| The Swiss Customs Service estimates between 30 to | | | | movements per second. The only watch mechanisms |
| 40 million counterfeit and replica watches are put into | | | | that had a second-hand with a true, uninterrupted |
| circulation annually. These counterfeit watches cause | | | | sweep were the Seiko Spring-Drive and the Bulova |
| considerable damage to the watch industry, both | | | | tuning-fork movement. That being said, some of the |
| financially due to potential lost sales and also brand | | | | better counterfeit watches on the market have |
| degradation as a result of the market being flooded | | | | automatic movements, and Rolex has produced a |
| with counterfeit copies of the original watches. | | | | few models with quartz movements which produces |
| The annual trade show of the watch industry known | | | | the distinct quartz movement ticks. |
| as BaselWorld attracts many attendees from China | | | | Another trait of a replica Rolex watches is if it has a |
| who spend their time photographing the latest models | | | | transparent case back allowing the movement to be |
| being displayed by the top luxury watch-making | | | | seen. Rolex never made such a watch, an exception |
| brands. The photos of these new and prototype | | | | being some models from the 1930s which are |
| watches then find their way back to manufacturers in | | | | extremely rare and the new Cellini Price models. You |
| China where they are quickly copied and made into | | | | will never see an authentic Rolex watch with an |
| replica watches. The counterfeit timepieces are then | | | | engraved company logo, design or Rolex name on the |
| rushed to market, often in advance of the authentic | | | | outside of the caseback. Exceptions to this are a few |
| watch. | | | | of the lady's models which have engraving on the |
| It is estimated by Swiss Customs that 40% of replica | | | | case backs, and the Sea-Dweller models which say in |
| watches originate in China, although counterfeits are | | | | black on the back, Rolex Oyster Original Gas Escape |
| also manufactured elsewhere, including the United | | | | Valve, along with two Rolex logos. Other than that, |
| States. In October of 2006 police in Florida arrested a | | | | authentic Rolex watches have a smooth caseback |
| woman who had been operating a counterfeit watch | | | | free of engravings. |
| business that earned about $8 million in sales. It is | | | | Recently, Rolex has begun shipping recent models with |
| estimated that counterfeit watch sales worldwide cost | | | | a 3-dimensional hologram-encoded sticker on the |
| Swiss watch manufacturers more than $600 million | | | | caseback that has a floating Rolex crown logo to the |
| per year in lost sales. Once these counterfeit watches | | | | top of the watch case's reference number, which is |
| have been confiscated, it is the obligation of the Swiss | | | | printed in black. Most of the stickers on counterfeit |
| Customs Service to destroy them. Surprisingly, in | | | | Rolex watches are either solid green or a repetitious |
| Switzerland individuals are allowed to keep a | | | | "Rolex" pattern, instead of a hologram. Some of the |
| maximum of one counterfeit watch per person, | | | | replica Rolex watches manufactured in Laos, Vietnam |
| provided they personally import it into the country. In | | | | and China from 2006 on have a solid green hologram |
| addition, the watch being imported must not include any | | | | on the caseback. Prior to 2002 the reference number |
| forged precious-metal hallmarks. | | | | was printed in gold and the hologram did not have the |
| Two Types of Counterfeit Watches | | | | Rolex crown logo. Today, counterfeiters are trying to |
| Counterfeit watches are divided into two groups: | | | | more closely match the actual hologram sticker. Rolex |
| - The first group is comprised of low-priced imitations | | | | stopped using the hologram around 2007 and new |
| of watches. A cheap counterfeit watch features the | | | | Rolex watches are not being shipped with it. |
| name of a prestigious brand, but lacks its design and | | | | Another trait of an authentic Rolex watch is the almost |
| functions. | | | | invisible laser-etched crown logo on the inside of the |
| - The second group involves counterfeit watches | | | | crystal at the 6 o'clock position. A few replica Rolex |
| designed to resemble the original authentic watch (a | | | | watches have this etching, but it is often smaller and |
| trade-dress violation). Some high-priced counterfeit | | | | less distinct than on an authentic Rolex watch. |
| watches are produced from better quality materials | | | | Also, an authentic Rolex has a date magnification 2.5 |
| and have golden parts and leather straps. | | | | times normal size which should almost visibly fill the |
| Replica Rolex Watches | | | | glass bubble. A few counterfeits have a larger font |
| One of the more popular counterfeited watch models | | | | wheel to imitate the effect, although they don't come |
| are the Rolex replica watches - which are illegally | | | | close to appearance of the date on an authentic |
| manufactured replicas of authentic Rolex watches. As | | | | Rolex watch. |
| with many of the expensive brand-name luxury | | | | It is always best if you can examine a suspected |
| watches on the market, Rolex watches can frequently | | | | counterfeit Rolex next to a genuine Rolex watch. |
| be found being counterfeited and sold illegally on the | | | | Comparing them in this manner often reveals small |
| internet and the street. The counterfeit Rolex watches | | | | color variations on the dial and watch-band, the laser |
| are mostly produced in countries that include Taiwan, | | | | printing on the face and any other variances that could |
| Korea, India and China (statistics from 2004 show that | | | | identify an authentic Rolex from a counterfeit. In |
| 54% of counterfeits seized originated in China) and | | | | addition, all the edges on an authentic Rolex and its |
| can be found retailing for as little as $5 and as high as | | | | band are smooth, not sharp or coarse like many |
| $1,000 or more for high-end replicas fabricated in gold, | | | | counterfeits. |
| although the majority of counterfeit Rolexes use gold | | | | Counterfeit watches are sometimes manufactured so |
| electroplating. The trade in replica Rolex watches has | | | | well that even a specialist needs special equipment to |
| become sophisticated, complete with full-color glossy | | | | verify its authenticity, according to Swiss Customs |
| brochures and catalogues of counterfeited watches | | | | Service officials. An expensive price tag for a watch is |
| produced in China and offered for sale to retail | | | | also not a guarantee of quality, as even they can |
| vendors. | | | | simply be very well done counterfeits. In addition, logos, |
| Characteristics of a Counterfeit Watch | | | | seals and other proprietary markings can be forged to |
| You often hear that you can tell a counterfeit watch | | | | deceive the purchased into believing the watch is |
| from an authentic one by the smooth movement of | | | | made with genuine solid gold, when in reality it's a |
| the second hand. This is a myth, due to the fact that | | | | counterfeit that's gold plated. Gold watches do not |
| many counterfeit watches use inexpensive quartz | | | | have to be made of solid gold to be authentic, as there |
| crystal engines which produce the telltale start/stop | | | | are authentically manufactured watches that are gold |
| movement visible once per second of the sweep. If | | | | plated. Counterfeits that are gold colored use much |
| you observe closely you will see that even an | | | | thinner gold plating, which will quickly begin to wear |
| authentic Rolex movement does not have a perfectly | | | | away. |
| smooth second-hand sweep, but actually eight | | | | |