Alright, so I’ve been messing around with this Rolex GMT-Master II, trying to see if I can spot a fake one. Let me tell you, it’s not as easy as it looks. I started by looking at the case, you know, just giving it a once-over. Supposedly, real ones have a unique serial number, but honestly, I couldn’t really tell. They all looked pretty similar to my untrained eye.
Next, I played with the bezel. I turned it around a few times, checking out how it moved and the colors. They say the real ones have a certain feel to them, but again, I was kind of lost. It rotated, it clicked, the colors looked okay, but was it the real deal? I have no idea.
I also tried to listen to the ticking of the watch. A buddy told me that if it ticks, it’s probably a fake. Now, I’m not sure if I heard ticking or not, my ears aren’t what they used to be. I put it right up to my ear, and maybe I heard something? Maybe not? It was all kind of a blur.
Digging Deeper
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Hands Inspection
Someone mentioned that on the real GMT Master II, the hour hand should be closest to the dial, then the 24-hour GMT hand, and then the minute hand. So, I grabbed a magnifying glass and took a closer look. The hands were stacked, yeah, but figuring out the exact order was tough.
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Movement
I read somewhere that a ticking movement is a giveaway for a fake. I listened to a few watches, and some did tick, while others were pretty quiet. It got me thinking, maybe it’s not as straightforward as they say.
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Replica Models
Found out that replicas of specific models like the GMT-Master II ref. 126710BLRO are out there. This made me realize that counterfeiters are getting really good at copying these watches. It’s a bit scary, to be honest.
So, after spending some time trying to be a watch expert, I gotta say, it’s way harder than I thought. These fakes are pretty darn good. You really gotta know what you’re looking for, and even then, it’s not a sure thing. I guess the best way to know for sure is to get it from a legit dealer, but who can afford that? Anyway, that’s my little adventure with Rolex watches. Hope you found it somewhat interesting.
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