Leo Hamel Policy Letter
Rev1
How to Determine if a Rolex President Bracelet is Original or a Copy
- Look at the hallmark stamping on the buckle. These stamps should all be exactly straight. A copy will sometimes be slanted or in some way not completely crisp. You may want to view the stamp under the gem scope rather than with a loupe.
- At this time you should also remove the screws that connect the buckle to the bracelet. Look at the threads in the hole in the buckle. These threads should appear to be a separate piece pressed into a teardrop shaped hole and slightly recessed on the original. On a copy these threads are only cut directly into the inner side wall of the link.
- One of the stamps on this buckle is a lady’s head. This is the international symbol for 18K. At the base of her neck is the letter “G”. Copies do not have a “G” or the “G” is of such poor quality as to be unrecognizable.
- Look at the end piece. On the exposed end facing the watch there is a two digit number. “55” on a single quick set and “55B” on a double quick set. I don’t knowwhat it is on the very old non-quick sets.
- Closely observe the last gold link that connects to the end piece. On non-original bracelets you can sometimes observe casting pits (little holes) on the side. You should at this same time look at each link going down the bracelet and see if there are casting pits on any of these.
- Check the bracelet for flexibility. On a copy bracelet you can sometimes see that the links don’t smoothly flex as you roll the bracelet. Sometimes they kink on the copies, never on the originals.
Leo Hamel, Founder