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Rolex King Midas Help - Real or Fake?

  1. CoDiffe Jul 13, 2019

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    Hello folks,

    I thought if there is any place that would be able to help me figure out if this thing is real or not, it would be here.

    My grandmother handed this watch down to my mom a few months back and we are not totally sure it’s real.

    It’s a Rolex King Midas which I had never heard of but in doing some research it was definitely a model Rolex made. (I think Elvis May have even had one?)

    My grandmother told my mom she got it for my grandfather in Hong Kong in the 80s. It’s even enscribed on the back with “Love Ya -Mickie 2-24-81”

    The main thing that makes me question it’s authenticity is that it doesn’t have “Rolex” anywhere on the dial. I’ve run across pictures of the King Midas model that looks really similar (I’ll attach one in the last pic) but it has Rolex on the dial. Since the dial is diamonds maybe the Rolex was on the crystal and it rubbed off? No idea but any help would be appreciated. Pics below:

    1A1E5262-8964-4AA3-9A73-CBEFD1D83314.jpeg

    275E63FB-431F-4480-9A40-B82153D1A1FE.jpeg 2A57558A-E8EF-4F79-8720-44DC8BB67F8E.jpeg
    8D4A16B0-EBD1-44DE-94E5-4B6C28918036.jpeg BDF276F1-1F4B-4367-971C-6A34A0C8C3F9.jpeg
    2A1F8954-563D-4F10-BF71-D14F556A463F.jpeg
     
  2. Canuck Jul 13, 2019

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    I have my suspicions, but we need you to open the case and show the contents, and show any stamped letters and/or numbers inside the case back. Perhaps you can tell us why one view of the face of the watch shows the name ROLEX and the Rolex crown symbol, but the other face view DOESN’T show the name and logo. Is that a little tricky bit of Photoshop legerdemain on your behalf?Until you can provide proof that it is a Rolex (I suspect you know it’s not), I’m gonna call it a fake. There is (was?) a Rolex King Midas, but this is not it!
     
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  3. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Jul 13, 2019

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    Need to see the movement.
     
  4. CoDiffe Jul 13, 2019

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    Huh? The last picture (with Rolex on the dial) is a picture of another King Midas I found on the internet. I said that in my post. We plan on taking it to a watchmaker to look at the movement.
     
  5. Canuck Jul 13, 2019

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    The is no picture of a King Midas in this thread!
     
  6. Dan S Jul 13, 2019

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    I thought the King Midas had an asymmetric case with an integrated crown guard. Or at least that's the kind I'm familiar with.
     
  7. Canuck Jul 13, 2019

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    You are correct. Here is a King Midas.

    B8736EC5-9698-4A18-A5A6-EBFB1551B08A.jpeg
     
    Foo2rama likes this.
  8. michael22 Jul 13, 2019

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    Makes sense: King Midas didn't turn things into diamonds.
     
  9. Canuck Jul 13, 2019

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    The watch is a blatant fake!
     
  10. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Jul 14, 2019

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    Are you sure? Look at Rolex model 4316

    It actually looks correct save the dial...

    It's a Cellini also called a King Midas by Rolex.
     
    Edited Jul 14, 2019
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  11. rkman11 Jul 14, 2019

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    Does look like a 4316. Gotta see what’s inside.
     
  12. Mr.Cairo Jul 14, 2019

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    If indeed it is from the 80s, and if indeed it's solid 18k (which it looks like it is) I'm going to carefully say that I haven't heard of any fakes actually being made with solid gold, especially in the 80s...

    But your best bet is to open it up (take it to a watchmaker) as has been suggested. Perhaps check with a jeweler if the diamonds are really diamonds, etc.
     
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  13. ConElPueblo Jul 14, 2019

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    Have a look at the four digit number on the bracelet; as @Foo2rama points out, that is the reference number. The only thing that stands out as odd is the dial, but that could be an aftermarket job I guess.

    @CoDiffe - here's one with a number only 13 away from yours :)

    http://10pastten.com/watch/ta488


    Well, Rolex thought this should be named that, it says so on the clasp...
     
  14. Mr.Cairo Jul 14, 2019

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    Yep, I'm going to side with "it's probably real". I highly doubt fakes in the 80s would be so accurate (after studying the photos @ConElPueblo linked to above). And as I mentioned it looks like it's really 18k solid gold. Also unlikely to be fake in solid gold.
     
  15. rott3 Jul 14, 2019

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    From the case pictures only it is hard to take a conclusion...I will be waiting to see those movement pics because so far I don't think you can't take conclusions... please keep us updated as it will be interesting to see
     
  16. STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector Jul 14, 2019

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    It’s real.
    There was one in a Dubai vintage watch shop in 2013
     
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  17. CoDiffe Jul 14, 2019

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    Thanks everyone. Plan is to take it to a watchmaker next week and take as many pictures of the movement as possible. I’ll keep everyone posted. Here is the link to an eBay listing for one that looks very similar to my mom’s minus Rolex being on the dial and the clasp being different:

    https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/163449295210

    She has been worried since receiving the watch that it’s probably fake. Her reasoning at first was because it wouldn’t “start” when she would shake it. :D

    I explained to her that it’s probably a manual wind movement, which after research it is. Just don’t know why there’s no “Rolex” to be found on the dial. There is a crown logo on the clasp. I forgot to get a picture of that.
     
    Edited Jul 14, 2019
  18. CoDiffe Jul 14, 2019

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    Yep @Foo2rama you’re right. Forgot to mention Cellini King Midas.
     
  19. loniscup Jul 14, 2019

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    It looks, at the last photo, that the Rolex logo is on the crystal and not the diamonds (??) And yours doesn't have it cause the crystal might have been replaced?? Just thinking out loud here :D
     
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  20. STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector Jul 14, 2019

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    Quite easy to pop the case back open. I can see the edge you need to pry open gently

    19F16529-6C53-48EB-873C-1B7F6DBC83C2.jpeg
     
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