Quick answer

The Rolex 116613 is a two-tone Submariner Date. Rolex built it from 2009 to 2020 with a 40 mm steel case, an 18k yellow gold bezel, and gold center links. A fake 116613 copies the shape, not the materials and not the movement. Most replica cases and bracelets use 316L or 904L steel with gold plating. The genuine bezel ring and the center links are solid 18k gold. Gold weighs about 2.4 times more than steel per cubic centimeter, so the two watches do not balance the same way on the wrist.

Reference basics

  • Reference: 116613
  • Suffixes: 116613LB (blue dial and bezel), 116613LN (black dial and bezel)
  • Production: 2009 to 2020. The 126613 replaced it.
  • Case: 40 mm, Oystersteel, 18k yellow gold bezel, 300 m water resistance
  • Movement: Rolex caliber 3135, automatic, 31 jewels, 28,800 vph, 48-hour power reserve
  • Bracelet: Oyster with solid 18k gold center links, Oysterlock clasp with Glidelock

Where replicas differ

Bezel insert. The genuine 116613 uses a Cerachrom ceramic insert with gold numerals applied by PVD. Many replicas use a plated insert or painted numerals. The gold tone can read too yellow or too pale next to real 18k.

Weight and balance. A replica head with a steel bezel is lighter than the genuine watch. Some factories add tungsten weights to fake the mass. Weight alone does not prove a watch is genuine.

Movement. The genuine 3135 beats at 28,800 vph. Common replica movements include the SA3135, the A2836, and ETA 2824 clones. Some run at 21,600 vph. Parts and service costs differ from Rolex parts.

Dial and hands. Check the crown at 12, the font on the depth rating, and the cyclops magnification. Rolex uses about 2.5x. Replica cyclops lenses sit at 2x or less on many builds.

Caseback and lugs. Genuine casebacks are plain. Replica casebacks sometimes carry engraving. Lug shape and crown guard profile vary by factory and by batch.

Legal status in the United States

Counterfeit watches are illegal to traffic in the US. 18 U.S.C. § 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense carries up to 10 years. US Customs can seize shipments at the border. Buying for personal use is a different charge than selling, but importation can still lead to seizure and forfeiture.

What to check before you buy anything

  1. Ask for the serial and the rehaut engraving. Compare the font to reference photos.
  2. Ask for the movement code and a photo of the balance wheel.
  3. Ask for the weight in grams with the full bracelet attached.
  4. Ask for a photo of the clasp codes. Genuine codes sit in a set font and position.
  5. Get a service estimate from an independent watchmaker. A genuine 3135 service costs more than a clone service.

Price context

Used genuine 116613LB and 116613LN pieces trade in the five-figure USD range on the secondary market. Price moves with dial color, box and papers, and condition. Replica prices sit in the low hundreds. That gap reflects gold, movement, and finishing, not only the name on the dial.