Verifying Authenticity after Purchase?

[SSSS]

Hello everyone. I am a new member and am looking to purchase my first Rolex. This is a wonderful source to learn about the great Rolex Brand.

What is the best way to verify authenticity? Would an AD have to take off the back to verify the movement. I am considering a purchase from a trusted seller here. Many sellers claim that they provide a warrantee card stamped by an authorized dealer.

Also, what should the letter series be for a new 2010 factory fresh watch? Can the manufacture date be determined from the serial number. Couldn't find this information here:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=8478

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by SSSS

Hello everyone. I am a new member and am looking to purchase my first Rolex. This is a wonderful source to learn about the great Rolex Brand.

What is the best way to verify authenticity? Would an AD have to take off the back to verify the movement. I am considering a purchase from a trusted seller here. Many sellers claim that they provide a warranty card stamped by an authorised dealer.

Also, what should the letter series be for a new 2010 factory fresh watch? Can the manufacture date be determined from the serial number. Couldn't find this information here:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=8478

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Well if you buy from a AD you will be assured of getting a genuine watch.Plus
there are many trusted sellers on TRF plus a few grey dealers,just do your homework on the seller before you buy.Regarding the case date letters they are only a rough indication when a Case was stamped.You could have two different letters overlap in the same year.At the moment there are V and the new random type serials on most watches.But no matter what the case date stamp is when bought from a AD you will get the same warranty watches dont go off. And the movements like the cal 3135 have not changed much since 1988/9 fact there have only been very minor changes to most of the Rolex models since 1988/9.

[Singslinger]

If you're buying secondhand, you should be able to take it to a Rolex Service Centre and have authenticity verified for payment of a small fee. In Singapore, this is about US$70 but Rolex will only verbally confirm the watch is genuine while issuing a receipt for "service''.

They might also tell you that the watch is authentic but needs an overhaul, in which case the authentification fee would be waived, or rather, absorbed into the cost of overhaul.

How much this might be will vary depending on the model, age, material (whether gold, platinum or S/S).

Hope this helps.

[hsfrank]

I recently read that if you take the watch in to a RSC you can get an estimate for service. While this will not be written verification of authenticity,since Rolex will not service a fake, it should ease your fears. However if its a fake you run a risk. The better course is to buy it from the AD or a trusted seller.

[inspires]

Originally Posted by SSSS

I am considering a purchase from a trusted seller here.

Do your research on the seller, ask for references, and if you already say he's a "trusted" seller here then I am sure you can find out from his previous posts.

Good luck with your purchase and don't worry I was like you when I bought my first watch from a forum. Keep asking questions until you feel comfortable.

[Safetrends]

If you want to buy a Rolex from a person who does not have any references or is a AD, you want to have them meet you at a AD and have the watch authenticated with a certificate. This way you have some insurance it is not a fake. If the seller does not want you to go to the AD and get it authenticated walk away and do not look back.

[greekbum]

Unless the AD has a watchmaker on site and wants to take off the case back and re pressure test the watch you IMHO are wasting your time going to the AD for them to authenticate the watch. Unless they take the case back off they will not be 100% so anything they say means nothing. To them why take the risk you didn't buy it from them and they have everything to loose i.e scratch the watch etc so most likely they will offer or tell you to send it to a RSC for an estimate. I know more than 1 AD that has been burned buying a new high quality fake that had box,and papers recently. A local seller wanted to sell a watch to a friend of mind and suggested they meet at Mayors since he bought the watch new there and had a receipt. The saleslady told my friend the watch was 100% and she remembered selling the watch to the person. My friend called me to to borrow some funds until his payday upon looking at the watch I couldn't help but laugh in front of the seller it was a $100 flea market special swapped for the real thing with all the real paperwork.The owner insisted Mayors said it was real and I didnt know anything about watches. I saved my buddy. It all comes down to risk vs savings. If the person or dealer (source) you are buying from has a solid reputation dealing in Rolex watches I wouldn't worry much but to each his own.

[lamnyc]

If it's a fake, Rolex might confiscate it.

[BASSETHOUNDS]

I'm afraid Nikos is right . Depending the AD and their ability to take off the back ( the SDDS is notoriously dangerous for that , hence that some AD's have been stung by high quality fakes ) if not better your nearest RSC .
As mentioned in previous posts , do your homework . Buy the seller before the watch . Buying a Rolex will nearly always result in spending a minimum of a couple of thousand USD , so I would rather spend a bit more with a reputable seller . Even those people are not infallible , but at least you can be sure that they will put it right .
Just check out the "Watch Out" section here once and a while and you will see the amount of fake or incorrectly described Rolex watches we report and have removed on Ebay and craigslist only . That should give you an idea of how easily you can go wrong . And that is only the tip of the iceberg .

[BarkMaster]

Great advice from TRF members.