Datejust advice please for a stressed out new Rolex owner

[chriscole943]

Hi, I could do with some advice please.

I bought my first Rolex the other day, a Dec 2012 Datejust 116200. After getting it home I was looking at the face and looked for the etched Rolex security engraving that should be at the 6 O' clock position but I couldn't see it. I took it to a Rolex dealer who looked at it with and he also couldn't see it. I became very concerned. He said the watch is genuine but he couldn't explain why it wouldn't have the etching. He suggested I take it to Rolex in St. James on Tuesday when they re-open after the holiday. I bought it from what I thought was a reputable shop in London's West End, with box and papers etc. I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on this. I saved a long time for this and hope I haven't been duped. Has anyone seen or know of Datejust's not having the security etching for some reason. I would be grateful for feedback.

Thanks

Chris

[padi56]

Originally Posted by chriscole943

Hi, I could do with some advice please.

I bought my first Rolex the other day, a Dec 2012 Datejust 116200. After getting it home I was looking at the face and looked for the etched Rolex security engraving that should be at the 6 O' clock position but I couldn't see it. I took it to a Rolex dealer who looked at it with and he also couldn't see it. I became very concerned. He said the watch is genuine but he couldn't explain why it wouldn't have the etching. He suggested I take it to Rolex in St. James on Tuesday when they re-open after the holiday. I bought it from what I thought was a reputable shop in London's West End, with box and papers etc. I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on this. I saved a long time for this and hope I haven't been duped. Has anyone seen or know of Datejust's not having the security etching for some reason. I would be grateful for feedback

Thanks

Chris

Now watch forums are great but sometime they bring out the OCD in some.Might I suggest you forget about the LEC and enjoy wearing your watch as you bought it from a reputable bricks and mortar store .Its a good sign that you have difficulty in finding your LEC now if you could see it easy then perhaps you would have something to be worried about.And it has been reported on forum by one of our Rolex certified watchmakers than he has received direct from Rolex crystals with no markings in crystal whatsoever.And has received some with the LEC plus some with the S though the LEC noting service replacement.And having a LEC in the crystal does not always prove authenticity of any watch anyway, the LEC is quite hard to see with the naked eye most need a loupe to see it, and the etch in the crystal has nothing to do with security.

[Old Expat Beast]

Have you looked through a magnifier? The etching is on the glass not the 'face' (dial), and can be very hard to find, especially on watches with a white dial.

[dysondiver]

cant top the advice above ,,, small led key chain light may help ,,, shone from aboout 12 oclock postilion , and at a low angle.

[up2nogood]

Should be fairly easily seen in correct lighting. If it's not present, you have an aftermarket crystal fitted. Crystals for that model are only available from Rolex, watchmakers tend to fit generic ones if they are broken.

[viper9669]

Find a place with bright sunlight, preferably outdoors.
Position the watch under the sunlight, move the case slowly at angles, I use only one eye and I could spot the LEC.

Don't panic, you will be able to see it.👍

[chriscole943]

Thank you for your replies. I was under the impression that the etching was on ALL models which started after 2002. As I said the Rolex specialist in Harrods looked using a loupe and he couldn't see it on the glass and said he was surprised it wasn't there and that's why he recommended I take it to Rolex ant St. James's. Please forgive if I'm coming across as naive but I just want to know I have a genuine watch in all aspects including the glass.

[ND10]

Use the torch light feature on your iphone / smartphone. Experiment with a few different angles and you should see the LEC

[Racerdj]

Welcome to TRF. On one of mine, it takes a bright LED light at a very low angle from the 12 o'clock position.

[davidro]

When i bought my DJII I took a look for mine the jewelers and it was VERY hard to see. Basically I couldn't see it with a normal gem hand lens/lupe so the jeweler handed me magnifier that they use to look at diamonds for fractures etc. Then I was able to see it.

[nickb732]

It is very hard to see. I searched for it very hard on my GMT and I've only seen it once. Haven't been able to see it since.

[chriscole943]

Thanks for your replies.
Chris

[Reu]

Hi Chris,

Firstly don't bother struggling to find the LEC right now. Unless the guy in Harrods was not looking correctly I would say that given he was using a loupe means that you aren't going to find it any easier with your naked eye.

Take the watch to RSC tomorrow in St James if you can or if you work in town - it's a reception/counter service when you walk in and you'll be in and out very quickly, with the reassurance that you're looking for I'm sure.

As Padi mentioned, not all have them so try not to panic over the next twenty four hours until you've had Rolex look themselves.

What shop did you buy it from?

Welcome, by the way.

[KZZN]

Hi,

I could be completely wrong or imagining things here, but I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that Rolex had stopped laser-etching the crystals a few years ago.

As I say, I could be wrong or getting confused with something else, but if true, this would certainly explain why your 2012 model doesn't have this feature.

[Reu]

Originally Posted by KZZN

Hi,

I could be completely wrong or imagining things here, but I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that Rolex had stopped laser-etching the crystals a few years ago.

As I say, I could be wrong or getting confused with something else, but if true, this would certainly explain why your 2012 model doesn't have this feature.

Nope, they still etch them in crystals.

Regardless, you're talking about a 2012 model, which doesn't mean that the whole unit or every component in it was manufactured in 2012.

When we talk about 2102/2103 etc models that's generally when they are assembled. Rolex build the watches long after the components are actually made in some cases.

With a DJ the crystal and many of the other components could well have been sitting for a long time before Rolex assembled it and sent it out of their premises.

[James M]

With the watch angled towards a light source I can see mine with the naked eye.

[Turbo23dog]

Sunlight works best. Yes, it's really hard to find. No worries.

[AK797]

Can you shine a light at this angle?

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by chriscole943

Thank you for your replies. I was under the impression that the etching was on ALL models which started after 2002. As I said the Rolex specialist in Harrods looked using a loupe and he couldn't see it on the glass and said he was surprised it wasn't there and that's why he recommended I take it to Rolex ant St. James's. Please forgive if I'm coming across as naive but I just want to know I have a genuine watch in all aspects including the glass.

I definitely have it on my watch because I looked at it under a stereo zoom microscope. I can't see it easily with a loupe. I suspect that the Harrods guy just didn't know how to look.

[chriscole943]

Thanks again all, I will post back when I have had it looked at at Rolex-St.James's

[tomchicago]

Shine a flashlight from 12 towards 6, as close/parallel to the crystal as you can and you should see it easy, without the need for any magnification or fancy equipment. Cell phone LED light works perfectly.

[powerfunk]

Originally Posted by nickb732

It is very hard to see. I searched for it very hard on my GMT and I've only seen it once. Haven't been able to see it since.

This has been my experience as well. I found the LEC on my 16610 only once. I can't even find it now.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by KZZN

Hi,

I could be completely wrong or imagining things here, but I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that Rolex had stopped laser-etching the crystals a few years ago.

As I say, I could be wrong or getting confused with something else, but if true, this would certainly explain why your 2012 model doesn't have this feature.

I thought I had read that as well...

[Rags]

I'm sure the watch is fine. Don't get crazy over this..

[Britexpat76]

Originally Posted by powerfunk

This has been my experience as well. I found the LEC on my 16610 only once. I can't even find it now.

Only seen mine once too. I think people google too much and see that it must have the LEC to be genuine without realising its actually designed not to be seen...........

[Kobayashi]

Go to a dark room with a flashlight. Point your flashlight at the 12:00 marker and slowly move your flashlight towards 6:00. You should be able to see the LEC.

[Ste_J]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

cant top the advice above ,,, small led key chain light may help ,,, shone from aboout 12 oclock postilion , and at a low angle.

This light is the only way I've been able to see mine on my Exp II, in a darkened room with my LED keyring, move the angle about and it should be there.

[Kadhytia]

Flashlight always help.

[Invictus Maneo]

I posted about this a few months ago. Got the same advice from Padi, which is great advice by the way. I'm rather tenacious though and once I get a hold of something I have a hard time letting it go. I ended up purchasing a 10X loupe, which I wanted to get anyway and a good LED flashlight. Even with those tools it was VERY hard to spot! Light angle has to be just right need to view it from the 12 position looking down towards the 6, etc. etc. It was pretty cool when I finally saw it but it's like a ghost that drifts in and out of the loupes lens.
I had decided after listening to Padi, Reu and others that even if I didn't find it, it in NO WAY was going to diminish my love for my watch. I hope you can do the same but I have a feeling that once you know where to look, the right magnification and HOW to look for it, you'll find it!
Good luck, mate, and welcome to TRF! It's a GREAT forum!

[chriscole943]

Found it...
As suggested, dark room, led light shone from 12 to 6 position at low angle, and there it is.
As Invictus, couldn't let it go. First time owner and all that, very pleased, panic over. thank you all for your help. Chris
Strange how Harrods guy couldn't see it with a loupe. Doesn't matter now :)