Quick answer
The Rolex 126618 is a Submariner Date in 18k yellow gold. Two dial versions exist: 126618LN with a black dial and 126618LB with a blue dial. Rolex builds it with a 41 mm case, a ceramic bezel insert, and calibre 3235. A fake 126618 is a watch sold as a copy of that reference. Copies use gold-plated steel, a third-party movement, and aftermarket parts. No copy uses a Rolex-made case, dial, or movement. Sellers use the term first copy for a high-grade replica.
What the reference 126618 is
Rolex added the 41 mm Submariner line in 2020. The gold Submariner Date sits at the top of that line. Case size is 41 mm. Water resistance is 300 m. The movement is calibre 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve. The case, bezel, crown, and bracelet are solid 18k yellow gold. Rolex list price for the 126618LN is above $40,000 in the US.
What a fake 126618 copies
Copies target the case shape, the crown guards, the bezel insert, the dial text, and the Oyster bracelet. Strong copies match lug width and crown position. Weak copies show the wrong case profile and a bezel action that differs from the genuine ratchet.
Gold versus plating
Rolex gold content is 75 percent. Hallmarks appear on the case near the lugs. Copies use 316L or 904L steel with gold plating. Plating thickness runs from 3 microns to 20 microns on higher-priced copies. Plated watches weigh less than solid gold watches and show wear at the clasp and crown.
Movement
Genuine watches use calibre 3235, made by Rolex. Copies use third-party movements. Common options are the Shanghai 3135, the VR3235, and the SA3135. These run at 28,800 vph. Timekeeping varies by sample. Finish differs from Rolex finish. A copy has no Rolex service record.
Checks to run on a 126618
- Weight: a solid gold Submariner on a full bracelet weighs more than 200 g. Plated steel copies weigh less.
- Hallmarks: gold cases carry Swiss hallmark stamps. Plated cases carry none.
- Rehaut: the inner ring holds engraved text and the serial. Copies show shallow or uneven engraving.
- Bezel: check the numeral fill and the click action.
- Lume: Chromalight on genuine watches glows blue. Generic lume fades faster.
- Movement: a watchmaker can open the solid caseback. Genuine movements carry Rolex finishing and the correct rotor.
Price range for copies
Copy prices for a gold 126618 run from about $150 to $800. Price tracks plating thickness, movement type, and dial quality. A high price does not make a copy genuine. Resale value for a copy is near zero.
Legal note
In the US, trafficking in counterfeit goods carries criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Rolex holds the trademark on its name and crown logo. Selling a copy as a genuine watch is fraud. Selling a copy as a copy is a trademark issue that Rolex pursues in civil court and in import seizures.