My first 1:1 replica Rolex was a Datejust. It was a reference 1603 from 1974 with a blue pie-pan dial, beautiful yellowed lume, and a jingly-jangly Jubilee bracelet. Unfortunately, it wasn’t love at first sight, and I quickly sold it and got myself a Cartier Santos instead, a decision I have never regretted one bit. But the lesson I learned from that experience is that I think I should’ve bought myself a more modern perfect fake Rolex. The 1603 just felt too fragile to me. With its very loose links and Plexiglass crystal, it simply wasn’t a watch that I could bring anywhere, especially not near the water.

If I had to do it all over again, I think I would go for a neo-vintage luxury fake Rolex Datejust like this 16234 from 1994. This watch is on offer right now for €6,950 with its box and papers. It has the classic blue sunburst dial and the ever-charming fluted white gold bezel. Indeed, the Jubilee bracelet from this era might not even be that much sturdier than the one on my ex-aaa quality replica Rolex Datejust.

But I think if you’d like a more solid bracelet, you’ll have to look at newer references, and then prices quickly start to climb toward the current list price of €8,950. To me, a blue-dialed Swiss movement fake Rolex Datejust simply is the Datejust to have.