Hi, apologies if this is a dumb question. When I first joined this site and looked at all the comparison pics vs gens (e.g. VSF sub rep vs. gen) I had the impression that when buying a gen Rolex second-hand one would run a risk of being sold a fake unless you could see the movement and in that case you have an immediate tell based on the balance wheel. But if I bought a used watch I'm not going to open the case so ...
Then I was thinking about serial numbers. Whether engraved on the rehaut or on the case between lugs for older watches, if there is a way to check the serial number wouldn't this be an immediate tell? I think that in a specific production run all serial numbers are identical? One of the Sub threads talks about the current Q66 batch; I think that Q66 is the first three numbers of the serial number?
Of course if they use a real serial number from on the same model watch that could be tricky. Is Rolex serial number a tell? Is there a way to easily look up serial numbers to ID reps?
IWC has a serial number lookup and it came back with 'unknown' status when I put in the serial number from my mkiii. Woul thusveork to easily identify a rep Rolex? Or is the movement the primary tell?
Then I was thinking about serial numbers. Whether engraved on the rehaut or on the case between lugs for older watches, if there is a way to check the serial number wouldn't this be an immediate tell? I think that in a specific production run all serial numbers are identical? One of the Sub threads talks about the current Q66 batch; I think that Q66 is the first three numbers of the serial number?
Of course if they use a real serial number from on the same model watch that could be tricky. Is Rolex serial number a tell? Is there a way to easily look up serial numbers to ID reps?
IWC has a serial number lookup and it came back with 'unknown' status when I put in the serial number from my mkiii. Woul thusveork to easily identify a rep Rolex? Or is the movement the primary tell?
