Best replica Rolex watches 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 high quality fake Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (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 online replica Rolex ‘Darth Vader’ Cosmograph Daytona?

First launched in the 1990s to mark the 25th anniversary of this revered Daytona model, the cheap super clone Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 16520 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 UK top copy Rolex 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 luxury replica Rolex that fades over time into a unique character? That’s irresistible to collectors.

Why is it called the ‘Darth Vader’ Cosmograph Daytona?

1:1 Wholesale replica Rolex watches piece 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 UK AAA fake Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 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 shop fake watches 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’.