rolex watches have a 2.5 times magnification, easily enabling anyone to read the date. Fakes only have a 1.5 times magnification, making reading the date only slightly easier than if it wasn’t magnified at all.
3. Rolexes don’t use glass. It scratches. Rather, a precision-cut piece of sapphire crystal covers the watch face. If you drop a bead of water on the surface, it won’t smear as it will on glass.
4. Rolex serial numbers are precisely cut. In fact, the numbers look chiseled, they’re so perfect. A knock-off will have a serial number, too, but it will be crooked and poorly cut.
5. Rolexes don’t engrave the caseback. The back of the watch should be metal (fakes sometimes use glass) and completely smooth with no markings.
6. Rolexes don’t tick. Enough said.
7. Rolexes typically have a sweep second hand. This means it moves continuously without the beat you often see with second hands in other watches.

Knowing these things, would it be possible to spot a fake at a party? Probably not, unless it’s a really bad fake. Which means, spotting a fake can easily get by the average person who might be so excited at the prospect of owning a Rolex, he might overlook or not even see flaws. One obvious thing to remember – real Rolexes are never, ever sold on the street. If a guy wants to sell you a Rolex for $50, just tell him no thanks. Unless you need it for a costume party, that is.

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