Rolex Watches Replica Scams
The quality of Swiss, Japanese and Chinese Rolex Replicas vary from close reproductions of authentic watches to laughable knock-offs with cheap materials and mis-spellings that won't fool anyone

When people think of gray market products they often have images of street vendors peddling cheaply made imitations of famous name brand products. But these products generally fall into the knock-off or fake category and are made to look like the real thing at cheap prices.

But gray market items, like watches, are real merchandise that comes directly from the manufacturer, but are sold through non-traditional means and can often deceive even the most discerning of Great Guys.

When it comes to Rolex watches you can either buy the authentic timepiece or get stuck with a gray market watch or a replica. But what should you look for to avoid picking up one of these little imposters?

Swiss Rolex replica watches and others that use Japanese or Chinese parts are part of a growing industry that caters to people who want the look and feel of a real Rolex, but don’t want to pay the high price. The quality of these watches vary greatly with the top watches being virtually indistinguishable from their authentic counterparts to laughable knock-offs with cheap materials and mis-spellings that couldn’t fool anyone.

Gray market Rolex watches are another beast altogether. Genuine Rolex watches come from the factory and are sold to authorized dealers and distributors. These dealers must make large initial investments and purchase minimum quantities of Rolex watches over time in order to remain authorized dealers. It’s not uncommon for one dealer to have to shell out over $250,000 or more per year in order to carry that hallowed brand.

Unfortunately the small dealers have to purchase more watches than they’re able to sell or carry a large amount of merchandise in their inventory. Some of these dealers will sell off some of their inventory, especially the less popular models at wholesale prices, to unauthorized or ‘gray market’ dealers. These dealers in turn sell the products at greater discounts than the authorized dealers are allowed to.

The bad part is that manufacturers don’t offer consumers warranty services on these watches in order to protect the authorized dealers from the big discounts being given by unauthorized dealers. Of course this only hurts the consumer in the long run as many are unaware of this until after they’ve made their purchase.

Since these watches come from the factory, you can’t tell just by looking at the piece. The only thing that makes them different is how they’re sold. Some things to be aware of are:

• A discount of 20% or more of the manufacturer’s listed price.
• No warranty card or warranty card that’s missing an authorized dealer stamp.
• Missing serial number.

Owning a gray market watch might seem like a good way to get a real Rolex for less, but there are a few important issues you should be aware of. For instance, if the watch is missing the serial number, it might interfere with your ability to file an insurance claim if the watch is stolen. Many reputable gray market dealers will provide their own service warranties on the watches they sell, but some factory repair centers have been known to confiscate watches they believe are of the gray market variety.

The bottom line is that if you’re dead set on a real Rolex, and have the cash, then hey, knock yourself out. A real Rolex is a luxury that screams success. And a gray market authentic Rolex watch might be your way to get the real McCoy at a substantial savings. But, if you want the look and feel of a Rolex without the price or worries that come with owning a gray market piece, you might want to opt for a good Swiss replica instead.