What Is the Most Commonly Faked Watch?

Are you trying to figure out which watches get replicated the most? You might think it's the rarest and most expensive models, but the reality is much more straightforward.

The most commonly faked watches¹ are simply the most famous and popular ones in the world. Brands like Rolex², Audemars Piguet³, and Cartier⁴ are top targets because their huge global demand guarantees profit for the factories that can successfully replicate their iconic designs.

As a dealer who has been in this industry for over ten years, I've seen a clear and unchanging pattern. The replica market follows one simple rule: popularity drives profit. Factories are businesses, and they invest their time and money in projects that will give them the biggest return. They don't copy an obscure watch that only a few hundred people want. They copy the watches that millions of people dream of owning. Let's break down which brands and models you'll see replicated the most.

Why Do Factories Copy Famous Watches the Most?

It seems counterintuitive. Wouldn't factories make more money by copying a $500,000 Richard Mille instead of a $10,000 Rolex²? You might think the higher the price, the bigger the profit.

It's because the sales volume on a famous watch is thousands of times higher. A factory can sell 10,000 Rolex Submariner replicas for every one Richard Mille replica. This massive, guaranteed customer base makes popular watches a much safer and more profitable business.

The economics of the replica industry are built on scale. It costs a factory tens of thousands of dollars to buy a genuine watch, take it apart, and perfectly engineer a clone. To make that investment back, they need to be certain they can sell thousands of units.

The Business of Replication

Here's a closer look at the simple business logic that drives the entire market.

• Massive Customer Pool: Brands like Rolex have a global recognition that no other watchmaker can match. Everyone from students to CEOs knows what a Rolex is. This means there's a pre-existing market of millions of potential buyers in every country.
• Lower Risk: A factory owner knows that a high-quality Submariner or Datejust will always sell. It's a "blue chip" product. Investing in a niche model that might be popular for only a year is a huge gamble that most are not willing to take.
• The Competition Effect: Because so many factories are trying to make the best version of popular models, the competition is intense. This constant battle forces them to improve every detail, from the steel they use to the clone movements⁵ inside. The result is that the replicas of the most common watches are also the highest quality ones.

Which Rolex Models Are Replicated the Most?

You know Rolex is the king of the watch world. You're wondering which specific models are the most popular targets for replication, so you can focus your search on the best ones.

The entire Rolex Professional line is heavily replicated. The Submariner is the undisputed number one, followed very closely by the GMT-Master II, Daytona, and Datejust. These models are so popular that multiple top-tier factories compete to make the best version of each.

Rolex is the first and last name in luxury watches for many people, so it's no surprise that their catalog is almost entirely copied. However, the models that you see on the wrists of celebrities and on the cover of magazines are the ones that receive the most attention from the top factories. These are the models that have been refined over countless versions to become nearly perfect "Super Clones⁶."

The Rolex "Greatest Hits"

Here are the most common Rolex replicas you will find on the market.

What Other Brands Are Popular Targets for Replication?

You appreciate Rolex, but your taste leans toward other major brands. You want to know if high-quality replicas exist for watchmakers like Audemars Piguet or Cartier.

Yes, the same rule of popularity applies. Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak, most of Cartier's iconic lines (Santos, Tank), and Omega's Seamaster series are all extremely common and high-quality replicas. Their legendary status creates a huge demand that factories are eager to meet.

While Rolex might be the biggest name, it's certainly not the only one. Any brand with a legendary design and a global following is a prime target for replication. The top factories dedicate immense resources to cloning these other icons, and in some cases, the replicas are just as impressive as the best Rolex clones.

Beyond the Crown: Other A-Listers

• Audemars Piguet³: The focus here is almost entirely on the Royal Oak. The unique integrated bracelet and octagonal bezel are instantly recognizable. Factories like APSF and ZF have spent years perfecting the complex case finishing and bracelet articulation of models like the 15500 and 15400.
• Cartier: This brand's appeal is huge, especially with models that have a strong unisex design. The Santos, with its industrial-chic bracelet, is a massive seller. The classic Tank and the elegant Panthère are also widely replicated by factories like BVF and GF, who focus on getting the unique case shapes and dial printing just right.
• Omega: As James Bond's watch of choice, Omega has a gigantic fanbase. The Seamaster 300 and Planet Ocean lines are the most popular replicas. VS Factory (VSF) in particular has dominated this space by creating amazing clones of Omega's Co-Axial movements.

If you are interested in knowing which factories currently make the best versions of these specific models, you can look at my other article here: Who Makes The Best?.

Conclusion

The most commonly faked watches are the world's most famous. Their popularity guarantees high demand, which fuels factory competition and results in incredibly accurate clones for you to choose from.