ROLEX YELLOW GOLD DAY-DATE LAPIS LAZULI (36 mm; REF. 18038)

[SProda]

Hello everyone:
I am new to this forum and would appreciate your help on two questions I have.

1. The watch that I am contemplating buying has the lume hands and "Swiss Made" at 6 O'Clock. All of the internet pictures that I was able to find, however, have the solid gold hands and "T Swiss T" mark at 6 O'Clock. Does anyone know if this is a genuine Rolex watch or a custom made one?

2. The watch is in a good condition and has the full set. What would be a fair price to pay for one if genuine?


Thankful in advance for your help!

[miamiclay]

It’s unlikely it’s fake overall - The case, bezel and bracelet look right so far, from the little visible here. My WG Lapis DD is a T Swiss T dial, it has lumed hands.

Your biggest question is whether the dial is factory or aftermarket - I don’t see any issues, but that’s tough to judge from photos, certainly from this one.

[KatGirl]

Need better pics. No glaring issues in this one, though.

[MavericktheAce]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

Need better pics. No glaring issues in this one, though.

Confused. You stated no glaring issues two posts prior. Now you're agreeing with harry that there was an issue after he pointed it out? Shouldn't you have posted the issue before telling the OP that you saw no glaring issues then having a change of heart two posts later after reading Harry's?

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by MavericktheAce

Confused. You stated no glaring issues two posts prior. Now you're agreeing with harry that there was an issue after he pointed it out? Shouldn't you have posted the issue before telling the OP that you saw no glaring issues then having a change of heart two posts later after reading Harry's?

No mystery. When I first looked at the dial pic, I ThoUght the font looked funky, but don’t consider myself an expert, by any means, so didn’t mention it. After Harry voiced the same concern, I felt more free to state that opinion.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

No mystery. When I first looked at the dial pic, I ThoUght the font looked funky, but don’t consider myself an expert, by any means, so didn’t mention it. After Harry voiced the same concern, I felt more free to state that opinion.

This isn't the first time you've misjudged a watch recently. Maybe you should hold off on the opinions when people are looking for expert advice.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

This isn't the first time you've misjudged a watch recently. Maybe you should hold off on the opinions when people are looking for expert advice.

Not sure what you are referring to, and I just stated, I am no expert. All I did was agree with Harry, because I had noticed the same thing during my original perusal. What’s your beef? Why the need to be rude?

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

No mystery. When I first looked at the dial pic, I ThoUght the font looked funky, but don’t consider myself an expert, by any means, so didn’t mention it. After Harry voiced the same concern, I felt more free to state that opinion.

Just for clarification, what is wrong with the font compared to an original one? Everything you see on this dial or just the one T SWISS MADE below?

[HarryLime]

Dial is fake.

[Verdi]

Originally Posted by HarryLime

Dial is fake.

Can you elaborate?

[SProda]

Thank you all for the input!
This is the best picture I have as it was provided by the seller, and I have not seen the watch in person.

[HarryLime]

Sure, the text on the bottom is the main tell.

Not only is it sloppy and fading (which typically does NOT happen on real Rolex stone dials) but this dial says either "T SWISS MADE T" or "SWISS MADE" in a weird font (hard to tell which), neither of which is correct, especially for an 18038. It should say SWISS or T SWISS T only. "Swiss Made" is reserved for later 18238s and 118208s. Also now that I'm typing this all out, I can't actually recall ever seeing a plain lapis (with no markers) dial with SWISS MADE on the bottom. Onyx, yes, but not plain lapis as far as I can remember. There's a "sold" one still listed on a Los Angeles dealers website, but I also think that one is fake.

Also there's some weirdness happening around the bottom left edge of the day window, but I can't tell what it is from this photo.

[Verdi]

Originally Posted by HarryLime

Sure, the text on the bottom is the main tell.

Not only is it sloppy and fading (which typically does NOT happen on real Rolex stone dials) but this dial says either "T SWISS MADE T" or "SWISS MADE" in a weird font (hard to tell which), neither of which is correct, especially for an 18038. It should say SWISS or T SWISS T only. "Swiss Made" is reserved for later 18238s and 118208s. Also now that I'm typing this all out, I can't actually recall ever seeing a plain lapis (with no markers) dial with SWISS MADE on the bottom. Onyx, yes, but not plain lapis as far as I can remember. There's a "sold" one still listed on a Los Angeles dealers website, but I also think that one is fake.

Also there's some weirdness happening around the bottom left edge of the day window, but I can't tell what it is from this photo.

Thanks for the detailed reply!

[KatGirl]

Agree with Harry. The text that says “Swiss Made” jumped out at me, too.

[SProda]

Thank you for the explanation!

[GLADIATOR]

Dial is surely fake/aftermarket
Can you post photos of back of watch and deployant clasp?

[HarryLime]

Found it. Looks like they're selling a FAKE onyx too. For the sake of google...

https://www.chrono24.com/rolex/rolex...id15769794.htm

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