Okay, guys, so I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a two-tone black Submariner for a while now. I’ve heard whispers about these so-called “specialty stores” that can get you a pretty convincing replica. And let me tell you, the real deal is way out of my budget. So, I decided to take the plunge and see what this whole “high imitation” thing is all about.
First, I had to find one of these stores. I started by asking around, you know, discreetly. Eventually, I found a guy who knew a guy who gave me a contact. Kind of shady, yeah, but that’s part of the thrill, right?
After a few cryptic messages, I finally got an address. It was in a pretty unassuming part of town, not the kind of place you’d expect to find anything remotely luxurious. I walked in, and it was… well, it wasn’t a Rolex boutique, that’s for sure. But they had a decent selection of replicas, including the two-tone black Submariner I was after.
I spent a good hour inspecting it. Now, I’m no expert, but I’ve done my research. I know that the real Rolex Submariners are made with this 904L stainless steel and 18K gold. This thing felt heavy, just like they say it should – about 130g. I checked the middle links and the crown, those are supposed to be the parts made of gold. They looked pretty legit to me.
- I started paying close attention to the details, like the minute hand. I read somewhere that the real Submariner’s minute hand is a bit short and doesn’t overlap the minute markers. This one seemed to match that description.
- I also noticed the “double-reference” on the case back. Apparently, the rarest ones are the ref. 5517 based on ref. 5513 cases and they have both numbers. I saw 5513 and 5517 on this one, making me think it’s one of those sought-after collectibles, even if it’s not a genuine one.
The guy in the store told me it was a 2015 model, which is discontinued. He even showed me a box and a “warranty card” dated 2015. Of course, I knew it was all part of the show, but hey, it added to the experience.
Negotiating the Price
Now came the tricky part – the price. We went back and forth for a bit. I acted like I knew what I was talking about, throwing around terms like “resale premium” and “steel equivalents.” I pretended I was on the fence, comparing it to other models, you know, playing it cool.
Eventually, we settled on a price that I was pretty happy with. It was significantly less than what a real one would cost, but still enough to make me feel like I was getting a quality piece. I walked out of there with my new “two-tone black Submariner” feeling pretty damn good.
Is it the real deal? Of course not. But does it look and feel pretty darn close? Absolutely. And for the price I paid, I’m not complaining. It’s a fun little secret, and it’s definitely a conversation starter. Plus, I get to enjoy the look of a luxury watch without having to sell a kidney. And that’s a win in my book.
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