Rolex Watches

What is the Rolex GMT Master II and how do you use it?

The GMT Master watch was created with pilots in mind, as it shows the time in three distinct time zones at the same time. When worn or placed in a watch winder, the GMT Master II is an automated watch. The crown is sealed with a Twinlock seal, making it waterproof to 330 feet.

To remove the crown, turn it counterclockwise. When you remove the crown, it will be in position one, where you can manually wind the watch by turning the crown clockwise. If you haven't worn your watch in a while and it has stopped working, you should do this.

To get to position 2, pull the crown out of a notch. The hour hand, the small hand with the circle at the end, can be adjusted by turning the crown in this position. Maintain your home time zone by setting the hour hand to your local time.

To position three, pull the crown out one more notch. You may adjust the minute hand and move the crown in any direction from this position. The date function is controlled by moving the minute hand. The GMT II does not contain the rapid date setting option found on most Rolex date watches, which allows you to set the date without moving the minute or hour hands.

The 24 hour hand, the coloured hand with the arrow at the end, is likewise moved when the crown is moved to position 3. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) should be set on this hand. Because all time zones are centred on GMT, this feature is helpful to pilots. Because New York is five hours behind London, it is designated as GMT -5.

To easily change the time without having to adjust the hour hand, rotate the bezel, a ceramic piece that surrounds the watch face. The digits that symbolise the 24 hours of the day are encircled by the bezel. You can adjust your bezel so that the "4" on the bezel matches to the hour hand if your hour hand is set at 6 p.m. New York time and you've flown to Phoenix, which is two hours ahead of New York City. On Greenwich Mean Time, it is currently 4 p.m. in Phoenix, 6 p.m. in New York, and 11 p.m. in London.

Push the crown past position 1 and close the crown by turning it clockwise while pressing down. To ensure its water resistance, the crown must be tight.

How do you figure out which Rolex model you have?

Examining the model number on the outside of the case makes it simple to identify Rolex watch models. Collectors who are perplexed by Rolex's different serial numbering system, which specifies the timepiece's year of manufacture, will be relieved. The model numbers, on the other hand, were quite simple to understand. Specific model numbers exist for the Rolex Air-King, Date, Datejust, Datejust, Ladies Date / Datejust, Explorer, Explorer II, Oyster Perpetual, Submariner, Sea-Dweller, GMT-Master, and Daytona / Chronograph.

Every 12 hours, use a pin and screwdriver to remove the strap or leather. Wipe any dirt, filth, or residue away from the horns with a polishing cloth.

Look between the horns for the model number. Four to six digits are required. After the year 2000, the model number of Rolex watches will have an extra "1" in front of it. (Resources 1 & 2 can be found here.) Four digits, such as "1002" or "1003," appear on early Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches. Later Oyster Perpetuals, like "14203M," may have a letter after the number.

The type of watch is determined by the first two or three digits. The bezel is identified by the fourth digit of a five-digit model number. Since the 1980s, a three-digit number, such as "010" for Switzerland, "110" for France, or "529" for Saudi Arabia, has identified the country where the watch was initially sold.

Examine the clasp on the steel bracelet using a magnifying glass. A three-digit code, consisting of two letters and a number, appears to the right of the Rolex emblem. Rolex dealers say this is a date of manufacturing for the bracelet, despite the fact that Rolex has not made an official declaration. The code "DE5", for example, indicates that the bracelet was made in May 2001.

Look at the dial to determine the Rolex watch model. On the dial, the word "Rolex" distinguishes the models. Many early vintage Rolexes, on the other hand, have nothing but the word "Rolex" on the dial. The self-winding mechanism on one popular model looks to be bolted to the existing movement, resulting in the caseback becoming rounded, earning it the moniker "Bubbleback." Bubblebacks were available on a variety of models from 1933 through the mid-1960s.

Identification of a Rolex watch

Logo of Rolex

Make a mental note of the original Rolex crown logo and see if you can locate it on the watch. The Rolex emblem appears on the face of genuine Rolex watches around the "6." The etched crown is a teeny-tiny thing. The crown on fake watches is frequently replicated in larger and unequal dimensions.

Hand of the second

Rolex's technology is its trademark. A genuine Rolex watch has a seconds hand that glides smoothly around the dial without ticking. A ticking seconds hand in motion and sound can be found on some fakes.

Return of the case

Check to see if the Rolex watch has a clear back or a section that displays the watch's internal mechanism. A transparent caseback is one of the most evident characteristics of a fake Rolex. A watch with a clear case back has never been produced by Rolex. This is a deliberate effort to safeguard the company's trademark mechanism.

Materials

Examine the materials to determine if it is a genuine Rolex. Rolex timepieces are made of 24k gold, platinum, or stainless steel. On the strip, this is stated. A Rolex that is chrome plated, gold plated, or made of two different materials is almost certainly a fake.

Engraving

On the rear of the watch case, look for any engraving. Rolex does not engrave or mark the caseback of any authentic watch, contrary to popular assumption. To give the appearance of authenticity, fake Rolex watches often contain a serial number, emblem, or trademark etched on the back of the watch. The backs of genuine Rolex watches are entirely smooth.

Factory-delivered Rolex watches have a hologram sticker on the caseback that shows a 3-D image of the Rolex crown as well as the watch's reference number. A sticker on the underside of the case of a fake Rolex watch is also present, but it is rarely a three-dimensional hologram. Fakes frequently have a picture other than the Rolex crown.

Number of the reference

The serial number and watch case reference number can be used to identify a genuine Rolex. An real Rolex watch has its reference numbers engraved on the side of the case. Diamond-cut engravings are used. Serial numbers on fake Rolex watches appear harsh, as if they were acid etched. The reference numbers must also match the certification of genuine Rolex watches, which consists of a unique set of numerals. Number combinations are repeated in fake Rolex certification numbers.

Rolex Submariner: How to Spot a Fake

Since 1912, when the business moved from England to Geneva, Rolex watches have been a prestige symbol. To date, the Submariner is Rolex's most popular style. Many companies make Submariner reproductions because of its recognised look. One of these luxury watches cost an average of € 4,550 in 2010. So, if you come across a "too good to be true" offer on a Rolex watch, it's probably not. There are a few straightforward ways to identify if you're receiving the real stuff before paying for a fake, other from the price.

Examine the watch's back side. It's a fake if the case is transparent and you can see the watch's inner workings. A Rolex Submariner's back isn't see-through.

Examine and feel the edges of the watch band. On a replica, the Rolex logo is frequently smudged and illegible. Furthermore, the numerals on a genuine Rolex bracelet are considerably more obvious and clean, but the numbers on a knockoff are less apparent and carved fake a more superficial manner. Fake Submariners having a considerably sharper edge on the bracelet, whilst a genuine Rolex has a duller edge.

Check the back of the watch for a Rolex holographic sticker. Check for a hologram sticker by holding the watch up to the light. Many fakes are just non-holographic images that do not alter when viewed from different perspectives.

Look for the Rolex crown in the crystal. This crown is usually modest and difficult to notice on an original Rolex. The majority of imposters feature a huge crown that can be seen from afar.

Consider where you purchased your timepiece. If you paid a lot of money for it and acquired it from a reputed dealer, it's probably genuine. It is, however, a fake if you purchased it from a shady vendor or, even worse, from a stranger on the street.

The back of a Rolex watch can be removed in a few simple steps

Owners are advised to take their Rolex watches to approved service centres for all services rather than attempting to fix them yourself, according to the literature that comes with the watch. The back of the watch may be removed in minutes with the proper tools. However, after the back is removed, the sensitive parts and instruments within become more exposed, and you'll want to make sure you know exactly what you're doing from then on.

Wherever watch repair supplies are available, pick up a Jaxa wrench and watch case holder (see Resources). These are specialist tools used solely in the watchmaking and repair industry. A Jaxa key is a unique key that can open most timepieces, including Rolexes. A watch case stand, which resembles a little vice grip, is a system for safely stabilising a watch while the back is removed.

To make it easier to slip the case in, release all of the screws surrounding the cradle of the case support, and then loosen the screws that regulate the clamp on the bottom.

Tighten the watch case holder's screws after sliding the main clamp over the edge of a worktable or other stable surface.

Place the Rolex watch case face down in the cradle and tighten the screws around the cradle until the watch is securely secured in place.

Examine your Jaxa key bits and match them up to the notches on the back of your Rolex watch case one by one. On different models, Rolex employs various notch styles, but all end caps are distinctive.

The end caps for the Jaxa wrench should be attached. Attach three identical bits to the three bit holders protruding from the flat side of the wrench by pushing them all the way onto the three bit holders.

Place the Jaxa key on the Rolex's back and align the drill bits with the watch case's notches. Turn the housing to the left with downward pressure. It'll be challenging at first, but after the first half, it'll be much easier. Continue to crank the key until the back of the case is loose enough to finish by hand or the watch case comes loose.