Rolex Submariner Replica VS Original: Guide + VIDEO (126610)

Last Updated on December 3, 2023 by Ch David

You may be here because:

• You’ve got a Rolex Submariner (126610)
• And you can’t tell if it’s real
• So you have to authenticate it

In 9 simple steps, we’ll teach you how to tell if your Submariner is real or fake.

This guide works for all Rolex Submariners

However: If yours is older than 2020, refer to our Rolex 16610LN guide.

We’ll now focus on the 126610 — the Submariner produced after 2020.

How to spot a fake Rolex Submariner

Examining the minute hand’s length is the quickest method to identify fake Rolex Submariner 2020.

Over 90% replicas have a longer minute hand compared to authentic watches.

1. Minute hand

• Authentic: Minute hand is short and doesn’t overlap minute markers.
• Fake: Longer minute hand, often overlapping minute markers.

Want the expert's opinion? Let our Rolex authenticators check your watch:

2. Hour hand

• Authentic: Hour hand is thinner and more refined.
• Fake: The hand is bulky and significantly thicker.

3. Solid end links

• Authentic: Bracelet’s metal parts are closely fitted with no visible space in-between.
• Fake: Noticeable space is present between the bracelet’s metal parts.

4. Fitment

This is about the distance/fitment of the:

• Solid end links
• Lugs

• Authentic: Small gap between the solid end links and the lugs of the bracelet.
• Fake: No gap observed between the solid end links and the lugs.

Let’s switch the angle.

• Authentic:
  • Minimal gap below the bezel.
  • Consistent and adequate gap depth around the solid end links and lugs.
• Fake:
  • Noticeable large gap below the bezel.
  • Inconsistent gap depth around the solid end links and lugs; gap is too small in some areas.

One more fake example:

A quick mention:

• The steps we’ve written so far are the BEST ways to authenticate this item
• The next few steps are still reliable methods…
• … but they apply to non-top-versions of replicas available for this item

If in doubt, we recommend double-checking the steps we’ve explained above this line.

5. Black hole

To enable this feature:

1. Turn your watch to the left.
2. And view it from a 45 degree angle.
3. This reveals a “black hole/bubble” above the date window

It should look like in the authentic example below

• Authentic: The bubble is black, as it should be.
• Fake: The bubble appears blue instead of the correct black.

6. Rehaut

• The rehaut is the metal circle.
• Placed between the dial and the bezel, placed below the window.

However, we care about the “ROLEX” text engraved in the rehaut.

• Authentic: The text on the rehaut is clear, visible, and easy to read.
• Fake: The rehaut text is less visible and harder to read.

7. Lume

Use light to charge your watch and reveal the lume (glow in the dark) effect.

• Authentic: The glow is in a lighter shade.
• Fake: The glow appears darker than on the authentic watch.

8. Cyclops

• The cyclops lens is what helps people read the date on the watch from almost any angle…
• Without facing any difficulties.
  • e.g: reflections, light landing directly on the date window.

• Authentic:
  • The cyclops lens material is well-defined.
  • Making the date easily readable without light reflection issues.
• Fake:
  • The date is harder to read due to a cyclops lens that improperly reflects light.

Authenticity checklist

When time is limited, or you’re shopping for a Rolex Submariner watch online…

These 8 quick indicators can help you authenticate your timepiece:

1. Ensure the minute hand isn’t excessively long, avoiding overlap with minute markings.
2. Check the size of the hour hand; replicas tend to have oversized hour hands.
3. Examine the solid end links between the watch and the bracelet for a seamless connection.
4. Inspect the gap between the solid links and the lugs; genuine Rolex watches have symmetrical gaps.
5. Verify the color of the date window; fakes often have a blue bubble instead of black.
6. Check the legibility of the text on the rehaut; replicas may have excessively small text.
7. Examine the luminescent effect; counterfeit Rolex Submariner 126610 watches may have overly dark blue lume.
8. Inspect the cyclops lens to ensure it prevents light and reflections from landing on the date window.

Expert Rolex Submariner authentication

If you require assistance with authenticating your Rolex Submariner:

• Simply provide us with high-quality photos of your watch.
• We’ll deliver the results…
• Along with a detailed authenticity report within 48 hours.

This concludes our guide on how to differentiate between fake and genuine Rolex Submariner watches.

Need our opinion in regards to the authenticity of your watch? It’s a service we provide.

Alternatively, we have free authentication resources for watches: written guides and video tutorials.

Thank you for reading this,

Ch Alex