Short answer

Rolex reference 326939 is an 18k yellow gold Sky-Dweller on a leather strap. It has a 42 mm case, calibre 9001, and a Saros annual calendar. Replica versions sell for US$300 to US$700. They copy the case shape, weight distribution, and dial print. They do not copy the movement, so the month display, the second time zone, and the Ring Command bezel work wrong on most units. In the US, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320.

What the real 326939 is

Rolex launched the Sky-Dweller in 2012 at Baselworld. The yellow gold versions were 326938 on an Oyster bracelet and 326939 on a leather strap. White gold versions were 326139 and 326138. Steel and two-tone Sky-Dwellers came in 2017.

  • Case: 18k yellow gold, 42 mm, 100 m water resistance
  • Movement: calibre 9001, automatic, 72 hour power reserve, 28,800 vph
  • Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date, second time zone, annual calendar
  • Calendar: Saros system. Corrects at the end of 30 day months. One manual change each year, at the end of February
  • Month display: 12 apertures around the dial. The current month shows in red
  • Bezel: Ring Command. Turns to four positions to set the date, the month, the second time zone, and winding
  • Strap: black or brown alligator leather with an 18k Crownclasp

Rolex retired the gold references over time. Secondary prices for a 326939 sit near US$28,000 to US$38,000. Check a dealer for a current figure.

What replicas do and do not copy

Replica makers scan a genuine watch and build a mold from it. Case lines, lug shape, and dial print on a top tier replica look close to the original at arm's length. Most Sky-Dweller replicas run a modified A2824 or 2824-2. The 9001 is a different mechanism.

Three functions fail on most replicas:

  1. Annual calendar. The 9001 has an extra gear train for the Saros system. Replica movements use a standard date change, so the date needs a manual reset after every 30 day month.
  2. Second time zone. Replicas drive a 24 hour hand off the hour wheel. The reading drifts. It does not match the off center 24 hour disc on the real dial.
  3. Ring Command bezel. On the 9001 the bezel links to the movement through a lever. On replicas the bezel turns and does nothing.

Case thickness is the other tell. The real case is about 13.6 mm thick. The added date module pushes most replicas past 14.5 mm.

Details buyers check

  • Cyclops magnification. Genuine is 2.5x. Replicas run 2x to 3x
  • Date font. The 9001 uses its own font. Replica date discs use a generic one
  • Red tone on the month apertures
  • Weight. Gold is dense. A steel replica weighs 40 to 60 grams less
  • Hallmarks. Gold parts on a real watch carry Rolex hallmarks and a 750 stamp. Replica stamps sit on the caseback only
  • Bezel action. The real bezel clicks into four detents

Legal position

Rolex owns the trademark on the name, the crown logo, and the dial design. Trafficking in counterfeits is a crime in the US under 18 U.S.C. 2320. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a US$2,000,000 fine. Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit shipments, and the buyer can lose the watch with no refund. Repair shops will not service or authenticate a counterfeit. Resale forums pull the listings.

Replica Sky-Dwellers sell for US$300 to US$700. Genuine 326939 watches trade near US$30,000. No replica of this reference has a working annual calendar.