Fake 126619LB Wedding Gift

[_Watch_Guru_]

OOF, where to begin this story. Firstly, as a friend, but also as a watch lover, this story hurts. I went to one of my best friends weddings this past weekend and it was wonderful. During the wedding weekend, the groom's uncle, a self proclaimed "massive watch guy" with a "really crazy Rolex collection" rolled up with a 126619LB white gold sub, AKA the cookie monster or whatever you want to call it. The uncle takes it off his wrist, gives it to the groom, and says congratulations. My friend is a minor watch guy, he has subscribed to a few watch subscriptions that send some random sub $200 watch every couple months, but he has never cared enough about watches to spend his hard earned money on what we may all consider as a big ticket purchase, so it is safe to say he was absolutely blown away by receiving a $40k+ white gold Rolex. He knows of my love for watches and runs to find me to show me this amazing thing. I was blown away but it being his wedding day, did not keep him or spend any significant time looking at the watch.

Fast forward two days and I posted the attached pic to Reddit without doing any real inspection to the photo and was shocked when the comments declaring fake fake fake began to roll in. I quickly realized that they were right.

1.) Massive lugs
2.) No crown between Swiss and Made at 6 o'clock
3.) Generally bad font all over the dial
4.) no polished center links and a material that is blatantly stainless steel
5.) around midnight of the wedding, the watch lost over 1.5 hours of time....

The list goes on. To wrap this up, I do not think I will tell my friend. This watch is a wedding day memory that will last a life time and his "massive watch guy" uncle is either a complete fraud who purposefully gifted a fake watch or he is just another rich guy who buys watches for status and also got duped into buying a fake.

Chime in with your thoughts as I am still in awe of this story myself!

[Wcdhtwn]

Hard to say if it’s a fake Rolex from the picture. Clearly it’s not a new WG Sub. It’s a super case, so previous version, thus no crown between “Swiss Made”. My guess is a an after market blue bezel on a 116610.

Or a $5 piece of junk.

[omar-rye]

Shitty. But you need to tell him no matter what

[Danny83]

Honestly if that happened to my best friend I would buy him a real one. Also you need to tell him asap

[omar10213245]

Originally Posted by Danny83

Honestly if that happened to my best friend I would buy him a real one. Also you need to tell him asap

wow, buy him one?? can i be your friend??

[sski]

based on the weak magnification from the cyclops lens- more than likely its fake (the pic is a bit blurry but magnification doesn't look correct)

[_Watch_Guru_]

I wish I could get the photo to post with better clarity. If anyone knows how, let me know and I’ll upload it again.

[sski]

you made the right call though, i would be loathe to discuss this topic with him. hopefully he finds out on his own about the watch and his mean Uncle!

[henrylee]

Best case scenario- it’s a 116610ln with aftermarket blue bezel
Worst case scenario- it’s fake

[dmash]

Originally Posted by henrylee

Best case scenario- it’s a 116610ln with aftermarket blue bezel
Worst case scenario- it’s fake

yup

[vipereaper30]

What a terrible uncle! I'd tell my friend even though it's bad news. Assuming you've verified the fake.

[1665fan]

Fake watch…… that’s why it was free lol……. What a loser of an uncle ROFL

[Old Expat Beast]

Maybe talk to the uncle first. Give him a chance to make things right with a genuine Rolex before you expose him as a fraud (assuming he knew it was fake, which you can also find out at the same time).

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Maybe talk to the uncle first. Give him a chance to make things right with a genuine Rolex before you expose him as a fraud (assuming he knew it was fake, which you can also find out at the same time).

I like your style Adam.

[Soarer]

Uncle may not even be aware, so talk to him first. Don’t jump to conclusions. Get him to take back the watch and have it checked by a professional.


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[TBT]

I'd tell him, but very gently. Everything you say is going to be in his story about the Rolex Wedding Watch. Even worse if its in all the photos.

[AlabamaLawyer1988]

Concurring with those who said to contact the uncle first and see what if any confusion can be cleared up...

DM

[train-time]

It's most likely a fake for many of the reasons already stated and probably not a 116610 with an aftermarket bezel. My 70+ years of life's experience says let it be. He may someday come to you with the astonishing news that he discovered it's a fake and you can reply, really... WOW! In the meantime, let him enjoy the gift and remember the event.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by train-time

It's most likely a fake for many of the reasons already stated and probably not a 116610 with an aftermarket bezel. My 70+ years of life's experience says let it be. He may someday come to you with the astonishing news that he discovered it's a fake and you can reply, really... WOW! In the meantime, let him enjoy the gift and remember the event.

I would actually be pretty pissed if one of my close friends knew something was fake, in a realm where he was more intelligent than I, and declined to ever say something to me or the gift giver.

[_Watch_Guru_]

Originally Posted by train-time

It's most likely a fake for many of the reasons already stated and probably not a 116610 with an aftermarket bezel. My 70+ years of life's experience says let it be. He may someday come to you with the astonishing news that he discovered it's a fake and you can reply, really... WOW! In the meantime, let him enjoy the gift and remember the event.

Gotta be honest, this has been my thought exactly.

[Goatrope]

Originally Posted by train-time

It's most likely a fake for many of the reasons already stated and probably not a 116610 with an aftermarket bezel. My 70+ years of life's experience says let it be. He may someday come to you with the astonishing news that he discovered it's a fake and you can reply, really... WOW! In the meantime, let him enjoy the gift and remember the event.

This.


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[Rolextellstime]

I agree with others, gotta tell your friend. He can check it out and talk to his uncle.

Keep us updated though

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[sirC]

He will figure it out when he sends it in for service. I would not say a word to him or his uncle.

[PJDIESEL]

Originally Posted by sirC

He will figure it out when he sends it in for service. I would not say a word to him or his uncle.

This is an interesting take on things, and one I tend to agree with.

There's almost NOTHING to gain by saying something to him or the Uncle. Aside from him possibly thinking you're a sh*tty friend for posting it on an internet forum rather than just going to him. I'm not around many "well to do" people in my daily life, surely not any who are popping a WG Sub of their wrist and handing it someone. Surely I'd ask for the box and related papers, makes sense for such a lavish gift, maybe that's just me.

I want so badly for this Uncle to be like some kind of Paulie Walnuts type character.

[AbeFroman]

Dude that’s a straight fugazi. There isn’t any debate to be had if it’s real or not lol.

As a friend I would def tell him. Nothing feels worse than walking around with something you thought to be authentic when in reality it’s not. Can you imagine him 10 years from now finding out?

Low key, I’m sure the uncle knows.

[bastarf]

Alternatively, you can play dumb, advise him to get it appraised for insurance reasons and let the appraiser give him the good or bad news.

[bay_area_kid]

Originally Posted by bastarf

Alternatively, you can play dumb, advise him to get it appraised for insurance reasons and let the appraiser give him the good or bad news.

This will also make a lot of sense to the friend once he learns about the rise of Rolex-related robberies.

Getting a $40k watch insured will almost be an automatic thought.

[jimcarver]

Generally, I would say let it go or if you feel the need to let him know you could subtly encourage him to get it serviced due to the poor time keeping.

But since you have posted it over reddit and here it gets more complicated.

Let's say he gets excited he is now a "Rolex" owner and gets involved in some Forums......and see this.

[1William]

I would tell him if we were really friends. Forget talking to the Uncle and don't go deep with the conversation with the friend. Just give him the facts and concerns and let him sort it out. Part of being a friend is the ability to have difficult conversations. Some find this difficult and I get it but what kind of friend are you? This is a reflection of character, yours, your friends and the Uncle's. Just do it.

[ts3]

No matter that they always shoot the messenger you have got to tell your friend.