The Rolex ref. 179171 is a 26 mm Lady-Datejust with a case and bracelet in Oystersteel and 18k Everose gold, a two-tone build Rolex calls Rolesor. It runs the calibre 2235. Rolex sold the 26 mm line from the mid-2000s until it moved the Lady-Datejust to 28 mm with the ref. 279171 and the calibre 2236. Replica copies of the 179171 sell for about $60 to $450. The low end uses plated brass and a quartz module or a low-grade automatic. The top end uses 904L steel, gold plating or a gold-wrapped case, and a copy of the 2235. No replica matches the genuine watch in gold content, movement finish, or case geometry.
What the Reference Number Means
The 179171 belongs to the 17917x family. The last digit codes the gold color: 1 for pink gold, 3 for yellow gold, 4 for white gold. So the 179173 is steel and yellow gold, and the 179174 is steel and white gold. The 179171 is the Everose version. Buyers on the used market often mix these up, and sellers list yellow-gold watches as 179171 by mistake or on purpose.
Genuine Specs
- Case: 26 mm, Oystersteel and 18k Everose gold, screw-down caseback.
- Water resistance: 100 m (330 ft), Twinlock screw-down crown.
- Crystal: sapphire, cyclops lens at 2.5x over the date.
- Bezel: fluted or smooth, in Everose gold.
- Bracelet: Jubilee with a concealed Crownclasp, or Oyster with a folding Oysterclasp. Center links in Everose gold.
- Movement: calibre 2235, automatic, 31 jewels, 28,800 vph, about 48 hours of power reserve, COSC certified, quickset date.
- Dial options: champagne, silver, pink, mother-of-pearl, with or without diamond markers.
Replica Tiers and Prices
- Low tier, $60 to $120: plated case, quartz or 21,600 vph automatic, printed dial text, date font that does not match.
- Mid tier, $150 to $300: 316L steel case, gold plating, a 28,800 vph copy of the ETA 2671 or a DG series movement, better dial printing.
- High tier, $300 to $450: 904L steel, thicker plating or a wrapped case, clone 2235, closer lug and end link fit.
These are asking prices on replica marketplaces. Numbers move, and no seller publishes a verified parts list. Treat any price claim as unconfirmed until the caseback is open.
Differences to Check
- Cyclops magnification. The genuine lens magnifies the date about 2.5x. Many replicas sit near 1.5x or 2x.
- Gold tone. Everose has a copper cast. A yellow tone on a watch sold as a 179171 points to yellow gold plating.
- Laser-etched coronet at 6 o'clock on the crystal. On the genuine it is small and hard to spot. Replicas omit it or cut it too large.
- Date wheel. Replica wheels often use a different 4 and 7, and the date sits off-center in the window.
- End link fit. Gaps between the solid end links and the lugs appear on most copies.
- Movement. Winding feel, rotor noise, and the instant date flip at midnight separate a clone 2235 from a 21,600 vph movement.
Legal Status in the United States
Under 18 U.S.C. § 2320, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime. US Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments of counterfeit watches. A personal-use purchase does not make the import legal. The trademark holder can also file civil claims, and reselling a replica as a genuine watch is fraud. Rolex does not authorize any third party to build its references.
What Is Not Public
Rolex does not publish production totals for the 179171, so unit counts and the exact end date of the 26 mm line vary by source. Replica factories do not disclose movement sources or gold content. Any claim about either needs a caseback opening and a test of the metal.