How to Approach a 116613 Replica Purchase

The Rolex 116613LB, the two-tone Submariner Date with the blue sunburst dial and blue ceramic bezel, is one of the most requested replicas on the market and one of the most poorly made at the low end. Buy the tier first, then the seller, then the watch. A cheap case with gold-colored plating looks wrong within months, and no amount of photo editing hides thin plating, a flat blue dial, or a bezel insert with the wrong numeral font. Set a realistic budget for the build quality you want, confirm the seller will send dated photos of the exact unit you will receive, and pay with a method that gives you recourse. The specs below tell you what to check against the genuine reference, and the pitfalls section covers the failures that show up most often on this reference.

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Step 1: Pick the Build Tier

  1. Entry tier: usually 316L steel with gold plating. Expect a 2813 or similar movement, lighter weight, and plating that wears through at the clasp and crown guards.
  2. Mid tier: 316L or 904L steel, thicker gold wrap or PVD, clone or Swiss ETA-based movement, better dial printing. This is where most buyers land.
  3. Top tier: 904L case, wrapped gold, clone 3135 with correct winding direction and beat rate, better crystal and gasket. Costs several times the entry tier.

Step 2: Check the Replica Against 116613 Specifications

  • Case: 40 mm diameter, roughly 12.5 mm thick, fat lugs and crown guards correct for the 116613, not the older 16613.
  • Materials: two-tone steel and yellow gold. Ask whether the gold is plated, wrapped, or PVD. Wrapped is more durable; plating is the weak point.
  • Bezel: blue ceramic insert with platinum-filled numerals. Check numeral shape, font weight, and the triangle at 12.
  • Dial: sunburst blue with a maxi dial, white gold surrounds on the markers, and 2.5x date magnification.
  • Movement: a 3135 clone (SA3135, SH3135, or VR3135) should hack, wind clockwise, and beat at 28,800 vph. A 2824 is reliable but not period-correct.
  • Bracelet: Oyster with Glidelock clasp, solid end links, and correct two-tone link pattern.

Step 3: Vet the Seller Before Paying

  1. Ask for a timestamped photo and a short video showing the running seconds hand, date flip, and bezel action.
  2. Request QC photos of the exact serial or unit, not catalog images.
  3. Confirm the movement model in writing and the warranty length.
  4. Ask the return policy and who covers shipping if the watch arrives damaged or is seized.
  5. Pay with a credit card or an escrow service. Avoid irreversible transfers to a new seller.

Parameters That Separate a Good Build From a Bad One

  • Gold color: too yellow reads as brass; too pale reads as plated. Compare to reference photos in daylight.
  • Dial blue: the 116613LB dial is a deep sunburst blue, not royal or navy flat.
  • Rehaut engraving: alignment and depth should be crisp and repeat cleanly around the dial.
  • Crystal: should sit slightly above the bezel with minimal distortion at the edges.
  • Weight: a wrapped two-tone build feels closer to the genuine piece, which matters if you wear it daily.

Pitfalls That Cost Buyers Money

  1. Bait and switch: catalog photos of a top-tier build, delivered watch from a lower tier. Insist on unit-specific QC.
  2. False water resistance: never dive or shower with a replica unless it has been pressure tested.
  3. Customs seizure: imports of counterfeit goods can be seized by CBP, and the loss usually falls on the buyer.
  4. No service path: Rolex will not service a counterfeit, and many local watchmakers will not touch clone 3135 parts.
  5. Resale value: near zero. Buy it as a wearer, not an asset.

Legal Note

Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and sell in the United States. CBP can seize shipments, and selling counterfeits carries civil and criminal exposure. Understand the risk before you order, and do not represent a replica as genuine.

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Final Checklist Before Checkout

  1. Build tier and movement confirmed in writing.
  2. Dated photos and video of the exact unit you will receive.
  3. Return window and seizure policy stated.
  4. Payment method with chargeback protection.
  5. Price consistent with the tier, not a top-tier claim at an entry-tier price.