Rolex · Authentication
Submariner Date: real vs fake
The Submariner Date is the most counterfeited dive watch on earth, and most replicas fail at the bezel. A genuine unidirectional bezel makes exactly 120 clicks per full rotation. The second thing to check is the Cerachrom insert and the luminous capsule at 12.
What to check on the Submariner Date
Model-specific zones – on top of the brand-level signs.
Bezel action: 120 clicks, counterclockwise only
On modern Submariners (from the 16800, 1979; on the no-date from the 14060, 1990) the bezel is unidirectional with exactly 120 clicks: a full rotation gives 120 crisp clicks with even tension, no play and no backplay. On earlier vintage (5512, 5513, early 1680) the bezel turns both ways – that is correct for those references. A bidirectional bezel is only a verdict on modern references. Click count is a hands-on test, not something a photo can show.
Cerachrom engraving depth
Numerals and graduations on the ceramic insert are engraved into the surface and filled with platinum coating. The relief is visible at an angle. Fakes often print the markings on top or engrave them at uneven depth.
Lume pearl at the bezel’s 12
The zero marker is a separate luminous capsule in a metal surround, seated dead-center with no tilt or glue residue. On references from 2010 onward (116610LN, 126610LN) Chromalight glows blue. On the 16610 and earlier the glow is green Super-LumiNova or tritium – that is normal.
Date window & lume plots
The date window is cut cleanly and the date sits centered in the aperture. Lume plots are filled densely with even white-gold surrounds – ragged fill gives a replica away.
Glidelock clasp
Glidelock appears on the 116610LN and newer; on the 16610 and earlier there is a standard diver’s extension instead, and its presence is not a replica sign. The Glidelock itself adjusts in roughly 2 mm increments without tools, with a smooth, positive action; on replicas the mechanism often binds or is purely decorative. Clasp action is a hands-on test, not something a photo can show.
Where to inspect
The key zones to photograph and check on this type of item – a schematic, not a product photo.
- 1Dial and printing
- 2Bezel and markings
- 3Crown
- 4Bracelet and links
- 5Serial and engraving
The difference is in the details – drag the slider
Typical differences in workmanship: stitching consistency, edge finishing, detail quality. Left – factory quality, right – common replica flaws.
Replica 
Authentic Photo angles for the check
- 1 Dial
- 2 Caseback
- 3 Crown
- 4 Bracelet
- 5 Serial number
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FAQ
Does a Submariner bezel rotate both ways?
On modern Submariners (from the 16800, 1979; on the no-date from the 14060, 1990) the bezel is unidirectional and turns counterclockwise only – a dive-safety requirement. On earlier vintage (5512, 5513, early 1680) it turns both ways, and that is correct for those references. A bidirectional bezel is only a verdict on modern references.
What color should a Submariner Date glow in the dark?
On references from 2010 onward (116610LN, 126610LN) Chromalight glows blue and holds a charge for a long time. On the 16610 and earlier the glow is green Super-LumiNova or tritium, which is normal for those generations. Establish the reference first, then judge the color.
How many clicks does the bezel make per full turn?
Exactly 120 on modern references. Count them across a full rotation: 60, 90, or a friction bezel with no detents on a current model points to a replica. Note that this is a hands-on test rather than a photo check, and that early vintage bezels work differently.
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