There is no Rolex reference 126612LB. Rolex has never assigned that number to any watch. The blue-dial Submariner Date 41 that sellers usually mean is 126613LB (steel and yellow gold) or 126619LB (white gold). Listings that advertise a fake Rolex 126612LB are blending a convincing reference format with a number that does not exist, a pattern common to counterfeit sellers who copy the "12xxxxLB" shape and change a digit. This guide will not tell you where to buy a counterfeit watch. It explains what the real reference is, how the fake market uses invented numbers, and how to verify a blue Submariner before you spend money on one.

What the real Submariner Date references are

Rolex lists its current Submariner Date 41 lineup on its own site. The suffix "LB" stands for lunette bleue, the French term for a blue bezel, which is why blue-dial models carry those letters.

  • 126610LN: steel case, black dial, black bezel. The baseline model.
  • 126610LV: steel case, black dial, green bezel.
  • 126613LB: steel and yellow gold case, blue dial, blue bezel. This is the watch most "126612LB" listings are imitating.
  • 126618LN / 126618LB: solid yellow gold, black or blue dial.
  • 126619LB: solid white gold, blue dial, blue bezel.

If a seller's paperwork, warranty card, or listing title says 126612LB, the number itself is the first red flag. Rolex reference numbers are not random; each digit maps to a case, metal, and configuration.

Why counterfeit sellers invent a reference

Replica sellers need a search-friendly title. Using a real reference like 126613LB puts them in direct competition with authorized dealers, grey market listings, and watch forums where buyers compare photos. Inventing a near-number lets them target buyers who are searching for a specific configuration without matching a page full of genuine listings.

  • What this buys the seller: a title that looks precise and technical, plus a way to dodge direct comparisons against real inventory.
  • What it costs the buyer: no verifiable reference, no serial match to any Rolex database, and no path to service, resale, or authentication. A watch that cannot be identified cannot be valued.
  • The tell: genuine references are consistent across the warranty card, the case, the bracelet end links, and the movement. An invented reference appears only in the advertisement.

How to verify a blue Submariner before you buy

Authentication is a physical inspection, not a photo review. Work through these checks, and use an independent watchmaker for the movement.

  1. Confirm the reference on the warranty card matches the engraved rehaut and the serial between the lugs.
  2. Check the laser-etched coronet at 6 o'clock on the crystal under magnification.
  3. Verify the movement inside. Current Submariner Date models use the caliber 3235 with roughly a 70-hour power reserve.
  4. Inspect the bracelet for solid end links with the correct reference stamp and a properly finished clasp.
  5. Confirm the blue Chromalight lume glows blue, not green, and fades evenly.
  6. Ask for the original box, card, and service history, then have a watchmaker open the case back before money changes hands.

The risk you take with a counterfeit

A counterfeit watch is an infringing good. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and forfeit counterfeit trademarked merchandise at the border, including single items shipped for personal use, and the importer can face penalties. Selling counterfeits exposes a seller to civil liability and, in some cases, criminal charges. Beyond the legal exposure, a fake Submariner cannot be serviced by Rolex, holds no resale value, and often uses plated base metal that wears through with regular handling.

If what you want is the blue Submariner look

The honest alternatives are simple, and they hold their value.

  • Buy the genuine reference on the secondary market. A 126613LB from a reputable grey dealer with full set and papers costs more than a counterfeit, but it is a real asset with a real service path.
  • Look at a sister-brand or comparable blue diver. Tudor, which shares Rolex's retail network, sells blue-dial dive watches with in-house movements and full warranties at a fraction of solid gold pricing.
  • Wait on an authorized dealer list. Two-tone Submariner availability has improved compared with steel sport models, so a deposit list is a realistic route.

Recommendation

If your budget will not reach a 126613LB, choose a legitimate blue dive watch instead. A counterfeit with an invented reference gives you neither the watch nor the ownership, and the number on the listing is proof of that before you ever see the case back.