Fake Rolex Paranoia ... - HELP!

[grhill5]

Hey there board, looking for a little help. I just bought a new SS Daytona with a V serial number from a reputable reseller. It's gorgeous, works/looks fine, is comfortable and looks perfect. The watch came with all papers/box/wrappers etc. I took it to an AD to have it sized, and they also appreciated how sharp it was. What kills me is that I'm paranoid about buying a fake. There are no indications at all that mine is a fake, and everyone who has looked at it (including several Rolex aficionados) gush over it. I am still paranoid about it being fake. How do I shake this feeling and just enjoy my new watch?

p.s. And yes, I'm generally paranoid about things like this.

[DSJ]

2 choices, really.

A. Not worry about it, buy the seller, trust that you have the real deal.

B. Open it up.

[tudorman8276]

...is to send it to RSC, Dallas for a service.

...IF it is fake, they will keep it and tell you so.

...IF it is the real deal, they will service it for you, return it looking NEW, and you will have the RSC receipt with the ser# and model# and YOUR name on it!!!

...of course, you could send it to one of us and the IF it is real, WE will keep it. IF it is fake, we will return it to you!!!!

[Safetrends]

Originally Posted by grhill5

Hey there board, looking for a little help. I just bought a new SS Daytona with a V serial number from a reputable reseller. It's gorgeous, works/looks fine, is comfortable and looks perfect. The watch came with all papers/box/wrappers etc. I took it to an AD to have it sized, and they also appreciated how sharp it was. What kills me is that I'm paranoid about buying a fake. There are no indications at all that mine is a fake, and everyone who has looked at it (including several Rolex aficionados) gush over it. I am still paranoid about it being fake. How do I shake this feeling and just enjoy my new watch?

p.s. And yes, I'm generally paranoid about things like this.

Excellent watch!
Glad your paranoid about fakes, now take it back to the AD and get it authenticated.

[ed54]

X2 I've been struggling with paranoia since buying off a private party, even though I had a watchmaker open the back and confirm that it's a 3135 movement. There's still these rumors on the net about excellent 3135 counterfeits. Haven't seen one yet, and I did track the paperwork back to a legitimate Japanese AD, so I'm feeling pretty good.
But I haven't seen any discussions of a counterfeit chrono movement, so having someone open the back would be a sure conformation if you need to put your mind at ease.
Ed

[onkyo]

Originally Posted by tudorman8276

...is to send it to RSC, Dallas for a service.

...IF it is fake, they will keep it and tell you so.

...IF it is the real deal, they will service it for you, return it looking NEW, and you will have the RSC receipt with the ser# and model# and YOUR name on it!!!

...of course, you could send it to one of us and the IF it is real, WE will keep it. IF it is fake, we will return it to you!!!!

Service a V series Daytona....

George, just send the watch to me. I will wear it for a couple of months to make sure it is keeping good time and return it to you with a letter (signed by me) stating it is real.

[grhill5]

Very funny. Has anyone seen a fake with the inscribing under the crystal? I feel like that was the best datapoint that makes me feel secure.

[TattooedGQ]

Originally Posted by grhill5

Very funny. Has anyone seen a fake with the inscribing under the crystal? I feel like that was the best datapoint that makes me feel secure.

Yeah tons of them have it.....some even have a decent laser etched crown (some are really poorly done however)

[Jackxv]

One dealer in Singapore took in a m series Daytona on a Pam.
The daytona was complete with all goodies and the CC guarantee with the number corresponding the numbers in the rehaut.
Because of the perfect and complete package the dealer took it in, afterwards it came out being a fake.


Jack

[grhill5]

Jack,
Now that is a scary story. I guess I could go have my AD open it up. I tell you though, if this is a fake, I'm a monkey's uncle. This is the one I bought:

http://www.bernardwatch.com/Rolex/Daytona/RLX4373

[grhill5]

Jack, that is scary.

Here is the one I bought, with the resellers link:

http://www.bernardwatch.com/Rolex/Daytona/RLX4373

Taking it and having it opened seems like a lot of work. Is this something that's normally done, or just by paranoid folks like me?

[s.justinlee]

I had the same fake rolex paranoia as you.
I took my rolex into a local reputable shop and had the caseback opened just to confirm my watch was real.
it cost $25 to open and close and pressure test.
it was well worth peace of mind.

[SteveK]

I havnt come across ANY V serial Daytona fakes yet. This isnt a problem yet, and I feel safe saying that your watch is genuine even without having seen it. Hopefully you find some solace in that. Bernard watch also seems reputable. The fakers are stuck in the M engraved serials, i've only seen fake subs with the V serial and theyre easily identifiable as fakes by collectors. The high end Sub fakes are still selling M serials at least until the new year

[snowbird]

I've seen some good reviews on Bernard Watch on here and they are also highly rated by the Better Business Bureau.

[springer]

Bernard Watches in Austin, Texas, is 1000% reputable.

[grhill5]

I appreciate everyone's comments. I haven't gone and had the back removed, but showed it to some folks at Paul Duggan and Lux, Bond here in Boston and it completely passed the sniff test. I sleep easier now. Now the only question is should I sell my LV Sub to subsidize the cost of the Daytona (wife thinks I should, but little does she know she's got a steel lady's watch under the tree!)

[joeychitwood]

Paranoia is certainly reasonable these days. (I speak from hard experience.) If you are still concerned about the watch's authenticity, bring it to a jeweler and have it opened up.

See what the spouse thinks about selling the LV Sub after she opens up her present. If you aren't terribly attached to it and she still wants it gone, I'd sell it to keep the peace in your house.

[springer]

Originally Posted by grhill5

I appreciate everyone's comments. I haven't gone and had the back removed, but showed it to some folks at Paul Duggan and Lux, Bond here in Boston and it completely passed the sniff test. I sleep easier now. Now the only question is should I sell my LV Sub to subsidize the cost of the Daytona (wife thinks I should, but little does she know she's got a steel lady's watch under the tree!)

Have the case cracked open, you'll sleep better tonight.

[SteveK]

Im sure yours is GENUINE based on having the V serial, but opening the caseback only proves it has a genuine movement, as i've seen a few older Daytonas with custom serial numbers housing el primero movements, which were once legitimately used by Rolex in the Daytona for a decade (through the 90s) , They Cost $3K-$5000 to build which was less than half the retail price. It used all gen parts from Rolex and a service crystal, NO ONE could tell the difference, 100% IMPOSSIBLE* because of the outsourced movement. IT WAS A ROLEX DAYTONA, ALL genuine parts sourced and used, and built for less by someone other than Rolex. Im not even sure what to call that.

*only flaw was the rotor wasnt a Rolex engraved one but a Zenith one