Short answer
Rolex builds the Day-Date 36 at 36 mm in 18k gold or 950 platinum. Reference 128346 falls in that line. Replicas sold under this number come from factories in China, use steel or tungsten cases with gold plating, and sell from about $80 to $900. No replica holds a Rolex movement, and no replica is Swiss made.
What the reference number means
Rolex uses six digits plus a dash suffix. In the Day-Date 36 range the last digit marks the case metal: 5 for Everose gold, 6 for platinum, 8 for yellow gold, 9 for white gold. A code that ends in 6 points to platinum 950, the heaviest metal in the line. The suffix after the dash covers dial, bezel and bracelet. Those codes change with each catalog year, so confirm the dial and bezel of 128346 in a current Rolex catalog before you compare a replica against it.
Buy Fake Rolex Day-Date 128346 at the Best Prices
Day-Date 36 specs
- Case: 36 mm, Oyster case, screw-down crown, 100 m water resistance.
- Movement: calibre 3255, automatic, 70-hour power reserve, Chronergy escapement, blue Parachrom hairspring.
- Rate: Superlative Chronometer, -2/+2 seconds per day after casing.
- Display: day window at 12 o'clock with the full weekday name, date at 3 o'clock under a Cyclops lens.
- Crystal: sapphire.
- Bracelet: President, three-piece links, concealed Crownclasp.
- Weight: about 130 g to 160 g in 18k gold. The figure moves with link count.
What replica makers copy and miss
Case size and dial layout copy with the fewest errors. The 36 mm case and the day-date window sit in the same place on most replicas. Problems show in these areas:
fake rolex day-date 128346 comparison
- Weight. Tungsten alloy blanks add density. Tungsten runs 19.25 g per cm3, 18k yellow gold about 15.5 g per cm3. A plated steel replica weighs less than a gold watch of the same size.
- Gold color. Plating runs 3 to 5 microns on mid-grade models. The tone shifts toward orange or green next to 18k gold.
- Fluted bezel. Facets cut on a CNC mill do not catch light in the same pattern as a Rolex bezel.
- Day and date alignment. The day disc on a 2836-2 clone often sits off-center in the window.
- Movement. Asian 2836-2 clones and 3255 clones run at 28,800 vph. No replica uses a Rolex 3255.
Price bands
- Low grade, $60 to $130: 316L steel, thin plating, 2813 or quartz movement, printed dial.
- Mid grade, $150 to $400: 316L or 904L steel, 3 to 5 micron plating, 2836-2 clone, sapphire crystal.
- High grade, $450 to $900: tungsten case, thicker plating, 3255 clone, closer dial print and bracelet feel.
Replica prices track maker reputation and shipping cost, not metal content.
fake rolex day-date 128346 watch
Checks before you buy
- Ask for the case diameter and the movement name.
- Ask for the plating thickness in microns.
- Ask for the weight in grams.
- Ask for photos of the day disc at 12 and the date at 3.
- Ask for the clasp type and the number of removable links.
A price under $200 with a claim of solid gold is false. Solid gold cases at 36 mm cost more than the whole replica market.
Law in the United States
18 U.S.C. § 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. A first offense by an individual carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine. US Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit watches at the border. Rolex holds registered marks on the Day-Date name, the crown logo and the President bracelet design. Buying one replica for your own wrist is a different act from selling them, but importation stays barred, and passing a replica off as genuine is fraud.
FAQ
Is a replica Day-Date 128346 water resistant to 100 m?
Unknown. Sellers list 100 m in ads. Gaskets on replicas are not pressure tested to that depth. Do not swim with one.
Does a replica use Swiss parts?
Some sellers claim a Swiss movement. Assembled 2836-2 clones come from Asia. No Swiss factory supplies replica Day-Date watches.
How close is the case size?
Most 36 mm replicas measure 36 mm across the case, within about 0.2 mm. Check with calipers.