Category Archives: Replica Rolex Sea-Dweller

Is Rolex Shorting The Market Of New Perfect Swiss Rolex Replica Watches UK To Drive Its Certified Pre-Owned Program?

In our recent article about the near impossibility of purchasing a new Rolex Daytona, we concluded with this question: Is Rolex shorting the new market to compel customers to buy from its new Certified Pre-Owned program? This seemed a fair, if somewhat cynical, question to ask after multiple authorized Rolex dealerships offered us little hope for a new Daytona while simultaneously directing us to pre-owned AAA UK Rolex Daytona replica watches at twice the retail price.

However, the cheap 1:1 fake Rolex Daytona watches is uniquely hard to get, and for that reason it is also uniquely expensive on the pre-owned market. An expert watch collector and watch industry veteran (who prefers anonymity) didn’t mince words: “Daytona production is artificially reduced. Rolex wants that one hard-to-get watch, and they’ve done that with the Daytona since 1988.” (In 1988, Rolex released the first auto-winding Daytona reference 16520.) They add, “A brand has to have that one watch that’s hard to get.” As such, seeking out a new Daytona is an especially disheartening experience.

And yet, it is also nearly impossible to get any Swiss made Rolex replica watches new at retail any time soon. The ubiquitous scarcity makes shopping at a Rolex boutique (if we can call even it shopping) both frustrating and surreal. They offer you a sparkling water with a smile knowing full well they’re going to deny your wishes, and this disingenuousness can make the Rolex retail experience quite tense. According to one source with first-hand experience selling Rolex, denying customers access takes a toll: “It’s cringe and uptight. Most people go a little insane. Customers get edgy, and [salespeople] grow cringy.” Granted, some pre-owned Rolex models have come down toward retail prices, but there’s still a denial at the core of the pre-owned offering. The question as to whether Rolex has shorted the new market to bump up Certified Pre-Owned sales just seems to hang in the air at the brand’s boutiques.

When we asked experts whether Rolex was shorting the supply of new high quality Rolex copy watches to sell used, each notably took a moment to consider it and then said no. However, our experts were mostly only able to speculate when offering alternative explanations for Rolex’s retail strategies. Rolex’s lack of transparency only confirms its reputation as a cloistered corporate entity. Where most watch brands offer up their CEOs for candid interviews with journalists, Rolex rarely speaks beyond formal press releases. Factory tours are nearly non-existent, and photos aren’t allowed. Rolex operates as a Swiss not-for-profit, and likely discloses no financial records to the Swiss government. I’ve long referred to Rolex as Willy Wonka’s Watch Factory.

Despite this dearth of both definitive information from, or even about, Rolex, the experts we spoke with offered up some interesting and wide-ranging speculations.

The Global Rolex Shortage Is Not Intentional

The first thing that experts told us was that top replica Rolex watches is not intentionally shorting the new market, but has run up against an unexpectedly high global demand.

One source told us that the idea that Rolex intentionally shorts supply, “is all bullshit, just rumors. If you talk for 10 minutes with [Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric] Dufour, you’ll learn he’s not happy and his retailers aren’t happy,” about the lack of new product. Paul Altieri of the (non-certified) pre-owned dealership Bob’s Watches told Robb Report that, “My gut reaction is no [they’re not intentionally shorting supply], because global demand is so high they can hardly handle it.” Watch expert Eric Wind said he, “wouldn’t use the word shorted.”

Another watch-world insider told us that, “Rolex doesn’t intentionally short supply…[but]…during Covid, Rolex got caught with its pants down.” Indeed, all watch market data indicates that during the pandemic, demand for best China Rolex super clone watches went through the roof, with Rolex, as always, especially in demand. This same source told us that Rolex has been using temporary factories to help fill the supply gap while the company builds its new factory. Altieri also mentioned the new factory, stating “global demand for luxury goods is so high these days, maybe [Rolex] just can’t meet global demand until the new factory is up and running.”

And Yet, Shorting Supply Is a Known Luxury Strategy

Shorting supply is a standard luxury strategy. Not only does shorting supply allow a brand to drive prices skyward, but it creates the air of exclusivity—as well as actual exclusion. Altieri mentioned that, “Louis Vuitton and Hermès always produce 20 percent less than demand, because exclusion drives luxury. It’s good to be scarce.” But Altieri goes on to question the premise for Rolex because, “the global economy is flourishing, and Rolex is relatively affordable.”

Altieri’s point is well taken, because Rolex replica watches wholesale aren’t especially expensive when compared to other Swiss watch brands offering comparable quality and style. Some watch brands, like F. P. Journe, have adjusted their pricing to match skyrocketing pre-owned prices, while others, like Rexhep Rexhepi refuse to do so. Rolex has raised its retail prices recently, but only incrementally, and nowhere close to approaching the inflated pre-owned prices for hard-to-get watches like the Daytona.

And yet, however unintentionally, on the ground floor of their retail stores, Rolex appears to have executed the luxury strategy of excluding almost everyone except elite clients. Much like Ferrari, the aforementioned Louis Vuitton and Hermès, and any number of watch brands these days, Rolex now behaves according to the text-book luxury brand protocol of keeping supply way below demand.

If we believe the experts who agree that Rolex is not shorting supply intentionally, then it is an odd—even ironic—situation for a globally recognized premium brand to find itself acting as if it were an exclusive luxury brand. That indicates a lack of control, and perhaps Rolex has genuinely been caught with its pants down.

Whatever the case may be, some people are growing annoyed with Rolex’s retail practices. Another source with extensive Rolex retail experience told Robb Report that, “People get cynical about Rolex because they’re like the super cool, popular kid in high school who you can’t image is a nice guy. Rolex is just so corporate.” Some of this impression may come down to Rolex’s business and manufacturing practices having long been shrouded in mystery, its opacity in communication, and its impersonal tone. While many people around the world unquestionably admire Rolex and its watches, this is a brand only very few will ever feel very close to (e.g., compare Rolex to Omega, which once made a Speedmaster to honor a popular Instagram hashtag). The more Rolex excludes customers from purchasing its fake Rolex watches for sale at retail, the more likely it seems that some people will wonder if Rolex is intentionally making itself into an ultra-exclusive luxury brand.

One collector who has registered his interest but has yet to get “the call” for a new Rolex told Robb Report, “I feel disgusted. It’s not a large amount of money out of my portfolio, and they’re putting it on a pedestal as if it’s out of my reach. They’re not even that expensive. You finally put away all that money for retirement, the kids college tuition, your mortgage, and you want to treat yourself and you can’t.” Another collector, who finally got the call for his first new Rolex earlier this year, told us that, “It’s like getting that big promotion. It’s an incredibly good feeling. Like when the girl says ‘yes.’ I’d been worried the appeal was having been excluded…but when they opened that box I didn’t feel that way for a fucking heartbeat.”

Enter the Certified Pre-Owned Program

On May 3, 2023, Rolex announced its Certified Pre-Owned program. The official press release—the only statement on the topic we could secure from the brand—reads: “The Rolex Certified Pre-Owned program is designed to offer customers a service that stands out in terms of the quality delivered by Rolex, in keeping with its values of excellence. It provides the assurance of buying certified Rolex products and enables the end customer to benefit from the full know-how and professionalism of the brand’s worldwide network of experts.” While the message is positive, it’s an opaque and impersonal statement. The release is devoid of first-person subjects (“we” appears nowhere) and employs passive voice (e.g., “is designed to” rather than “Rolex designed”), both known strategies for creating narrative distance. Where many other watch brands might openly explain their business strategy, Rolex is silent.

Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour gave a rare interview to the Swiss newspaper NZZ in April of this year, and in it he mostly speaks of the global watch market downturn, currency exchange, and international interest rates. He says nothing about Swiss movements Rolex replica watches‘ retail strategies, or how it interfaces with customers. Dufour does mention that, “We produce everything here at Swiss costs. So the Swiss franc is a challenge.” This statement goes no distance in helping us understand the Certified Pre-Owned program, but perhaps begs speculation as to whether Rolex sees the fast-growing pre-owned market as a way to mitigate the high costs of domestic labor.

One Rolex-affiliated source told Robb Report that Rolex operates its Certified Pre-Owned program as if it were a separate brand, and that it is, “on the same level as Tudor. There is no tray for CPO [Certified Pre-Owned] watches, and they’re not allowed to be displayed in the same room as the new watches.” When asked if Rolex trained its salespeople to leverage scarcity of new models toward the Certified Pre-Owned offerings, they said, “If the customer says they want to buy something today, then we mention CPO,” but that generally Rolex offers no incentive or instruction for salespeople to pivot from inquiries for new models to the Certified Pre-Owned offerings.

Is Rolex Making ‘Generational Moves’?

Another source with knowledge of the brand’s retail practices told Robb Report that Rolex is making “generational moves,” and that “Rolex has been exploring this [CPO] program for over a decade.” Another expert echoed this, saying, “Rolex operates like a Soviet country. It plans far ahead and is rigid in its execution.” They also said, “Rolex moves really slowly, [because] it has a huge board that makes enormous decisions.”

When pressed to answer what those generational moves were meant to accomplish, the source told us, “The CPO program is about control. Rolex doesn’t care about money. It cares about control…of its brand, its service centers,” and that Rolex has been, “weeding out mom-and-pop stores. It’s possible that the pre-Covid shorting was a way to weed out those [dealerships] they didn’t want in their network.” Another source pointed out that the Certified Pre-Owned program might be helpful to some dealerships because, “If I dedicated half of my store to your brand, and you’ve got no new product to fill it, then there’s a problem.” Apparently Certified Pre-Owned watches could give a dealership something to sell, but Eric Wind suggested that authorized dealers, “are being made to take on CPO to keep their account, and they had to buy a lot of pre-owned models.”

A Healthy Mystique

The lack of consensus around Rolex’s strategies—or whether the company is even acting strategically—is perhaps the prime takeaway from this discussion. Because Rolex remains an opaque communicator on its business strategies, even industry insiders can’t agree on what really goes on inside the most compelling watch brand in the world. Perhaps Rolex fake watches site UK maintaining its, stoic, confident, strong-but-silent personality is the brand’s best strategy. Certainly the brand’s mystique is as healthy as it’s ever been, and it does seem as if its founder Hans Wilsdorf, who passed in 1960, is managing from the otherworld. As one Rolex employee once told me, “Uncle Hans is still at the helm.”

11 Rolex Quirks That Make Your Best Quality UK Fake Rolex Watches More Valuable, From Flat 4s To Bart Simpson Coronets

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.

UK AAA Best Rolex Sea-Dweller Replica Watches: Double Red vs Single Red

The Rolex Sea-Dweller stands as a paragon of dive watch engineering and design since its debut in 1967. Renowned for its unparalleled water resistance and robustness, it caters to the demands of professional divers. Among the plethora of Swiss made Rolex Sea-Dweller replica watches, those adorned with red text on their dials emerge as particularly coveted treasures. This distinctive red script not only sets these timepieces apart but also significantly enhances their appeal among collectors and aficionados of horology.

What is the Rolex Sea-Dweller “Single Red”?

The 1:1 UK fake Rolex “Single Red” Sea-Dweller Ref 1665 is a prototype dive watch introduced in 1967, distinguished by its unique red “SEA-DWELLER” text on the dial. This model, notable for its pioneering features, was developed to surpass the Submariner’s water resistance, initially offering up to 500 meters, a figure that later evolved to 610 meters with the “Double Red” Sea-Dweller.

Exclusively about twelve “Single Red” models were produced, never commercially sold but distributed to select divers for testing or recognition, making it exceedingly rare and a treasure at auctions where it fetches high prices.

Its construction includes a 40mm Oyster case, matte black dial, 27-jewel caliber 1575 Perpetual movement, and a distinctive date mechanism at 3 o’clock—uncommon among dive watches at the time, emphasizing its innovative design for prolonged underwater missions. The “Single Red” Sea-Dweller’s rarity, coupled with its historical significance and technical achievements, make it a coveted piece for collectors, embodying top Rolex copy watches‘ legacy in the evolution of dive watches​​​​.

What is the Rolex Sea-Dweller “Double Red”?

The Rolex Sea-Dweller “Double Red” Ref 1665, created through a collaboration with the French diving company COMEX, is a hallmark in luxury replica Rolex’s dive watches lineage, produced from 1967 to 1977. Distinguished by two red lines of text on its dial—”SEA-DWELLER” and “SUBMARINER 2000″—it signified an advancement over the Submariner with a depth rating of over 2000 feet, incorporating the innovative Helium Escape Valve (HEV) for deep-sea explorations.

This model underwent several dial iterations and caseback changes throughout its production, including the rare Mark I dial with a patent-pending caseback. Its design eschewed the cyclops lens for a more symmetrical dial under a domed acrylic crystal, enhancing its vintage appeal. Despite its decade-long production, finding a DRSD in original or near-original condition is a rarity, with values reflecting its iconic status among collectors. The “Double Red” Rolex Sea-Dweller fake watches for men remains a pivotal piece in Rolex’s diving watch history, embodying the brand’s commitment to innovation and functionality in professional dive watches​​​​​​.

2017 Rolex Sea-Dweller 126660: A Homage to the Red Text

The high quality replica Rolex Sea-Dweller reference 126600 watches, launched in 2017 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Sea-Dweller line, is a testament to Rolex’s enduring commitment to excellence in dive watches. This model reintroduces the iconic red text on the dial, a nod to the “Single Red” and “Double Red” Sea-Dwellers, underscoring the brand’s rich heritage in deep-sea exploration. With a 43mm case size, up from the traditional 40mm, it aligns with modern preferences for larger Swiss movements Rolex super clone watches while maintaining the robust functionality expected from a professional diver’s watch​​​​​​.

The 126600 model features several technical and aesthetic updates, including a Cerachrom ceramic bezel, a “Maxi” dial with larger hour markers and wider hands filled with Chromalight for superior visibility in dark conditions, and a helium escape valve, retaining its capability for saturation diving. Notably, this model is water-resistant to 1,220 meters (4,000 feet), a significant achievement that underscores its utility for professional divers​​.

Furthermore, the inclusion of the Cyclops lens on the sapphire crystal above the date display marks a departure from previous Sea-Dweller models, enhancing date legibility while stirring discussion among Rolex enthusiasts​​. The cheap Rolex replica watches is powered by Rolex’s Caliber 3235 movement, offering improvements in precision, power reserve, and resistance to environmental factors, making the 126600 not only a piece of Rolex’s diving legacy but also a forward-looking iteration that reflects the latest in watchmaking technology​​.

This model, dubbed the “Anniversary Sea-Dweller” or “Sea-Dweller 43” due to its release timing and case size, encapsulates the evolution of the Sea-Dweller series from a tool watch for the diving professional to a modern luxury timepiece that respects its roots while embracing the future​​.

Final Thoughts

The “Single Red” and “Double Red” Rolex Sea-Dweller fake watches site hold a special place in the annals of Rolex’s history, embodying the brand’s commitment to excellence in professional dive watches. These models, with their distinct red inscriptions, not only serve as functional tools for divers but also as coveted collectibles that capture the essence of Rolex’s innovative spirit. The 2017 Sea-Dweller 126660, with its nod to the past through the red text, underscores Rolex’s ability to honor its heritage while pushing the boundaries of watchmaking.