Rolex replica watches for sale are renowned for exclusivity and quality. It’s why today’s waiting lists can easily exceed 12 months if you’re not moving in the right horological circles. So imagine if you discovered that your new Rolex Daytona had a factory defect whereby the dial would start to fade and discolour over time, you’d be well within your right to return it and demand a new model. Right?
Why, then, did the UK luxury fake Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watches (REF. 16520), with one variation better known as the ‘Darth Vader’, become such a highly sought-after piece in the world of haute horlogerie? And how did it earn such a villainous nickname?
What is the Rolex ‘Darth Vader’ Cosmograph Daytona?
First launched in the 1990s to mark the 25th anniversary of this revered Daytona model, the perfect replica Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 16520 watches became one of Rolex’s most unique vintage models due to an unexpected quirk that affected a large number of pieces over time… if this was one of the earlier selling points of Rolex pieces, we certainly missed it in the specs sheet.
This wasn’t a deliberate design feature but rather the result of natural ageing – a phenomenon that later became a hallmark of this collection and would earn this unique high quality Rolex copy watches the unofficial moniker ‘Darth Vader’ years after it had concluded its 12-year run.
These models, released between 1998 and 2000, featured the iconic black lacquered dial that, due to a manufacturing error, meant the three subdials, located at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, would lose their natural silver colour, turning ‘tropical’ or a black-brown patina. This defect, which could have otherwise been deemed a disappointment for any other brand, quickly became a celebrated rarity and the next must-have model. A Rolex that fades over time into a unique character? That’s irresistible to collectors.
Why is it called the ‘Darth Vader’ Cosmograph Daytona?
Top Rolex replica watches UK tend to enjoy increased interest from watch enthusiasts and collectors, who will affectionately give some of the Swiss watch brand’s most colourful creations unofficial nicknames based on determining factors.
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona fake watches for men joined a host of the Swiss brand’s most popular collections like GMT-Master II which boasts iconic iterations like the Rolex Pepsi, the Sprite, the Coke and Root Beer. But it’s not just sugary drinks that make their way into the horological lexicon, with the Batman and Batgirl becoming popular contemporary releases.
Collectors eventually dubbed the late ’90s 16520 model the ‘Darth Vader’ due to its darkened, almost ominous appearance, reminiscent of the iconic Star Wars antagonist. Look closer, the Darth Vader revealed another novel party trick: an inverted ‘6’ in the seconds subdial, which, flipped upside-down, appears as a ‘9’.
How much does the ‘Darth Vader’ Cosmograph Daytona cost?
Like most Swiss movements Rolex super clone watches, the secondary market has become the first point of call for watch enthusiasts looking to pick up rare and unique pieces that have achieved cult status. For the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 16520, the scarcity of this piece with its own naturally darkening dial has only driven prices higher.
A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, a model dated around 1995 fetched CHF 100,800 (~$117,000 AUD) at a Phillips auction in Geneva in May 2022. A couple of years earlier, a 1996 model reached CHF 151,200 (~$266,000 AUD). It’s a startling thought, but speaks to the coveted nature of these peculiar AAA online replica Rolex watches and the power of the dark side.