Perfect Replica Rolex Watches

The Cheap UK Replica Rolex Submariner 5513 Watches Review: The Timeless Vintage Rolex?

In the world of Rolex, most people’s minds go straight to rarity, unattainability, and exclusivity. And in so many cases that rings true – except (and you may find this hard to believe) for the Submariner. That’s right, Rolex’s stalwart and most ubiquitous replica Rolex watches UK are also, kind of, its most accessible on the secondary market… and I am talking vintage and neovintage here. Sure, there are rare examples like Explorer dials (we will get to that in a bit), and early ref. 1680 Red Submariners that fetch a pretty penny at auction or from a vintage dealer. But there’s a very real reason for that. Those watches in particular fall into a bucket shared by many collectible rarities: They were only produced for a very short period of time. But there were many variations of vintage Subs, some rarer than others. And some still that weren’t rare at all. And the best example of that is the Rolex 5513, a Submariner model so common that it was one of Rolex’s most popular and best selling over the course of its – wait for it – 17-year run.

Rolex 5513 History
The 1:1 quality fake Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 watches were in production from 1962 until 1989, and while there are some pockets of special ref. 5513 models within that run, it is for the most part of one the brand’s longest-selling and most-produced Submariners, or even sports watches full stop (the Explorer ref. 1016 has entered the chat).

In 1962, Rolex had been producing its Submariner reference 5512 for about three years. The 5512 was a no-date Submariner that was – in true Rolex fashion – chronometer certified. This was something of an unnecessary luxury for dive 1:1 Rolex replica watches at the time. Real divers did not seek peak accuracy in their diving instruments. They just needed to reliably time compression and decompression. This notwithstanding, the 5512 was Steve Mcqueen’s personal Rolex of choice (not, ahem, the Explorer II). Then came the 5513 which was a 5512 in all ways but the chronometer certification. It was a no-date Sub, which meant that it had some design differences as well.

The Rolex 5513 Dial
The main difference between a Rolex Submariner 5513 and the ref. 5512 is the number of lines of the dial which, in turn, are inextricably linked to accuracy. The 55512 bares four lines of text to account for the best Rolex fake watches name, the depth rating, and the Superlative Chronometer identifier. The 5513, on the contrary, bore only 2 lines of text. Simply Submariner and the depth rating. Purists love the dial layout of the 5513 because – um – it’s pure. There is an elegant symmetry to the original 5513 models with painted markers and sparse writing. Of course other hallmarks of this watch are core to the Submariner DNA: Black dial, white polygonal indexes, Mercedes hands, and the minute markers painted on the outer track.

Design Evolution

But like I alluded to earlier, there was more than one way to 55 a 13. One way undercuts my dial descriptions above as the early 1960s and initial run of the watch was done in a gilt dial configuration meaning that the text and painted minute markings were not printed in white, but rather a golden tone.

Rolex Submariner 5513 Explorer Dial
Some of the earliest 5513 models had what is called an Explorer dial which means that instead of elongated rectangles it had the numbers 3, 6, and 9 at the appropriate locations on the dial. This is so named for the dial layout of the Rolex Explorer. This variation of the reference 5513 was only produced for three years making it one of the rarer examples and highly coveted by collectors. There would be other variations in limited runs like the single and double underline dials, the open chapter ring dials, and even something called the “Bart Simpson” which was a reference to a unique design of the Rolex coronet on the dial that evoked the hair of a certain animated TV prankster.

Rolex Submariner 5513 Meters First
The early to mid-1960s 5513 models had glossy black dials which would change in 1967 with the cornerstone model: The Matte Dial 5513. This edition saw Rolex really land on the the tool 1:1 fake Rolex watches aesthetic that would inform all no-date Submariners for all coming time. The early matte dial 5513s were called “meters first” dials because the meters measurement appeared before feet in the depth rating text..

Rolex Submariner 5513 Feet First
This would change in 1969 when feet was put before meters and those copy Rolex watches for sale are now referred to as “Feet First” 5513 Submariners. The initial run of these matte dial feet first submariners would go on to production run from 1969 until 1982 making them fairly accessible today on the secondary market at prices that won’t break the bank.

A Quick Military Interlude
In 1972, Rolex spec’d its 5513 Submariner for Military use. These have gone on to carry the name “MilSub.” The key design characteristics of this Swiss clone Rolex watches are sword hands, an arrow tipped seconds hand, a circled “T” on the dial to signify the use of tritium, and a fully graduated bezel. Additionally, the lugs on this watch were fixed therefore meaning it could only be paired with a single-piece strap like a NATO. These MilSubs are highly coveted and were only in production for about four years.

The End of the Rolex 5513
1982 began a further shift for the ref. 5513 as somewhere between then and the end of the line for the watch (1982), Rolex introduced its next design shift. This would be punctuated by a more luxury-leaning look and feel. We’re talking piano-key black gloss dials, markers as well as markers with white-gold surrounds. This is a format that I am very familiar with because I happen to own one just like that, only with a twist. I have told this story many times but I grew up lusting after my Dad’s watch. He wore a ref. 5513 daily. I have since learned that he owns one of the last of the “Feet First” matte dial models given that his from 1982. Now I know Rolex continued producing matte dials into the ‘80s, but his was one of the last of that series of watch.

Rolex 5513
In 2002, shortly after my grandfather passed away, my father and I found perfect super clone Rolex watches hidden in the back of his desk drawer. It had a bezel that had gone missing at some point and the dial was fogged up from watch damage. We could just barely make out that it was a Submariner, but I could tell because I knew my Dad’s watch so well. It turns out the watch was a “Meters First” ref. 5513 from 1967. In 2003, we sent the watch to Rolex for service. This was before watch forums were truly a thing, and before I was anywhere close to reading them even if they were. Given the damage to watch Rolex performed a complete overhaul using available parts in their service department to deliver a watch they considered to be like-new.

The result was a watch closer in looks to a Submariner at the very end of its run in 1989. This means no more large maxi-markers. Instead the applied markers are more refined and smaller with the white gold surrounds. The luminescent material is not the tritium the high quality replica Rolex watches once hard but rather Luminova. This is signified by a simple “Swiss” designation at the bottom of the dial where it would have also made mention of tritium.

A Quick Word on Movements
Accuracy and Rolex are synonymous. From Kew Observatory ratings to chronometric excellence, Rolex has vied for the top spot in the industry from day one. The 5513 is a departure from that ethos. And it is not as if its the only time Rolex zagged away from chronometer certification (see the Precision series), but it is more under the microscope due to the fact that its a Submariner.

The ref. 5513 utilized the caliber 1530 at the beginning of its run before the brand transitioned to the 1520. You may be wondering why the subtractive name instead of an additive one. This actually had to do with Rolex making some cost-saving measures on the new movement to maintain the accessibility of the 5513. This meant a flat hairspring instead of a Breguet overcoil and, of course, continuing with the disinterest in certifying it. Back in the 1960s and early ‘70s the ref. 5513 was a sub $300 watch. While not cheap by any means, this was still not a luxury item and these movement were a way to keep up with that ideal (much the same way Rolex treated Tudor during this time.

Final Thoughts
In the end, you can find a ref. 5513 from 1975 until 1989 on the secondary market for very reasonable prices all things considered. And this can be attributed to its long production run and the way it was manufactured. Both the 5513 and the 5512 carried the torch for the Submariner, and modern models still look shockingly similar to a glossy late-1980s example of the 5513. That is, except for the fact the modern renditions carry four lines of text like the 5512 and there no longer exists a non-chronometer choice today.

The 5513 could very well be my favorite best selling fake Rolex watches of all time for what it represents. I think its popularity (a result of its positioning) led to the growth of Rolex in the pivotal ‘60s, and ‘70s period when the brand truly entered the mainstream. It is one of Rolex’s last true tool watches having been created for military use as well as civilian and stands as approachable and attainable (by Rolex pricing standards) still on the market today. Rolex hasn’t made a watch like it since, and likely never will again. You can learn more about the Submariner and its history over at rolex.com

I Found My Ultimate Dive Watch: The Top Replica Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 Watches UK

Rolex has always produced watches that I have gravitated towards. For a long time, though, I grappled with some of the modern baggage that the brand has taken on. Modern Rolex sports watches have a certain bling factor that turns me off. The problem is that vintage Rolex replica watches UK are either unobtainable or, if I want to take one for a swim, at risk of failing underwater! This is where the neo-vintage Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 enters the fray.

“Neo-vintage” is a term that loosely describes cheap fake Rolex watches produced circa two decades ago. The great thing about neo-vintage watches is that, in many cases, manufacturers applied the design coherence of familiar model lines but with great (smaller) sizes and some of the key technical innovations we might want. These include, importantly, sapphire crystals. Plexiglass is a common point of failure in maintaining water tightness on a vintage watch. Sapphire crystals provide an added degree of peace of mind when, like me, you take your timepiece into the ocean nearly every day.

Not my first Rolex
Last month, I walked into a vintage watch shop and walked out with a Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600. It had been a long time coming. You see, I already own a Rolex, a vintage Oyster Perpetual ref. 1002 from the 1960s. It’s a beautiful and elegant example of a vintage Oyster. It was my mother’s, and I’m now its lucky owner.

The ref. 1002 is a time-only 34mm watch with pure Rolex DNA. I had long lusted after a vintage Rolex sports model, though. It would have to be one of the brand’s dive 1:1 copy Rolex watches. Equally as important, it would have to be something that I could afford with months of saving.

Why the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600?
When pursuing a sports Rolex model, I had a clear enough notion of what I wanted. As mentioned, it had to be a dive watch, which removed the Explorer series from the running. It also had to be neo-vintage because I like the more relaxed tool-watch impression that an aluminum bezel provides. This meant that modern Rolex Submariners and Sea-Dwellers, including the Deepsea, were off the table. Suddenly, I had narrowed my search to just a few references, specifically the Rolex Submariners of the early to mid-2000s and the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600.

Even within these rather narrow parameters, I wanted top clone Rolex watches with Super-LumiNova, not tritium, on the dial. This is because I wanted the lume feature intact. Tritium degrades over time, and this was not something I was after. This meant that it would likely have to be a Rolex dive watch produced after 1999/2000 and before the mid-2010s.

Learning more about neo-vintage Rolex
Luckily for me, there are several fantastic watches within that date range. But the more I read about these options, the more I honed in on the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600. It helped that my colleagues here at Fratello had already written some useful features about the replica Rolex watches for sale. It’s fair to say I was partly inspired by Jorg’s writings on the subject as well as RJ’s thoughts.

These articles by my colleagues helped inform my search. I was not particularly worried if the case had been polished during a Rolex service once. Some collectors refuse to purchase used AAA Rolex fake watches if they have been polished at all. As long as Rolex had carried out the polishing job, though, I had no issues with this.

A matter of personal taste
The reason I honed in on the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 is that it fit the bill on the multiple factors I was seeking. It’s also something a little different, with an enhanced specification set that doesn’t detract from the overall ergonomic experience. The added thickness of the high quality replica Rolex watches (compared to a Submariner) mostly disappears since it’s primarily in the bulging case back, which nestles into the wrist.

The Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 debuted in 1988 as the next generation of the professional-spec Sea-Dweller line. It was a long-running reference that stayed in production for 20 years. The Swiss fake Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 watches were one of the brand’s first watches to feature 904L steel (now called Oystersteel) in its build. It also happens to be my favorite neo-vintage Rolex sports model.

A solid set of specifications
The 16600 has a 40mm case with a 14.5mm thickness. Inside beats the Rolex 3135, an automatic caliber with a 48-hour power reserve. This chronometer-rated movement was used extensively by the brand and is renowned for its reliability and accuracy. Protecting the caliber is a solid steel case back that helps ensure water resistance to 1,220 meters (4,000 feet). The perfect fake Rolex watches come complete with a 904L steel Oyster bracelet with a matching safety clasp to prevent accidental opening.

This was a purchase based on emotions as much as “reason”
All these specs help support the logical reasons why I bought the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600, but they don’t cover the emotional reasons why I chose it. You see, I always liked the Sea-Dweller story, with the watch line emerging from the technical advancements required to meet the demands of deep-sea diving.

The Sea-Dweller is the more technically capable, tool-specific version of the Submariner. In a sense, it’s the ultimate Submariner. It also happens to lack the bulbous Cyclops that divides so many enthusiasts. I quite like the fact that this Rolex has a date without that magnifier poking out.

Concluding thoughts
It was quite a somber experience walking out of a shop with such a serious Rolex sports watch strapped to my wrist. You would think it would be one of natural joy, and there was joy, of course. But there was also a sense of “things are now getting serious” in that moment. It was also a moment I got to share with my father, which was quite special. Now, both of the best selling Rolex replica watches in my small collection have a connection to one of my parents.

I’m glad it has worked out that way. This is a watch that is now a part of the family, and it will be getting wrist time not only from me but also from my dad. Hopefully, we can add some more scratches and scuffs along with the memories that will accompany them. So, is the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 my endgame watch? I think it just might be.

The First-Ever Perfect Replica Rolex Daytona “Rainbow” 16599SAAEC Watches UK

One of the most valuable 1:1 replica Rolex watches UK to go on the block this auction season is the Rolex Daytona “Rainbow” 16599SAAEC. Part of Phillips’ Reloaded auction taking place on November 8, 2024, the Zenith-powered Daytona is the original “Rainbow”, having been produced in 1994, some 18 years before the serially-produced Daytona “Rainbow” was introduced.

Like all automatic Daytona models prior to 2000, this Daytona “Rainbow” is powered by the cal. 4030, which is a Zenith El Primero modified by Rolex. But this Daytona is unique in having a singular model reference of 16599 followed by the suffix “SAAEC”, short for saphir arc-en-ciel, French for “sapphire rainbow”.

A rainbow history
Though the Daytona “Rainbow” is perhaps the most famous gem-set top Rolex fake watches today, it took a while to catch on when it was introduced. It debuted as a regular production model in 2012 with the Daytona ref. 116598RBOW in yellow gold and ref. 116599RBOW in white gold.

The Daytona ref. 116599RBOW in white gold

At launch the Daytona “Rainbow” was not the object of frenzied desire as it is now, but by 2018 it was sought after. And that year best Rolex clone watches debuted the Daytona ref. 116595RBOW in Everose gold that boasted the upgrade of baguette-cut rainbow indices.

The facelift was also applied to the yellow and white gold versions, both of which now sport baguette-cut rainbow indices as well. As with the first generation model, variants with gem-set dials and bracelets also exist.

The Daytona ref. 116595RBOW in Everose gold of 2018

But the Daytona was not the first Rolex Oyster with “rainbow” treatment. That distinction likely goes to the Day-Date dating to the 1980s.

The Day-Date refs. 18058, 18059, and 18188 are known with rainbow gemstones, each executed differently but instantly recognisable with the multi-hued bezel.

The original Daytona “Rainbow”
Though the Daytona “Rainbow” ref. 16599SAAEC is being sold publicly for the first time now, it has been known for some years now.

The best selling Rolex replica watches were originally sold in Saudi Arabia, before making its way to a collection in Dubai over a dozen years ago. The next owner was a gentleman who owned a famous collection of vintage watches and is the consignor of the watch.

The ref. 16599SAAEC is essentially a white gold high quality replica Rolex Daytona watches of the period with the addition of a bezel with rainbow-hued sapphires set in a graduated pattern.

Interestingly, the rainbow bezel differs from today’s 1:1 quality fake Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watches “Rainbow” because the colour graduation is inverted. On today’s models the greens are at three o’clock, while here they are at nine.

The rest of the Swiss fake Rolex watches are identical to the regular production model. This has the familiar white gold case with a hood in-between the lugs to create an integrated appearance for the leather strap, which was likely a glossy maroon when the Rolex watches were first sold.

Likewise, dial is identical to that of the standard version of the ref. 16599. It’s paved with brilliant-cut diamonds and has brilliant-cut sapphires for hour markers, along with minute numerals at the quarters.

With an estimate of over CHF3 million, the AAA+ copy Rolex watches “Rainbow” is lot 27 in Reloaded: The Rebirth of Mechanical Watchmaking, 1980-1999 on November 8, 2024 in Geneva at the Hotel President. For more, visit Phillips.com.