Comparing Genuine and Replica Rolex Jubilee bracelet (62510 H)

[pompompurin]

Hellooo everyone
First post here for sharing
I am a regular on RWI, I will share my threads over here from there

Introduction
Today, I will be comparing a very common rep jubilee bracelet with a gen one. The rep jubilee bracelet is commonly seen on classic reps like Franken Datejust and Cartel GMT Master 1675.

Sorry for the poor photo quality... my home lighting is crap for photo-taking

What I will be comparing
- Rep Jubilee bracelet (with generic rep '455' end links) = design appears to be based on the 62510h bracelet. Sourced from riyi002
- Gen Jubilee bracelet (with gen 555b end links) = Rolex 62510h bracelet (O serial = 1990, very new condition with tight links)
- Both bracelets have solid links (and they are not the folded jubilee type of bracelet - i.e. 6251h)

For all of the pictures...
- G = genuine
- R = replica

Visual comparison
At first glance, the genuine bracelet is much shinier and whiter looking than the replica one (i.e. better polished). The coronet on the genuine bracelet's clasp is much more detailed - you can see how the coronet is really 3D-looking. By comparison, the replica bracelet's clasp coronet is very flat and lacks detail.


The photos doesn't show how much shinier and better-polished the gen bracelet is because of poor lighting, but I can guarantee that the gen bracelet is better in these aspects.


When the clasps are opened, notice how there is much more stamping detail done on the genuine bracelet's clasp coronet (the arrows)


When the clasp is closed, here are some visual differences:
1. The underside of the genuine bracelet's jubilee links is completely flat and very smooth (i.e. no jagged feeling - very comfortable when worn). The replica bracelet on the other hand has uneven underside jubilee links and the edges are sharp.
2. The genuine bracelet is stamped as '62510 H' whereas the replica bracelet reuses mass-manufactured clasp parts - so it uses a stamped '93250' part (which is incorrect). However, this can vary as I have seen replica jubilee bracelet that is correctly stamped as 62510H.


3. The replica bracelet's clasp is wider than the genuine one by 1-2mm approximately. You can also see from the arrows that the genuine bracelet is better polished (shinier and whiter looking) than the replica bracelet's duller finish.




However, the most obvious flaw of the replica bracelet is there are only 6 micro-adjustable holes on the clasp - a lot of replica 20mm Rolex clasp (of this design) have this problem. By comparison, the genuine clasp has 7 micro-adjustable holes. It is also worth mentioning that the genuine bracelet's jubilee link screws sits flush and it is well polished, whereas the replica bracelet's jubilee link screws can sit uneven in its slot - some are flush and some aren't.


End links:
- A lot of replica end links are stamped as '455b' regardless if it is for two-tone/stainless steel and oyster/jubilee - this can be wrong/inaccurate
- Genuine end links are stamped appropriately to their configuration/model (e.g. 502T end links are for non-lug hole Rolex, etc etc). My particular genuine end link is 555B and it is designed for the early 16200 Datejust series with lug holes
- When genuine and replica end links are installed into a Rolex, they both look the same externally

The genuine end link has longer tube for guiding the spring bar and it is well polished/finished on the inside. The replica end link has shorter tubes for guiding the spring bar and it is unfinished on the inside (very rough-looking)


The feeling of the bracelets when worn
- Gen bracelet feels very comfortable as the jubilee links are polished without jagged edges. Also, the links are tighter so the bracelet feels like it naturally wraps around the wearer's hand. But bear in mind that my genuine jubilee bracelet's condition is extremely new - a lot of second jubilee bracelets out there are quite worn and stretched badly.
- Rep bracelet feels a bit rough when worn because of the jagged edges on the jubilee link (as the finishing isn't as good as the genuine bracelet, but it is still comfortable). The replica bracelet makes a lot more rattling noise than the genuine bracelet because the links are not as tight.

Edited July 14, 2017 by godkiller

[Desai]

Good info.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[pompompurin]

On 7/14/2017 at 3:05 PM, Desai said:

Good info.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk
 

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

I hope no one else out there gets scammed when buying a genuine 62510h because the rep jubilee links look very similar to gen. I have seen franken 62510h with gen clasp and rep jubilee links.

Edited July 20, 2017 by godkiller

[mcotter]

You have characterized the differences rather well! The rough edges of the rep can be amended w/ 320 paper

in a 15min time, followed w a soft cloth & pink metal polish...the silky feel is there w/ a small amount of massage

best, mcotter

[pompompurin]

On 7/26/2017 at 9:08 AM, mcotter said:

You have characterized the differences rather well! The rough edges of the rep can be amended w/ 320 paper

in a 15min time, followed w a soft cloth & pink metal polish...the silky feel is there w/ a small amount of massage

best, mcotter

sweet thanks for the tips!
i will try that next time when I go to the hardware store

[Nanuq]

I tried for several years to like the rep Jubilee on my gen 1675 and kept taking it off. Even after tweaking to make it feel silky it just "felt" odd. Something was off.

Recently I was given a genuine Jubilee band by a very generous friend, and put it on the 1675, and all of a sudden it feels right.

They look almost identical, but there's "something" about the gen that makes it work. Maybe it's the thickness of the center links? The ratio of their thickness to their width? It's not the fit nor finish, it's something subtle that my eye sees but not my conscious brain.

Now it lives on that Jubilee, whereas before I couldn't have the rep on there more than a month.

[pompompurin]

On 8/24/2017 at 5:48 AM, Nanuq said:

I tried for several years to like the rep Jubilee on my gen 1675 and kept taking it off. Even after tweaking to make it feel silky it just "felt" odd. Something was off.

Recently I was given a genuine Jubilee band by a very generous friend, and put it on the 1675, and all of a sudden it feels right.

They look almost identical, but there's "something" about the gen that makes it work. Maybe it's the thickness of the center links? The ratio of their thickness to their width? It's not the fit nor finish, it's something subtle that my eye sees but not my conscious brain.

Now it lives on that Jubilee, whereas before I couldn't have the rep on there more than a month.

I took my new digital caliper out and you are right, the rep jubilee's polished middle links are (a bit) vertically longer than the genuine one - this isn't noticeable under the naked eye, but it makes the replica bracelet look like it doesn't have the same 'allure' as the genuine one (especially when the rep one stretches a lot and lacks the same polish as gen)

Overall, the genuine jubilee looks and feels like an expensive piece of jewelry, and the replica one does it's job - to look like a jubilee bracelet

Left = gen (look at how reflective and shiny the middle links are!)
Right = rep


Replica jubilee's middle link's vertical length


Genuine jubilee's middle link's vertical length