Err...here's the little project that Orchi
is doing that has kept Orchi quite busy of late...

The ORIGINAL Rolex watch cases for Ref 5512...5513 n 1680...
with ROUNDED CROWN GUARDS...circa from about MID 60s to 1980 or so...
should be having EDZACHARY these...Original Rolex features:-

(NOTE: These Rounded Crown Guards may seems to be similar...
but they are actually NOT...)


1. Original Rolex Case Ref n Serial # fonts MUST NOT have...
LONG n EQUAL length with the Middle stroke of..."E"
The Middle Stroke MUST NOT be EQUAL in length...in "E"

The Middle Stroke of "E" MUST be...SHORTER.
along with the other fonts that MUST be consistent to ROLEX...
original variations of case stamping fonts...

2. At the back of the ROUNDED CROWN GUARDS...
there MUST be visible shape on this..."]" or "["
on the BASELINE of the lugs...to the watch case...
seen from BEHIND the backcase...

The BASELINE profile...
with PERPENDICULAR angle of Flanges...(90 degree)
MUST look like this..."[" or "]"...
depending on either the watch crown guards are seen...
from LEFT to RIGHT...

IF this BASELINE profile is looking like the one found with Ref 1665 DRSD or SD...
or with WIDER angle flanges slanting away from the PERPENDICULAR Baseline...

...*** WATCH OUT ***...

the watch case is...FAKEEEEE.

Here are the examples of ORIGINAL Rolex watch cases...
for Ref 551X n 1680 Sub...as well as 1665 SD for comparisons...
of the said BASELINE profile...
which can be easily seen from behind...
at the base of the Crown Guards...


Ref 1665 DRSD or SD...
with BASELINE profile(WIDER angle Flanges)...
NOT having the PERPENDICULAR Flanges...
at the base of the Crown Guards...to the watch case.


?t=1269785878

?t=1269760462
?t=1269760268
?t=1269760302
?t=1269760374
?t=1269760434



Ref 1680 RED or White Sub...
with BASELINE profile having PERPENDICULAR Flanges...
like "[" or "]"...
on the base of the Crown Guards...to the watch case...
seen from behind the backcase...


?t=1269769911

?t=1269760909
?t=1269761051
?t=1269761074


Ref 5512...n 5513 Sub...
From the Front...Topside or Sideways...
these ROUNDED Crown Guards...may be looking slightly different...
due to variation of production period or later Polishing works...
BUT from BEHIND...
the BASELINE MUST be the same...with Ref 1680...
having the PERPENDICULAR Flanges..."[" or "]"...
on the base of the Crown Guards...
seen from behind the caseback...

You won't see the REAL difference from any other angles...
they may look similar...

?t=1269761462
?t=1269761501
?t=1269761515
?t=1269761542
?t=1269761561



BUT from behind the backcase...VOILA...!!!

?t=1269776215


?t=1269762482
?t=1269762504
?t=1269762523
?t=1269762546
?t=1269762571
?t=1269762595
?t=1269762617
?t=1269762641
?t=1269762658
?t=1269762675
?t=1269762699


Here are the pictures showing exactly that...
ALL Original Rolex watch cases...
should have the...SHORT Middle Stroke of "E"...
It should NOT have the Middle Stroke in EQUAL length...

NO Exception:
The Middle Stroke MUST NOT be of EQUAL in length...
thus the so called...LONG Middle Stroke "E".


?t=1269762827
?t=1269762848
?t=1269762869
?t=1269762890
?t=1269762905


THESE here are pictures showing the 5512...5513...1680...
found in eBay...to have FAKEEEEEE...watch cases...
being sold from Hong Kong mostly...

The irony?...the relevant Seller(s) could also be members...
n lurkers in VRF...?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1970-Rolex-Submariner-5512-660ft-200m-Maxi-Dial-Divers_W0QQitemZ270546101182QQcmdZViewItemQQptZWristwatches?hash=item3efdcde3be

?t=1269763188
?t=1269763212
?t=1269763234


http://cgi.ebay.com/Rolex-Submariner-5513-Gloss-Dial-with-RSC-Paper_W0QQitemZ140383455768QQcmdZViewItemQQptZWristwatches?hash=item20af818a18#ht_6323wt_958

?t=1269763276
?t=1269763324
?t=1269763340
?t=1269763364
?t=1269763384

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rolex-Submariner-5513-Gloss-Dial-with-RSC-Paper_W0QQitemZ140383455768QQcmdZViewItemQQptZWristwatches?hash=item20af818a18#ht_6323wt_958


?t=1269763408
?t=1269763431
?t=1269763448
?t=1269763465

http://shop.ebay.com.au/time_holder/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=10&_rdc=1


The EXPERTS have already known about these facts...for years...
BUT Orchi hopes that the Newcomers to VRF...
could be well alerted...accordingly...

IF Orchi had done this little project before September 2009...
one of Orchi's buddies in TRF...would NOT have gotten burnt...
ending up with a "1680" Submariner with FAKEEEE...watch case.

Very Sorry for this LONG winded Post...
IF this little project of Orchi offends the freaking Seller(s)...
from Hong Kong or elsewhere...

So be it...

NOTE: All pictures are except from VRF Market...
with exception of those showing...
the FAKEEE watch cases...

Best regards
Orchi.

Thank you Orchi, I think this is very helpful, but can you help me understand what [ is? Can you circle the picture or but a [ where it needs to be? I'm not sure what Im looking for. thank you!

Err...the one highlighted in RED on 1665 watch case...
shows that the BASELINE profile of Crown Guards...
seen from behind the backcase...
has WIDER angle of Crown Guards Flanges...
on the base of the Crown Guards...
to the watch case...

This is CORRECT for Ref 1665 DRSD n SD...

?t=1269769967


BUT on the watch cases of Ref 5512...5513 n 1680 Sub...
the BASELINE profile of Crown Guards...
seen from behind the backcese...
is like "[" or "]"...with PERPENDICULAR Flanges...
on the base of Crown Guards...to the watch case...


This is CORRECT for Ref 5512...5513 n 1680 Sub...

?t=1269770515

?t=1269776215


The FAKEEE ones has the BASELINE profile of Crown Guards...
looking like the Crown Guards of 1665 SD watch case...


Best regards
Orchi.

Thanks for taking the time to help the community identify the fakes.

Frank

Great Post!!

Err...looking at BASELINE profile of the Crown Guards...from behind...
of this Original Ref 1665 SD...

?t=1269785878
?t=1269783105


Here's looking at BASELINE profile of the Crown Guards...from behind...
of this Original Ref 5513 SUB...


?t=1269783372


Here's looking at BASELINE profile of the Crown Guards...from behind...
of this Original Ref 1680 SUB...


?t=1269783489
?t=1269784765


On the BASELINE of the Crown Guards of 551X n 1680 SUB watch cases...
You will find "[" n "]"...from behind...


The FAKEEEE watch cases...do NOT have this "[" shape...
at the BASELINE profile of its Crown Guards...


?t=1269784430
?t=1269784455
?t=1269784474
?t=1269784489


FAKEEEE "1680" watch case...


?t=1269786831


Best regards
Orchi.

Thanks buddy orchi for another informative post.

It will be interesting to note the proportion of fake cases on the market, and if this poses a material problem to our hobby.

Just my two cents.

Great!!! thanks for the reply. Now I understand!