Answer
A fake Rolex Deepsea yellow gold watch copies the 18k Deepsea, reference 136668LB. That model has a 44 mm case, a blue dial, and a 3,900 m water resistance rating. Replicas copy the case shape, dial print, and bracelet. They do not copy the metal. Plating over steel is the standard build. Weight is the first check a buyer can make at a desk.
Genuine specs
- Reference 136668LB. Case and bracelet in 18k yellow gold.
- Case diameter 44 mm. Case thickness about 18 mm.
- Water resistance 3,900 m / 12,800 ft. Ringlock case system.
- Caliber 3235. 70-hour power reserve. 28,800 vibrations per hour.
- Blue dial. Chromalight display. Helium escape valve at 9 o'clock.
- Flat sapphire crystal. No cyclops lens on Deepsea models.
Rolex does not publish case weights. Density of 18k gold alloy is about 15.6 g/cm3. Steel is about 7.9 g/cm3. A gold case of equal volume carries about twice the mass of a steel case.
Common replica builds
Plated cases use 316L or 904L steel. Gold plating thickness runs 3 to 5 microns on low tiers and 10 to 20 microns on high tiers. Some sellers add a tungsten alloy mid-case to raise mass. Tungsten density is about 18 g/cm3, so those watches feel heavier than steel and closer to gold.
Movements vary. Cheap builds use a 21,600 vph Chinese automatic with a 36 to 40 hour reserve. Better builds use a 28,800 vph 2824 clone or a 3135 or 3235 clone. Genuine caliber 3235 runs 70 hours. Most replica Deepsea movements run under 48 hours.
Dial color runs lighter or darker than the genuine blue. Bezel inserts are ceramic with painted or laser-cut numerals. Lume is applied by hand and can sit uneven on the 12 o'clock triangle.
Checks in order
- Weight. A plated steel 44 mm Deepsea on a full bracelet sits near 215 g. Gold alloy of the same volume sits near double.
- Gold marks. Rolex stamps the 750 hallmark and the coronet on gold case parts and bracelet links. Plated replicas often show no stamp, or a stamp with no depth.
- Beat rate. Put the watch on a timegrapher. 21,600 vph points to a low-tier movement.
- Power reserve. Wind it, set it down, and check it at 48 hours.
- Crystal. Look for the laser-etched coronet at 6 o'clock under a loupe.
- Water resistance. Replicas are not pressure tested to 3,900 m. Gaskets on replica cases carry no depth rating.
Price range
Listings for plated replica Deepsea yellow models run about $300 to $900. Tungsten-weighted builds run $900 to $1,500. A genuine 18k Deepsea retails above $50,000. Price gaps of that size are why buyers ask for weight checks first.
Legal note
Counterfeit watches are illegal to sell or import in the United States. 18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. US Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments and assess fines.