Rolex Submariner Super Clone Guide: References, Tells & Price Tiers

A Rolex Submariner super clone is a 1:1 replica built on correct case architecture, with bezel numerals engraved into the ceramic and filled — not printed on top — and lume plots sized to match the genuine dial layout. We stock 82 Submariner builds priced between £299 and £1,170, from Japanese-movement black classics to Swiss-grade gold-and-blue references. Browse the Submariner collection to see every dial and bezel combination currently in stock.

Below we cover the one decision to make before anything else — date or no-date — the colour references we carry, the bezel and case tells that separate a super clone from a cheap copy, price tiers, and honest advice on water resistance. If you want the terminology pinned down first, read our explainer on the difference between super clone and replica watches.

Date or no-date: decide this first

The cyclops lens is the single most-botched detail in replica Submariner history. The genuine lens magnifies the date by 2.5x; cheap copies use a flat or weakly ground lens that manages perhaps 1.5x, sits off-centre over the window, or rises at the wrong height off the crystal. Anyone who knows Submariners checks the cyclops first.

That gives you two sound options. A no-date Submariner removes the problem entirely — no window, no lens, and a cleaner, symmetrical dial as a bonus. Our date builds use a properly ground 2.5x cyclops, so the detail holds up; but if you want the configuration that invites the least scrutiny, order no-date.

The colour references we stock

• 116618LB “Bluesy” — the blue dial and blue bezel on gold casework. The most distinctive Submariner in the range and the one that photographs least like everyone else’s.
• Green bezel builds — both styles: the “Starbucks” look with a green bezel over a black dial, and the “Hulk” look with green bezel and green dial together.
• Black classics — black dial, black bezel, in date and no-date configurations. The default Submariner and the easiest to wear with everything.

All 82 builds sit within our wider Rolex catalogue of 777 models, so if the Submariner turns out not to be your case shape, the alternatives are one click away.

The bezel numeral test

On a correct Submariner ceramic bezel, the numerals and graduations are engraved into the ceramic and then filled, so they sit flush with the surface — run a fingertip across the insert and you feel nothing. Cheap replicas print the numerals on top of the ceramic, where they catch light as a raised film and eventually wear. Note the contrast with the Yacht-Master, which deliberately takes the opposite approach: raised polished numerals standing proud of a matt bezel. Knowing which finish belongs to which model is one of the quickest ways to spot a parts-bin fake.

Case proportion tells

The Submariner case is one of the most copied shapes in watchmaking, and most copies get the proportions wrong in the same places:

• Crown guard projection — cast cases run the crown guards too thick and too long, so they crowd or overhang the crown. On a correct case the guards frame the crown without swallowing it.
• Lug width — budget cases cut the lugs wide to simplify bracelet fitment, which subtly fattens the whole head of the watch. A super clone holds genuine lug spacing, which is also why the bracelet sits and tapers correctly.
• Lume plot size — oversized hour plots are a classic giveaway, and undersized ones make the dial look empty. Plot diameter should match the genuine layout, with the inverted triangle at 12 and the correct baton-and-dot rhythm around the dial.

Price tiers: Japanese vs Swiss

Every Submariner build we sell falls between £299 and £1,170. The split that matters is the movement inside.

Tier	Typical price	Movement	What you get
Japanese movement	Average £452 across our catalogue; entry builds from £299	Japanese automatic	Correct external case, bezel and dial work on a reliable workhorse calibre
Swiss-grade	Average £945; range tops out at £1,170	Swiss-grade clone calibre	Higher beat rate, smoother seconds sweep, and winding and date action closer to genuine feel

If the watch will be handled by people who know Submariners — the sweep of the seconds hand is visible from across a table — the Swiss tier earns its premium. If it will simply be worn, the Japanese tier is the rational buy. Our Swiss vs Japanese movement comparison covers the differences in detail.

Water resistance: honest advice

The genuine Submariner is rated to 300m. A super clone reproduces the look of that capability — screw-down crown, solid caseback — but no replica’s gaskets are certified to dive-watch pressure, and we will not pretend otherwise. Treat any super clone as a desk diver: rain, handwashing and everyday splashes are fine; swimming, showering and diving are not. Always confirm the crown is screwed fully down before contact with water. Buyers who follow that rule report no issues; buyers who take a replica into the sea are gambling with the movement.

FAQ

Is a Rolex Submariner super clone waterproof?

Treat it as splash-resistant only. The case reproduces the sealed look of the genuine article, but the gaskets are not certified to 300m. Rain and handwashing with the crown screwed down are fine; swimming and diving are not recommended.

Should I buy the date or no-date Submariner?

No-date is the safer choice because it removes the cyclops — the most commonly botched replica detail — and gives a cleaner dial. Our date builds carry a correctly ground 2.5x lens, so choose date only if you actually want the complication.

How much does a Rolex Submariner super clone cost?

Our 82 Submariner builds run from £299 to £1,170. Japanese movement builds average £452 across the catalogue, while Swiss-grade builds average £945, with gold-toned references such as the 116618LB Bluesy sitting towards the top of the range.