If you are a fan of glass bongs, you may have heard of RooR, a German brand of high-quality water pipes and hookahs that has gained a loyal following around the world. RooR bongs are known for their craftsmanship, durability, smoothness and style. However, they are also quite expensive, ranging from $200 to over $1000 depending on the size and model. This makes them a tempting target for counterfeiters who try to sell fake RooRs for a fraction of the cost.
Unfortunately, fake RooRs are not only a rip-off for consumers, but also a potential health hazard. Fake RooRs are made of cheap and thin glass that can break easily, causing injuries or contamination. Fake RooRs may also have poor filtration and airflow, resulting in harsh and unpleasant smoke. Moreover, fake RooRs can damage the reputation of the original brand and the industry as a whole.
So how can you tell if the glass bong you bought or want to buy is a real genuine RooR water pipe? Here are some tips and tricks to help you spot the difference between an authentic and a counterfeit RooR bong.
Check the authentication seal
In early 2018, RooR started adding an authentication seal on each of its pipes to combat the counterfeit market. The seal is a unique, tamper-proof bubble tag with an alphanumeric ID and a QR code. To verify if your RooR is real, simply enter your tag’s 14-character ID on
RooR’s authentication page
. If your tag is valid, you will see information about your pipe such as its model, size, color and date of production. If your tag is invalid or missing, you have a fake RooR.
The authentication seal is like a fingerprint for every product. It is also used to protect high-quality wines worldwide. You can find the seal on the neck or the base of your pipe, depending on the model. If you have a RooR Tech water pipe, which is a line of percolated bongs made in the USA, you will not have an authentication seal.
Check the signature
Almost every RooR bong that is bought will come with a signature. If it doesn’t, that should be your first clue that it isn’t real. The signature is not actually signed by the blower or artist as many people believe. It is actually an indicator of the specs for each pipe that is made during production. The signature consists of three parts: the name of the blower (usually Martin Birzle), the diameter of the joint (usually 14.5mm or 18.8mm) and the thickness of the glass (usually 3mm or 5mm).
The signature is usually located on the side of the pipe, near the base or the joint. It doesn’t matter which side it is on, as it is just a blower preference. However, be alarmed if it is hugging the joint or located above the neck of the bong. Also pay attention to the dots in the signature. There should only be two dots: one after the name and one after the joint size. If there are more or less than that, then odds are that it is not real.
Check the logo
The logo is another important feature to look at when identifying a real RooR. The logo should be clear and crisp, not blurry or faded. It should also have a registered trademark (®) symbol on the top right corner. The logo should be aligned with the neck of the pipe, not tilted or crooked. The bottom of the R’s should be facing towards the left, not flipped or reversed.
The color of the logo doesn’t matter, as RooR offers different colors and designs for different models and markets. However, make sure that the decal doesn’t pass below the ice catcher or cover up a perc. Also make sure that there are no funky added words to the logo, such as “Germany” or “USA”. The only exception is RooR Tech water pipes, which have “Tech” added to their logo.
Check the ice catcher
The ice catcher is another distinctive feature of RooR bongs. The ice catcher is a set of three pinches (notches) in the neck of the pipe that allows you to put ice cubes in it for cooling down your smoke. Real RooRs have only three ice pinches, no more, no less. If you see a RooR that has four or more ice pinches, you know right away that it is a fake.
The ice catcher should also be located near the top of the neck, not in the middle or lower. A lot of fake RooRs will have a huge gap between the ice catcher and the top of the beaker, which looks unnatural and awkward. The ice catcher should also be aligned with the logo, not offset or rotated.
Check the joint
The joint is the part of the pipe where you insert your bowl or your nail. Real RooRs have glass-on-glass joints, which means that both the joint and the bowl are made of glass and fit together snugly. Fake RooRs may have rubber grommet joints, which means that they use a rubber ring to seal the connection between the joint and the bowl. Rubber grommet joints are a dead giveaway that you have a fake RooR, as RooR’s founder, Martin Birzle, is credited for inventing glass-on-glass joints in 1995.
Real RooRs also have standard joint sizes, either 14.5mm or 18.8mm. Fake RooRs may have odd sizes, such as 12mm or 19mm, which can make it hard to find compatible accessories. You can measure your joint size by using a ruler or a caliper and checking the inner diameter of the joint.
Check the glass quality
One of the main reasons why RooR bongs are so popular and expensive is because they are made of high-quality borosilicate glass, which is durable, heat-resistant and crystal-clear. Fake RooRs are made of cheap and thin glass, which can break easily, crack under heat or cloud up over time. You can tell the difference between real and fake glass by feeling the weight, thickness and smoothness of the pipe.
Real RooRs are usually heavy and thick, as they use 3mm or 5mm glass for most models. Fake RooRs are usually light and thin, as they use 2mm or less glass for most models. You can also tap the glass gently with your fingernail and listen to the sound it makes. Real glass will make a high-pitched ringing sound, while fake glass will make a low-pitched thud sound.
Real RooRs are also smooth and flawless, as they are carefully crafted and polished by skilled blowers. Fake RooRs are often rough and bumpy, as they are mass-produced and poorly finished by machines. You can check for any imperfections or defects in the glass by looking at it closely under a bright light. Real glass will be clear and transparent, while fake glass will be cloudy or tinted.
Check the price
Last but not least, you can check the price of the pipe to see if it is too good to be true. As mentioned earlier, RooR bongs are expensive, ranging from $200 to over $1000 depending on the size and model. If you see a RooR bong that is sold for much less than that, you should be suspicious. Fake RooRs are often sold for $100 or less online or in local smoke shops.
Of course, price is not always a reliable indicator, as some sellers may try to scam you by selling fake RooRs for high prices. That’s why you should always check all the other features and markings before buying a pipe. You should also buy from reputable sources, such as authorized dealers or official websites. You can find a list of authorized dealers on
RooR’s website
.
Conclusion
RooR bongs are among the best glass pipes in the world, but they are also among the most counterfeited ones. To avoid getting ripped off or harmed by fake RooRs, you should always check their features and markings carefully before buying them. Here is a summary of what to look for:
- Authentication seal: A unique bubble tag with an ID and a QR code that you can verify online.
- Signature: A three-part indicator of the blower name, joint size and glass thickness with two dots.
- Logo: A clear and crisp decal with a trademark symbol that is aligned with the neck and doesn’t pass below the ice catcher.
- Ice catcher: A set of three pinches near the top of the neck that is aligned with the logo.
- Joint: A glass-on-glass joint with a standard size of either 14.5mm or 18.8mm.
- Glass quality: A heavy
