Confirm the reference number before you confirm anything else. "1666 6" is not a Rolex reference, and no genuine catalog model carries that string. The nearest real references are 16610 (Submariner Date, steel), 16613 (Submariner Date, two tone), 16660 (Sea-Dweller) and 116660 (Deepsea). A listing built on a broken number is usually a copied description, which means the seller may not know the watch they are shipping. Ask for the exact reference, case diameter, movement name and case material in writing before you send money, and treat a vague answer as your signal to walk away.
Fake Rolex 1666 6: What That Reference Number Really Means
What "1666 6" probably means
Buyers searching this string are almost always hunting a Submariner style diver, not a specific vintage model. Sellers mix digits when they copy spec sheets, so the same listing may describe a 40 mm Submariner case one day and a 42 mm Deepsea the next. Decide which genuine reference you want first. Everything downstream, case size, lug width, bezel insert material, bracelet taper, follows from that decision.
What to look for
Movement
The movement is where most of the money sits. Common options are a Chinese clone of the ETA 2824 or 2836 (often labeled A2824 or A2836), or a Chinese clone of the Rolex 3135 family (SH3135, VR3135, VS3135). A healthy automatic should beat at 28,800 vibrations per hour, which reads as a smooth eight ticks per second. Ask for a video of the second hand and of the date flipping near midnight. Date changes that drag slowly, or that happen at 6 pm, point to a cheap or worn movement.
Fake Rolex 1666 Buying Guide: What the Reference Numbers Really Mean
Case, crystal and bracelet
Check case diameter, thickness and lug width against the genuine reference. Check that the solid end links sit flush against the case with no visible gap or wobble. On steel models look for 316L or 904L stainless, and ask which one, because the answer tells you how honest the seller is about the rest. The crystal should be sapphire with correct cyclops magnification and anti reflective coating under the magnifier.
Dial, bezel and date
Compare date wheel font and position, crown guard shape and rehaut depth against photographs of the genuine reference, not against other replica listings. Ceramic inserts and aluminum inserts belong to different generations, so match the insert to the reference you chose.
Parameter bands to compare
- Case diameter: 40 mm for 16610 and 16613, 42 mm for 116660
- Case thickness: roughly 12.5 to 13.5 mm on a 16610 class case
- Lug width: 20 mm on 40 mm Submariner class cases
- Complete weight on a steel bracelet: about 140 to 160 g
- Beat rate: 28,800 vibrations per hour
- Power reserve: 38 to 48 hours after a full wind
- Cyclops magnification: approximately 2x to 2.5x
Pitfalls
- Grade labels such as 1:1, AAA or mirror quality are marketing terms with no shared definition. Ignore them and compare measurements instead.
- Listings that reuse genuine watch photography. Request new photos with a handwritten date card and the watch running beside it.
- Water resistance claims with no pressure test behind them. Treat any replica as splash resistant at best and keep it out of pools and salt water.
- Swiss made printing on the dial says nothing about where the movement was made or assembled.
- Payment methods with no chargeback path leave you with no recourse if the watch arrives damaged or never arrives.
- Customs risk. Counterfeit watches are seized routinely at borders, and the buyer can lose both the item and the money.
Legal reality
Replica watches infringe trademarks. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is illegal in the United States and in most countries where these sellers ship, and enforcement agencies actively seize shipments. Buying one is a personal risk decision, not a loophole, and no seller guarantee changes that.
FAQ
Is there a Rolex reference 1666 6?
No. The string does not match any Rolex reference. Ask the seller which real reference they are copying.
Why do listings claim a Swiss ETA movement?
Many of those movements are Chinese clones or refurbished units. Ask for a photo of the movement with the caseback removed before you rely on the claim.
Will a replica pass as genuine?
Not under close inspection or at a service center. Serial engraving, movement finishing and bracelet construction are usually where the differences show.
What is the single best check?
A short video showing the second hand sweep, the date flip and the bezel action, filmed after you ask. Sellers who cannot produce one are reselling stock they have never handled.