A fake Rolex 116613 is a counterfeit copy of the two-tone Submariner Date, a 40 mm stainless steel and 18k yellow gold dive watch that Rolex built from 2009 until 2020. A replica can look close in a photo, but the gold content, the ceramic bezel, the dial finish, and the movement are where the differences appear. Because the real 116613 is now a discontinued, pre-owned reference, it circulates on the used market constantly, and that is exactly why counterfeit versions of it keep showing up.

What the Rolex 116613 Actually Is

Before judging any replica, it helps to know the specification the copy is trying to match.

  • Reference: 116613 is the two-tone Submariner Date. The blue dial version is 116613LB and the black dial version is 116613LN.
  • Case: 40 mm stainless steel Oyster case, 300 m water resistance, screw-down Triplock crown.
  • Gold: 18k yellow gold bezel, winding crown, and center links of the Oyster bracelet.
  • Bezel: Cerachrom ceramic insert with numerals coated in platinum.
  • Movement: Caliber 3135 automatic, about 48 hours of power reserve.
  • Clasp: Oysterlock with the Glidelock extension system.

Rolex moved to the 126613 generation in 2020. The 116613 is therefore an older watch, sold second-hand, with no factory warranty left in most cases. That status is useful for buyers, since a genuine example should come with service history rather than a sealed box from a stranger.

Where a Fake Rolex 116613 Gives Itself Away

Gold content and weight

The bezel, crown, and center bracelet links on a genuine 116613 are solid 18k yellow gold. Replicas use gold plating, gold fill, or a gold-toned alloy over brass or steel. Plated gold wears thin at the clasp and crown, shows a different color under daylight, and does not carry the same heft. A two-tone Submariner should feel noticeably heavier than a plated copy of the same size.

Bezel insert and crystal

Genuine Cerachrom is a dense ceramic with a deep gloss and numerals that sit flush, filled with platinum. Many fakes use a cheaper ceramic or a coated metal insert with printed numerals that fade or flake. The sapphire crystal on the real watch has a cyclops lens with 2.5x magnification and an anti-reflective coating underneath, plus a laser-etched coronet at 6 o'clock.

Dial, hands, and date

The blue 116613LB dial has a sunburst finish that shifts tone as the light moves. Copy dials read flat, with heavier fonts, uneven lume plots, and markers that do not line up with the chapter ring. Check the date window alignment and the thickness of the hands, both of which are common weak points on replicas.

Movement and case details

Caliber 3135 has a smooth sweep and clean finishing under a loupe. Counterfeit watches almost always run an Asian automatic or quartz movement, sometimes with a decorative plate stamped to look Swiss. The case itself is the other tell: crown guard shape, lug profile, and bracelet end-link fit are hard to copy at the machining level. The reference number sits between the lugs at 12 o'clock and the serial between the lugs at 6 o'clock.

Replica Tiers You Will See

  • Budget copies: quartz or basic automatic movements, plated gold, printed bezel inserts. They fail quickly.
  • Mid tier: automatic movements, better dial printing, but still plated gold and loose tolerances.
  • High-end clones: closest case and dial work, often marketed as 1:1. They still use clone movements and do not use solid 18k gold, so weight and wear remain the giveaway.

Legal and Practical Risk

Counterfeit watches infringe trademarks, and importing or selling them is illegal in the United States, the European Union, and most other markets. Customs agencies can seize shipments, and the buyer carries the loss. A replica also has no service network: Rolex will not service or authenticate a counterfeit, and no authorized watchmaker will touch one. Reselling a fake as genuine is fraud, which turns a purchase problem into a criminal one.

How to Confirm a Genuine 116613

  1. Buy from an authorized dealer or a seller with verifiable references and a return policy.
  2. Match the reference and serial engravings between the lugs against the paperwork.
  3. Have a qualified watchmaker open the case and inspect the movement.
  4. Weigh the watch and compare it against published specifications for the two-tone model.
  5. Ask for service records, and confirm the watch has been serviced by an authorized center if possible.

Key Takeaways

  • A fake Rolex 116613 copies a steel and 18k gold Submariner Date that Rolex discontinued in 2020.
  • Solid gold against plating is the fastest way to tell them apart, followed by the bezel insert and movement.
  • Even top-tier replicas use clone movements and plated gold, so close inspection still exposes them.
  • Counterfeit watches are illegal to import or sell, and they come with no service or warranty support.