Short answer

"Replica Rolex air-army" is a spelling error for Rolex Air-King. The Air-King is a 40 mm stainless steel watch. The current Rolex reference is 126900, released in 2022. The prior reference is 116900, released in 2016. Replicas sold under the air-army spelling copy one of those two references. No replica contains a Rolex movement. Most listings price between $80 and $400. Importing a counterfeit watch into the United States violates 19 U.S.C. § 1526 and can be prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 2320.

Genuine Air-King specs

Rolex introduced the Air-King name in 1945. The name references British Royal Air Force pilots, who wore Rolex watches during World War II.

  • Reference 126900: caliber 3230, 70-hour power reserve, 28,800 vph, rate of -2/+2 seconds per day.
  • Reference 116900: caliber 3131, 48-hour power reserve.
  • Case: 40 mm, Oystersteel (904L), 100 m water resistance.
  • Crystal: sapphire, domed.
  • Dial: black, numerals 3-6-9 in white gold, minute markers at 05 through 55, green Rolex text, yellow crown logo.
  • Bracelet: Oyster, Oysterlock clasp, 5 mm Easylink extension.

What replica listings contain

  • Movement: Seiko NH35, Sea-Gull ST2130, Hangzhou 6460, or a DG2813. None matches caliber 3230.
  • Case steel: 316L in most listings, 904L in higher-priced ones.
  • Crystal: sapphire above about $100, mineral glass below.

Genuine vs replica: checks

  • Rolex etches a coronet in the sapphire crystal at 6 o'clock, visible under magnification. Many replicas omit it or print it on the surface.
  • Reference and serial numbers sit on the genuine case between the lugs at 12 and 6. Replica engraving depth and font differ.
  • Oysterlock clasps carry a date code and a coronet stamp. Replicas show mismatched codes.
  • Dial printing on the genuine watch is sharp at 10x magnification. Replica text shows uneven spacing.

Water resistance

Rolex rates the Air-King at 100 m. Replica sellers repeat that number. Most replica cases are not pressure tested. Gaskets in low-cost copies are thin and can fail.

US law

Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and to sell in the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes and destroys counterfeit shipments. 18 U.S.C. § 2320 sets criminal penalties up to 10 years for a first offense and up to 20 years for a second. The Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114, allows Rolex to sue for damages and to seek injunctions. Section 2320 targets trafficking rather than personal possession. Customs law still permits seizure of a personal-use shipment, and there is no refund route.

Limits of this guide

Rolex does not publish production numbers or a list of replica factories. Sellers do not state movement type or steel grade in most listings. Specifications change between batches of the same model.