Spot a fake rolex gmt ceramic by unwinding the crown?

[wegeman76]

Is this true?

My AD told me that unwinding the crown will pop out on a authentic rolex vs fakes do not. Also when winding there is a slight tick while wing vs a smooth wind.

[VetteBandit]

Maybe on some examples, but definitely not a reliable pass fail test for all.

[armoredsaint]

doesn't some of the good fakes with japanese movements are hard to tell that way?

[wegeman76]

What should some one look for?

What's a dead give away to spot a fake gmt ceramic

[kyle L]

Well you could definitely look at the movement. If it does not run smoothly then it's possibly a fake.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by wegeman76

Is this true?

My AD told me that unwinding the crown will pop out on a authentic rolex vs fakes do not. Also when winding there is a slight tick while wing vs a smooth wind.

We don't usually discuss fakes here....but, as to this - No..... a Rolex will not pop out all the time either..

However, generally the ETA based movement in the good replicas, and even the cheaper Chinese movements; when setting the hands, operate backwards from the Rolex...

Now, if this discussion degrades to a "I hate faks", or an "I hate fake wearers" thread, then we're handing out infractions and binning the thread....

[sakuraba]

Originally Posted by Tools

We don't usually discuss fakes here....but, as to this - No..... a Rolex will not pop out all the time either..

Just wanted to add that since the GMT II-c has a triplock crown, you might want to check if the gasket is there. The poor fakes skip this feature altogether. But then again there are really good ones...

[Zirotti]

The biggest tell on the GMT reps is the rehaut engraving. It usually doesn't line up at the 12, 3 and 9 and it is too deep.

[ParisDakarBmw]

I'd only trust a watchmaker, AD, or one of the known pro's here. Too much money to chance. That little tidbit could also be a valuable fact if it's correct. It might just save one of us from a bad buy! Thanks for the interesting topic!

[jagwap]

There are some pretty good fakes out there (I live in China and see them up close and personal). But side by side, there's no contest.

As someone has already said, setting the time the fakes usually move in the opposite direction to the real ones.

Also, looking along the side, the crown sits higher than the centre radius of the crown guards on the genuine article. On the fake the ceramic distorts the reflections into straight line of light radially from the centre, and the font of the GMT zone is a little off: thinner digits. Also these digits fade over time, which I strongly suspect the real one's platinum doesn't

I've never seen a fake that has the quick set hour hand function. The second crown position has date quick set in one direction and GMT set in the other. Also the GMT hand is below the hour hand, unlike the real one.

Maybe there are fakes that address all of this, as it is such a popular model they may have tooled up for it, but I doubt it.

By the way, I've seen a fake 116610 ss ceramic submariner. It was a higher grade fake, so it showed me this is going to be one gorgeous watch when the real one comes out. I look forward to trying it, but it also told me I prefer the GMTIIc, so I bought one last time I popped back to England.

The real thing is the only way to go.

[Zirotti]

FYI, the cyclops on the rep GMTIIc does not have AR coating.

[SLS]

Wind the 24 hour hand backwards and change the date and watch what happens....this will not hurt a 3185/6 but will wreak havoc on the fakes! Also, set the time just before midnight and watch the date change...another tell tale sign. These are quick things I do before taking the time to crack the back, which is still the best way to go IMHO.

Edit: "24 hour hand" should read "12 hour hand"
Scott

[Zirotti]

Originally Posted by SLS

Wind the 24 hour hand backwards and change the date and watch what happens....this will not hurt a 3185/6 but will wreak havoc on the fakes! Also, set the time just before midnight and watch the date change...another tell tale sign. These are quick things I do before taking the time to crack the back, which is still the best way to go IMHO.
Scott

Not entirely true. I've seen some replicas with I (IIRC) an ETA 2893-2, which is a true GMT movement.

[JUSTROLEXES]

Originally Posted by vettebandit

maybe on some examples, but definitely not a reliable pass fail test for all.

x2

[SLS]

Originally Posted by Zirotti

Not entirely true. I've seen some replicas with I (IIRC) an ETA 2893-2, which is a true GMT movement.

Elaborate please...From what I understand about that movement, is that, unless modified, the ETA 2893-2, cannot move the quick set 12 hour hand independently of the 24 hour hand, which would be much different than a cal 3185/6.
Scott