Is there ever a good moment to buy a Rolex? These AAA UK Rolex replica watches are just so popular they simply won’t go down in value. Or at least not in any dramatic way. But there are certainly better and worse times to buy one. Watch prices on the secondary market have decreased since the market stabilized after the global pandemic. Does this mean that there are some good deals to be had on pre-owned Rolex models? Jorg already wrote a great overview on friendly-priced five-digit Rolex references. But what about current Rolex references?
Jorg’s overview shows that if you’re looking for cheap 2024 Rolex fake watches at a fairly reasonable price, a five-digit reference is probably the way to go. Since then, we even found a two-tone Daytona, ref. 16523, for a little over €13k. But what if you’re not looking for an older reference and don’t want to wait for a call from your authorized dealer? Then, what’s the situation like with the current Rolex references on the pre-owned market? Let’s take a look.
Don’t go for a titanium Yachtmaster or a stainless steel Daytona
Before we get to the actual “bargains,” let me start with a bit of a disclaimer. Unfortunately, best 1:1 replica Rolex watches, and especially (almost) brand-new ones, are still highly sought-after items. In general, a recent Rolex reference will cost you the same or more on the secondary market. But for some models, you’ll pay a higher premium than others. Especially if you’re looking to buy a titanium Yachtmaster or a stainless steel Swiss movements fake Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watches, you’ll find prices that sit well above their recommended retail price.
The titanium top China Rolex Yachtmaster copy watches, ref. 226627, is listed on the official Rolex website for €14,650. That’s already quite expensive when you compare it to a similar Submariner. However, the prices on the secondary market start at about €10k more than that. The same counts for the stainless steel Cosmograph Daytona, ref. 126500LN. While its official price is listed at €15,700, you probably won’t be able to find one for under €30k, especially when you’re looking for the white dial version.
Stainless steel and (steel) gold models at list or a bit more
Don’t worry, though, because there are also some current Rolex references that aren’t worth much more than their list prices on the pre-owned market. For example, the stainless steel Rolex Datejust and perfect Rolex Submariner replica watches are models you won’t likely find under their list price. However, their prices won’t exceed the RRP (recommended retail price) by much more than a few thousand. This means you should be able to find a nice and recent reference for around €10,000.
The same principle is true for the current Rolex references of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual replica watches for sale. It’s listed at €6,300, and you should be able to find one for around €7,000, which isn’t that big of a difference in the end. Of course, there are a few exceptions here, especially if you’re looking for the more colorful versions, like the one with the “Tiffany” or the Celebration dial.
Another good way to avoid paying a lot more than the list price is to go for a non-stainless steel model. One of my current favorite Rolex models, the luxury UK super clone Rolex GMT-Master II watches, ref. 126713GRNR, is listed for €17,850. The ones that you find on Chrono24 are listed for the same or just a little more than that. Another favorite of mine is the yellow gold Day-Date with a white dial and deconstructed Roman numerals, ref. 128238, which finds itself in a similar situation. It is listed for €37,900 and can be found for a little more than that.
The Rolex Explorer is a “bargain”
But if you’d really like to get one of the current Rolex references under the list price, I’d advise you to look at the Swiss replica Rolex Explorer watches wholesale. I’m utterly in love with my neo-vintage 114270, and our former in-house photographer, Morgan, will say the same thing about his brand-new 124270. However, I also quite often hear people say that they get tired of this particular model pretty quickly. Maybe that’s also why you see them being offered quite regularly on the dedicated forums.
Anyway, the fact is that if you’d really like to get a Rolex under the list price, then the current Rolex Explorer is the one to get. It’s listed at €7,450 on the brand’s website, but you’ll easily find one being offered for somewhere around €7.000 or maybe even less. Sure, that’s still a lot of money, but in any case, you’re not paying more than what it’s sold for in Rolex boutiques.
Final disclaimer
As you can see, there aren’t truly any real bargains—not when it comes to very recent Rolex references. The good thing is that your watch probably won’t decrease in value any time soon, either. But always beware. All of the above is based on my online research. I have also not contacted any dealers who have listed the Rolex copy watches store I took as a reference point.
Rolex collectors may be the most pedantic crop of humans on Earth — but for good reason: Looking at minute details on your Rolex can reveal that it is rare and collectible…or not. But it’s good to know either way, for sure, and if you’re a first time Rolex buyer, or getting deeper into the weeds of collecting AAA UK Rolex replica watches, you’ll want to know exactly what you’re looking at.
The largely endless supply of trivial-seeming minutiae can mean the difference between a $10,000 Rolex and a $100,000 Rolex. From tiny, barely visible lines and dots to serif and non-serif typography, from depth ratings in meters vs. feet to crown guards that look like avian beaks, the world of vintage Swiss made Rolex fake watches is positively filled with quirky idiosyncrasies that can be difficult to parse, let alone memorize. And if you happen to find yourself at a watch swap or local collector’s meetup — oh boy. Be prepared for someone to talk your ear off about this stuff.
Best to study up then, wouldn’t you say? Our guide will give you a solid overview of some of the quirkier terminology that rears its head in Rolex collecting circles, whether vintage, neo-vintage, and even modern. And again, the difference between two otherwise-identical models with or without one of these features can mean big money.
NOTE: We’ve calculated premiums for a watch carrying a particular trait over a similar version that doesn’t carry said trait. In a fast-moving (and fickle) market, these are calculated to give you an average price differential, and shouldn’t be taken as gospel. Always do careful research and check with multiple, trusted high quality Rolex copy watches dealers before making a purchasing decision. And it can be helpful to study market data, as well, which we’ve written about recently.
Meters-First Dials
Perhaps in a bid to increase market share in the United States, Rolex changed its dial production to feature feet before meters in the depth rating around 1969. While perfect replica Rolex reference 5512 Submariner watches in this configuration can feature two or four lines of text — the latter denoting chronometer certification — all feet-first 5512s have four lines. Reference 5513s — the non-chronometer-certified Sub sold alongside the 5512 — are a slightly different story: Early examples feature glossy-gilt dials in meters-first configuration; production switched to matte dials around 1969, but there are still meters-first examples in both glossy-gilt and matte. Finally, in the early 1970s, production switched to exclusively meters-first and stayed that way through the end of 5513 production in the late 1980s. Expect to pay perhaps a 66% premium for a meters-first, matte dial 5513 over a feet-first equivalent.
“Bart Simpson” Coronet
In the mid-1960s, during a time when top Rolex fake watches was experimenting heavily with its coronet logo and wordmark, it produced a reference 5513 Submariner with a particularly quirky version. Made via a galvanic printing process that produced a yellowish hue, the coronet appears less defined than in other examples, and has since been named “Bart Simpson” by the collector community for its resemblance to the famed cartoon character’s head. A 5513 with such a coronet might carry roughly a 38% premium over a meters-first version with a more standard coronet.
Square Crown Guards
While early 1:1 China Rolex Submarine replica watches didn’t feature crown guards, the Crown added guards — see what I did there? — beginning with the introduction of the reference 5512 in 1959. However, these crown guards went through several iterations before Rolex arrived at the current, slightly rounded shape. The first crown guard type was what collectors refer to as “square,” which terminate in a noticeably flat top that’s parallel to the crown. Within the first year of 5512 production, the company would change to an “eagle beak” shape in order to offer better access to the winding crown, making watches with the “square” shape fairly rare, to the tune of perhaps just 100 pieces. If you can find one that also retains its original “red triangle” bezel, you’ll pay a premium of perhaps 100%.
Pointed Crown Guards (a.k.a PCG, or The Beak)
The wholesale super clone Rolex reference 5512 Submariner watches was born in 1959 with square-ish crown guards, after which Rolex transitioned to what is referred to by collector’s as an “eagle beak” shape. After this, the Crown settled on a more pointed shape, known currently as “PCG” (“pointed crown guards), between roughly 1959-1963. (The final step in the process, in the mid-’60s, would be the transition to the rounded shape still seen on Rolex sport watch production today.) The move to PCG also coincided with the addition of two lines of “Chronometer Certification” text to the dial of the 5512, which would differentiate it from the non-chronometer certified, two-line ref. 5513 born around the same time. A “PCG” 5512 will be priced at roughly a 102% premium over a later, matte-dial 4-dial ref. 5512.
Flat-4 Bezel
In 2003, Rolex debuted the Submariner reference 16610LV, the first stainless steel Submariner to feature a green bezel — or any color other than black, for that matter. The green bezel celebrated the Submariner’s 50th anniversary and was produced between 2003 and 2010. Certain early examples featured a “flat 4” bezel in which the flat top of the “4” numeral is flatter and the inside is more trapezoidal — later examples feature a sharper top and a triangular inner portion. These earlier “Flat 4” ref. 16610LV “Kermit” Submariners tend to carry a premium of perhaps 30-100%, depending upon condition and whether the luxury Rolex replica watches carries its box, papers, etc.
Exclamation Dial
In the early 1960s, Swiss movements Rolex fake watches began adding a small luminous dot below the 12 o’clock baton maker on certain watch dials, the result of which looks like an exclamation point. It’s inferred that this strange symbol is indicative of a radium dial that conforms to Atomic Energy Commission guidelines from 1960, and that uses less radioactive material than earlier 1950s-era timepieces. The next step in this evolutionary process are the so-called “Underline” and “Swiss Underline” dials, which indicate that a watch dial — perhaps an old-stock dial — was either born with tritium, or has been upgraded with tritium. (Tritium is less radioactive, and thus less dangerous, than radium.) An exclamation-point 5512 dial — which is often seen with other highly desirable features — might add a 90% premium over a non-exclamation point, later 5512.
Underline/Double-Swiss-Underline
Also in the early 1960s — between 1962 and 1964, for the most part — Rolex began printing a thin horizontal line beneath the model name on the glossy-gilt dials of its sport Rolex replica watches for men. This is thought to denote a lower level of radiation found in their tritium luminescent material than that present in the radium of earlier luminescent dials, though Rolex has never confirmed this. (Underline dials are said to have lower Geiger counter readings in aggregate than exclamation dials.) There is also a special Submariner reference 5513 from roughly 1963 that features an underline beneath “Oyster Perpetual,” plus dual “Swiss” signatures above 6 o’clock. (There are also certain Cosmograph Daytonas with this feature.) An “Underline” 5513 is a rare bird, indeed, and might fetch a 92% premium over a more standard, meters-first 5513.
Red/Double-Red
On the first iteration of the date-equipped Sub ref. 1680 from the late 1960s, Rolex placed four lines of text, the first of which (“Submariner”) is in red. This small quirk, which appeared in four successive iterations (“marks”) of 1680 and several further sub-sets, easily differentiates the “Red Sub” from other, similar Rolex fake watches shop. Later versions without red printing produced between 1976-1979 are less desirable (by rarefied vintage Rolex standards, anyway). Expect to pay a 61% premium for red text.
Confusingly, the Swiss made replica Rolex Sea-Dweller watches — Rolex’s souped-up, ultra deep-diving version of the Sub — also went through a “red” phase: In its first iteration from 1967, it carried a single line of red text; later versions featured two lines of red text. (“Single-red” and “Double-red,” respectively.) Single-red models total about 12 in existence, and fetch multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction. A DRSD will fetch roughly a 96% premium compared to a “Great White” Sea-Dweller with no red printing.
Gilt Dials
Though a “gilt” dial could mean several things, in vintage Rolex parlance, it applies to a dial type with gold-looking elements made prior to the late 1960s whose production involves a complex process: First, a brass dial blank is polished, after which certain elements — model name, depth rating, minute track, etc — are printed in a clear coating. Next, the dial is coated in black paint applied galvanically, which prevents the clear-printed elements from taking on the black color. Finally, the entire dial receives a clear lacquer coat. The resultant glossy dial is black and features certain elements that appear gold, giving it a refined, luxe look that collectors adore. (Rolex switched its production from “glossy-gilt” to matte dials around 1967.) Glossy-gilt sport best Rolex fake watches are rarer than later matte versions by virtue of their production runs, and are thus more expensive. Expect to pay perhaps a 42% premium for a glossy-gilt” dial ref. 1675 over a matte-dial ref. 1675.
Explorer Dials
When someone refers to an “Explorer dial,” they’re referring to the dial type seen on an earlier Explorer I such as a ref. 1016 (or 6610.) But the Explorer I, with its combination Arabic, dash, and triangular indices with Mercedes hands, wasn’t the only Rolex model to use this dial: Indeed, there are certain Submariners that featured it as well, and they’re fairly rare. The super early ref. 6200 Submariner produced from 1955-1956 featured an Explorer dial — only perhaps 300 pieces are known worldwide. Likewise, the 6538, 5510, 5512, and 5513 also came in Explorer varieties, with the 5513 from between 1962-1965 constituting the last Explorer-dialed Sub. (Die-hard Rolex fans will note that the Commando, an über-scarce 34mm Oyster cased watch sold at Abercrombie & Fitch and U.S. military PXs, also has an Explorer dial.) Expect to pay six figures for an Explorer-dial 5513, or roughly a 148% premium over a standard matte-dial 5513.
Maxi Dials
Debuting in the mid-1970s, the “Maxi” dial — a collector term — is one on which the luminous tritium hour plots are enlarged, presumably for better visibility. (Holding a “Maxi” dial Sub next to an earlier-production model makes the difference obvious.) Small variants in production mean that there were multiple “Maxi” dials produced until the mid-1980s, when production switched back over to regular-sized lume plots. (Rolex would re-introduce it on the ref. 16610LV Submariner in 2003.) 2024 online replica Rolex “Maxi”-dial ref. 5513 watches with pleasing patina might carry an 11% premium over a slightly later 5513 with white gold surrounds from the late 1980s.
Pegged as one of the most innovative and historical updates to the perfect Rolex replica watches, the Rolex Oyster case has enjoyed its day in the sun and for good reason. In this in-depth article courtesy of our colleagues, we take you through the different parts of this piece of horological history and help you understand it better.
When it comes to understanding why Rolex demands the kind of respect it does, one has to keep in mind the history and expert craftsmanship it has showcased during its many years of existence. From the many successful innovations and creations it has offered to the watch industry, the most noteworthy of them all is the Rolex Oyster case.
Developed in 1926, the Rolex Oyster (as it was named by the brand then), was the world’s first workable waterproof and dust-proof watch case that revolutionized the watch industry in more ways than one. It not only secured the transformation of the wristwatch from a delicate female watch to a sturdy men’s accessory but also effectively became a symbol of robustness and waterproofness. This feature of the Rolex Oyster case has stood the test of time, so much so that most of the UK AAA Rolex fake watches that come out of the Rolex manufacture have “Oyster” written on the dial.
A major milestone not just for the brand but also watchmaking as a whole, the Rolex Oyster combines a hermetically sealed case, winding crown, cyclops lens, fixed or rotatable fluted bezel, a helium-escape valve for the Sea-Dweller and Rolex Deepsea replica watches for sale, and finally the Chromalight display. Taking you through the many parts of the Rolex Oyster case will help you better understand why it is one of the most important inventions of the watchmaking world.
Oyster Case:
Starting from the top, the Rolex Oyster case is hermetically constructed to guarantee a water resistance of 100 meters (330 feet) to 300 meters (1,000 feet) for the Submariner and Submariner Date timepieces, 1,220 meters (400 feet) for the Sea-Dweller and 3,900 meters (12,800 feet) for the Deepsea collection. It also features a solid middle case that is stamped and machined out of a solid block of Oystersteel, 18k gold or 950 platinum. Forming the backbone of the case itself, the central section is extremely robust and offers a secure fit for the overall case structure. A feature found mostly on the Professional models is the crown guard that is set on the side of the middle block and forms an integral part of the case structure. The sapphire crystal is mounted on a gasket that fits perfectly against the flange of the case, adding to the waterproof and dustproof features of the Oyster case. On the back we can see the screwed down caseback with Rolex fluting that is fitted with a special tool. This is done to allow access only to Rolex watchmakers, which further ensures the safety of the movement from external tampering.
Twinlock and triplock Winding Crown
Released in 1953 and 1970, respectively, the Twinlock and Triplock winding crown is a patented feature of the Oyster case that was developed to ensure its high water-resistance. It was this part of the development of the Rolex Oyster case that gave high quality Rolex copy watches their reputation as having among the most efficient waterproof case structures to date.
While the former comprises a double system of seals (one inside the tube, the other inside the crown), the latter was developed with an additional sealed zone (two inside the tube and one inside the crown). These are identified by one dot, two dots or a line for the Twinlock, and three dots (which could be of different sizes) below the Rolex emblem for the Triplock system. Readily available for the cheap replica Rolex Submariner, Submariner Date, Sea-Dweller and Deepsea divers’ watches, the two winding crowns are made up of around 10 components that offer maximum watertight security akin to a hermetic seal of a submarine’s hatch. The Twinlock and Triplock Winding Crowns are available in three materials; Oystersteel, 18k gold and 950 platinum.
Cylops Lens:
One of the standout feature of the Oyster case is the “Cylops” lens that is present on the sapphire crystal. Its name inspired by the one-eyed giants of Greek mythology, the Cyclops lens was created during the early 1950s. Its main function is to allow the magnification of dates on many Swiss movements replcia Rolex Oyster watches. This exclusive addition to the crystal allows the wearer to read the date with much ease. Due to its exclusivity, and to the success the innovation garnered, Rolex was quick to put out a warning to all brands that planned to adopt the same feature. “To all watchmakers: we draw your attention to the fact that the watch crystal with the specially shaped magnifying lens is a Rolex exclusivity protected in Switzerland and abroad. We will not hesitate to instigate legal proceedings against any counterfeiting,” stated a notice published in the press at the time.
Throughout the years, the Cyclops lens has become a salient aesthetic feature of many Rolex models. It has also changed, from being constructed in a single piece (lens and crystal) of Plexiglas, to now using sapphire with double anti-reflective coating.
Chromalight display:
Build for utmost waterproofness and dust-resistance, the Oyster case was fixed to models that were mainly dive watches. Hence it was imperative to also offer Rolex customers a feature that allowed them to use the watch in dark conditions, such as underwater. To cater to this demand, Rolex began using an innovative luminescent material called Chromalight. This material, which emits a blue glow, offers greater visibility and also extended time of visibility in dark conditions. Applied to the hands, hour markers and other display elements in most top fake Rolex watches in the Oyster collections, the high-performance luminescence enabled the wearer to tell time easily in dark environments. The luminosity duration of the Chromalight display is almost double that of a standard luminescent material and can extend beyond eight hours.
Helium Escape Valve:
Mostly present in the Sea-Dweller and the Rolex Deepsea, the helium escape valve allows excess pressure that is built up in the watch case to be released during a diver’s decompression phase. This is done in a hyperbaric chamber without compromising the waterproofness of the watch. This innovative feature was developed and patented by Rolex back in 1967 and it quickly played a key role in the world of deep diving. The presence of a helium escape valve allowed divers to make deeper dives and spend more time underwater. Like saturation diving, the 1:1 China Rolex super clone watches accompanying the diver housed a feature that released helium absorbed by the watch.
How does it work? Set on the side of the case, the helium escape valve is made up of a hermetic cylinder that houses a piston surrounded by a spring. While the difference between the watch’s internal and external pressure is less the 2.5 bar, the piston remains closed. Once this limitation is crossed, the piston slides automatically outwards, releasing the excess internal pressure.
Cerachrom Bezel Insert and Cerachrom Bezel
When Rolex was in the process of creating the Oyster case, it understood that apart from the robustness of the case, the bezel is also one of the most visible parts of the Rolex replica watches site that is prone to external corrosion. For this reason, Rolex developed and patented the Cerachrom bezel insert and the Cerachrom bezel in 2005 for specific Professional models in the Oyster collection. The Cerachrom bezel and insert is made from hard, corrosion-resistant ceramic that is virtually resistant to scratches. It also offers 100 percent color retention and excellent polishability that ensures the bezel retains its luster for a long time.
Rolex has expanded the application of the Cerachrom bezel and designed a monobloc ceramic bezel that was first released on the Cosmograph Daytona in 2013. Like the Cerachrom bezel and bezel insert, the monobloc ceramic bezel is extremely resistant and is available today in chestnut brown or black ceramic. Since then, Rolex has been experimenting with new colors for the ceramic bezel insert; these include the first two-color, single-piece ceramic insert in blue-and-black, released in 2013, the red-and-blue one in 18k gold, in 2014; and the 2018 release of two-color inserts in brown-and-black for two best quality replica Rolex GMT-Master II watches — one in 18k Everose gold, the other in Everose Rolesor (steel and gold).
All Rolex Oyster cases undergo stringent waterproofness testing. Each case is immersed in water and subjected to pressures 10 percent greater than that exerted at the depth to which it is guaranteed — 35 percent greater for divers’ Rolex fake watches shop.
