The Breitling Watch Source Forums

As most of you are aware, I know absolutely nothing about Rolex..........

But I might have just bought one

I went to an auction this morning and bought a job lot of watches, and this was in the box. My guess is that it is a quartz fake - I can set the time and the quickset date, but it isn't running so I am assuming dead battery, but I don't want to chuck it without checking with people that actually know!

The caseback is completely blank, and unfortunately I don't have the right type of case opener to see what's inside. The 'gold' is all plate - you can see it wearing off on the bezel and end of the bracelet. The bracelet links are not solid, but shaped and then filled.

Sorry for the crap photo - a bit of a guick job, and didn't want to spend too much time on this one when I think it's garbage.

Can someone confirm or correct my assumption?

AFAIK, all the fluted bezels that Rolex used were Solid gold, and the only quartz models say quartz on the dial. Is it a ladies size?

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BreitlingSource Admin
http://www.breitlingsource.com - http://blog.breitlingsource.com

Yeah, it's a ladies size.

It's not supposed to be quartz, that's just my conclusion with the ability to set, but not running. I'm trying to find a caseback opener that's small enough to open it to check. I have a reference to an 18K and SS perpetual datejust ladies but it doesn't clarify whether solid or not, and pricing isn't very helpful to identify - trade price $1,600.

The blank caseback and the bracelet quality make me suspicious, just thought that some experts might know. I guess when the caseback comes off then I'll know for sure.

Not particularly concerned as the price I paid for the box was so low that I can throw this out without caring.

Aside from the Sea Dwellers, all Rolexes have blank casebacks.. and aftermarket bracelets are quite often found on real rolexes. I think the plating wearing off the fluted bezel is the first giveaway.. Rolex doesn't use plated gold on the bezel.

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BreitlingSource Admin
http://www.breitlingsource.com - http://blog.breitlingsource.com

I wouldn't let dodgy bracelet quality make you think it's fake Roff!

Me-> <- Rolie-Boys

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Well yes, there is that

I'm really not concerned - the box had 19 watches in it, and I can sell two of the runners and cover the cost of the whole box which will give me some free watches to start practising my watchmaking skills!

If this one had turned out to be real it would just have been a bonus.

pm sent Roff

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SA-Baton White Dial/ProII
Tissot Le Locle

Hmm, I am not sure, I have seen old rolex's online that were being restored or sold and the fluted bezel definately had worn through. I wonder if in the old days Rolex did plate?

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All the best.
Ian

You can often remove the case back from a Rolex by using a squashing a rubber ball down hard on it and turning. Just depends how hard it's screwed on.

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For more information on identifying Breitling replicas, please visit my web site
http://f4buz.com/watches/breitling/fakes/fakes.html

I tried that yesterday - in fact there are actually caseback tools that are essentially rubber balls.

I was just wary of pushing too hard because of the cyclops (in case it's real).

I know Rolex did do some plating way back in the day but I didn't think they did it on models that were relatively recent.. but its possible.

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BreitlingSource Admin
http://www.breitlingsource.com - http://blog.breitlingsource.com

Found a smaller caseback opener and..............

It's fake.

Can't say I'm particularly surprised.

Still, 18 left in the box, and the rest are all real.

There are some that I won't be doing anything with (a Pulsar Quartz for example) so you may see some in the Sales section.

So who actually solved this mystery...?

He surprises the forum by being the one actually asking for help for a change and look how it ends up

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Follow me through my Journalism degree

I did - I got the caseback off and the Made in Hong Kong quartz movement was a bit of a give away

At least it wasn't made in "Switchinternet" though eh?

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Driver8

Site Moderator