A replica Rolex 116613 is a look-alike of the two-tone Submariner Date that Rolex sold from 2009 to 2020. The genuine watch is a 40mm steel case with an 18 ct yellow gold bezel, gold winding crown and gold center bracelet links. Replicas of it fall into three rough tiers: inexpensive fashion versions, mid-tier builds with clone movements, and the top tier usually marketed as "super clones." If you are going to spend money on one, the details that decide whether it looks right are the gold tone, the ceramic bezel insert, the blue sunburst dial and the bracelet end-link fit. Everything else comes second.
What the Genuine 116613 Actually Is
Reference 116613LB carries a blue sunburst dial and a blue ceramic Cerachrom insert. The 116613LN is the black dial, black insert version. Both use an Oyster case in 904L stainless steel, 18 ct yellow gold on the bezel and crown, and an Oyster bracelet with gold through the center links. The movement is the caliber 3135, rated at 48 hours of power reserve and 28,800 vibrations per hour, with 300 meters of water resistance. It replaced the older 16613 and gave way to the 126613 in 2020, which moved to a 41mm case and the caliber 3235. Those numbers matter because the replica market uses "116613" loosely, and you will see 16613 and 126613 builds mixed into the same listings.
The Details That Separate Good From Bad
I check five things in order, because each one exposes a different weakness.
- Gold tone. Real 18 ct yellow gold is warm and slightly muted. Plated replicas often read either brassy or washed out, and the plating thins at the clasp, crown and sharp link edges where metal rubs.
- Bezel insert. The genuine Cerachrom insert is glossy ceramic with numerals engraved and filled with gold. Cheap replicas print silver or tan paint that looks flat under any light.
- Dial. The blue should shift from deep navy to bright blue as you tilt it. A flat matte blue is the easiest tell on the whole watch.
- Bracelet and end links. Solid end links should sit flush with the lugs. Gaps of a millimeter or more are common on budget builds.
- Date and cyclops. Magnification should be roughly 2.5 times, the date should sit centered in the window, and the cyclops should sharpen the date rather than blur it.
Movements and What They Mean
Budget replicas usually run a 21,600 vph economy movement, and the seconds hand stutters instead of sweeping. Mid-tier watches use an ETA 2824 clone or a Seagull movement at 28,800 vph, which is smooth and can be serviced by a local watchmaker. Top-tier builds copy the 3135 layout, including the free-sprung balance and the correct hand stack, and they cost more than most buyers expect. None of them carry a Rolex warranty, and none are rated for 300 meters no matter what the listing claims.
Price Tiers, Plainly
Fashion-level versions sell for under $100 and look like it up close. The $250 to $500 range is where the decent builds sit: correct case proportions, ceramic insert, usable bracelet. Above $700 you are paying for a clone movement, better gold plating and better finishing. Beyond that, the math stops favoring the replica, because a pre-owned genuine two-tone Submariner trades in the five-figure range on the secondary market, and some 1990s 16613 examples land near the top replica prices.
The Legal Side in the US
Importing counterfeit trademarked goods into the United States is illegal, and Customs and Border Protection can seize the shipment even when it is a single watch for personal use. Selling them is the clearer problem: federal trademark law allows civil suits and, in aggravated cases, criminal charges. Wearing one is the gray area, and passing a replica off as genuine during a sale is fraud no matter what the watch cost. Pair that with resale reality, which is that a replica 116613 has essentially no resale value.
Common Questions
Is the Bluesy still made?
The 116613 generation ended in 2020. The current two-tone Submariner Date is the 126613, with the caliber 3235 and a 41mm case, so any "new" 116613 is either old stock or not genuine.
Which version looks closest?
Submariners are the most copied watches in the industry, so the case shape is easy to get right. The two-tone finish is the hard part. A black dial version hides plating flaws better than the blue sunburst, which amplifies every property of the metal around it.
Can a replica 116613 be serviced?
Clone movements based on the ETA 2824 can be serviced cheaply. Decorated 3135 clones often cannot be repaired by a typical local watchmaker, and parts may not exist. Budget for replacement rather than repair.