Short answer
The fake Rolex 124060 is a replica of the 41mm no-date Submariner that Rolex released in 2020. Replica quality is not one thing. It runs from a $90 market-stall watch with a painted bezel insert to a $500 to $700 build with a 904L steel case, a real ceramic insert, and a clone of the Caliber 3230. The tier matters far more than the "1:1" label every seller prints in a listing.
What the genuine 124060 is
Rolex launched the reference 124060 in 2020 when it widened the Submariner line from 40mm to 41mm. There is no date window, which is why collectors call it the no-date Sub. The case is Oystersteel, the bezel is black Cerachrom ceramic with a platinum-coated pip, and the crystal sits nearly flush with the bezel. Inside is the Caliber 3230, a 31-jewel automatic with a 70-hour power reserve and a Chronergy escapement. Water resistance is rated to 300 meters. Case thickness lands around 12.5mm and the lug width is 21mm, a number most replica buyers never check.
Knowing those specs is the whole game. When you can quote case size, lug width, dial text spacing, and movement details from memory, you stop being an easy mark.
The three replica tiers
Budget builds, roughly $80 to $180
316L steel, mineral or thin sapphire crystal, a low-beat 21,600 vph movement, and a bezel insert that is painted rather than ceramic. The bezel action is crunchy and the pip often sits crooked. These read as a Submariner from three feet and as nothing from three inches.
Mid tier, roughly $200 to $350
Better case finishing, a genuine ceramic insert in many examples, and a dependable A2824 or Miyota movement. Dial print is cleaner, the end links meet the lugs with small gaps, and the crown guards carry the right curve. This is where most people land, and it is the value spot if you only want the look.
Top tier, roughly $400 to $700 and up
This is what sellers mean by 1:1 or super clone. 904L or 316L steel machined to close tolerances, AR coating under the crystal, correct dial text spacing, and a clone 3230 such as the VS3230 or VR3230 with a 70-hour reserve to match the original. Factories like Clean, VSF, and ZF come up in this bracket. Hand finishing still is not Rolex finishing, but the external details hold up under a loupe better than anything else at the price.
What I check before buying
- Case profile and crown guard shape. The 124060 has a specific shoulder line, and a slab-sided case is the fastest tell.
- Dial print. "Submariner" should sit under the coronet with even spacing and no bleed at the letter edges. Check "Swiss Made" at the bottom too.
- Bezel insert. Real ceramic has depth and a slight gloss. The pip should be centered and the numerals engraved, not printed.
- Rehaut engraving. The repeating ROLEX text should align with the minute markers and stay crisp rather than smeared.
- Movement. Ask which one. A clone 3230 is a different watch from a 2824 in the same case.
- Bracelet and clasp. End link fit, SEL gaps, and the coronet on the clasp are all visible tells.
- Lume. Charge it for 30 seconds under a light and compare color between the hands and the dial markers.
Where replicas still fall short
Two things never copy well. The first is movement finish. Open the case back and a clone 3230 shows rough brushing and stamped parts where Rolex uses Geneva stripes and polished bevels. The second is water resistance. A replica is not pressure tested at the factory and the gaskets are not the same grade. Treat any replica as splash resistant at best and keep it out of the pool.
There is also the practical side. A fake 124060 has no Rolex warranty, no service history, and no resale value in the way a genuine watch does. If it stops, you are paying a watchmaker who may not want to touch it. Go in knowing that, and the tiers above make a lot more sense.