is it fake or real?

[datle]

Hello everyone, I just recently came into possession of my fathers old rolex. He has never worn it and just let it sit in his room for over 30 years. Growing up I would always joke to my father about getting me a rolex when ever he went to china. I never really had a connection with my father, but when i recently started getting into watches he shared with me his passion for watches and he showed me his collection, amongst the collection the rolex caught my eye and I immediately grabbed at it.He saw how my eyes gleamed when I held it and he gave it to me. Even if it is fake I will still cherish this watch as this is the first thing that has connected us on a personal level.

Thank you guys for your input.

[nick c]

Can you take more pics

[subtona]

need a vintage eye to weigh in.

[crowncollection]

To evaluate this watch you need to take heaps of pics including pics of the case engravings


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Swearengen]

You might get a better response posting some higher res photos in the Vintage section of this forum. In the mean time there is an excellent post on the Red Sub:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=145962

You could do a little background reading and see how well your dial matches the various Mks of red sub.

Good luck

[datle]

I'm thinking its either a mark iv or a mark v but the ft in the 660ft is a little wrong along with the fonts in other parts such as the "official" looks different from the examples in the link provided.

[vintagewaferthin]

The bracelet doesn't look right to me. Seems to be fake as far as that is concerned. The watch itself also seems "off" to me, I just can't put my finger on what exactly strikes me as being off. There are plenty of these fake 1680's out there unfortunately.

[AU_911tt]

The crown guards don't look right to me either.

[vintagewaferthin]

If you can, crack open the back and take some pics of the movement.

[crowncollection]

mark 5 dial style, but pics are not good enough to tell if its a top grade knock off or real for me, people build these watches replica case and real dial and movement and crown etc, so many more pics needed to verify this watch, the band clasp looks fake

[datle]

what pics would i need to take to verify? there's no engraving on the back of the case or anywere to my knowledge

[rolex_DateJust]

Originally Posted by datle

what pics would i need to take to verify? there's no engraving on the back of the case or anywere to my knowledge

Take more pictures of everything you can. Closer pictures of the case, lugs, dial. Take it somewhere to have them take off the caseback and take pictures of the movement as well

[bdex75]

Originally Posted by datle

what pics would i need to take to verify? there's no engraving on the back of the case or anywere to my knowledge

Take the bracelet off the head and photograph the numbers between the lugs as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hpozzuoli]

Were they making knock offs of high quality 30yrs ago when the OPs dad got the watch? Just asking because I haven't been following the replica evolution. The patina on the markers either looks real good or made that way. The way the light comes thru the cyclops and hits the marker makes the lume look like paint. Could just be angle.....

[UncleSwiss]

Originally Posted by Hpozzuoli

Were they making knock offs of high quality 30yrs ago when the OPs dad got the watch? Just asking because I haven't been following the replica evolution. The patina on the markers either looks real good or made that way. The way the light comes thru the cyclops and hits the marker makes the lume look like paint. Could just be angle.....

They are making vintage replicas now and have been for many years sir.

[Swearengen]

Not sure if its just the angle of the photo but the final r in Submariner looks a little to far to the right?

[vintagewaferthin]

Something just appears "off" about that watch.

[AbsolutelyROLEX!]

Bracelet is completely wrong and Pip is wrong size, bezel insert is wrong as is magnification,

Its a really good fake

[drifter01]

looks like a fake to me. CGs don;t look right.

[Andad]

I got nuthin' - damn, it looks OK to me.

[TheBluePrince]

Fake story, fake watch.

[Bluside]

Originally Posted by TheBluePrince

Fake story, fake watch.

I don't know enough to say one way or the other. But, it seems that this is a very common occurrence in this section. Too bad.

[UncleSwiss]

Originally Posted by Bluside

I don't know enough to say one way or the other. But, it seems that this is a very common occurrence in this section. Too bad.

I concur...many individuals unfortunately like to "play" in this section.

[junbug5150]

Pic of the acrylic pearl? Also the date disc should be silver on these.

[southtexas]

I bet money case is fake, but could confirm with a backside pic and pics between lugs.

Pic not quite clear enough to bother to study fonts/alignment, but I bet dial is wrong due just to "lollipop" look of lume plots too close to hash marks.

Edit: dial's fake too, but a fairly good fake. Awaiting follow-up post from OP with pics between lugs, backside.

And a word to the wise: a fake bracelet, or crystal, insert, pip etc does not make an entire watch fake. I walked into my long-time local jeweler's, who had just a moment before put this into the showcase:



He had purchased it from the original owner, then proceeded to take off the original faded insert and throw it away "because it looked old" and replaced it with that junk. He tossed the original crystal "because it was scratched".

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[J!m]

Originally Posted by southtexas

I bet money case is fake, but could confirm with a backside pic and pics between lugs.

Pic not quite clear enough to bother to study fonts/alignment, but I bet dial is wrong due just to "lollipop" look of lume plots too close to hash marks.

Edit: dial's fake too, but a fairly good fake. Awaiting follow-up post from OP with pics between lugs, backside.

And a word to the wise: a fake bracelet, or crystal, insert, pip etc does not make an entire watch fake. I walked into my long-time local jeweler's, who had just a moment before put this into the showcase:



He had purchased it from the original owner, then proceeded to take off the original faded insert and throw it away "because it looked old" and replaced it with that junk. He tossed the original crystal "because it was scratched".

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I assume you then dove into the dumpster to find that insert?

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by J!m

I assume you then dove into the dumpster to find that insert?

Unfortunately no, it was already gone. Luckily, I found a decent replacement for $300 (seemed pricey at the time, and pearl is fake so maybe insert is also ;)):





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Knappo 1307]

Originally Posted by southtexas

Unfortunately no, it was already gone. Luckily, I found a decent replacement for $300 (seemed pricey at the time, and pearl is fake so maybe insert is also ;)):





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Absolutely Beautiful!! Congrats..

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by Knappo 1307

Absolutely Beautiful!! Congrats..

Thank you sir; it seems to belong to my wife now (adverse possession, I guess).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by datle

Hello everyone, I just recently came into possession of my fathers old rolex. He has never worn it and just let it sit in his room for over 30 years.

You don't say