My Fake Rolex

One of my favorite watches is a fake Rolex I received as a birthday gift while in the Middle East. I'm more fascinated with it than I would be with a real one. $50 - an imitation of an Oyster Perpetual. What's cool is that it's got a very convincing smooth second-hand movement and it's actually a kinetic watch! I shake it a couple times and the thing starts right up. Not bad for a $50 wannabe watch!

It seems to be a pretty good fake overall. I almost wonder if some of it is real. It's obvious marks are its 'jumps' in second-hand movement - not perfectly smooth (very close though). Also, it's face wasn't clearly printed. There are small errors on the 'L' of Rolex and on the 'O' 'S' and 'T' of Oyster. Other than that, the face is fairly clean. If you look closely, you can tell someone was slopping it together with tools, as there are little marks around the inside rim of the dial. The bracelet is only gold on the outside and side -- underneath it's metal. Also, the individual pieces of the bracelet are not solid; they're folded and crimped pieces of metal. The back is not marked. It has a middle circle part that's brushed metal and chrome around the outside circle with sawteeth around the outside. I'm not sure what your definition of quiet is when it comes to movements. Maybe I'm deaf, but I can barely hear mine with it up to my ear. It does make some noise and 'slosh' a bit when the kinetic thingy goes back and forth.

All text, photos, and graphics are © 1999-2001 Brian Salisbury.  Reproduction is prohibited without permission of the author.  Excerpts may be used so long as the author and this site are credited.
Please email me for any questions or comments.