So, I finally decided to buy a Sea-Dweller replica watch. To be honest, I hesitated for a long time before I made the decision. It is my first Rolex replica watch and I traveled a long and very challenging way until I received it safe and sound in my hands.
Why a Sea-Dweller?
Actually, I hesitated between a Sea-Dweller and a Submariner. Submariners always gave me the “WOW” effect every time I saw them on someone’s wrist. I was convinced that my first replica watch would be a Submariner, to somehow be in line with the world. I didn’t care about the model. I needed it to be produced by a reputable factory, in order to avoid headaches from a quality perspective.
During the search process, I came across the Rolex Sea-Dweller 126603 replica watch purely by chance. What piqued my interest in it was its two-tone bezel, which immediately caught my attention. To be honest, I never thought that my first Rolex knockoff would be a two-tone watch. I was sure that I would opt for something minimalistic, and simple, in only one tone. But, “never say never”, as the saying goes. And my case confirms the truth of the famous expression.
Constant dilemma…
Analyzing the Sea-Dweller 126603 replica watch from different perspectives, I woke up every night thinking that it would be the second replica watch after I find my Submariner. But, with each passing day, the model seemed to stick more and more to my soul. In the end, I concluded that the Submariner would probably be the second watch I would buy. That’s because I found a Sea-Dweller that I couldn’t refuse. A wonderful aesthetic, and a promising technical construction.
It would have been a great sin if I were to lose the moment. And here it is, in my hand, the replica watch that I never thought I would have. The Sea-Dweller 126603 replica watch is a real miracle of which I am more than proud. However, don’t think that history is as ideal as it initially seems! Like any replica watch, my Sea-Dweller has some shortcomings. Let’s take them one by one so that you know what to expect in the event that, like me, you end up with a Sea-Dweller 126603 knockoff.
How did I end up getting a Sea-Dweller?
The model I purchased came out on the replica market in October 2022. Reading on the forums, the previous releases had pretty nice aesthetics, but with shortcomings at a technical level. The manufacturers were never able to integrate a highly reliable mechanism. That is, the previous ones did not perform badly, but there was room for better.
The first reason I decided to get this Sea-Dweller knockoff was the internal mechanism. The manufacturer had promised me that it was about the best movement that perfectly combined quality and price. It is about the 3235 movement, which seems to be the most promising option so far.
At the same time, the manufacturer had told me that the Submariner, which had also been launched in October, had the same mechanism. And at that moment I had started to hesitate badly between Sea-Dweller and Submariner, which was a guilty pleasure for me until then. However, I decided in favor of the Sea-Dweller because it had a couple of advantages in addition to the mechanism.
The discussions with the manufacturer before purchasing the watch were both comforting and reluctant. On the one hand, the manufacturer seemed very confident and inspired me confidence. On the other hand, I was still a bit reserved, because I realized that the manufacturer was doing what he had to do: to convince me to buy it. And it was as if I had doubts that if I would buy the watch, in the end, I would discover that the watch was not so “perfect” as it was described to me. I think most conscious buyers face the same dilemma when buying replica watches.
But more than 5 months have passed since I bought the watch. All I can say is that the manufacturer was right: the watch retains its original aesthetic condition wonderfully and performs no worse than a genuine watch.
Specific details
The first aspect that may sound scary is the generous size of the watch. It has a case of 43mm and is 15mm in height. I seem like a real fool to opt for such a size for my first replica watch, don’t I? I thought the same initially, especially in the context in which the manufacturer had just told me about a Submariner of only 41mm. The Submariner seemed the perfect option for me, which satisfied all my expectations from a watch. But, as you can see, I don’t choose the easy way.
The Sea-Dweller captivated me with its presence on my wrist. I felt it omnipresent, visible, observable. I liked how it looked on the wrist with its corpulent and somewhere, severe build. To be honest, the Submariner lacked a bit of this charisma. In the end, I opted for a generous imitation with the thought that if it didn’t suit my style, I would give it to my father, who adores such architecture. Fortunately, or unfortunately, my father didn’t receive his present because I wear it daily.
The manufacturer assured me that the material of the watch is 904l stainless steel. Of course, I have no way to confirm this. I just have to trust him. But from what it seems, the Sea-Dweller knockoff is actually made of 904l stainless steel because it has a much more delicate finish and a much more specific gloss compared to the Submariner alternative that I was considering.
By the way, the Submariner that I thought of was made of 316l stainless steel. The material was one of the reasons why I refused to buy it, in favor of the Sea-Dweller watch. I have nothing against 316l stainless steel. But it was more of a whim for my replica watch to be made exclusively of 904l stainless steel. Finally, the finish looks a bit more refined on this material than on the 316l grade alternative.
The particularities of the case
As I mentioned before, the two-tone aesthetic of the Sea-Dweller is probably its winning point. The imitation bezel rotates in one direction, which makes its use very intuitive and simple. The bezel has a black ceramic insert. According to the manufacturer, the ceramics seem to be imported from Switzerland. I have no way to confirm or deny this. But, all I can say is that during the 5 months since I have had this watch, the bezel is very resistant and durable. And believe me, I have already managed to subject the watch to various impacts and corrosion because I am not a very careful person.
Contrasting with the black inserts, the bezel teeth have a golden tone that harmonizes with the tone of the crown, the central links on the bracelet, as well as with the numerical graduations on the bezel. I can’t explain why, but this gold-tone is different from the gold you may have seen in Datejust replicas. This is more intense, more “tasty” and more harmonious in contrast to the black present in the watch case.
And if you think that the golden tone gives the watch a flamboyant air, I want to tell you that you are sorely mistaken. The combination of black and gold in this Sea-Dweller is extremely proportional and balanced. There is no trace of flamboyance in the aesthetics of the watch. On the contrary, I only notice the luxurious, slightly elegant, and reserved air, thanks to the shade of black that always adds formality.
Technical details
As you already know, this knockoff operates on the basis of a 3235 automatic movement. I greatly appreciate the fact that the manufacturer recommended this watch with this mechanism to me. I haven’t had any trouble with it since I bought it.
The only disadvantage, if I can call it that, consists in the fact that the power reserve does not last as the manufacturers promised me. The factory promised a resistance of up to 72 hours. Initially, it seemed like a statement that was too good to be true. And I was right. The watch actually lasts up to 40 hours. It’s not bad at all, but it’s nowhere near the 72 hours promised by the factory. Either way, I’m glad at least that the imitation indicates the time without errors and critical deviations.
It is unlikely that any replica watch will last up to 72 hours. At least, I personally haven’t come across anything like this until now. Only authentic movements are capable of such performance, and it is clear why. Brands have the most ingenious tools to create last-generation movements. Replica factories only reproduce the functioning and architecture of authentic movements, but not their performance.
Water resistance
Since we are talking about a conqueror of the waters, the authentic Sea-Dweller benefits from a water resistance system up to 1220 meters. A rather amazing capacity, but not unusual for the giant Rolex.
In contrast, my replica watch benefits from a profile of up to 100 meters. Of course, it sounds incomparably inferior to the genuine watch. However, you need to know 2 things. The first is that the resistance of up to 100 meters of a replica watch is a very promising feature and the second is that no replica watch has and will ever have a capacity of up to 1220m shortly. So if you had high expectations from a knockoff, it’s time to come back to reality and embrace replica watches with 100 m of water resistance.
In the same context, I want to mention that you have to be careful with any replica watch that is supposed to be water-resistant. Many times, dealers claim that imitations benefit from the same water resistance as the genuine watch. Do not trust such statements. Factories still do not have enough tools, and perhaps knowledge, to develop such resistance systems of thousands of meters. For this reason, double-check the veracity of the source, dealer, or factory that promises you such features.
The good part is that I tested the water resistance of my replica watch. Of course, I didn’t go deeper than about 3 meters with it, because I’m not a great professional diver. But even with this depth, the watch proved to be very resistant. It continued to function as well after the water impact as it did before.
The replica watch defect
As I told you before, my imitation also has a small defect. The Rolex logo attached to the clasp of the bracelet does not look identical to the original model. In the authentic model, its tops are directed to the left. In my replica watch, the peaks point to the right. It’s not exactly a critical flaw. But it is enough to differentiate the watch from an authentic one.
Why did I opt for a Sea Dweller, instead of a Submariner?
And yet, why did I opt for a Sea Dweller, considering that I could get an equally good Submariner? With a Submariner, I would have more suitable proportions and a more popular watch, right?
Indeed, Submariner imitations seem to be much more popular among Rolex watch lovers. But this was the reason why I opted for a Sea-Dweller in the end. I wanted something more exclusive than the Submariner. I wanted something that people know less about and would be more surprised by. Emerging from discussions with close friends, I realized that Submariner watches have become so popular that you don’t surprise anyone with one anymore. It sounds strange, I know, but it’s true.
Besides the exclusivity reason, this Sea-Dweller knockoff captured me with its attractive design. The two-tone aesthetic is such a strong advantage that even the generous dimensions do not seem to be a deal-breaker at all. For 5 months since I benefited from this imitation, I feel a special pride and self-confidence. The watch accompanies me every day and serves as my loyal friend in all circumstances. The incorrect positioning of the crown on the clasp is an insignificant defect in addition to the technical and aesthetic benefits of this watch.