Okay, so yesterday I decided to get this Rolex Deepsea 116660, the one that’s supposed to be able to go super deep underwater, like 12,000 feet or something crazy like that. I’ve always wanted a really tough watch, and I heard this one is built like a tank. So I found a specialty store nearby that had it in stock.
When I got there, the guy at the counter brought out the watch. It looked huge! I mean, the case diameter is 43mm, which is way bigger than my other watches. It felt really heavy too, but in a good way, you know? Like it could take a beating. The store guy told me it was the real deal, but the warranty card came in a plastic sleeve, and I read online somewhere that real Rolexes don’t come like that. I didn’t say anything, but I made a mental note to check that out later.
Anyway, I tried it on. The bracelet felt solid, and the watch sat comfortably on my wrist despite its size. I played around with the bezel, it clicked nicely, and I could see some tiny scratches on it close to the number 5, probably from someone else trying it on before. The store clerk pointed out the helium escape valve, which is some fancy thing that divers use. I don’t dive, but it’s cool to know it’s there. The store had a decent return policy. So, I went ahead and got it.
After I left the store, I started doing some more research online. I saw some comparison photos of the 116660 and a newer model, the 126660, and they looked pretty similar, which made me wonder if it was just a change in the model number. I also found some forum posts where people were debating whether a certain Deepsea was real or a replica. It got me a little worried, not gonna lie. I found a video comparing the two models, and it seems they have some subtle differences, but it was hard to tell from just watching a video.
So, I decided to take some detailed pictures of the watch today. I looked closely at every angle, the crown, the bracelet, the clasp, everything. I compared it to the pictures of the real ones. It was tough to spot any differences, but I’m no expert. I did notice the insert had some hairlines near the number 5, just like I saw in the store.
Finally, I decided to reach out to a friend who’s really into watches. He knows a lot more than I do, so I sent him the pictures and asked for his opinion. He replied that it looked exactly like a fake he had received a few weeks ago.
I felt sick. I had this watch for less than a day and it was already starting to feel like a nightmare. I immediately went back to the store. Luckily, they honored their return policy, and I got my money back.
All in all, it was a pretty stressful experience, but I learned a valuable lesson. Next time I’m buying a high-end watch, I’ll definitely do more research and maybe even bring along an expert to help me authenticate it. And I’ll never buy from that specialty store again.
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