Answer
Reference 279160 is a Rolex Lady-Datejust 28. The case is 28 mm in Oystersteel, the bezel is domed and smooth, and the bracelet is an Oyster with a folding Oysterclasp. Inside is calibre 2236 with a Syloxi hairspring, a 55-hour power reserve, and 100 m water resistance. A fake 279160 is a counterfeit copy of that watch. Most reach buyers through Chinese wholesale sites, messaging app sellers, and marketplaces that relist the same product photos. Street prices run from about $40 for a quartz copy to about $700 for a top-grade copy. None contain a Rolex movement. None use Rolex Oystersteel.
What the real 279160 is
- Case: 28 mm, Oystersteel, sapphire crystal with a Cyclops lens over the date.
- Movement: calibre 2236, automatic, Syloxi hairspring, 55-hour power reserve.
- Water resistance: 100 m, about 330 ft.
- Bracelet: Oyster, three-piece links, folding Oysterclasp.
- Date magnification: 2.5x.
Rolex does not print one fixed spec sheet per reference across all dials. Dials, bezels, and bracelets change inside the Lady-Datejust 28 line, so a listing labeled 279160 can show a fluted bezel or a Jubilee bracelet that belongs to a different reference number.
Replica tiers and what they contain
Chinese sellers sort stock by grade. The grade labels are marketing terms, not standards.
- Low grade, $30 to $90. Quartz movement. Plated case. Stamped dial. Wrong date font.
- Mid grade, $120 to $300. Asian automatic, often a 2671 pattern. 316L steel. Better dial printing.
- Top grade, $400 to $700. Claimed 1:1 copy. Decorated or cloned movement. Sapphire crystal. Serial engraving between the lugs.
Cloned Rolex calibres are common in 40 mm replicas. Space is tight in a 28 mm Lady-Datejust copy, so most of them run a small generic automatic or a quartz movement. A quartz 279160 has a ticking seconds hand. Calibre 2236 beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, which reads as a sweep.
Checks that separate a fake from a real 279160
- Movement. Ask for a timegrapher reading. 28,800 vph and a 55-hour reserve point to calibre 2236. A 21,600 vph reading or a 38-hour reserve points to a copy.
- Cyclops. Rolex uses 2.5x. Copies use 2x or a glued lens with an air gap.
- Engravings. A real 279160 has the reference and a random 8-character serial between the lugs. Copies show mixed fonts, deep stamps, and repeated numbers.
- Weight. 316L and 904L-family steel differ little in density, so weight alone proves nothing. Plated brass cases do feel light.
- Gold. Two-tone and full-gold fakes use plating. Plating rubs off the clasp and crown within months.
- Water resistance. A 100 m claim on a copy is unverified. Gaskets and case tube threads do not match Rolex parts.
US law and shipping
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import into the United States. 18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for an individual. Customs and Border Protection seizes and destroys counterfeit shipments. There is no personal-use exemption for one watch. Civil claims under 15 U.S.C. 1117 allow statutory damages up to $2 million per counterfeit mark type when the use is willful. Card networks and PayPal ban counterfeit sales, so sellers ask for wire transfers, crypto, or gift cards. Those payment methods carry no chargeback.
Real 279160 prices
Rolex sells the Lady-Datejust 28 through authorized dealers. US list price for a steel 279160 sits near $7,000 and changes with each annual price update. Pre-owned examples sell close to list. A Rolex service for this model costs several hundred dollars and takes weeks. Box, card, and a dated warranty card raise resale value. A watch sold without papers sells for less and is harder to authenticate.