Once upon a time, when mechanical watches were the world’s standard timekeepers — and long before Rolex was a “luxury” brand according to the contemporary definition — certain governments and individual military units provided elite soldiers with high quality Rolex replica watches as “issued” kit. Given their robustness, wide availability and the willingness of the brand (at the time) to customize them, it’s no big surprise that these timepieces, now seen as luxury items, were utilized as knockaround tools.
This is no longer really the case today.
The military-issued cheap UK Rolex Submariner fake watches, or “mil-Sub,” has become one of the most legendary, sought-after, downright expensive timepieces in contemporary watch collecting. The Tudor mil-Sub, made by Rolex’s sister company, isn’t far behind.
So few of these best replica Rolex watches exist that discovering one in good, “correct” condition — especially the Rolex variety — is like finding buried treasure. Until fairly recently, it seemed like the story of these very special pieces of kit ended in the late 1970s. But we now know that’s not quite true.
A (Very) Brief History of the Mil-Sub
Rolex
In the late 1950s, the Royal Navy came knocking on Rolex’s door.
It was looking for a timepiece that would hold up to the rigors of combat with which to equip its most elite forces. The Crown responded with the reference 6538 Submariner, 50 of which were furnished to Her Majesty’s government. Modified with nickel-plated silver bezels with coin edges that were of larger diameter than the standard 6538 bezel — plus soldered spring bars that could only take a pass-through strap — these perfect Rolex copy watches were christened the “A/6538” and were in use by Royal Navy divers until 1967.
At this point, the government switched over to Omega’s Seamaster 300, which was in service until 1971. Between 1971 and 1979, Rolex provided three distinct references of modified 5513 Submariners — “militarized” versions of its newest, non-Chronometer certified dive watch. The ref. 5513, 5513/5517, and 5517 featured fully graduated dive bezels, fixed spring bars, and, most distinctly, prominent sword handsets and circled “T” markings (indicating tritium lume) that rendered them instantly recognizable.
These Swiss movements Rolex replica watches were marked “W10” when issued to the army’s Special Air Service and “0552” when issued to the navy’s Special Boat Service, and only around 1,200 examples were produced, roughly 180 of which are known today. (The S.A.S. and S.B.S. remain two of Great Britain’s “tier-one” special operations units. Founded during the Second World War, they are models for many of the world’s elite fighting forces.)
Modern Rolex
Replica Rolex “Special Reconnaissance Regiment” Submariner Ref. 116610 Watches
Diameter: 40mm
Dial Color: Black
Movement: Rolex Calibre 3135
Water Resistance: 300m
The sister watch — if it can be thus called — to an Explorer II ref. 16570 T (see below), this 1:1 China fake Rolex Submariner ref. 116610 watches was made for members of the British army’s Special Reconnaissance Regiment, a special operations force formed in 2005 to collect intelligence related to counter-terror activities.
A total of 167 pieces were issued, but information about the watch is nearly as murky as details about the unit itself. But it seems that each example came with a certificate stating the purchasing soldier’s name, rank, service number and the top Rolex super clone watches’ serial number. (While the Explorer II made for S.R.R. personnel dates to around the time of the unit’s foundation — and is thus a “5-digit” model — the Sub dates to circa 2011 and later, and is thus a 6-digit watch.)
Fake Rolex “Polipetto” Sea-Dweller Ref. 16600 Watches
Diameter: 40mm
Dial Color: Black
Movement: Rolex Calibre 3135
Water Resistance: 1220m
A five-digit Rolex tool watch made for a special diving unit engraved with an octopus? This is some Spectre-looking shit, right here! Technically, this isn’t a mil-Sub, but a “mil-Dweller” — luxury replica Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 16610 watches.
Dating to circa 2008 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Italian State Police’s diving corps, it was produced in a run of just 78 pieces; engraved “POLIZIA DI STATO SOMMOZZATORI 1958-2008,” certain examples also include the certification number of their respective divers. On the dial, each features the “polipetto” (or small octopus), giving the Rolex fake watches for men its nickname, plus the words “POLIZIA DI STATO SOMMOZZATORI.” This watch is so undeniably rare and dope that an example sold in 2019 by Christie’s hammered for close to 140,000 CHF (roughly $154,634 USD).
Rolex Project X Designs “Special Forces Issue” Submariner ref. 116610 Replica Watches
Diameter: 40mm
Dial Color: Black
Movement: Rolex Calibre 3135
Water Resistance: 300m
While this particular best quality replica Rolex mil-Sub watches wasn’t actually produced by Rolex — but rather is a third-party modification of an off-the-shelf Rolex product — it merits inclusion for its interesting backstory: Evidently, a delegation of ex-British special operations types worked with London-based Project X designs to produce a contemporary, customized take on the vintage 5513/5517-era mil-Subs of old.
Using as its base the ref. 116610 Submariner Date, this timepiece has features that will be familiar to military watch fans: a fully graduated bezel (in rubber!), fixed spring bars and sword hands all figure in the design. Produced in both steel and black DLC versions, these Rolex fake watches site were evidently available only to ex-UK Special Forces at first, and then subsequently made available to the general public.