We all end up with a fake Rolex watch at some point. You may disagree with this statement, you may even have quite plausible objections, but that’s about all there is to it. Yes, I used the words of the famous Czech classic again in this statement, and perhaps too presumptuously. And maybe not. Today I will introduce you to the Rolex Submariner Date – reference number 116610LN.
The case is made of stainless steel, but the material is not the usual 316L, but the special steel that Rolex uses for its watches, i.e. 904L. This steel is said to better withstand the effects of chemicals – and sweat and seawater are actually complex and aggressive chemical compounds as well. But it is softer, so minor signs of wear may appear on the case and pull sooner than you would expect. Case diameter is 40 millimeters (without crown), measured across crown 43.5 mm, “lug to lug” 47.5 mm. And I’ll add the thickness of the case – I measured 12.6 mm from the pumpkin to the sapphire (without a magnifying glass). All sides of the case are polished to a mirror shine, all surfaces on the top and bottom are finely ground regularly. You probably know the shape of the case or recognize it from the photos, anyway, it is one of the most frequently copied concepts – and this applies not only to the case, but also to the bezel, the dial layout and often the hands as well. This model has simply proven itself. Gone are the days when it was not entirely conceivable that a watch with such a distinctive sporty look could be an accessory for formal occasions as well. Today it is a universal watch in the true sense of the word.
I must not forget the durability of this case, the manufacturer guarantees water resistance up to 1000 feet or 300 meters of water column – and I have no reason not to believe this value.
The crown is screwed into the case and its shiny front side is decorated with the manufacturer’s plastic logo – the crown. This is complemented by three plastic “dots” that resemble a “triple lock”, i.e. security systems against water penetration. The crown is very well covered by the lugs of the case. Its control – screwing, adjusting and possibly manually winding the caliber – is perfect.
The steel bezel with a ceramic insert is one-sided rotatable, as befits a diver’s watch. It has fixation in 120 points and its control is also perfectly balanced. The ceramic insert has a plastically created usual minute scale – up to the value “15”, then only five minute indexes will be enough. The “12” index is, of course, highlighted by a luminescent dot, even plastically.
A sapphire crystal, very resistant to scratches, is embedded in the case. You won’t find an anti-reflective coating on it. Maybe it’s not because the Rolex brand saves on you, or because the Rolex technicians don’t know how to apply the anti-reflective layer, but it’s said to be related to the fact that Rolex “doesn’t believe in anti-reflective”. The glass should just be visible on the watch. And I have to admit that reflections are not such a problem with this slide.
A characteristic (and often copied) feature of Rolex replica watches is the magnifier, which boldly arches over the date aperture. Its magnification is 2.5x and the readability of the data really improves significantly. This typical feature often divides watch enthusiasts into two camps – one “fundamentally disagrees” with the magnifier, the other already knows that it does not interfere in practical use and, on the contrary, improves readability. Which camp do I belong to? Well, I guess the answer is this – I’m glad I don’t have to look for glasses to find out what size they are today.