Rolex has been around since 1908, and the brand has been resoundingly successful for most of its history. From its early beginnings as a British-founded upstart disrupter to its current standing as the Swiss luxury replica watches standard, Rolex has always left a big mark on the watch industry. But for our money, the period when Rolex shined brightest was from the 1950s to the 1980s. It was during this time that the brand was at its most imaginative and groundbreaking, as Rolex pioneered waterproof cases and pushed them to their limits.
Replica Rolex Sea-Dweller Ref. 1665 “Double Red” Watches
As perhaps the most famous watch in the world, the Submariner is unsurprisingly 1:1 UK fake Rolex’s flagship dive watches. But it isn’t its only dive watch. Nor is it the brand’s best dive watch, at least from a diving perspective. That honor goes to the Sea-Dweller. Introduced in 1967 as arguably the first watch with a helium release valve, the Sea-Dweller was suitable for saturation dives as it allowed pressurized helium atoms to escape the watch without popping off the crystal — something that plagued divers lacking the feature. For good measure, the Sea-Dweller also greatly improved the Submariner’s water resistance, from 200m to 610m. The ref. 1665 was the first iteration of the Sea-Dweller, and it stuck around for 10 years. Nicknamed the “Double Red” due to its two lines of red text on the dial, the 1665 also introduced a date window to high quality replica Rolex’s dive watches around the same time as the first Submariner Date, the short-lived ref. 1680, but it did so without the oft-maligned cyclops. Double Reds are pricey, generally starting in the neighborhood of $40-$50K.
Fake Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538 “James Bond” Watches
You knew this was coming: we’ve finally made it to the Submariner section of this guide. As perfect copy Rolex’s signature watches, the Sub’s vintage references are unsurprisingly popular with collectors, but some draw considerably more interest than others. Perhaps the most legendary, and the watch most responsible for Rolex’s reputation as a “cool” brand, is the ref. 6538. This is the best fake watches that appeared on the wrist of James Bond during the character’s big screen debut in 1962’s Dr. No, and it’s represented suave sophistication ever since. Looking decidedly more mid-century than later Subs, the 6538 is beloved for its 8mm “big” crown, its (sometimes) hashmark-free bezel with a red triangle at 12, and its gilt chapter ring. Produced only from 1956 to 1959 and undoubtedly one of the coolest Swiss movements replica watches ever made, today the 6538 is also one of the most expensive. Expect to pay well above $100,000.
Rolex Submariner Ref. 5512 Replica Watches
For a Submariner that’s considerably more affordable — and far more similar in appearance to Rolex’s modern divers — have a look at the 5512. Introduced in 1959, this is the replica watches online that established the Sub’s iconic look that has remained largely unchanged for over 60 years. From the crown guards to the hashmarked bezel to the 40mm case size, this is immediately recognizable as a Submariner, and as a result, it’s the one on many vintage wholesale Rolex super clone watches shoppers’ want lists. But which 5512 to get? Like a few of the other references we’ve mentioned, the 5512 was in production for a long time, from 1959 all the way to 1980. As a result, there are a ton of variations within its ranks, from square crown guards to pointed crown guards and gilt dials to matte dials. Serious collectors will obsess over these details, but if you simply want a vintage Sub, you can find a 5512 in good condition for around $25,000. A way to save a decent amount of money would be to go for the 5513 instead. Introduced in 1962 and boasting an even longer lifespan of 27 years, the 5513 was essentially a non-chronometer version of the 5512, and can be had for around ten grand.
Rolex Submariner Ref. 5513/5517 “MilSub” Fake Watches
Finally, we’ve come to this, the ultimate grail Swiss made replica Rolex Submariner watches. The “MilSub,” as you may have deduced, stands for Military Submariner, and these stunners were never sold to the public — they were government-issued to the British armed forces. Rolex produced only around 1,200 total units across three references — 5515, 5513/5517, and 5517 — in the early 1970s, and fully-intact MilSubs are extraordinarily rare today, as many were modified after being sold by their original owners. True MilSubs have a number of distinguishing characteristics, namely sword hands, a unique bezel with markings for all 60 minutes, a circled “T” on the dial below the hand stack indicating tritium lume, and fixed bars between the lugs (i.e., these China fake watches can only be worn on a one-piece or NATO strap). Thanks to their extreme rarity, military heritage, and objectively attractive looks, excellent MilSub examples can see prices climb to a quarter-million dollars or so.
