BEWARE - fake GREEN crystals on REAL Milgausses

[Mosco]

Don't ask me the purpose - it makes no sense to me. However, as of lately, I have encountered two myself, and have heard of another few at the wholesale shows.

So, the cases/bracelets/movements are real. Dials appear to be as well. The crystals can only be pinpointed when looking at another genuine GV side by side. To put it plainly, it is 'less green'. The genuine one is green throughout with major green halo around the edges. The suspect ones are as well, just noticeably less so. It is a much paler green, which makes the dial appear dark brown instead of black. Also has much less light-play (if you have ever examined a real GV, you know what I mean).

One of the ones I have seen had no papers, which leads me to believe that it may have been a regular white or black Milgauss, and then the dial/crystal were replaced to make it 'more expensive'. It was a random serial number, so this is a recent phenomenon.

The other one did have papers indicating that it was a GV, but the crystal was obviously a fake. Why this was done is beyond me - perhaps the original crystal was damaged. Or, more likely, since they are completely unattailable on he secondary market, it was removed to be sold separately and replaced with this turd.

What makes this even scarier is that at least two of these were passed through an AD without being caught, brought in on a trade and gladly accepted. This AD, even though in business since 1897 needs a lesson in noticing fake watches and parts.

I will provide pictures as soon as i humanly can, but it may be hard to see the differences. If anyone has a GV that they suspect may be one of the ones I am talking about, I will gladly look it over for you, just cover shipping. Ladies and gentlemen, the fake market is expanding, and we need to be on our toes at all times and pay attention to details.

[forerunner]

This is disturbing news. Looking forward to the pics when you get the chance.

Thank you,
Nels

[emagni]

Good post. Greg, thanks for the heads up!

[sleddog]

Thanks for the heads up Greg!

[mjrennie]

They stop at nothing.

[STEELINOX]

Bizzarre, thanks Greg ~ !

[roach7]

I recently encountered a grade 1 fake GV with the same exact crystal, looks clear from the side. Everything else was pretty convincing until I removed the bracelet and checked the lugs. Will post some pix

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

[Mosco]

Pics Monday - Tuesday. We just came back from a family vacation on the beach with the bambinos, so as soon as we wash all of the sand out, I'll be on it. I'm sure there'll be at least a couple fires to put out tomorrow - first day back in 10 days , but as soon as the musts are done, I'll take out the camera and figure out what angles work. It fooled quite a few at the watch show

[Mosco]

Originally Posted by roach7

I recently encountered a grade 1 fake GV with the same exact crystal, looks clear from the side. Everything else was pretty convincing until I removed the bracelet and checked the lugs. Will post some pix

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

Correct - saw one of those at the Chicago show as well. The crystal, when looked at in profile is completely clear. Plus maaaaaaaany other tell-tale signs. And again, came from a reputable jeweler in Beverly Hills, CA - was taken in on a trade there and brought to the show.

Scary thing about this one is that it is NOT clear from the sides at all, but it is clearly not right.

[mjm800]

This is disturbing news thank you for being so vigilant.

Guys like me would get taken in a second!

[roach7]

some of the pix of the grade 1 fake:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....13&postcount=1

[toph]

with all due respect to everyone. Firstly that one linked looks like utter crap. sorry i dont know how you nearly got taken by that.

Secondly Greg ( i respect alot of your opinions and sightings) i have held many GV's in Ad all round the world and quite often the dial appears a slight brownish colour so i dont agree there.
Secondly the Dial of a Black Milgaus and A GV are different so you are suggesting people are changing dials and hands?
Finally Supposedly rolex had a problems with some GV crystals so maybe just maybe there a slightly different variations.
Fakes will be made but close up in hand any fake is easily noticeable for a million reasons.
sorry to sound like a pratt.

cheers

[roach7]

chris, please educate us on what's the giveaway of a fake on this one... i was not able to tell until i removed the bracelet...

[toph]

Originally Posted by roach7

chris, please educate us on what's the giveaway of a fake on this one... i was not able to tell until i removed the bracelet...

I have actually just repsonded on the other thread

[z32turbo]

Not good!!!!

Thanks for the heads up!!!

[Andad]

Originally Posted by toph

with all due respect to everyone. Firstly that one linked looks like utter crap. sorry i dont know how you nearly got taken by that.

Secondly Greg ( i respect alot of your opinions and sightings) i have held many GV's in Ad all round the world and quite often the dial appears a slight brownish colour so i dont agree there.
Secondly the Dial of a Black Milgaus and A GV are different so you are suggesting people are changing dials and hands?
Finally Supposedly rolex had a problems with some GV crystals so maybe just maybe there a slightly different variations.
Fakes will be made but close up in hand any fake is easily noticeable for a million reasons.
sorry to sound like a pratt.

cheers

Hi Toph,

I have had my GV for a while now and I can see some issues with the one in the pix. One issue (s/n spacing) is easy to see at a glance and seals the decision.
But a 'million reasons'? C'mon Toph, lighten up and be specific.
A lot of members may not have even seen one in the flesh.

[roach7]

hi eddie, does your GV have the serial between the lugs? or just on the rehaut?

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by roach7

some of the pix of the grade 1 fake:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....13&postcount=1

A fake looking exactly like that can be had for 40 euros in Thailand. Sold in every "watch" shop.

They work for about 3 months.

[Mosco]

Originally Posted by toph

with all due respect to everyone. Firstly that one linked looks like utter crap. sorry i dont know how you nearly got taken by that.

Secondly Greg ( i respect alot of your opinions and sightings) i have held many GV's in Ad all round the world and quite often the dial appears a slight brownish colour so i dont agree there.
Secondly the Dial of a Black Milgaus and A GV are different so you are suggesting people are changing dials and hands?
Finally Supposedly rolex had a problems with some GV crystals so maybe just maybe there a slightly different variations.
Fakes will be made but close up in hand any fake is easily noticeable for a million reasons.
sorry to sound like a pratt.

cheers

Chris,

I am not talking about those piece of crap fakes - those can be spotted from a mile away. These are worse, as they're more difficult to detect. And yes, you're correct, the dial DOES appear brownish under certain lighting on GV's - but here it is simply more so. The crystal does not appear clear from the side like on the fakes, it is still green, but less so than the real thing. I too have held many genuine GV's in my hand, have four as we speak, and crystal on this one does not look like any of them.

Secondly, I have seen dealers with stacks of Rolex dials - don't ask me how. You CAN buy a GV dial on the secondary market. Genuine green crystals are much more difficult to obtain. So it is only natural that the market for those exists.

Before I left on vacation, I gave this watch to my watchmaker to look over. He confirmed that the rest of it was indeed real. I will get it back from him at our mutual earliest convenience and post pics.

[TattooedGQ]

I guess it makes sense to fake the GV's.....no LEC's to worry about.

[RolexWatcher]

Would be interested to see what are the issues with the crystal once pics are out and I can keep a look out of this...

[toph]

Originally Posted by Mosco

Chris,

I am not talking about those piece of crap fakes - those can be spotted from a mile away. These are worse, as they're more difficult to detect. And yes, you're correct, the dial DOES appear brownish under certain lighting on GV's - but here it is simply more so. The crystal does not appear clear from the side like on the fakes, it is still green, but less so than the real thing. I too have held many genuine GV's in my hand, have four as we speak, and crystal on this one does not look like any of them.

Secondly, I have seen dealers with stacks of Rolex dials - don't ask me how. You CAN buy a GV dial on the secondary market. Genuine green crystals are much more difficult to obtain. So it is only natural that the market for those exists.

Before I left on vacation, I gave this watch to my watchmaker to look over. He confirmed that the rest of it was indeed real. I will get it back from him at our mutual earliest convenience and post pics.

Thank you for a detailed response, i look forward to seeing the pics

[Michael M.]

Originally Posted by Mosco

Don't ask me the purpose - it makes no sense to me. However, as of lately, I have encountered two myself, and have heard of another few at the wholesale shows.

So, the cases/bracelets/movements are real. Dials appear to be as well. The crystals can only be pinpointed when looking at another genuine GV side by side. To put it plainly, it is 'less green'. The genuine one is green throughout with major green halo around the edges. The suspect ones are as well, just noticeably less so. It is a much paler green, which makes the dial appear dark brown instead of black. Also has much less light-play (if you have ever examined a real GV, you know what I mean).

One of the ones I have seen had no papers, which leads me to believe that it may have been a regular white or black Milgauss, and then the dial/crystal were replaced to make it 'more expensive'. It was a random serial number, so this is a recent phenomenon.

The other one did have papers indicating that it was a GV, but the crystal was obviously a fake. Why this was done is beyond me - perhaps the original crystal was damaged. Or, more likely, since they are completely unattailable on he secondary market, it was removed to be sold separately and replaced with this turd.

What makes this even scarier is that at least two of these were passed through an AD without being caught, brought in on a trade and gladly accepted. This AD, even though in business since 1897 needs a lesson in noticing fake watches and parts.

I will provide pictures as soon as i humanly can, but it may be hard to see the differences. If anyone has a GV that they suspect may be one of the ones I am talking about, I will gladly look it over for you, just cover shipping. Ladies and gentlemen, the fake market is expanding, and we need to be on our toes at all times and pay attention to details.

Great info Greg, I'll be on my gaurd.

[Michael M.]

BTW: This should be a STICKY!!

[toph]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Hi Toph,

I have had my GV for a while now and I can see some issues with the one in the pix. One issue (s/n spacing) is easy to see at a glance and seals the decision.
But a 'million reasons'? C'mon Toph, lighten up and be specific.
A lot of members may not have even seen one in the flesh.

it was a monday after all. there are a few at least in addition to teh engraving and s/n: wrong green colour. Milgauss is aligned wrongly, note the G is out of line. wrong white script. look at the lume etc etc

[Michael M.]

Originally Posted by roach7

some of the pix of the grade 1 fake:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....13&postcount=1

The orange lume on it is kind of messy

[Z-Sub]

looking forward to learn about it Greg. Thanks

[djemmtee]

Thanks for the heads up Greg!!!

Originally Posted by roach7

some of the pix of the grade 1 fake:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....13&postcount=1

Green AR is a dead give away...also the font used in the RRH doesnt match up very well, its too boxy.

[Mosco]

Pics were taken yesterday, I just haven't had time to upload them - will be done today.

[sherwin]

Awesome Greg, look forward to seeing some photos!