Short answer
The Rolex Submariner No Date is the version of the Submariner with no date window at 3 o'clock and no Cyclops lens on the crystal. Rolex's current reference is 124060; the generation before it was 114060. Replica makers put more effort into the no-date version than the date version because it removes the two hardest details to copy well: the date wheel font and alignment, and the magnifying Cyclops. That makes a mid-tier imitation of the no-date Sub look more convincing at arm's length than an equally priced imitation of the Submariner Date. It does not make it a Rolex.
Why the no-date layout is easier to copy
A date Submariner has to get several things right at once. The date wheel needs the correct font with the correct spacing. The date has to sit centered in the window with no gap at the edges. The Cyclops has to magnify at about 2.5x, sit over the date, and carry the right amount of blue anti-reflective tint. Any one of those being off is a tell under a loupe. The no-date Sub has none of them. The dial is a plain black or blue surface with applied markers, a printed depth rating, and a sweep seconds hand. Fewer parts means fewer failure points, which is why the no-date case is the most common base for replica builds.
Movements used in no-date Sub imitations
- Asian 2813 / DG2813: the budget tier. Beat rate is 21,600 vph, so the seconds hand sweeps with a visible stutter.
- A2824 and clones of the ETA 2824: mid tier, 28,800 vph, smoother sweep, easier for a watchmaker to service.
- Clone 3130 / 3135 family: the so-called super clone tier. Decorated to resemble Rolex's in-house 3130, 28,800 vph, often with correct engravings and a free-sprung balance.
- Genuine ETA or Sellita swap: uncommon, but some builders drop a real Swiss movement into a replica case.
Sweep quality is the first thing people notice across a table, and it separates a 2813 build from a 3130 clone faster than any other check.
Inspection checklist for a no-date Sub
- Check the beat rate. 28,800 vph gives eight ticks per second. A smooth sweep points to a 2824 or 3130 clone, not a 2813.
- Measure the case. Genuine 124060 is 41 mm across; 114060 is 40 mm. A listing that calls a case 41 mm but measures 39.5 mm is a mislabeled 40 mm case.
- Read the dial printing. The SUBMARINER line and the depth rating should be crisp with no ink bleed and no uneven spacing.
- Work the bezel. 120 clicks, no back-play in either direction, and a ceramic insert that sits flush with the bezel edge.
- Study the crown guards. The shape tapers into the case and is asymmetric, not a blunt block.
- Weigh it. A genuine 124060 runs about 155 g on the Oyster bracelet. Hollow-link bracelets come in well under that.
- Test the lume. Charge it under a light for 30 seconds and confirm the pip and the markers glow at the same brightness.
Cost, risk, and the legal side
Prices in the replica market run from about $80 for a basic 2813 build to $500 or more for a decorated clone-movement example. Selling or importing counterfeits is a different matter from wearing one. In the United States, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal offense, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes and destroys counterfeit watches entering the country. Sellers also face civil suits from Rolex. Anyone buying from an overseas seller should assume the parcel can be stopped at the border, and that no chargeback protection exists for a transaction that was illegal to begin with.
FAQ
Is the no-date Submariner discontinued?
No. Reference 124060 is in current production. The 114060 it replaced was discontinued in 2020, which is why replica sellers list both references.
Does 1:1 mean identical to a real Submariner?
No. 1:1 and super clone are seller terms. They describe a replica built from measurements taken off a genuine watch. They do not describe a watch made by Rolex, and no replica uses Rolex's in-house movement.
Can a watchmaker tell the difference?
Yes, usually in seconds. Caseback engravings, movement finishing, crystal coating, and end-link fit are the first things a trained eye checks. A no-date Sub imitation is convincing at a distance, not on a bench.