Short answer
A Submariner Rolex Date replica is a copy of the Rolex Submariner Date. It copies the case shape, the dial layout, and the date window at 3 o'clock. Rolex does not make it. A third-party factory builds it, in most cases in China or Taiwan. Power comes from a Chinese automatic movement or a quartz module. Street prices run from $80 to $600. US law bars import and resale.
Where Can I Get a Rolex Sub with Date Replica?
Reference numbers the copies follow
- 1680: the first Submariner with a date, 1969. 40 mm case.
- 16610: 40 mm, caliber 3135, built 1988 to 2010.
- 116610LN: 40 mm, ceramic bezel, caliber 3135, 48-hour power reserve. Built 2010 to 2020.
- 126610LN: 41 mm, caliber 3235, 70-hour power reserve. Built 2020 to now.
Almost all copies follow the 116610LN or the 126610LN. The 41 mm case is 1 mm wider and takes a different bracelet end link. A copy sold as a 116610LN with a 41 mm case is mislabeled.
submariner with date rolex price
Parts that differ from a real one
- Date font and cyclops. The Rolex cyclops magnifies 2.5x. Many copies sit near 2x, and the date print is thinner.
- Case steel. Rolex uses 904L Oystersteel on the 116610 and later. Copies use 316L. The case weighs a few grams less.
- Crystal. Rolex etches a small coronet at 6 o'clock, added around 2002. Copies etch it too. Size and placement differ.
- Bezel insert. The real Cerachrom insert is one ceramic piece with platinum-coated numerals. Copies use a printed insert or a sticker over plastic.
- Movement. The real beat rate is 28,800 vph, or 4 Hz. Many copies run 21,600 vph. The second hand sweep is choppier. Quartz copies tick once per second.
- Water resistance. Rolex rates the Submariner Date at 300 m and pressure-tests each case. Copies are not pressure-tested in most cases. Gaskets are the weak point, and a wet copy ruins the dial and movement.
Legal status in the US
US law treats these goods as counterfeits. 18 U.S.C. § 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for an individual. 19 U.S.C. § 1526 lets Customs and Border Protection seize and destroy imported items that carry a counterfeit mark. Buying one for personal use is not the same charge as selling, but a shipment can still be seized. The buyer loses the money.
submariner rolex replica with date
Cost and delivery
Sellers list copies at $80 to $600, based on movement and case finish. Shipping from overseas takes 1 to 4 weeks. Seizure rates differ by port and package size. Most sellers do not replace a seized parcel.
If you already own one
A watchmaker can open the case back. Movement markings, rotor engraving, and bridge finishing settle the question in most cases. Rolex service centers will not service a counterfeit and may not return it. The serial and model numbers sit between the lugs at 12 and 6 o'clock, and an authorized dealer can check them against Rolex records.