Answer first: a replica Rolex GMT-Master II "Root Beer" is a counterfeit watch built to look like reference 126711CHNR. It is not made by Rolex. Replica market prices run from about $80 to $600. The genuine watch lists near $17,000 and trades higher on the secondary market. Sale and import of counterfeit watches is illegal in the United States.

What the Genuine Ref. 126711CHNR Is

Rolex launched the two-tone GMT-Master II ref. 126711CHNR in 2018. The case measures 40 mm. It is cut from Oystersteel and 18k Everose gold. The bezel insert is black and brown ceramic (Rolex calls it Cerachrom). The brown half gives the watch the Root Beer name. That name traces to the 1970s ref. 1675/3, which had a brown bezel and a brown dial.

  • Movement: caliber 3285, automatic, 70-hour power reserve, 28,800 vph
  • Water resistance: 100 m (330 ft)
  • Bracelet: Oyster, Oystersteel with Everose gold center links
  • Case: 904L stainless steel (Oystersteel) and solid 18k Everose gold
  • Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date, 24-hour GMT hand

What Replicas Copy and Where They Diverge

A replica copies the dial print, the case shape and the brown and black bezel. The gaps sit in materials and in the movement.

  • Steel: replicas use 316L grade. Rolex uses 904L. The two look close on a finished case. Hardness and corrosion resistance differ.
  • Gold: replica two-tone center links are plated or gold filled. Plating depth is often 3 to 5 microns. Solid Everose gold is 18k through the metal. Plating wears through at the clasp and the crown.
  • Weight: a genuine two-tone GMT-Master II weighs about 160 g on the bracelet. Replicas land 20 g to 50 g below that.
  • Movement: most replicas run an Asian copy of the ETA 2836 or 2824. Higher tiers use a clone of the 3285 or the older 3186. Beat rate is 28,800 vph in both cases. The GMT hand setting sequence differs from the Rolex design.
  • Bezel: replica ceramic inserts are printed or coated. Turn feel is lighter and the clicks are uneven.
  • Crystal: cyclops magnification is 2.5x on the genuine. Replicas run 2.0x to 2.5x with weaker anti-reflective coating.

Price Tiers in the Replica Market

  1. Entry, $80 to $150: quartz or low-grade automatic, plated gold, mineral glass.
  2. Mid, $200 to $350: automatic, sapphire crystal, better dial print.
  3. Top, $400 to $600: 904L-style cases, clone movements, closer bezel and bracelet finishing.

These figures come from listings on replica forums and vendor sites. They change. No replica matches the genuine watch in materials or in service life.

Legal Status in the United States

Counterfeit watches are illegal goods. Under 18 U.S.C. 2320, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal felony. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $2,000,000 for an individual. Under 19 U.S.C. 1526, import of merchandise bearing a counterfeit mark is prohibited. U.S. Customs and Border Protection rules permit a traveler to bring in one article of a type bearing a counterfeit mark for personal use. Larger quantities, and shipments by mail or courier, face seizure and destruction. Reselling a replica under the Rolex name is trafficking, not a private sale.

Checks That Separate a Replica from a Genuine Watch

  • Heft: weigh the bracelet and case.
  • Gold: solid center links test as 18k. Plated links do not.
  • Case back: engraving depth and font differ from the replica.
  • Clasp code: genuine bracelet codes are stamped, not laser etched.
  • Serial: on this reference the serial sits on the inner bezel ring at 6 o'clock and matches the warranty card.
  • Movement: a watchmaker can identify the balance assembly and finishing in minutes.

What This Guide Does Not Cover

Factory names used in the replica market change over time. Claims of "1:1" and "super clone" come from sellers and cannot be checked from the outside. No replica is a Rolex, and none holds value.