The thing is with quality like that they could easily make a new brand of watch I'm sure, and for me I'd rather wear a genuine watch of any make than a fake.
@@dorianfinkelsteinthe problem with copiers is they have zero imagination of their own. No ingenuity and a willingness to do new things. It’s quite sad, really.
About 15 years ago, I was in the watch industry and my job was to outsource component manufacture (mostly cases and movement parts) to China. Back then Panerai, Rolex, Hublot, Breitling--you name it--sent me case tooling for Chinese manufacturers to use. This is when Noob and other super clone makers took off because they immediately copied the genuine tooling the manufacturers gave them. Clone Rolexes took off because the cases, bracelets (and initially rough) movements were interchangeable with genuine. The Chinese are VERY good with movements and I still have a clone Milgauss from 15 years ago that runs amazing--but they did not care about finishing a movement no one would ever see. Now the movement finishing is decent, but the cases and dials are almost indistinguishable from genuine. I tried to tell people for years that this all began with Rolex and the others providing the genuine tooling, but no one believed me. Now, the Chinese have 3D scanners that allow them to replicate any part to very high tolerance. So, once again you gotta ask--does it make sense to pay for a "genuine" when both are made from the same tooling?
Interesting, I did not know that. I do know that my Noob (no longer in business but "clean" factory took over the daytona mantle) is virtually indistinguishable from the Swiss made one. I don't wear it much though, it really is not that great a watch.
Exactly. Many people just go after rolex watches and they don't care how overvalued they are. Many people just assume they are all hand made and thats why they have the cost they do; (which of course they aren't). At the end of the day though, does it really matter if the watch is made in China or Switzerland? The only rule for a swiss made product is to have 60% of its value made in switzerland. If I really had my heart set on an extremely popular watch like a rolex then I would probably consider a super clone. I say this as a watch enthusiast too... even though I have some expensive watches, I don't buy them for prestige/brand recognition, I get them because I like the aesthetic and the mechanics behind them.
No, a "genuine" is just an expensive fake. The 99% of what you pay for a "genuine" goes to marketing like those celebrity ambassadors for the brands, boutiques rentals and other expenses, just like how iphone pricing constructed
@draakisback disagree. people buy rolexes because they last forever and retain value. I have friends that paid 800 for a submariner 40 years ago. it's worth 10x that and he wears it. you spend 800 on a superclone your 800 is gone. you pay retail and you make money 💰
NO, Royal oaks reps of this quality don't really exist..They are a pretty straightforward tell. even though they look really good. Really the rep game is all about Rolex the rest of the brands are second grade citizens
We're almost at a point where buying an authentic watch doesnt make any sense. Especially when you have to deal with all the bullshit that Rolex pulls.
The Replica quality is really impressive , especially considering the extreme price difference. Since quality is that high that someone almost needs a Original side to side to compare for a proper Check, i get the feeling that i would be ok with that Replica for its price maybe.
I have seen many side by side comparisons, but this is by far the most in depth and thorough. You could have also mentioned the hands of the watch because that was a big one but overall, Well done! Great knowledge and expertise shown especially about the free sprung balance.
That's what caught my eye as well. I found it interesting that the corners on the replica had a slight radius, but there was no taper, and the edges weren't polished. The detail finishing on the Rolex is just amazing.
I'm glad it is helpful. We want to highlight these things since no one else is doing it to this level. These watches exist so it's best to hand out the tools needed to decipher.
Watches are all about showing wealth. The only exceptions being some Japanese watches like Casio low end G-shock lines where they actually have a purpose.
What this comment overlooks is that achieving that last 0.01mm of precision or quality of finish is where the extra expense comes from. Of course, companies like Rolex enjoy healthy margins, but they do so because they offer a product that isn't easily replicated (completely) at lower price points.
Very informative, I'm sure the fake watch makers look forward to videos that point out exactly where they're going wrong and how to correct their mistakes!!
@@narfnak give it a couple of months or years... They'll find a way.. back then, nobody even thought fake Rolex can come so close to the original. now I say, they're about 70-75% there. Certainly will fool anyone on the street that's for sure.
@@r.sakarollsafe1285 Not that will pass a microscope. They can do a good enough finish enough to pass a x4 loop, but no way at that price point with a microscope.
The things they need to fix under a microscope is pretty much not possible at that price point. You can pass a loop for $1000, but not a microscope. Those things he mentioned in the video are not within the real of that price point. Maybe a $5,000 fake?
I'm a watchmaker in China and I got paid a lot of money to install real balance Bridges on fake watches to make them look no different from the real thing and to repolish the movement, repolish the movement, replace the plate, etc., to ensure the quality of the watch. It makes them look more real. It's fascinating.
Hands down the best video that's around regarding spotting fakes. I would also point out that the rehaut should be aligned with the minute markers, there should be an etched crown on the glass, and that every incision has to be hand etched
This video is impressively well-researched and packed full of invaluable information. It's not easy to discern between a genuine and a fake Daytona, but you've certainly broken it down in a way that's easy to understand for everyone, experienced or not. Your ability to highlight the nuanced differences shows your dedication to this field. Keep up sharing such insightful content. Looking forward to your next piece!
You make a great point that not enough "fake vs real" videos/articles mention: anyone selling a Rolex who isn't willing to open the caseback is almost surely selling a fake one. It may be a hassle and it may take a little extra time, but if it's a real watch being sold by someone reputable, they're going to go that extra step to ensure a sale. So much of the outside of a Rolex can be replicated to very close (if never exactly perfect) parameters, but the movement is a dead giveaway, and the scammers know this.
Tbh, even if the case was opened, I would not be able to differentiate between the real vs fake. All I know is trust the seller but i'll still rather buy a rep
@@temasekbit's good to learn though. I've been collecting reps along with gens here and there for a few years. the finish on the movements is usually the first dead giveaway. tiny burrs, inconsistent machining marks etc. it always looks just a little too rough and unrefined to be genuine, it's hard to explain. just take a loupe to ur reps and see if u can spot what i mean.
@@temasekbI've never bought a super clone though. but from what I've seen on the Internet they are miles closer to genuine on movement finishing but still have tells if you get a side by side.
@@matthewsmcdillyes, huge tell. that's only for freesprung Rolex movements though to my knowledge. I'm not too familiar with all the movements out there for all the replicated brand so i stick with the fit and finish first and foremost.
You won’t regret it! It’s not every day you find a store committed to delivering such high standards on all fronts. Primerolexstore has earned a loyal customer in me!
thats BS. You are paying for the attention to detail, research, quality control and so on. Ofc, I do somewhat agree, just get a watch from a decent brand for okayish money, and enjoy your watch.@@Secretlyanothername
@@Secretlyanothername it's a luxury good. You buy it knowing some of the cost is due to brand image and marketing. Those costs aside, Rolex also pays higher labor costs. Your replica is being made with some of the cheapest labor costs in the world, plus it has no warranty. Warranties of course are factored into the price.
Labour cost is cheaper: dont care Comes with warranty: paying 1/20th the price is a much better warranty than they can provide, i can lose it 20 times before breaking even
In case you aren’t aware, they do have an option to buy the card with the NFC chip that takes you to the Rolex website for the exact model, although they don’t come standard, it’s an available option. Obviously the watch won’t be in Rolex database but there are NFC cards available with better holos. You should do a Rolex Batgirl GMT vs clean factory dd3285 next. Love to see that video. Great video!
That was great video. Super detailed. Props to the replica too. Without the side by side comparison and the proper information, there would be no way I would have known the difference. Gotta give it to the replica though, looked pretty flawless. Also, nice RX-78 gundam in the background! Perfect Grade?
PG Unleashed! You know it. Thank you for the compliment! We will continue to make these videos in hopes that the mass majority can begin to spot them for themselves. We need to do a better job at comparing the quality and not just the visual similarity...
This is definitely a keeper video. Can serve as reference for many years to come to avoid falling victim to super clones. Thanks for making this detailed comparison video.
Great video! Just subscribed and you’re currently at 1.99k subs. I have a feeling this channel will continue to grow. Good luck and look forward seeing this channel grow.
One thing (I think) you missed which was a clear giveaway for me is the finishing of the hands. The replica seems to be stamped from sheet metal where the original seems to be machined or at least there is some additional finishing done. Great informative video !!
@Wristcheck: do you think the 1000 dollar price tag on the replica Rolex would be fair market value or maybe even a good value, if you wouldn't take into account that it was a replica of another watch?
I've watched many comparisons. This video is by far the most comprehensive. Of course, yourself being former Rolex makes it all the more amazing. Keep it up!
Thank you! It does help that I have handled so many watches inside and out. But the idea is to educate so not only a watchmaker can authenticate these watches. Let's all become experts.
TBH, the most obvious comparator for me initially was the finish quality of the hands. On the original they are crisp and well finished, whereas on the fake they're pretty poor 0:55 is a perfect shot
So in other words, the Chinese fakes are getting to the point of being 99% of the authentic, with very few minor differences that can only be noticed if you have an authentic side by side to compare it to. The quality has dramatically increased over the past few years, as well as given the opportunity for many to learn. Give it a bit more time and I believe that they could be even closer. My opinion is that they should start a new Chinese brand that competes with these other high end brands.
You that any Chinese company could make a watch that would be like miles better than any Rolex or wathever name you can think of, and still, no matter the price, most people would still diss it just because it's Chinese.
@@orlandoventor1754 many do not realize just how advanced they are as far as industrialization and machining is concerned. Typical American mindset is so screwed.....we better hope they do not declare war or some of these unicorns are going to have to pony up real quick lmfao! Bought a catalytic convertor, chinese built, for $40 vs $400 for American made.....and guess what.....it worked and passed emissions with flying colors. Just crazy the way some think.
They can do it identical if they knew if the customers willing to pay higher for it , but they want to keep it affordable, cuz its price is 780$ but actually they sell it half the price for replica dealers
@@stevenbean9706 They look the part, but they're junk. Crappy materials, poorly calibrated movement, unreliable water resistance. Replica watches aren't good watches.
Yep as soon a you showed the movement the one on the right is fake as it doesn’t have a free sprung balance. I have a real panda and a super fake for travel, I leave a piece of red tape inside the clasp so I don’t confuse them. They actually keep the same time and the power reserve on the fake is better by about 8 hours.
Yep it’s that good it was the best super clone panda available, the only way I can tell is the wind is a bit more ratchety and the with the back removed the movement isn’t as well finished and the balance adjustment is different as described in this vid. It’s a really amazing watch for the money though even though it’s a super fake. I’ve worn it into Rolex ADs in the UK and France and they had no idea even holding it until I told them.
@andrewgiblin3468 that's crazy. I have an Omega Speedmaster and my nephew loves it he's into astrology and anything space I wish I could give him mine and go by another one from myself but I'm not in the position to right now. But with these replicas it's tempting to just get him one for the time being. I'd let him know it's a replica and I don't think he'd care. Did you get it from a website?
@@andrewgiblin3468 Could you tell me where you got your super clone from? I'm really keen to pick one up. I'm so done waiting for my AD and playing this cat and mouse game of having to have a "relationship" before being given the "opportunity" to buy one at retail. Thanks!
Awesome review, and many thanks for the useful information. Hypothetically, as there's a huge margin between the cost price of a fake and the retail (or used) price of an authentic Daytona, do you think it's realistic for bad guys who make the fakes to come up with a new generation of fakes virtually indistinguishable from an authentic Rolex? A lot of what is pointed out as discrepancies, between real and fake, seem addressable issues, given time and money.
Awesome video but just a point: the clasp you described as “easy link” is the clamshell. The easy link is the microadjust feature where you can fold the end link into the clasp.
Yes this was a miscommunication during the editing stage. We originally planned to shoot the easy link ASMR and ended up with the clam shell but didn't edit the footage... But both have a similar quality difference. Thanks for the callout.
in some replicas it is actually better. I have owned many genuine Rolex watches and a few high end replicas. I can tell you first hand that it is almost impossible to tell a high end replica from a genuine, it is 99 % of the genuine I even took one to a local watch repair guy who specializes in high end watches and he could not tell the difference without taking the back off .........but until he did that he was convinced that it was genuine...he was absolutely shocked when I told him how much I paid for it....$550 US. and for that little difference in quality I will take the money I save and put it into something safe like Treasury bills and make 4.5%
This is a common misconception. They could improve the quality if their buyers could afford it but they would just be dealing with the same costs and margins as Rolex. They can of course improve the quality and accuracy throughout the watch but the price of the watch would get closer and closer to the real thing.
I purchased one of the Super Grade Clone Rolex's for my brother. Spectacular watch, cost me £300 sterling. You can't notice anything when its worn on the wrist for say, a social function or even everyday usage so he's not worried about it been called a fake cos he doesn't mix in circles with Rolex experts abound!
Well real Rolex on retail isn’t too bad, you are paying for the High paying Swiss wages and labor and quality. But the grey market up prices these Rolex making it not worth it. The Chinese fake watch is cheaper because they use cheaper labor and these Chinese watchmakers are not getting paid as much. Or the whole watch is made by a machine. For $1000 dollars you can get a legit and nice watch for the price.
@@Non-y3s I agree with all you said, and still Rolex is massively overpriced at retail as well. Do your research mate, you will get far superior quality and movement at same price range what Rolex charges. Rolex is what it is because of hype NOT because of quality. Rolex has it own share of quality issues and many of it's range is machine made too!
Rolex started producing in-house movement in 2004, so giving Rolex credit for movement is pointless IMO. They prop up value by making artificial scarcity and force customers to play games just to purchase their stainless steel watches. 80% of value in Rolex watches are in marketing and hype.
@@Non-y3s not really thats what they make you thing, a Daytona may cost them. at best 1000 dollars in production and thats at best , they charging you 15 times that. no you are not paying for swiss wages you are paying for a name nothing else
@@cathdanthis watch is $15k (impossible to get) or $30k grey. 3% of the price is absolutely a tiny fraction. People talking about “the movement isn’t perfect” and “well it’s not 100% the same” are missing the point. These companies can get 98-99% of the way there for literally single digit percentages of the price. All it does is expose the frankly disgusting level of profit there is in the luxury watch industry. I don’t own any reps but you can’t deny these companies aren’t price gouging left and right.
@@philorgneopolotin8762agree with everything you said except the price gouging part maybe. Is it really price gouging if people are still lining up to get on waiting lists and pay way more over retail for a luxury item?
Hi I have a very very important question for you, I hope you can answer. Does the 116500ln always have a Laser Etched Crown on the crystal? If everything else on the watch is right and the LEC is not present then does it mean the crystal was replaced?
When the details are that miniscule, only people with money to burn can see the difference. Imagine the profit Rolex makes on a watch when the fakes are so good and so cheap.
So, basically…if the Fake creators decide to invest $1000 more dollars towards workmanship, they can match Rolex. To me this exposes just how “overpriced” Rolex’s are right now…..
Name something in the luxury sector that's not overpriced. Is a Burkin bag worth $10000? How about a pair of regular Nike shoes that can be $100, but probably costs $15 to make, is that not vastly overpriced? This watch will outlast you with proper care. If you don't want a Rolex because they are overpriced, then don't buy one. G-shocks keep better time, and require a battery change every few years, maybe that's what you should be looking at.
This actually applies to almost all luxury brands. There's $100 counterfeit louis vuitton products out there that are pretty much indistinguishable from the real thing, and in some cases, the quality control has actually shown to be better than the real brand
Well, back then when those counterfeits came out, you could still purchased the real deal at authorized dealer at regular price, even with slight discount. People were looking for counterfeits as a affordable alternatives. So cost control really was a matter for whose who made the fake one. But, nowadays, you cannot buy any real first-hand Rolex by "normal" means, I would agreed, to some extent, for those counterfeits makers invest more to upgrade their products. The market currently can sustain "ultra" clone.
Yeah Rolex has the advantage of mass production but it is known that the fabrication cost is somewhere around $1500 - $2000 (for a steel daytona, the simpler models even less)
The quality of this video “information wise” exceeds that of Rolex quality. Amazing! This video shows why It’s becoming so scary to buy a watch from a non authorized dealer these day or online. I never did that and I will never do unless of course I have someone like you that can verify the watch before purchasing it.
nowadays it is virtually impossible to ascertain the difference between an original watch and and a superfake . To see whether is real or not you need an expert like this guy that brings the watch to the lab and opens the case inspectioning every details.I have a girlfriend that bought a superfake Hermes Kelly bag ( $ 1500 ).She went with it to the official Hermes shop and the staff complimented her .......for the beautiful Kelly bag.This says it all
@@beerkegaard More likely is that they had no idea its a fake, not to mention something like hand bags is a thousand times easier to make a good fake than something like a mechanical watch.
Take away... Gen Daytona's are overpriced on the current market by 30k and It probably costs Rolex ~1000/ea to produce to sell for 15k before they get resold for 30k. Clean Factory + swap gen crystal/gasket + light rehaut polish & call it a day for ~1300 bucks all in. Also the Dang Dong 4130's can run much closer to Rolex accuracy shown in the video with a simple service and Moebius oils.
Not mentioned is the fact that genuine parts are interchangeable with the parts in the cloned/faked movements. So, those parts that are a dead giveaway of a fake movement, such as the balance wheel and the balance bridge, they can be replaced with genuine Rolex parts. So, for less than $1,000 more, the movement can be made look look MUCH more like a genuine Rolex movement. I believe the Rehaut is the best way to indicate that a watch in not authentic. If they find a way of improving that, it could get VERY difficult to pick out a fake.
Movement is best way to tell without loupe. If you're standing 3ft away from someone it's impossible to distinguish. This is a good video on how not to get conned. But being able to tell who's wearing the real deal is impossible unless they hand it to you.
These super fakes are so good, that I'm never going to buy a Rolex on the secondary market, only from an AD. Great video, but I'd appreciate more call outs when you do a side by side comparison as I had no idea what to really look for until the quick segment was over :( Thanks.
You shouldnt buy rolex if it so easy to make very good replica ...would you buy ferrari for 150k if everybody on your street could buy exact replica for fraction of price?
This is the exact reason Rolex does not really go that hard after the replica makers other then when some replica maker makes to much noise. It drives sales to the AD`s where Rolex profits and away from the second hand market where Rolex does not profit.
Much easier to ride on someone’s coattails than to forge your own path. Rolex has over a century of brand equity with watch enthusiast, while a brand new Chinese maker will sometimes start at a negative brand view because Swiss watches are seen as far better than Chinese watches. But some of these factories do eventually make their own design, but that side of their business will always be less profitable.
bc rolex is a rippoff bit better than mediocre (horologically speaking) brand :D in the end everybody is happy both rolex that keeps the hype and reps that feed if not thousands- millions of ppl
I personally wish for however made the replica to make their own brand (maybe they do). This level of attention to details and making it good will be much more appreciated on a small up coming brand
The thing is though they are benefiting from the brand Rolex has built over time (which I personally don’t care about). I doubt people would pay a thousand dollars for a micro brand even though it’s made to a very high standard.
Best way to spot replica... Or to decide that it's better to just get a replica and the 99.9% same watch for 1/30 of the price, also avoiding all the BS of "waiting list" from Rlx :D Also because one thing they didn't say in this video, showing the result of the timegrapher, is that you can regulate that movement (the replica one) to be around +/- 3s/d which is absolutely a good value.
Dude, I got super lucky with mine and it is running spring drive levels of accuracy. After I first got mine in 2018 I wore it everyday for nine months and it lost just 90 seconds.
Even though I wouldn't like paying 35k for the original, I often think to myself if I bought the replica and people asked me about it how I would feel like a poser. It's not just about getting there real watch, it's also about the journey, struggle and success of making it far enough to be able to afford the authentic.
Being able to provide all my needs without the help of the Government is really a dream come through and I’m getting $20,000 returns from my $7,600 investment
What year did Rolex start etching the crown inside the crystal? I have an Air King purchased in December 1997 from a Rolex authorized dealer and there is no crown etched inside. My watch has been cleaned and subsequently repaired by an authorized shop, so I have no reason to suspect it is a fake.
The quality of the replica is actually quite impressive
The thing is with quality like that they could easily make a new brand of watch I'm sure, and for me I'd rather wear a genuine watch of any make than a fake.
@@dorianfinkelsteinGood point, make a high quality of their own brand and sell that. I’d be interested if the designs were done well.
Agreed, now where do I buy it? Lol
30k less than the real deal and no one can tell the diference so why not. they sell them in turkey,. @@ChipsChallenge95
@@dorianfinkelsteinthe problem with copiers is they have zero imagination of their own. No ingenuity and a willingness to do new things. It’s quite sad, really.
About 15 years ago, I was in the watch industry and my job was to outsource component manufacture (mostly cases and movement parts) to China. Back then Panerai, Rolex, Hublot, Breitling--you name it--sent me case tooling for Chinese manufacturers to use. This is when Noob and other super clone makers took off because they immediately copied the genuine tooling the manufacturers gave them. Clone Rolexes took off because the cases, bracelets (and initially rough) movements were interchangeable with genuine. The Chinese are VERY good with movements and I still have a clone Milgauss from 15 years ago that runs amazing--but they did not care about finishing a movement no one would ever see. Now the movement finishing is decent, but the cases and dials are almost indistinguishable from genuine. I tried to tell people for years that this all began with Rolex and the others providing the genuine tooling, but no one believed me. Now, the Chinese have 3D scanners that allow them to replicate any part to very high tolerance. So, once again you gotta ask--does it make sense to pay for a "genuine" when both are made from the same tooling?
Interesting, I did not know that. I do know that my Noob (no longer in business but "clean" factory took over the daytona mantle) is virtually indistinguishable from the Swiss made one.
I don't wear it much though, it really is not that great a watch.
Exactly. Many people just go after rolex watches and they don't care how overvalued they are. Many people just assume they are all hand made and thats why they have the cost they do; (which of course they aren't). At the end of the day though, does it really matter if the watch is made in China or Switzerland? The only rule for a swiss made product is to have 60% of its value made in switzerland. If I really had my heart set on an extremely popular watch like a rolex then I would probably consider a super clone. I say this as a watch enthusiast too... even though I have some expensive watches, I don't buy them for prestige/brand recognition, I get them because I like the aesthetic and the mechanics behind them.
No, a "genuine" is just an expensive fake. The 99% of what you pay for a "genuine" goes to marketing like those celebrity ambassadors for the brands, boutiques rentals and other expenses, just like how iphone pricing constructed
@draakisback disagree. people buy rolexes because they last forever and retain value. I have friends that paid 800 for a submariner 40 years ago. it's worth 10x that and he wears it. you spend 800 on a superclone your 800 is gone. you pay retail and you make money 💰
@@ZaidAbouzaki clones and good replicas also retain their value. Don't be such a snob
This is honestly the best side by side I've seen. Please do a submariner and/or royal oak next!
Thank you so much - more to come!
I am sure they'll happily do that if you send them a genuine Royal Oak. 😉
Please do a GMT II
This is excellent, looking forward for more.
NO, Royal oaks reps of this quality don't really exist..They are a pretty straightforward tell. even though they look really good. Really the rep game is all about Rolex the rest of the brands are second grade citizens
We're almost at a point where buying an authentic watch doesnt make any sense. Especially when you have to deal with all the bullshit that Rolex pulls.
Very CLEAN watch, if you catch my drift.
Maybe BEST TIME showing watch 😂
Hahahahaha a very CLEAN v3 watch 😂…
You NOOB It could be a BeTter watch
Watching the video during the football game and and missed an amazing TD 🤫
Easy GL
The Replica quality is really impressive , especially considering the extreme price difference. Since quality is that high that someone almost needs a Original side to side to compare for a proper Check, i get the feeling that i would be ok with that Replica for its price maybe.
I have seen many side by side comparisons, but this is by far the most in depth and thorough. You could have also mentioned the hands of the watch because that was a big one but overall, Well done! Great knowledge and expertise shown especially about the free sprung balance.
That's what caught my eye as well. I found it interesting that the corners on the replica had a slight radius, but there was no taper, and the edges weren't polished. The detail finishing on the Rolex is just amazing.
That's what gave it away quickest for me too. But might not be as noticeable without magnification
The beard and slightl lisp betrays his affection for men.
Yep, hands a big difference but I was surpised at how basic the Rolex hands are. Decent finishing but nothing close to GS/The Citizen.
I'm glad it is helpful. We want to highlight these things since no one else is doing it to this level. These watches exist so it's best to hand out the tools needed to decipher.
That was amazing, no fluff just the salient points and so clearly described. Loved it, can’t wait to see what new videos are coming 💪🙏
It's in such small differences that you can see how overvalued watches are, it doesn't have to be like this !
Watches are all about showing wealth. The only exceptions being some Japanese watches like Casio low end G-shock lines where they actually have a purpose.
You pay for labour and research, material itself is cheap. Not to mention salaries in Switzerland :-)
there's lots of watches cheaper
What this comment overlooks is that achieving that last 0.01mm of precision or quality of finish is where the extra expense comes from. Of course, companies like Rolex enjoy healthy margins, but they do so because they offer a product that isn't easily replicated (completely) at lower price points.
@@mrcool76789 And many that are more expensive, what's your point?
The most in-depth side-by-side I’ve seen on YT to date. Extremely informative and looking forward to more comparisons. Great video!
Thank you! Many people come together to make these videos.
Very informative, I'm sure the fake watch makers look forward to videos that point out exactly where they're going wrong and how to correct their mistakes!!
$1k Daytonas here we come! Lol
cant correct it if they're restrained by budget
@@narfnak give it a couple of months or years... They'll find a way.. back then, nobody even thought fake Rolex can come so close to the original. now I say, they're about 70-75% there. Certainly will fool anyone on the street that's for sure.
@@r.sakarollsafe1285 Not that will pass a microscope. They can do a good enough finish enough to pass a x4 loop, but no way at that price point with a microscope.
The things they need to fix under a microscope is pretty much not possible at that price point. You can pass a loop for $1000, but not a microscope. Those things he mentioned in the video are not within the real of that price point. Maybe a $5,000 fake?
I'm a watchmaker in China and I got paid a lot of money to install real balance Bridges on fake watches to make them look no different from the real thing and to repolish the movement, repolish the movement, replace the plate, etc., to ensure the quality of the watch. It makes them look more real. It's fascinating.
Fakes have balance bridges now? 😮. On rolex and Patek?
Hands down the best video that's around regarding spotting fakes. I would also point out that the rehaut should be aligned with the minute markers, there should be an etched crown on the glass, and that every incision has to be hand etched
The rehaut isn’t always aligned especially after servicing. They are also laser etching the crown too
Probably the best Replica v Gen comparison I've seen. Thanks for your hard work man!
It's not just me! It's a whole team a Wristcheck people that come together to make these videos.
This video is impressively well-researched and packed full of invaluable information. It's not easy to discern between a genuine and a fake Daytona, but you've certainly broken it down in a way that's easy to understand for everyone, experienced or not. Your ability to highlight the nuanced differences shows your dedication to this field. Keep up sharing such insightful content. Looking forward to your next piece!
Thank you for the kind words!
Great video. Panerai appear to have had a huge problem with fakes over the last ten years. A Pam watch from a few years ago would make a great video.
You make a great point that not enough "fake vs real" videos/articles mention: anyone selling a Rolex who isn't willing to open the caseback is almost surely selling a fake one. It may be a hassle and it may take a little extra time, but if it's a real watch being sold by someone reputable, they're going to go that extra step to ensure a sale. So much of the outside of a Rolex can be replicated to very close (if never exactly perfect) parameters, but the movement is a dead giveaway, and the scammers know this.
Tbh, even if the case was opened, I would not be able to differentiate between the real vs fake. All I know is trust the seller but i'll still rather buy a rep
@@temasekbit's good to learn though. I've been collecting reps along with gens here and there for a few years. the finish on the movements is usually the first dead giveaway. tiny burrs, inconsistent machining marks etc. it always looks just a little too rough and unrefined to be genuine, it's hard to explain. just take a loupe to ur reps and see if u can spot what i mean.
@@temasekbI've never bought a super clone though. but from what I've seen on the Internet they are miles closer to genuine on movement finishing but still have tells if you get a side by side.
Balance wheel is the big tell. No screws, fake. I haven't seen a fake yet that uses the same balance wheel as the real ones.
@@matthewsmcdillyes, huge tell. that's only for freesprung Rolex movements though to my knowledge. I'm not too familiar with all the movements out there for all the replicated brand so i stick with the fit and finish first and foremost.
Link of the replica shop pls 😂😂😂
primerolexstore
You won’t regret it! It’s not every day you find a store committed to delivering such high standards on all fronts. Primerolexstore has earned a loyal customer in me!
That's true! The watch feels premium, operates smoothly, and honestly, it’s hard to distinguish from the original. It’s craftsmanship at its best.
They made me feel secure in buying a replica, highlighting the craftsmanship and quality.
Exactly! And they have policies in place to ensure you’re confident in your purchase.
That replica is rather impressive.
It shows that if you're spending more than $1000 on a Rolex you're being ripped off.
thats BS. You are paying for the attention to detail, research, quality control and so on. Ofc, I do somewhat agree, just get a watch from a decent brand for okayish money, and enjoy your watch.@@Secretlyanothername
@@Secretlyanothername it's a luxury good. You buy it knowing some of the cost is due to brand image and marketing.
Those costs aside, Rolex also pays higher labor costs. Your replica is being made with some of the cheapest labor costs in the world, plus it has no warranty. Warranties of course are factored into the price.
Labour cost is cheaper: dont care
Comes with warranty: paying 1/20th the price is a much better warranty than they can provide, i can lose it 20 times before breaking even
In case you aren’t aware, they do have an option to buy the card with the NFC chip that takes you to the Rolex website for the exact model, although they don’t come standard, it’s an available option. Obviously the watch won’t be in Rolex database but there are NFC cards available with better holos.
You should do a Rolex Batgirl GMT vs clean factory dd3285 next. Love to see that video. Great video!
Who are they? haha
Going to just the website would prove it is a bogus card. It's supposed to take you to your particular individual watch. Or so I've read.
This is the most detailed and interesting look at authentic vs fake I've seen, fantastic video, subscribed.
That was great video. Super detailed. Props to the replica too. Without the side by side comparison and the proper information, there would be no way I would have known the difference. Gotta give it to the replica though, looked pretty flawless.
Also, nice RX-78 gundam in the background! Perfect Grade?
PG Unleashed! You know it. Thank you for the compliment! We will continue to make these videos in hopes that the mass majority can begin to spot them for themselves. We need to do a better job at comparing the quality and not just the visual similarity...
This is definitely a keeper video. Can serve as reference for many years to come to avoid falling victim to super clones. Thanks for making this detailed comparison video.
Wow, very informative video 🙏🙏🙏, is this possible to check authenticity of a Rolex watch through serial number?
Great video! Just subscribed and you’re currently at 1.99k subs. I have a feeling this channel will continue to grow. Good luck and look forward seeing this channel grow.
Thank you so much!
One thing (I think) you missed which was a clear giveaway for me is the finishing of the hands. The replica seems to be stamped from sheet metal where the original seems to be machined or at least there is some additional finishing done.
Great informative video !!
Also missed the clarity of the crown flipper of the clasp of the bracelet. Trouble is the bracelets on all Rolexes have always been rubbish
You did a great job teaching us the value of a Rolex. Appreciate the education, more vids like this would be great!
A 15k Rolex is truly worth around $5k. The 10k is the markup / profit.
Can I have a reference for a Rolex 6564 watch made of pure gold?
@Wristcheck: do you think the 1000 dollar price tag on the replica Rolex would be fair market value or maybe even a good value, if you wouldn't take into account that it was a replica of another watch?
No, this exact rep normally goes for the 500 dollar mark, he overpaid quite badly.
Yes, they are good value as a watch in their own right. The thing is, you can other awesome watches for the price that aren't fakes
@@marcustulliuscicero9140 I suspect he's lying about the price to make the replica seem a worse deal. CF daytonas can be had for $400 USD
would you care to expoundon that ? what site do you think sales the best replicas @@marcustulliuscicero9140
I've watched many comparisons. This video is by far the most comprehensive. Of course, yourself being former Rolex makes it all the more amazing. Keep it up!
Thank you! It does help that I have handled so many watches inside and out. But the idea is to educate so not only a watchmaker can authenticate these watches. Let's all become experts.
@@PeterWatchmakerWristcheckwhere and when
@@lucydagelle I'm not sure what you're asking here!
The only thing holding me from buying fakes, is my kids one day will be disappointed once they grow up and learn about it.
TBH, the most obvious comparator for me initially was the finish quality of the hands. On the original they are crisp and well finished, whereas on the fake they're pretty poor 0:55 is a perfect shot
Just for reference, where can someone buy these fakes? Just so that I know to avoid these websites 😬
rwi
Hahaha google "trusted dealers".
Yup, me too… asking for a friend…
RWI / RWG
VSF or CLEAN
What was that website again for the replica !?? 😅😅
So in other words, the Chinese fakes are getting to the point of being 99% of the authentic, with very few minor differences that can only be noticed if you have an authentic side by side to compare it to. The quality has dramatically increased over the past few years, as well as given the opportunity for many to learn. Give it a bit more time and I believe that they could be even closer. My opinion is that they should start a new Chinese brand that competes with these other high end brands.
You that any Chinese company could make a watch that would be like miles better than any Rolex or wathever name you can think of, and still, no matter the price, most people would still diss it just because it's Chinese.
@@orlandoventor1754 many do not realize just how advanced they are as far as industrialization and machining is concerned. Typical American mindset is so screwed.....we better hope they do not declare war or some of these unicorns are going to have to pony up real quick lmfao! Bought a catalytic convertor, chinese built, for $40 vs $400 for American made.....and guess what.....it worked and passed emissions with flying colors. Just crazy the way some think.
They can do it identical if they knew if the customers willing to pay higher for it , but they want to keep it affordable, cuz its price is 780$ but actually they sell it half the price for replica dealers
it might look the same but probably wont function properly and no one will service it
San Martin is definitely people who've made replicas now making homages
Great video. Any idea which factory made the replica?
I was never interested in Rolex, but now I'm looking forward to getting myself a nice fake.😂😊
and the fake will most likely be better
@@stevenbean9706 They look the part, but they're junk. Crappy materials, poorly calibrated movement, unreliable water resistance. Replica watches aren't good watches.
@stevenbean9706 he literally showed in the video that the movement was worse. The fake was much less accurate on the results shown on the paper.
I have some for sale. And I ship
Appreciate it but I have to have a deep trust with my fake Rolex dealer. 😂
Best technical side by side comparison I have seen on YT many thanks for a great video.
Yep as soon a you showed the movement the one on the right is fake as it doesn’t have a free sprung balance. I have a real panda and a super fake for travel, I leave a piece of red tape inside the clasp so I don’t confuse them. They actually keep the same time and the power reserve on the fake is better by about 8 hours.
Is your replica really that close in looks that you have to put the tape? That's crazy that they are getting that good with these replicas
Yep it’s that good it was the best super clone panda available, the only way I can tell is the wind is a bit more ratchety and the with the back removed the movement isn’t as well finished and the balance adjustment is different as described in this vid. It’s a really amazing watch for the money though even though it’s a super fake. I’ve worn it into Rolex ADs in the UK and France and they had no idea even holding it until I told them.
@andrewgiblin3468 that's crazy. I have an Omega Speedmaster and my nephew loves it he's into astrology and anything space I wish I could give him mine and go by another one from myself but I'm not in the position to right now. But with these replicas it's tempting to just get him one for the time being. I'd let him know it's a replica and I don't think he'd care. Did you get it from a website?
you should be able to tell from the rehaut finishing when comparing them side to side
@@andrewgiblin3468 Could you tell me where you got your super clone from? I'm really keen to pick one up. I'm so done waiting for my AD and playing this cat and mouse game of having to have a "relationship" before being given the "opportunity" to buy one at retail. Thanks!
Best fake vs authentic comparison video out there. Awesome!
Awesome review, and many thanks for the useful information. Hypothetically, as there's a huge margin between the cost price of a fake and the retail (or used) price of an authentic Daytona, do you think it's realistic for bad guys who make the fakes to come up with a new generation of fakes virtually indistinguishable from an authentic Rolex? A lot of what is pointed out as discrepancies, between real and fake, seem addressable issues, given time and money.
I wonder if the vendor for the fake was infinityget pricing kinda matches up.
Awesome video but just a point: the clasp you described as “easy link” is the clamshell. The easy link is the microadjust feature where you can fold the end link into the clasp.
Isn't that called the flip lock?
Yes this was a miscommunication during the editing stage. We originally planned to shoot the easy link ASMR and ended up with the clam shell but didn't edit the footage... But both have a similar quality difference. Thanks for the callout.
So this is the video that's going to blow this channel's popularity up. Well deserved, definitely.
You really tried your hardest to make the authentic look way better, although the fake one is just better!
Does the fake have the laser etched crown at the 6 o clock position? If so, how does the laser etch quality compare to the genuine watch?
in some replicas it is actually better. I have owned many genuine Rolex watches and a few high end replicas. I can tell you first hand that it is almost impossible to tell a high end replica from a genuine, it is 99 % of the genuine I even took one to a local watch repair guy who specializes in high end watches and he could not tell the difference without taking the back off .........but until he did that he was convinced that it was genuine...he was absolutely shocked when I told him how much I paid for it....$550 US. and for that little difference in quality I will take the money I save and put it into something safe like Treasury bills and make 4.5%
The more videos like these are made the better the quality of the replica gets
This is a common misconception. They could improve the quality if their buyers could afford it but they would just be dealing with the same costs and margins as Rolex. They can of course improve the quality and accuracy throughout the watch but the price of the watch would get closer and closer to the real thing.
Amazing content and very informative. Keep up the good work!
I purchased one of the Super Grade Clone Rolex's for my brother. Spectacular watch, cost me £300 sterling. You can't notice anything when its worn on the wrist for say, a social function or even everyday usage so he's not worried about it been called a fake cos he doesn't mix in circles with Rolex experts abound!
Even experts won't notice without a magnifying glass.
Where ?
This is the best real-fake comparison video!
Wow, fakes are stepping up the game. These minute differences shows how massively overpriced real Rolexes are!
Well real Rolex on retail isn’t too bad, you are paying for the High paying Swiss wages and labor and quality. But the grey market up prices these Rolex making it not worth it. The Chinese fake watch is cheaper because they use cheaper labor and these Chinese watchmakers are not getting paid as much. Or the whole watch is made by a machine. For $1000 dollars you can get a legit and nice watch for the price.
Well Rolex dealers are dickheads anyways.
@@Non-y3s I agree with all you said, and still Rolex is massively overpriced at retail as well. Do your research mate, you will get far superior quality and movement at same price range what Rolex charges. Rolex is what it is because of hype NOT because of quality. Rolex has it own share of quality issues and many of it's range is machine made too!
Rolex started producing in-house movement in 2004, so giving Rolex credit for movement is pointless IMO. They prop up value by making artificial scarcity and force customers to play games just to purchase their stainless steel watches. 80% of value in Rolex watches are in marketing and hype.
@@Non-y3s not really thats what they make you thing, a Daytona may cost them. at best 1000 dollars in production and thats at best , they charging you 15 times that. no you are not paying for swiss wages you are paying for a name nothing else
0:10 I guess the left one is the real one. The indicators have much better edges. On the right its just stamped out.
It seems an insane proposition; dropping big money on something so readily recreated for a tiny fraction of the cost.
It’s not recreated. Movement
is wayyyy off.
I won’t say tiny fraction. 1k can buy you a decent watch like Hamilton or or high end seiko.
@@cathdanthis watch is $15k (impossible to get) or $30k grey. 3% of the price is absolutely a tiny fraction. People talking about “the movement isn’t perfect” and “well it’s not 100% the same” are missing the point. These companies can get 98-99% of the way there for literally single digit percentages of the price. All it does is expose the frankly disgusting level of profit there is in the luxury watch industry. I don’t own any reps but you can’t deny these companies aren’t price gouging left and right.
@@philorgneopolotin8762agree with everything you said except the price gouging part maybe. Is it really price gouging if people are still lining up to get on waiting lists and pay way more over retail for a luxury item?
@@cathdanOr vintage watch in pair with Rolex quality
Hi I have a very very important question for you, I hope you can answer. Does the 116500ln always have a Laser Etched Crown on the crystal? If everything else on the watch is right and the LEC is not present then does it mean the crystal was replaced?
When the details are that miniscule, only people with money to burn can see the difference. Imagine the profit Rolex makes on a watch when the fakes are so good and so cheap.
Profit is huge!! Good point
I wouldn't call the difference in accuracy of timekeeping 'minuscule'. The whole point of a wristwatch is to keep good time.
doesn’t Rolex donate all their profits anyway? If you buy the real thing and you are indirectly giving to charity!
Watch enthusiast + GUNDAM = he is truly a man of culture
To be fair! i would get the replica one! it seems to be pretty solid
So where did you purchase this replica. I would like to buy one. Thanks
So, basically…if the Fake creators decide to invest $1000 more dollars towards workmanship, they can match Rolex. To me this exposes just how “overpriced” Rolex’s are right now…..
If they make a 5k fake it would be better than the real one...
Name something in the luxury sector that's not overpriced. Is a Burkin bag worth $10000? How about a pair of regular Nike shoes that can be $100, but probably costs $15 to make, is that not vastly overpriced? This watch will outlast you with proper care. If you don't want a Rolex because they are overpriced, then don't buy one. G-shocks keep better time, and require a battery change every few years, maybe that's what you should be looking at.
This actually applies to almost all luxury brands. There's $100 counterfeit louis vuitton products out there that are pretty much indistinguishable from the real thing, and in some cases, the quality control has actually shown to be better than the real brand
Well, back then when those counterfeits came out, you could still purchased the real deal at authorized dealer at regular price, even with slight discount. People were looking for counterfeits as a affordable alternatives. So cost control really was a matter for whose who made the fake one. But, nowadays, you cannot buy any real first-hand Rolex by "normal" means, I would agreed, to some extent, for those counterfeits makers invest more to upgrade their products. The market currently can sustain "ultra" clone.
Yeah Rolex has the advantage of mass production but it is known that the fabrication cost is somewhere around $1500 - $2000 (for a steel daytona, the simpler models even less)
The quality of this video “information wise” exceeds that of Rolex quality. Amazing!
This video shows why
It’s becoming so scary to buy a watch from a non authorized dealer these day or online. I never did that and I will never do unless of course I have someone like you that can verify the watch before purchasing it.
nowadays it is virtually impossible to ascertain the difference between an original watch and and a superfake . To see whether is real or not you need an expert like this guy that brings the watch to the lab and opens the case inspectioning every details.I have a girlfriend that bought a superfake Hermes Kelly bag ( $ 1500 ).She went with it to the official Hermes shop and the staff complimented her .......for the beautiful Kelly bag.This says it all
Hate to break it to you but that’s what the staff is trained to do. They are trained not to call out fakes.
@@beerkegaard More likely is that they had no idea its a fake, not to mention something like hand bags is a thousand times easier to make a good fake than something like a mechanical watch.
How about the Lume ? and I cant imagine the fake has the 18 ct gold applique hour markers
Take away... Gen Daytona's are overpriced on the current market by 30k and It probably costs Rolex ~1000/ea to produce to sell for 15k before they get resold for 30k. Clean Factory + swap gen crystal/gasket + light rehaut polish & call it a day for ~1300 bucks all in. Also the Dang Dong 4130's can run much closer to Rolex accuracy shown in the video with a simple service and Moebius oils.
It cost Rolex millions to design it,make the machines to produce the movements etc
@@fergulator7297yes but only because they have to pay swiss salaries which are as high as their mountains 🏔️
Why does the embossing on the numbers around the bezel look different? Is that just from wear?
Not mentioned is the fact that genuine parts are interchangeable with the parts in the cloned/faked movements. So, those parts that are a dead giveaway of a fake movement, such as the balance wheel and the balance bridge, they can be replaced with genuine Rolex parts. So, for less than $1,000 more, the movement can be made look look MUCH more like a genuine Rolex movement.
I believe the Rehaut is the best way to indicate that a watch in not authentic. If they find a way of improving that, it could get VERY difficult to pick out a fake.
It is already difficult to take out a clone. This requires a magnifying glass.
Movement is best way to tell without loupe.
If you're standing 3ft away from someone it's impossible to distinguish.
This is a good video on how not to get conned. But being able to tell who's wearing the real deal is impossible unless they hand it to you.
Not if you take the back off. Then it is easy to tell without even removing any parts.@@dacat8171
The writing on the rehaut doesn't align with the minutes on the replica. It's not dead centre to each letter.
These super fakes are so good, that I'm never going to buy a Rolex on the secondary market, only from an AD. Great video, but I'd appreciate more call outs when you do a side by side comparison as I had no idea what to really look for until the quick segment was over :( Thanks.
You shouldnt buy rolex if it so easy to make very good replica ...would you buy ferrari for 150k if everybody on your street could buy exact replica for fraction of price?
This is the exact reason Rolex does not really go that hard after the replica makers other then when some replica maker makes to much noise. It drives sales to the AD`s where Rolex profits and away from the second hand market where Rolex does not profit.
I enjoyed that, well done for pointing out the differences.
I always wonder why companies that are capable of producing such attractive and quite high-quality replicas do not produce their own designs.
Supply and demand
Much easier to ride on someone’s coattails than to forge your own path. Rolex has over a century of brand equity with watch enthusiast, while a brand new Chinese maker will sometimes start at a negative brand view because Swiss watches are seen as far better than Chinese watches. But some of these factories do eventually make their own design, but that side of their business will always be less profitable.
bc rolex is a rippoff bit better than mediocre (horologically speaking) brand :D
in the end everybody is happy both rolex that keeps the hype and reps that feed if not thousands- millions of ppl
Why build a $1,000 watch to compete with Rolex only to go bankrupt, when you can build a $11,000 Rolex clone for $500 and sell it for $1,000.
Without exaggeration, the size of the rolex replica market is probably bigger than Rolex themselves.
What about 114300 (white) comparsion? Looking forward.
Even at 1000 dollars the replica remains a great deal because the level of finish is exceptional 😎🔥 Great video. Well done 😉
Great informative video and rx78-2 gundam looks really good 😂
Love to see more authenticity checks :)
Rolex is pure marketing.
Thanks for a great informative video! Can you do the same for GMT Master with 3285 movement ?
I personally wish for however made the replica to make their own brand (maybe they do). This level of attention to details and making it good will be much more appreciated on a small up coming brand
The thing is though they are benefiting from the brand Rolex has built over time (which I personally don’t care about). I doubt people would pay a thousand dollars for a micro brand even though it’s made to a very high standard.
Can you do a video showing your viewers the packaging they come in first, then dive into the bezel, the links,etc?
Thanks.
Best way to spot replica... Or to decide that it's better to just get a replica and the 99.9% same watch for 1/30 of the price, also avoiding all the BS of "waiting list" from Rlx :D
Also because one thing they didn't say in this video, showing the result of the timegrapher, is that you can regulate that movement (the replica one) to be around +/- 3s/d which is absolutely a good value.
sorry to bother but does anyone know where he got the replica from? or anyone know where I can get a replica comprarable?
Dude, I got super lucky with mine and it is running spring drive levels of accuracy. After I first got mine in 2018 I wore it everyday for nine months and it lost just 90 seconds.
Easy tell is the balance wheel at 0:05 it shouldn't have a regulator like that
And this is why i buy replica
Great video never seen such a good fake vs authentic Rolex video. Would love to see a Datejust or Daydate.
Even though I wouldn't like paying 35k for the original, I often think to myself if I bought the replica and people asked me about it how I would feel like a poser. It's not just about getting there real watch, it's also about the journey, struggle and success of making it far enough to be able to afford the authentic.
Wrong not everyone buys watches like that to show off, or talk about what they have. @@cionide
The analogy of figure skater made that concept stick. Thanks for all the knowledge .!
So, ROLEX is OVERPRICED!!!
Whats with the beat error on the original?
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I also invest with Dewayne Cox, i make about a 30,000USD every month.
I heard a lot of investing with Mr Dewayne Cox how good is he, please how safe are the profit
I trade with him, The profit are secured and over a 100% return on investment directly sent to you..
This is the best real v fake vid I've ever seen. Well done.
Don't care, I just wanna flex for social media likes and rando chicks in bars. Give me the $1k replica any day.
Isn’t the bezel on the outside of the case and it should not determine or be a factor or have anything to do with the water tightness
This is sort of scary. I can't tell the difference. Another reason I can't trust buying a used Rolex.
Same here. Not that I can afford one, but still.
Do both have diamond like crystal(synthetic)
what year of production did the nfc chip start being put into the card?
Pls keep upload content like this bro.
We love it
I thought the Bezel sits on the outside of the case, how does it affect water resistance?
Excellent video and explanation 👌
What year did Rolex start etching the crown inside the crystal? I have an Air King purchased in December 1997 from a Rolex authorized dealer and there is no crown etched inside. My watch has been cleaned and subsequently repaired by an authorized shop, so I have no reason to suspect it is a fake.
more of these comparisons pls these are super interesting and helpful
One thing you didn't mention about the band is the brushed effect on the side is different. Honestly I have no clue if that means anything or not.
Superb video quality. Keep them coming 🤌🏼
great video, you definitely got me convinced. it's a no-brainer...everything is slightly different, besides the price. easy win for the fake watch