Short answer
A fake Rolex 14060 is a counterfeit copy of the Submariner No Date that Rolex built from 1990 to 2001. The genuine reference has a 40 mm steel case, a 20 mm lug width, a sapphire crystal, a black aluminum bezel insert, and the caliber 3000 movement. Water resistance is rated at 300 m. Replicas copy the outline. They do not use a Rolex movement, a Rolex case, or a Rolex bracelet.
Reference facts
- 14060: 1990 to 2001. Caliber 3000. 27 jewels. 28,800 vph.
- 14060M: 2001 to 2012. Caliber 3130, COSC certified.
- Bracelet: Oyster 93150 with 501B end links.
- Case: 40 mm wide, about 12.5 mm thick, 47 mm lug to lug.
- Crystal: flat sapphire. No date window. No cyclops.
- Dial: SUBMARINER above 1000ft = 300m. Tritium dials read SWISS - T < 25 at the bottom. Later dials read SWISS MADE.
- Lugs: drilled on the 14060 and on early 14060M examples.
- Weight: about 130 g with a full bracelet.
Where replicas fail
Case profile is the first tell. Copy cases run thin at the crown guards or fat at the mid-case. The genuine mid-case line is straight from lug to lug.
How to Spot a Fake Rolex 14060: A Comprehensive Buying Guide
Dial print is the second tell. Check the weight of the SUBMARINER letters, the spacing of the depth rating, and the shape of the ft mark. Most copies print the text too heavy or too wide.
Bezel insert: the pip sits too high, too large, or too flat. Insert font on copies runs wider than the original.
Lugs: many copies ship with solid lugs. The real 14060 has drilled lug holes.
Caseback: genuine Submariner casebacks are plain steel. Copies often carry engraved text or a display back.
Movement: most copies run an Asian copy of the ETA 2836 or a Seagull unit. Beat rate is 21,600 or 28,800 vph. Winding feel and crown thread pitch differ from the caliber 3000.
Steel: Rolex used 904L. Many copies use 316L. The two grades take polish at different rates.
Legal status in the United States
A watch with a Rolex mark and no Rolex origin is illegal to import and illegal to sell in the US. 19 U.S.C. 1526 covers importation. 15 U.S.C. 1114 covers sale in commerce. 18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes shipments and can destroy the goods. Personal use is not a defense at the border. Resale adds civil and criminal exposure.
Checks before buying
- Ask for photos of the movement, the lug holes, and the numbers between the lugs.
- Confirm the bracelet code. A 14060 pairs with a 93150 bracelet and 501B end links.
- Weigh the watch. A full example lands near 130 g.
- Check the crown guards against a known reference photo.
- Send the watch to a Rolex service center. Rolex does not service counterfeit watches and will decline the job.
Alternatives
Rolex sells current Submariner references with a date and without. Tudor sells the Black Bay line at 41 mm and 39 mm. Both come with factory papers and service support. Auction results for genuine 14060 examples move with the market, so check recent sales before you set a budget.