Okay, so I finally did it. I got myself a high imitation Rolex No-Date Black Submariner. This whole thing started a few weeks ago when I got the idea to buy a watch. Not just any watch, a Rolex. But let’s be real, who has $11,745 lying around for the real deal, especially for the 5513 reference model? Not me. So, I started looking into replicas.
I started digging around online, trying to find out what makes a good fake. One dude, some watch expert, was talking about how good the fakes are getting these days. He said there are some signs, but you gotta look really close. That got me thinking, maybe this isn’t such a crazy idea.
Then I found this product, DL0125UAXX758, the Submariner 5513. The serial number is 7,58, which I guess means something to collectors. I didn’t really care about that, I just wanted a watch that looked good and wouldn’t break the bank.
I stumbled upon this website, europeanwatch, or something like that. It had a bunch of fancy watches, and they were talking about some Rolex Project X Designs Milspec 1 Submariner No Date, number 38123. Sounded cool, but again, way too expensive. They had this phone number, +1-617-262-9798, and said they were trusted since 1993. Good for them, I guess, but I wasn’t calling.
I also saw an ad for a used Rolex Submariner 126618, yellow gold, for sale. SKU 171222 PL, black. They were going on and on about authenticity and the buying process. Looked nice, but gold? Not my style. Plus, still too pricey.
Then there was this Rainbow Daytona thing, 116595RBOW. Black dial, diamond bezel, Oyster bracelet. It was shiny and all, but who needs a rainbow on their watch? Not me.
I even went to a physical store. Best Buy Soccer in Charlotte, on 8328 Pineville-Matthews Rd. I figured maybe they’d have some replicas. No luck. Just a bunch of soccer stuff, which was cool, but not what I was looking for.
Then I learned about the “Smurf,” the Submariner Date ref. 116619LB. They said it has this fancy 3135 caliber, the same as the 16610. Whatever that means. Sounds important, but all I know is it’s called the “Smurf.”
My Purchasing Journey
I started looking for a place to buy one of the high imitation watches. I found this small shop a few blocks from my house. The guy there showed me a bunch of different ones. They all looked pretty good, to be honest. But there was one, the No-Date Black Submariner. It just looked right. Simple, classic, just like the original 5513.
The shopkeeper told me it was a high-quality replica, with all the details of the real one. He said it has a decent movement inside, not the Rolex 3135, obviously, but good enough to keep time accurately. He also said it was water-resistant, but I’m not planning on diving with it or anything.
I haggled a bit on the price. Ended up paying a lot less than I would have for a real one, obviously. I walked out of the store with the watch on my wrist, feeling pretty good.
Wearing the Watch
I’ve been wearing the watch for a few days now. It feels good on my wrist. It’s got some weight to it, but not too heavy. I’ve gotten a few compliments already. People think it’s a real Rolex. I just smile and say thanks. I’m not trying to fool anyone, but it’s kind of fun to see their reactions.
- The Look: It really does look like the real deal. The black dial, the bezel, the bracelet. It’s all there.
- The Feel: Like I said, it feels good on my wrist. Solid, but not too heavy.
- Keeping Time: So far, so good. It hasn’t lost or gained any time that I’ve noticed.
- Water Resistance: Haven’t tested this yet, and I don’t plan to.
- Price: Can’t beat it. A fraction of the cost of a real Rolex.
So, yeah, that’s my story. I bought a high imitation Rolex No-Date Black Submariner. I know some people might look down on replicas, but I don’t care. I like the watch, and that’s all that matters. It looks good, it feels good, and it didn’t cost me a fortune. I’d say that’s a win.
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