Short answer
The Rolex Submariner Date reference 126610LV is a stainless steel dive watch with a green ceramic bezel and a black dial. Rolex released it in 2020. A replica of this reference is a counterfeit watch that copies the case shape, dial layout, and markings. In the United States, importing, selling, or trafficking in such watches is illegal. Personal orders can be seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Sellers face criminal charges under 18 U.S.C. 2320.
Genuine 126610LV specifications
- Case: 41 mm, Oystersteel, 300 m water resistance
- Bezel: green Cerachrom ceramic insert, 60-minute graduations
- Dial: black lacquer, Chromalight markers
- Movement: caliber 3235, automatic, 70-hour power reserve
- Accuracy: Superlative Chronometer, minus 2 to plus 2 seconds per day
- Bracelet: Oyster, three-piece links, Oysterlock clasp
- Reference number: 126610LV, engraved between the lugs and on the inner bezel ring
Rolex listed the 126610LV at about $10,250 at launch in 2020. Prices changed after that. Secondary market prices ran above retail for several years.
What the replica market sells
Copies of the 126610LV come in tiers. Low-cost versions use 316L steel, mineral glass, and a low-grade automatic movement. Higher-priced versions claim 904L steel, use sapphire crystal, and hold Chinese-made clone movements stamped to look like the caliber 3235. Reported prices run from about $80 to $800.
All tiers share one legal status. They are counterfeit goods. They carry no manufacturer warranty and no parts support.
US law and enforcement
18 U.S.C. 2320 sets federal penalties for trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense by an individual carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine. The Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1114, adds civil liability. 19 CFR 133.23 bars import of counterfeit merchandise. No minimum quantity applies, so a single watch can be detained and destroyed.
CBP publishes seizure statistics each year. Watches and jewelry appear among the top seized categories by value.
Risks beyond the law
- Customs seizure with no refund from the seller
- No service from Rolex. Service centers decline counterfeit watches
- Water resistance claims that no one tested
- Movement parts that do not interchange with genuine parts
- Resale value near zero on the legal market
Points where copies differ
Examine the bezel insert. Genuine Cerachrom has recessed numerals filled with platinum. Copies use printed or coated fills that sit flush or wear off. Check the date window and cyclops magnifier. Genuine magnification is 2.5x. Check the rehaut engraving. Genuine lettering aligns with the dial markers. Check the movement. A genuine 3235 has a 70-hour reserve and a free-sprung balance. No copy matches it.
Open questions
Factory names, seller channels, and current tier pricing change month to month. Reliable public data on those points is not available. Seizure outcomes for single-watch orders vary by port and inspector.