Real Rolex watches
Due to the use of mobile phones, some people hardly wear wrist watches theses days. However, if you are a watch freak, no matter the number of mobile phones you hold at a time, you will certainly wear a wrist watch to complement your dressing.
A wrist watch is more than a time-keeper. It is a symbol of tradition and history encased in a showpiece with extreme craftsmanship.
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Not many people realise that they are wearing pieces of art on their wrist. Some watch houses have four craftsmen working on one watch for several months – designing complex pieces of technology by hand.
Wrist watches were first used in the 19th century by the military to synchronise manoeuvres during war. Since then, specialised watches have been used in the depths of the ocean by divers and high up in the sky by aviators.
Today, there are variety of watches, and one of the well-known designer watches is Rolex. It holds a special place in the world of high-end mechanical watches. It is the most valuable luxury watch brand in the world.
Rolex is also one of the most expensive watch brands. It is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer based in Geneva, Switzerland. What makes Rolex a special brand is the quality of its designs and the rarity of its materials.
Other watch manufacturers, such as Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, are equally apt at producing sublime watches.
The year 2021 has barely started but Rolex has 17 of the world’s most expensive watches. Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona which was sold for $17.8 million (GH₵103,470,570) is not only the most expensive Rolex ever sold, but it is also the most expensive watch ever sold in the world. It easily beat the previous record set by a 1943 Patek which sold for $11 million (GH₵1,913,612.80).
This Rolex Daytona isn’t particularly rare or made from precious materials, but its unique story is what watch collectors are most interested in. It was given to Paul Newman by his wife, Joanne Woodward, while he was playing in the movie “Winning”.
Many Rolex replicas are even, to trained eyes, nearly exact copies of their genuine counterparts. It is no longer possible to spot every fake Rolex by simply looking at it. The only way to know for sure is to take the watch to an authorised dealer, qualified watchmaker or high-end watch shop where they will remove the case back and see the movement inside.
However, there are some signs of fake Rolex watches that can be caught by the naked eye. Rolex does not make 14k gold or gold-plated watches or bracelets. A real Rolex is either stainless steel, 18k gold, or platinum. If you see a Rolex with faded gold or metal showing below the gold, it is a fake.
Also, on a genuine Rolex, the green GMT hand is sandwiched between the hour and the minute hand. The GMT hand on a fake Rolex often sits close to the dial and is NOT sandwiched between the hour/minute hands.
In our part of the world, the price and the materials used for some of these Rolex watches make it easy for you to identify a fake Rolex watch. Just walk to the men who sell watches in the glass showcases and you will find Rolex watches going for a cool GH₵15.
Some of the fake ones have the brand spelt like Rolax, Rolaxe or Rollex. You need to look sharp when you buy from the street because you might end up with a Rolax.
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