A "fake Rolex 1666/6" does not match any real Rolex reference. Rolex has never cataloged a 1666/6, so that number on a listing is a typo for the Submariner 16610, a seller's batch code, or a bracelet stamp copied into a title. The choice comes down to three paths: a genuine vintage 16610, a legal homage watch in the same style, or a replica that carries real legal risk in the US.
Why the "1666/6" Number Does Not Check Out
Real Submariner references run five digits: 16610 for the steel Submariner Date, 16613 for steel and gold, 16618 for yellow gold, and 14060 for the no-date model. Sea-Dweller references sit at 16600 and 16660. None of them is 1666/6.
A slash inside a reference number is a warning sign on its own. Rolex writes model references as one block of digits, sometimes with a letter suffix on later watches. Slashes show up on bracelet stamps, case-back codes, and end-link numbers, not on model references.
Here is the test that settles it: ask for a photo of the case between the lugs at 12 o'clock. Genuine watches carry the model reference there, stamped into the metal. Replica cases show nothing, a wrong number, or etching that sits on top of the surface.
How We Compared the Options
Every option below was scored on nine points that decide whether a Submariner-style watch holds up on the wrist and in the wallet.
- Movement: Swiss or Japanese automatic versus a low-grade clone
- Case profile: crown guards, lug shape, case thickness
- Bezel: click feel, insert material, alignment at 12
- Dial and hands: font weight, date magnification, hand shape
- Lume: even application and glow duration
- Bracelet and clasp: solid links, stamped steel, end-link fit
- Water resistance: tested rating versus a printed claim
- Service and parts: can a watchmaker fix it in five years?
- Resale and legal exposure: what happens when you sell or travel
Our Pick: A Legal Homage Gives You the Look With Less Risk
For most buyers chasing a 1666/6 listing, a homage watch wins. You get the Submariner silhouette, a real automatic movement, a warranty, and a watch you can resell or wear through customs without trouble. It costs less than a mid-tier replica and holds value better.
The trade-off is honesty in the details. A homage carries its own name on the dial, and collectors know it. If the goal is the real thing on your wrist, save for the genuine 16610 instead of buying three fakes along the way.
The Options, Ranked
Option 1: Homage Watches (Steinhart Ocean One, Invicta Pro Diver 8926, Seiko 5KX Mods)
These brands build Submariner-style cases with their own names on the dial. Steinhart uses Swiss automatic movements and solid bracelets. The Invicta Pro Diver 8926 sells for under $100 with a Seiko NH35 movement inside, and Seiko 5KX mods let you swap bezels and inserts to match the 16610 look.
Strong points: legal to buy, legal to ship, easy to service, and resellable. Weak points: nobody will mistake one for a Rolex, and the case shape differs from the original in small ways.
Option 2: Genuine Vintage Submariner 16610
A used 16610 from the 1990s or 2000s runs several thousand dollars and keeps value over time. Buy from a dealer with papers, or pay for an authentication check before money changes hands. Service costs add up on older movements, so budget for that.
This is the only path that gives you the real reference number, a working resale market, and zero legal risk.
Option 3: Replica Listings Sold as "1666/6"
Replica Submariners in this bracket arrive with clone movements, plated cases, and printed bezel inserts. Listing photos get edited, and the watch that shows up seldom matches what you ordered. There is no warranty, no parts supply, and no way to service the movement when it stops.
Prices track the movement inside, from a basic automatic to a decorated clone, and none of that money comes back at resale. Sellers who quote a "1:1" or "swiss grade" claim are describing looks, not internals.
Legal and Practical Risk in the US
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import into the United States. Customs and Border Protection can seize a package, and the buyer loses the money with no refund path. Selling a replica as genuine is a separate offense that carries criminal penalties.
Repair is the second trap. A watchmaker who spots a fake movement will turn the job away, and parts for clone movements are hard to source. A $300 replica becomes a drawer watch within two years in many cases.
Travel adds a third problem. Customs officers can seize a counterfeit watch at a border crossing, and a replica with a Rolex name on the dial is the item they look for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a real Rolex reference 1666/6?
No. No Rolex catalog or service archive lists 1666/6. The closest real references are the 16610, 16613, and 16618 Submariners and the 16600 Sea-Dweller.
What should a replica 1666/6 listing cost?
Replica Submariner listings sit in a wide band, from under $100 for a basic automatic to several hundred for a decorated clone. Nothing in that range holds resale value.
Can a replica pass as a genuine 16610?
Under a loupe, no. The stamping between the lugs, crown guard shape, date font, and bracelet codes give it away. From across a table some replicas look close, which is the whole sales pitch.
What if a replica seller ships the wrong watch or nothing at all?
Replica sellers seldom offer returns, and payment by wire or crypto leaves you with no recourse. That risk is one more reason a legal homage or a genuine watch makes more sense.
Bottom Line
The "fake Rolex 1666/6" is a made-up reference attached to a Submariner-style replica. A homage watch delivers the same look with a warranty and no legal exposure, and a genuine vintage 16610 delivers it with real long-term value.