Fake Rolex ?

No matter how good the quality of replica watches they still have an inherent fragility that isn't exhibited in the genuine watch they copy. Either subject to finicky movements, loose crown stems, or non-existent water-resistance; fake watches may look like their genuine counterparts, but rarely live up to their standards.

A good example of a finicky movement is the quite common Chinese copy of the ETA 7750 chronograph movement. The genuine 7750 is a very robust movement used as a base for many manufacturers. Everyone from Rolex to Breitling has relied on the reliability of the 7750 for several of their well-selling models.

The Asian 7750 is a clone of this genuine movement. While they may have copied the functional aspects of the chronograph they did so with an eye to reduced costs. This means that the Asian version of the 7750 uses stamped-steel parts that aren't machined to the same levels of tolerance that they genuine ETA piece is held to. This results in uneven wear and a greater rate of failure in the fake movement.

Several replica watches on the market today use this Asian 7750 clone. Replicas of the Breitling Navitimer, Rolex Daytona, Panerai Daylight, and other chronograph copies use this movement extensively because of the lower cost. This makes these watches less reliable than replicas that use the genuine 7750 instead (there are both available on the market). How can you tell the two apart? The genuine 7750 has an ETA logo engraved on the movement. This of course means you have to take the watch apart...

Never fool yourself: a fake Rolex may LOOK like a Rolex, but the similarities are only skin deep.

Many replicas suffer from poor crowns and crown stems. Since the crown seal is the most vulnerable portion of the watch in terms of water resistance this can result in water entering the watch. If the crown does not screw down tightly and seal against the crown stem the watch has little or no resistance to water.

Poor crown stems can result in the whole crown/crown stem assembly literally lifting out of the watch. I have had several replicas, otherwise well built, suffer from this malady. When the crown stem pulls out from the case the watch is pretty much useless until it is repaired. Also, a poorly threaded crown (or the wrong sized crown) can also result in stripping the crown stem over time, resulting in a crown that won't screw down. This means you need to replace the crown AND the stem.

Other failures that can be exhibited by fake watches: Poor watch bands that break over time, poor gold plating that wears off or fades, terrible clasps that stop working, and even case backs that seize up so you can't service the watch.

Never fool yourself: a fake Rolex may LOOK like a Rolex, but the similarities are only skin deep. Even though that fake states on the dial that it's rated for 600 meters for water resistance remember that's what the ORIGINAL watch is rated for, not the fake. As River, a friend of mine, always states: "A replica is a replica". Genuine watches are always held to a higher standard of quality than the original.