The Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 is the 40mm Everose gold model Rolex introduced in 2015, and it was the first Yacht-Master to carry a Cerachrom bezel and an Oysterflex bracelet. A replica of this reference is judged on four features above all others: the rose gold color and weight, the matte black ceramic bezel insert, the construction of the rubber-over-metal strap, and the dial with its magnified date. Everything else on the watch is secondary to those four checks. The sections below list the reference features and the inspection steps that separate a close copy from a poor one.
Fake Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 Pros and Cons
Reference features of the 116655
- 40mm Oyster case in 18k Everose gold, Rolex's in-house rose gold alloy, polished throughout.
- Bi-directional rotating bezel with a matte black Cerachrom ceramic insert and raised polished numerals.
- Oysterflex bracelet: black elastomer over flexible titanium-nickel alloy blades, closed by an Oysterlock safety clasp with Glidelock extension.
- Matte black dial with Everose gold hands and applied hour markers, filled with Chromalight luminescence.
- Caliber 3135 automatic movement, 28,800 vph, roughly 48 hours of power reserve, date at 3 o'clock under a Cyclops lens.
- Screw-down crown, solid case back, 100m water resistance rating.
How to inspect a replica 116655
- Weigh the watch head on a small digital scale. Solid Everose gold carries obvious heft; plated steel copies come in light and feel hollow in the hand.
- Hold the case in direct daylight. Genuine Everose reads as a warm, muted rose; plated copies drift toward copper-pink or yellow-brass tones under the same light.
- Look at the lug edges, crown guards, and case back rim for plating wear, since these are the first spots to show base metal.
- Examine the bezel insert at an angle. The genuine Cerachrom is matte black with crisp raised polished numerals; paint-filled or shallow-etched numerals are a clear tell.
- Turn the bezel through a full rotation and check for back-play. The action should be firm and even, not loose or gritty.
- Read the dial print with a loupe. Check the coronet shape, the weight of the "ROLEX" letters, and the spacing of the Yacht-Master line.
- Check the date window. The Cyclops should magnify about 2.5 times and sit centered over the aperture with no distortion at the edges.
- Charge the lume with a phone light. Chromalight glows blue and fades slowly; most copies glow green or dim within minutes.
- Flex the strap. Genuine Oysterflex has molded titanium-nickel blades inside and a ridged inner surface; silicone copies feel soft, stretchy, and have no blade structure.
- Open and close the clasp. Confirm the Oysterlock snap, the Glidelock slide, and the stamped coronet on the flip lock.
- Inspect the rehaut engraving. The repeated "ROLEX" band should align with the minute markers and sit at an even depth.
- Set the time and wind the crown. The movement should hack, the date should change at midnight, and the sweep should run smooth at 28,800 vph.
Frequent flaws on copies
- Bezel numerals that are printed rather than raised, or a triangle at 12 that misses the dial marker.
- Dial text that is too bold, too thin, or spaced wide enough to see from arm's length.
- Strap that is pure rubber with no alloy core, so it folds and creases instead of holding shape.
- Clasp stamping that is shallow, off-center, or missing the Glidelock slide.
- Movement that beats at 21,600 vph or a date that flips gradually instead of snapping.
One caution before you buy
Selling a replica as a genuine Rolex is trademark counterfeiting and fraud in the US and most other markets, and it carries civil and criminal exposure. Buy and wear copies as copies, keep the paperwork honest, and never pass one off in a resale listing.