Rolex has never made a reference 1666, and there is no "1666 6" model in any Rolex catalog. A search for a fake Rolex 1666 6 almost always lands on the Submariner 16610, the reference that replica sellers mistype or pad with extra digits. Treat that number as a warning about the seller, not as a model name.
Where Does the Number 1666 Come From?
Rolex reference numbers run in five-digit blocks, and the 166xx block belongs to the Submariner and Sea-Dweller lines from the late 1980s through the 2000s. No standalone 1666 exists. The digit string is a typo for 16610.
Fake Rolex 1666 Buying Guide: What the Reference Numbers Really Mean
The trailing "6" makes less sense. Replica forums use short codes for factories and batches, and sellers sometimes bolt those codes onto a model number to look official. None of it comes from Rolex.
Real references in the same block
- 16610: Submariner Date, steel, made 1988 to 2010
- 16613: Submariner Date, steel and gold
- 16618: Submariner Date, 18k yellow gold
- 16600: Sea-Dweller, steel
- 16660: Sea-Dweller, steel, earlier run
- 16622: Yacht-Master, steel with platinum bezel
Any listing that skips these numbers and puts "1666" or "1666 6" in the title is guessing. Ask for the full reference engraved on the case.
How to Spot a Fake Submariner 16610
A real 16610 is a precise object. Small errors show up under a loupe and in photos at 10x zoom. These are the checks that catch most fakes.
Case shape and crown guards
Genuine crown guards are asymmetric and taper into the case with a soft shoulder. Replicas tend to look boxy, with guards that are too thick or filed flat on top. Lug chamfers on a real 16610 are thin and even; fakes show wide, polished bevels.
Dial, hands, and lume
Print on a genuine dial sits flat and crisp, and the coronet has open loops. Fakes show thick print, closed loops, and a coronet that sits low. Hands on the 16610 use a Mercedes hour hand, and the lume plot matches the dial color instead of a bright white that clashes.
Bezel insert and pearl
The 16610 bezel insert is aluminum, with the pearl set in a gold surround. Replica pearls sit in steel or plastic rings, and the font on the insert runs too thick.
Bracelet and clasp
The 16610 uses an Oyster bracelet with solid end links and a stamped clasp on older examples. Fakes get the fit wrong: gaps at the lugs, loose end links, or a clasp code that does not match the case serial. Flip the clasp and read the code; on a real watch it dates to the same period as the case.
Movement and case back
An open case back on a Submariner is wrong on its own, since the 16610 has a solid screw-down back. Inside, a genuine watch carries a Rolex calibre 3135 with a free-sprung balance. Most fakes run a clone or a low-grade automatic with a decorated rotor.
Serial and rehaut engraving
The rehaut, the inner ring between dial and crystal, carries the ROLEX ROLEX ROLEX engraving on later 16610s. The letters should line up with the minute markers. Fakes misalign the text or cut it too deep.
What Replicas Sell For, and What Real 16610s Sell For
Replica Submariners run from about $100 for a cheap automatic to $500 or more for a clone movement in a machined case. Genuine 16610 prices sit in the thousands on the secondary market, and full sets with box and papers cost more than watch-only examples.
A price gap that looks too good is the simplest tell. A "1666 6" listing at $250 is a replica, whatever the title says. Blurry photos and stock images pulled from another sale are two more signs of a seller who hides the details.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
- What is the full reference, and where is it engraved? It sits between the lugs at 12 o'clock.
- What is the serial, and does the clasp code match the case year?
- Are the photos original, or pulled from another listing? Run a reverse image search.
- Does the seller accept a return after a watchmaker inspects the watch?
- Is the price in line with the market for that reference and condition?
If any answer is vague, walk away. Plenty of sellers list Submariners; your money does not need to go to the one that hides details.
FAQ
Does Rolex make a reference 1666?
No. Rolex catalogs no reference 1666. The closest real numbers are 16610, 16613, 16618, 16600, and 16622, all from the Submariner, Sea-Dweller, and Yacht-Master families.
Is a replica 16610 worth buying?
That depends on what you want. A replica will not hold value, cannot be serviced by Rolex, and is illegal to sell as genuine in the US. Buy one as a costume piece, not as an investment.
How can I tell a fake 16610 from a real one?
Check the rehaut engraving alignment, the crown guard shape, and the clasp code. All three are hard to fake well, and photos at 10x zoom show the flaws.
Why do listings say "1666 6"?
It is a mistyped 16610 with an extra digit, or a factory code tacked onto the model number. Neither comes from Rolex, so ask the seller where the number came from.