Short answer
A replica Rolex Daytona 116506 copies the look of a platinum Cosmograph Daytona with an ice blue dial and a brown ceramic bezel. It does not copy the metal, the movement or the value. The genuine watch uses calibre 4130 in a 950 platinum case. Most replicas use steel or a tungsten alloy and a Chinese automatic chronograph movement.
Genuine 116506 specs
Rolex released reference 116506 in 2013 for the 50th anniversary of the Daytona. Rolex discontinued it in 2023.
- Case: 950 platinum, 40 mm diameter
- Bezel: brown Cerachrom ceramic, engraved numerals filled with platinum
- Dial: ice blue, three subdials at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock
- Movement: calibre 4130, automatic, column wheel, vertical clutch
- Power reserve: 72 hours
- Crystal: sapphire
- Water resistance: 100 m
- Launch price: about $75,000 USD
Where replicas differ
- Weight. Platinum density is 21.45 g/cm3. Steel is about 7.9 g/cm3. A genuine 116506 sat near 280 g on a scale in published reviews. Steel replicas land far under that number.
- Dial color. Ice blue is one specific light blue. Replica dials run from gray-blue to sky blue. Compare under daylight, not studio light.
- Bezel. Genuine numerals carry a platinum layer applied by physical vapor deposition. Replicas use paint or thin plating that wears at the edges.
- Movement. Calibre 4130 has a column wheel and a vertical clutch. Many replicas run an A7750, which shifts subdial spacing. Cloned 4130 movements exist and cost more.
- Chronograph feel. Start, stop and reset on the genuine watch are crisp. Replica pushers vary in travel and return.
- Engravings. Case back, crown and lug engravings differ in depth and font. Compare against a reference photo shot at the same angle.
Price bands
Replica prices run from about $80 to $500. A higher price does not prove better parts. Ask the seller for the movement name, case material, case diameter and dial photos shot in daylight.
US legal status
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import, sell or traffic in the United States. 18 U.S.C. § 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments at the border. Rolex service centers refuse work on replicas. A local watchmaker may refuse as well. Resale value is close to zero.
Checks before you pay
- Request six photos: front, back, both case flanks, clasp and movement.
- Ask for a video of the chronograph start, stop and reset.
- Ask for the weight on a kitchen scale.
- Compare subdial positions against a genuine 116506 photo.
- Confirm the return policy in writing.
Service and parts
Replica movements take generic parts. Gasket sizes and pusher threads vary between batches, so a repair may need custom fitting. Keep the purchase price in mind against that risk.