There are tons of cool little details worth exploring. Consider this a vintage 1:1 fake Rolex Datejust nerd’s presentation of things that matter only to other nerds. All the content here comes from my book, so if this is your kind of nerdy, you might want to check that out.
Vintage Rolex Datejust history 101
The perfect replica Rolex Datejust is quite an essential watch in the brand’s history. I will not pretend to be able to cover that history in full here. However, a quick recap is good to provide the bare minimum of context. The Datejust was introduced in 1945. The first model, ref. 4467, was an adaptation of the 1943 ref. 5026. The small seconds register at six was omitted in favor of a central seconds hand. More crucially, an instantly changing date was added. The name “Victory” was considered but deemed too political. It was not until 1953 that the name “Datejust” was put on the dial. It was, however, already officially named such since its introduction.
The now-iconic Jubilee bracelet was introduced with the first luxury fake Rolex Datejust in ‘45. To keep things manageable, we will jump to 1959 next. That year saw the introduction of the 16xx family of references. This is your typical vintage Rolex Datejust replica for sale with a pie-pan dial and a non-quickset date. The pie pan disappears, and quickset emerges in the 1977 introduction of the 16xxx family. The last generation I cover in the book follows in 1988, adding a sapphire crystal, among other updates.
These three generations make up — by some margin — the most popular full-size vintage cheap Rolex Datejust fake watches. They also make for the easiest daily companion since older models can be a bit harder to service.
The obvious stuff — bracelets, bezels, materials, finishes
Upon its introduction, the Datejust was Swiss movement replica Rolex’s flagship model and only available in precious metals. That sounds familiar, right? Indeed, this is the position that the Day-Date currently holds. From 1953 onward, you will find examples in steel as well as two-tone. So whether you want full rose or yellow gold, a little bicolor, or plain steel, you will find it all.
Then we have the bezels. Of course, we all know the fluted, engine-turned, and smooth bezels. Early models, however, featured the finer “reeded” bezels. And then there are various ultra-rare variants such as Morellis, Bamboo, Zephyr, Moreau, Moiré, and others. Of course, the dials themselves can have tons of finishes, materials, and colors too. From sunburst silver to denim-blue linen and from wood to stone, it is all there.
The last fairly obvious one is the bracelets. Of course, you have the classical Jubilee, which comes in folded and solid versions. American and Mexican-produced Jubilees, however, feature a different profile. Their links are oval rather than flat-bottomed. Vintage AAA quality replica Rolex Datejusts were also sold on Oyster bracelets in several variants. Of course, dealers used to swap bracelets according to their customer’s desires too, so don’t be surprised to run into a gold Datejust on a President.
A collector’s dream
The sheer variety you can find in the vintage Swiss movement copy Rolex Datejust realm has an undeniable appeal. Once every couple of months, I get a text from Mike with pictures of some gorgeous vintage Datejust. He usually finds some rare dial color or other specifically collectible features. A case in point is his latest vintage top super clone Rolex Datejust acquisition, which features a lavender no-lume dial. And I totally get it. If you allow yourself to get sucked in, you are doomed.
If you could have your pick, what vintage best quality replica Rolex Datejust would end up on your wrist? Let us know in the comments below.
