Fake GMT Bezel Inserts

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One question that I see asked quite often is . . . how can I tell if a GMT bezel insert is genuine or fake.

The most common aftermarket (or fake if you prefer) GMT bezel insert is known for the "hooked 2s"
that are found on these inserts. If you take some time and examine the 2s on the fake inserts in the photos below, you will observe a distinct outward "hook" to the left on the upper loop of the 2s unlike the 2s on genuine inserts. On genuine Rolex inserts, the upper loop of the 2 is always flush of even with the left side of the 2 and is never wider than the base of the 2.

Another trait of the aftermarket inserts is the thickness of the insert itself. If you hold an aftermarket insert, when held alone outside of the bezel, they are much more pliable and bend much easier than the genuine inserts. Rolex inserts are thicker than most of the aftermarket inserts and this is readily apparent when comparing both inserts at the same time.

The aftermarket inserts come in all colors and for all models of the GMTs.

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ANOTHER VARIATION OF AN AFTERMARKET GMT 1675 / 16750 BEZEL INSERT - THE "FLAT NOSE 4"

Here is an update to my original post with photos regarding another aftermarket GMT 1675 / 16750 bezel insert that is absent the "hooked twos" found on the most common aftermarket inserts and identified in my first post in this thread.

The fonts on this aftermarket insert are smaller than genuine Rolex inserts and the metal used to manufacture the insert feels thinner than genuine inserts. The back of the insert appears very similar to genuine GMT 1675 / 16750 bezel inserts.

The distinguishing feature found on this aftermarket insert, which will help readily identify one, is the flat or "bull nose" area on the 4s. To further identify this area, I have attached photos below with the "bull nose" highlighted with red arrows. The 4s on this aftermarket insert are distinctively different when compared to genuine Rolex bezel inserts. I've included some photos below for comparisons of this "flat nose 4" aftermarket insert with genuine GMT 1675 / 16750 inserts.

These aftermarket inserts are very deceptive at first glance, but keep in mind that the fonts are smaller than genuine inserts and the 4s have a distinctively different shape which should help you in identifying one of these inserts.

(TO BYPASS THE SCROLLING BARS AND VIEW THE PHOTO FULL SIZE, CLICK ON EACH PHOTO ONCE. CLICK IT AGAIN TO REDUCE THE SIZE.)

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Here is another fake insert that I recently came across. It is made from thinner aluminum than genuine inserts and is much more pliable than the genuine inserts - it bends very easy.

The back of this insert has the appearance of a sapphire insert with the three angular bevels like those found on genuine Rolex sapphire inserts. It also appears that attempts were made to artificially bleach the insert as depicted in the photos here.

The "hooked 2s" seen on many of the fake inserts are missing from this non genuine example.

It is easily identified by the "4s" where it is pointed where the vertical and horizontal lines meet to form the 4 on the left. On genuine Rolex inserts, there is a flat spot just before the intersection of where these two lines meet. Below you will find photos comparing the 4s from this fake insert and with a genuine Rolex insert.

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More fake GMT bezel inserts that are making the rounds lately - the ones here were being sold on Ebay from the UK. Notice the black inserts in particular and the heavy serifs found on that example.

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Here is another post on some non genuine, aftermarket or fake (choose the descriptor that works best for you) GMT 1675 fuchsia bezel inserts.

What you have here are three variations of the fake GMT fuchsia bezel inserts. As I mentioned in a post on rolexforums.com, there are different variations of these non genuine fuchsia inserts which are depicted below.

As you can see, #1 and #1b is faded and scratched to age the insert.

#2 is slightly aged with a blue back which can also be found with a fuchsia back.

#3 Has the large triangle with the bowed sides like found on the late 1960s inserts. It has has a fuchsia back.

As you can see, one needs to be careful when buying inserts as detailed in this complete thread. There are variations of non genuine bezel inserts abound, many of which collectors have purchased in the past and are not aware that their inserts are not genuine.

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Another variation of a fake GMT 1675/16750 bezel insert:


Below is a fake GMT 1675/16750 bezel insert that I ran across lately which is almost impossible to tell from the genuine article. This red back version has proper colors as well as the fonts looking very similar to the genuine inserts.

What gave it away as being "fake" was the weight and dimensions. The insert weight was too light as well as the thickness of the insert.

The insert was way too pliable which I noticed while bending the insert. Normally, genuine inserts are fairly stiff and are not easy to distort while trying to bend them.

I have a table that I put together a while ago with the weights and dimensions of the genuine GMT vintage bezel inserts. This insert did not measure up to the proper weight or thickness of genuine inserts.

This fake specimen here weighed .533 grams and the thickness of the insert was .45mm. Genuine inserts weight between around .620 to .690 grams and the thickness of genuine inserts approximately .62mm to .64mm. (I obtained the genuine insert weights and thickness figures from approximately 30 genuine vintage GMT 1675/16750 bezel inserts.)

Photos of this fake insert: