There are some (many) people who baby a nice watch like a perfect fake Rolex despite its ability to handle 99% of life’s situations. Well, my grandfather wasn’t one of them! He wasn’t exactly performing heavy-duty construction, but he wore his super clone watch no matter what. He likely removed it for the pool and golf, but otherwise, it was a fixture on his wrist. So, how did it look? Well, after 17 years of consistent wear and no servicing, it was awfully dirty! The bracelet was pretty nasty, and there was black grime around the backs of the lugs. Then, the crystal was a little cloudy and chipped. Finally, the crown wouldn’t fully close. The bracelet definitely showed signs of stretch even though he wore it without the typical South Florida “dangle.” In other words, it was a time for a visit to the watchmaker.
Soon after receiving it, I shipped the watch to Paul, our watchmaker. He went to work pretty quickly on the luxury replica Rolex Datejust 16220, and a truly funny question came in almost immediately. Paul asked something like, “Did your grandfather like to wear green sweaters?” Keep in mind, Paul is in the Netherlands, and we all know that there are some funky legal substances there! Still, I inquired further, and he sent me a picture of some funny green fuzz. I thought about it, and then the light bulb went off!
When wearing habits leave a mark
My grandfather was a dentist (I broke the line as my Dad was one as well), and, as such, he was an avid flosser. In support of this, he always brought along a bit of dental floss to use in the restroom at a restaurant or if he was away from home. His favorite was green, waxed mint and where did he store the floss? It was quirky yet effective because he’d put a small coil of it under his Swiss made replica Rolex! Somehow over time, the wax wore onto the watch and even affected the screw-down crown. Then, you guessed it, some of the green threads from the floss worked their way into the case through the crown threads. You can’t make this stuff up! He did have healthy teeth, though! Unfortunately, the wax was also responsible for the under-crystal fogging, and it ate away at the white minute marker paint above the date window. It’s not obvious, though, because the Cyclops obscures it at certain angles, but it’s there as a constant reminder of his habit.
Other signs of wear
The original sapphire crystal also contained some chips on its edges. Paul mentioned that this would be an easy and inexpensive OEM replacement. However, I wanted to keep the cheap fake Rolex exactly as my grandfather wore it. Besides, the main viewing surface of the crystal was clear. Similarly, the case showed real “sleeve wear.” We hear this term often on vintage super clone watches online, but I can assure you that my Grandfather never had this watch polished. The edges are still sharp, but much of the original matte striations are long gone. Here again, I wanted to keep the watch exactly as he wore it.
The 1:1 replica Rolex Datejust 16220 is a lovely watch on the wrist
I won’t spend too much time on the specs related to a ‘90s aaa quality fake Rolex Datejust 16220, but the high points are a 36mm case with 20mm lugs. The movement is the reliable, chronometer-certified caliber 3135 that features hacking and a quick-set date function. I feel like a broken record, but an Oyster case of this size is about as easygoing as it gets. When paired with the 62510 Jubilee bracelet, it’s simply sublime. I also like the engine-turned bezel as a period option to the more typical white gold fluted variety.
The Swiss movement fake Rolex Datejust 16220 was produced beginning in the late ’80s until the mid-’00s. Little things changed along the way. The lume material made its way from tritium to Super-LumiNova, and the case lost its drilled lug holes. This 1996 model is somewhat of a hybrid with its old-school lume and newer case. When it comes to my treatment of this copy watch, I consider my grandfather’s Rolex Datejust 16220 replica for sale as a regular part of my rotation. Aside from the family connection, the fact that it’s a 36mm Oyster case makes it a sweet spot for me. I’ve even taken it on two-week business trips because it’s the type of watch that works with just about everything. Also, it’s modern enough to wear it exactly as my Grandfather did. Like him and my Dad, my favorite color also happens to be blue, so there’s a final endorsement.
Final thoughts on a special Datejust 16220
The Swiss movement fake Rolex Datejust 16220 from my grandfather isn’t a special one-off bespoke piece. It’s also not something unearthed from a drawer or worn only on Sundays. It was his watch, and it also came from his family. Therefore, I feel honored to own it. For sure, I have other things from my grandfather that I love and think about or see almost every day. His best quality copy watch, though, represents a great intersection of one of my passions and something that he felt very proud to wear. I’m sure my story isn’t overly unique on this Father’s Day (well, maybe the dental floss!), but it’s yet another example of how the stories around the watches are often more important than the watches themselves. For those who are celebrating, Happy Father’s Day!