Short answer
"Root Beer" is a collector nickname for a two-tone Rolex GMT-Master II with a brown and black bezel. The modern version is reference 126711CHNR, introduced in 2018. Replica versions copy the shape, the dial print, and the color split. They do not use the same gold alloy, the same ceramic, or the same movement. Prices for replicas run from about $60 to $900.
The genuine reference
- Case: 40 mm, Everose gold and Oystersteel
- Bezel: brown and black Cerachrom ceramic, 24-hour scale
- Movement: Caliber 3285, automatic, 70-hour power reserve
- Bracelet: Oyster, Everose gold center links, folding clasp
- Water resistance: 100 m
- Crystal: sapphire with a Cyclops lens over the date
Rolex does not sell parts or movements to outside parties. Retail price on this reference sits near $16,000 in the US. Secondary market prices change with demand.
How replicas differ
Replica cases are 316L or 904L steel with gold plating or a PVD coating. Plating thickness on common examples measures 3 to 10 microns. That layer rubs off at the clasp, crown, and caseback within months of daily wear. The genuine center links are solid Everose gold, a Rolex alloy with a platinum group metal added for color stability.
Bezel inserts on replicas use coated steel, aluminum, or lower-grade ceramic. The brown tone reads darker or more orange than the genuine part. Many replicas use a Chinese-made automatic movement with a GMT hand that jumps with the 24-hour hand instead of moving on its own. The genuine Caliber 3285 lets the wearer set the local hour hand in one-hour steps.
Price tiers
- $60 to $150: quartz or basic automatic, plated case, mineral glass
- $150 to $350: automatic movement, sapphire glass, thin plating
- $400 to $900: so-called super clone tier, closer case profile, better bracelet
No tier carries a Rolex warranty, a Rolex service card, or a Rolex serial number that survives a check with the brand.
Legal status in the US
Federal law targets trafficking in counterfeit goods under 18 U.S.C. Section 2320. Penalties include prison terms and fines. Selling, importing for resale, and shipping replicas across state lines fall under that statute. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments of counterfeit merchandise. Buying one item for personal use is a separate matter from selling, but the package can still be seized, and the buyer loses the money. Trademark holders such as Rolex can also file civil suits against sellers.
Checks on any example
- Weigh the watch. Genuine gold and steel models have a known heft that plated steel does not match.
- Look at the clasp and crown for worn plating and a brass tone underneath.
- Test the GMT hand. It should move in one-hour steps when the crown is in position two.
- Check the date window. Genuine magnification is 2.5x. Replicas often run 1.5x to 2x.
- Inspect the rehaut engraving and the laser-etched coronet at 6 o'clock on the crystal.
Service and resale
Rolex service centers will not work on a replica. Independent watchmakers can service common Chinese movements, and parts for those movements are sold online. Replicas hold almost no resale value. There is no collector market and no auction record for them. A genuine 126711CHNR trades near or above retail on the used market.
What is not known
Replica makers change suppliers and materials without notice. Two watches from the same listing can differ in movement, plating, and case finish. No public testing data exists on water resistance or coating durability for these watches, so any claim of 100 m water resistance from a seller is unverified.