Hello
Anyone had a hard time dealing with Eliauk ?
He just sent me random pictures of his album and refused to send proper QC pictures of the dial for a Cartier tank from f1 with my name of it etc…
Can anyone recommend a trustworthy seller with better manners and same low pricing?
Thanks !

I want to share my disappointing experience with TrustyTime and Andrew.

I purchased an Omega Seamaster replica for nearly $500. When the watch arrived, the automatic rotor was practically stuck and would barely move.

I contacted Andrew and followed his troubleshooting instructions. I manually wound the watch and tried tapping it against my palm as suggested. The second hand now works, but the automatic rotor is still stuck.

Andrew then suggested opening the case, tightening the rotor, or applying lubricant myself. Why should I have to open and repair a watch that arrived defective?

He also mentioned a watch repair technician in the US. I requested the contact details and followed up asking for a proper solution, but I still have no repair arrangement or confirmation that TrustyTime will cover the costs.

I understand I purchased a replica, but paying nearly $500 for a watch with a defective automatic movement is unacceptable to me.

I am sharing my experience so potential buyers are aware of the risk and the after-sales support I've experienced.

I have the email conversations and videos documenting the problem.

If TrustyTime resolves this issue, I will update this post.

Need some judgment on the quality of this watch, so I got this clone what are your thoughts on the quality,

Hi guys,
New here - please don’t bash.

I’ve tried to research and found out that there are multiple versions of movement variants for the 5711.
I can read that there is a newer 330, that’s almost identical to gen.

I want one, that are as close to gen, in functionality, look and stability.

What are your experience / suggestions?
(AGF, PPF, 3KF)

Thanks in advance!

Any TDs are having the Rolex Oyster Perpetual (any colour or dial size) in stock?

I enquired around and only Andiot had the cream and yellow dials in stock. Every other TD is saying at least 3-4 months of wait time

Fellow watch lovers,
I have a Tudor black bay rep which I love and bought through The One Watches a few months ago.

As a funny aside not one person even my friends who actually like watches catches even noticed or said anything like that”nice watch.” Just mentioning for people who think anyone cares about your watch. 🤣

Anyway next I want to get something that looks like a vintage Tudor or Rolex submariner.

I’m considering going the “homage” route which is basically replica imo.

Does anyone know these brands and quality compares to the reps?

Thanks

First of all, a little context. The reason I'm making this post is because of the frustration I've been having with the amount of misinformation being spread throughout this subreddit and the replica watch community in general. I also want people to realize that there's a certain level of truth and objectivity we can apply to this hobby to make it a much better experience for everyone.

1. Be Careful With Franken Watches

There's a lot of discussion across different subreddits about people spending significant amounts of money on genuine parts, including dials, crystals, bezels, crowns, gaskets, and even movements. The list goes on, and there's an entire market built around these modifications, with some subreddits focusing almost exclusively on Franken builds.

But here's the thing, Has anyone actually stopped to ask whether these genuine parts improve the replica at all? Just because a part is genuine doesn't necessarily mean it's better. Many of these parts are available on the secondary market for a reason. For example, I purchased a genuine crystal because I bought into the hype, only to discover after it arrived at my modder that it had a visible flaw. And yes, this was a brand new blistered genuine crystal. There's a reason some of these parts are sitting around being sold or parted out. But even if these parts were brand new and perfect in every way, have you ever actually seen a direct comparison between the genuine part and the replica part it's replacing? Many of these sellers and communities prey on people's ignorance. They're not going to show you the actual difference between a genuine part and a replica part because in many cases there simply isn't much of a difference to begin with. Obviously some genuine dials will look more accurate because certain replicas haven't perfected them, but many of the dials I see people replacing are the ones that top tier replica factories have nailed for years.

Another issue is that once these modifications are completed, many people aren't even given their original parts, meaning they can't compare the two for themselves. So here you are spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on supposedly "genuine" parts, often without any actual proof that they're genuine and without a legitimate comparison demonstrating that they improve the watch. We spend countless hours comparing genuine watches to replicas, yet somehow people have convinced themselves that spending enormous amounts of money on genuine parts is necessary, even when the differences are already practically nonexistent in many cases. If anything, the real upgrade would be a genuine movement, although those are extremely difficult to obtain. At least with a genuine movement, you'd have something that could potentially be serviced like a genuine watch, and someone examining the movement would have far less reason to suspect it was a replica. But when it comes to visual modifications, there's only so much improvement that can be made and people are often paying far more than the difference is actually worth. The problem is that many people are more interested in the feel good aspect of having gen parts. They've convinced themselves that because they spent more money, their watch must automatically be better. The reality is that the biggest tell has always been the person wearing the watch.

2. Enjoy the Details of Your Watch

Part of what inspired me to make this post was seeing someone suggest that you shouldn't buy a loupe because the details of replica watches supposedly aren't good enough to examine under magnification. Meanwhile, if you've spent any meaningful amount of time on this subreddit, you'll know that practically all we do is stare at heavily magnified photographs of watches and compare them side by side with genuine examples. We nitpick over every tiny fraction of a millimeter (Daytona 110), analyze the smallest inconsistencies, and RL watches based on these microscopic details. We essentially live our lives on this subreddit looking at watches through a loupe. And if you've spent enough time examining these details, you'll realize that these replicas are surprisingly impressive for what they are. Take the AP 26240, for example. The replica movement is absolutely beautiful to look at, even under magnification, and these particular watches have literally fooled seasoned collectors on the streets of New York City. That's not to say that every replica looks great. There are obviously different levels of quality, with many factories operating in the mid tier or lower end of the market, and only a handful consistently producing replicas at the highest level. But the point is that there's absolutely no reason you shouldn't enjoy examining the details of your watch. That's practically all we do in this hobby. We obsess over tiny details that the overwhelming majority of genuine watch owners would never even notice. We're far more obsessed with the details of our watches than most genuine owners are. So buy the loupe, examine your movement, appreciate the dial, and enjoy the craftsmanship for what it is.

3. Most Genuine Rolex Owners Are Normies

What do I mean by that? I mean that most people who purchase Rolex watches aren't actually seasoned watch collectors or enthusiasts. If you spend some time watching YouTube videos of people visiting authorized dealers, you'll see that many of these customers need salespeople to explain how their watches even operate. They need someone to show them how to use a GMT Master II or how the chronograph functions on a Daytona. I don't know about you, but if I were getting ready to spend $20,000 to $50,000 on a watch, I'd at least want to understand how it worked before walking into the store. But that's clearly not the case for many Rolex buyers. I'd bet there are many walking around with franken watches right now that don't even know it. Let's be honest, many of these people are essentially just normies who wear Rolex watches because of their appearance, what the brand represents, and the status associated with owning one. They're not interested in the tiny, minute details of the watch. And if you don't believe me, head over to the Rolex subreddit and see for yourself. Look at the misaligned bezels, printing inconsistencies, and other QC problems people post about. Never assume that a genuine watch is perfect! The idea that every genuine Rolex is flawless and that any minor imperfection automatically indicates a replica is completely ridiculous. (Rolex Quality Control Is Shockingly Bad! How Did This Submariner Pass Any Inspections?!?) At this point, those imperfections alone aren't a reliable way of determining whether a watch is genuine or fake. Which is why any seasoned watch dealer has to open it up to know.

4. You Don't Need an Expensive Lifestyle to Justify Wearing a Replica

This one always gets me. There are people in this community who genuinely believe that you need to be carrying a Rimowa suitcase, covered in Louis Vuitton clothing, and stepping out of a Lamborghini to justify wearing a replica Rolex. Otherwise, apparently everyone is going to know your watch is fake. Meanwhile, that's not how genuinely wealthy people typically behave. If you've spent enough time around legitimately wealthy people, you'll realize that many of them have absolutely no interest in flamboyant luxury brands or showing off their wealth. In fact, a substantial portion of the customers purchasing some of these luxury products are people in the upper middle class or lower income brackets who are trying to project a certain image (press-release-eng.pdf). But here's what I find especially interesting. We constantly hear people talking about genuine Rolex watches being investments because you can purchase certain models at retail and sell them for more money on the gray market. That's one of the biggest arguments people use to justify spending enormous amounts of money on genuine watches. But if investment potential is so important to you, why would you then turn around and suggest that someone needs to drive an expensive luxury car, one of the worst depreciating assets you can purchase, to justify wearing that watch? And I don't want to hear the argument that someone could simply lease the vehicle, because that makes the argument even worse. Now you're spending substantial amounts of money on something with absolutely no investment potential whatsoever. The point is that you should wear whatever you want without feeling the need to construct an entire lifestyle around your watch. If anything, going out of your way to look like someone who can afford an expensive watch might make you look even more suspicious. The real investment is real estate, but notice how no one talks about that. Probably because you can't carry your mansion around with you when you're walking around in public. At the end of the day, your confidence in wearing the watch is going to make a much bigger difference than the car you drive or the clothes you wear.

5. Apparently, Everyone Tells People Their Watches Are Replicas

I've always found this one hilarious because if you believed the comments under many posts in this subreddit, you'd think practically everyone walks around telling every person they meet that their watch is a replica. Based on the way some people comment, you'd assume they're walking around wearing shirts with the words "FAKE WATCH" printed across the front. But the reality is that most people aren't going to do that. If we're all supposedly telling everyone that our watches are fake, then what's the point of bothering with clone movements in the first place? Why do we spend so much time obsessing over the smallest details, comparing genuine and replica parts, and trying to make our watches as accurate as possible? It defeats much of the purpose of purchasing a top tier replica if you're just going to announce that it's fake every time someone asks about it. I'm sure there are people who genuinely do tell everyone, but I also think many people say that online because they believe it's the popular or socially acceptable thing to say. The reality is that the vast majority of people are probably going to let others believe their watches are genuine, if not outright tell them that they are. I once heard someone say that a replica watch is a genuine watch with a different origin story. And there's something interesting about that perspective when you consider how far modern replicas have come. Manufacturers have replicated practically everything, right down to the finest details of the movement. Now, I know this isn't the case for everyone, but I've personally spent well over $25,000 on replicas over the past couple of years (Not including my genuine watches), and that's a conservative estimate. If I had really wanted to spend that money on a genuine watch, I could have saved it, sat on a waiting list, and eventually purchased one instead. But that's not how I choose to spend my money. Regardless of how much money I have, I personally would never justify purchasing a genuine Rolex, AP, Patek etc. I mean who's the idiot, the one that spend 50k on stainless steel watch or the person that spent 1k on the same thing?

6. The Reliability of Replicas

The reality is that replicas are getting better and better every year, and that includes their reliability. Obviously, there are going to be watches that arrive dead on arrival, and there are going to be others that develop problems over time. That's simply part of the game. But I constantly see people acting as though these watches are so fragile that you shouldn't actually use or enjoy them. The point of purchasing a watch is to wear it, use it, and enjoy it. These replicas cost a fraction of what their genuine counterparts cost, so why are we treating them as though they're irreplaceable investments? I don't know about you, but when I look at my collection, I'm not sitting here thinking about keeping every single one of these watches for the next 20 years. Bro in five years, I'll probably have sold my entire collection and purchased all new replicas because the market is going to be completely different by then. Just look at how far replica manufacturing has come over the past several years. The improvements in movements, finishing, materials, and overall accuracy have been remarkable, and I don't see that progress suddenly stopping. So take that into consideration before obsessing over whether a particular movement is going to last 20 or 30 years. Enjoy the watches you have now instead of constantly worrying about problems that may never happen.

7. Plating Watches and Other Modifications

This isn't really meant to be a discussion about whether you should plate your watch or not. What I want people to understand is that when you ask someone whether you should plate your watch, you should also ask yourself whether that person had their own watch plated. One of the biggest things people need to realize is that others are often very quick to recommend spending money on something they've already spent money on themselves. In other words, they're biased toward their own purchases because they need to justify the money they've spent, so they tell everyone else that they need to do the same thing. Through my own research, I've found plenty of situations where aftermarket plating doesn't make that big of a difference because the factory plating is already extremely good. But that doesn't stop people from recommending plating as though it's some required upgrade. And why are people asking professional platers whether they should plate their watches in the first place? Of course they're going to tell you to plate your watch. That's literally their business. They have a direct financial incentive to convince you that your watch needs their services, so why would you expect them to give you an unbiased answer? Another thing people need to consider is that factory plating continues to improve. In a few years, factory gold tones could be so accurate that many of these aftermarket plating services become practically obsolete. We've already seen significant improvements in how well factories replicate gold tones, and there's no reason to believe that progress won't continue.

But this issue extends well beyond plating. Be careful whenever someone tells you that you absolutely must modify your watch. A great example is the Deep crystal. It's been known for years that VSF crystals are better than Deep in many comparisons, yet people continue replacing their VSF crystals with Deep as though it's automatically an upgrade. Why? Because many people are more interested in doing the modification itself than determining whether it actually improves the watch. That's not to say every modification is pointless, because some genuinely make a difference. But do your research first. Don't blindly trust someone who already spent their own money on a modifications and is now insisting that you need to do the same stuff.

Another issue I've noticed is people making snide comments about supposed flaws on watches that literally have nothing wrong with them. I've seen people confidently point out problems that don't even exist, and sometimes I genuinely wonder whether some of these commenters are actually genuine watch owners who simply want to make sure nobody with a replica ever feels satisfied with their watch. Even if that means making things up in the comments. Just because someone confidently tells you that something is wrong with your watch doesn't mean they actually know what they're talking about.

This also applies to waterproofing your watch. Keep in mind that waterproofing literally involves lubing the crown's O ring and the caseback O ring. Unless your watch is pressure tested, there is no way to fully know. There are modders charging a fee to literally just waterproof but never mention that they water pressure tested. Make sure you are aware of that because you can do the waterproofing at home for free.

Closing Thoughts

What I ultimately want is for this community to thrive, but the problem is that there are far too many people who are more interested in telling you something that they aren't sure about as a statement of fact. The reality is that you need to educate yourself and make informed decisions about how you spend your money in this hobby. Don't let someone convince you that you need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a particular modification simply because they say it's necessary. I've personally spent thousands on modifications, plating, custom builds, genuine parts, and just about everything else you can imagine. Some of those purchases were worth it and others were a complete waste of money. But I'm not going to sit here and tell someone they absolutely have to d a particular upgrade simply because I need to justify the money I've already spent. That's something you need to decide for yourself. At the end of the day, it's your watch, your money, and your hobby. Don't let other people dictate how you should enjoy it.

Top Row:

APSF 26240 Purple Dial: SW Dial, White Gold Plated

APSF 26240 Black Ceramic

APSF 26240 Blue Dial

APSF 26240 Rose Gold Blue Dial

RICH GMT Master II Pepsi- Pressure tested

Second Row:

APSF IWC Pilot Chrono Blue Dial

APSF IWC Pilot Chrono Green Dial Rose Gold

VSF Omega Seamaster Blue Dial

VSF Omega Seamaster Ceramic Rose Gold

VSF Panerai (Can't remember the reference)

Third Row:

RCF Submariner Black Dial

Clean Bluesy- Plated and Deep Crystal

RICH GMT Master II Bruce Wayne- Pressure Tested

Fourth Row:

RCF DayDate

VSF Daytona Meteorite- RG Plating, SW Dial, Deep Crystal, Pressure Tested

VSF Daytona 126509 Ghost- WG Plated and Deep Crystal

VSF Yachtmaster Titanium

VSF GMT Master II Rootbeer

A couple of watches aren't pictured because they are getting work done. A RICH Starbucks and a RCF Cookie Monster.

I just noticed that the NWBIG and Super Rep list was updated on October 16, 2026 and it got me wondering…

Who owns that list? How is consensus determined? Is there a board which votes every so often?

Do you think anything is missing from the list?

Hello, I'm looking to buy a franken, but is there a TD who does that?

I have been able to find the Flamingo, Pink from ZF but cannot find a Tudor bumblebee. Hoping to find one. It’s probably difficult because these are 39mm and the usual chronograph is 41mm.

Let me know!

DDF weighted 5811

Always preferred the 5811 over the 5711, mostly for the micro-adjust clasp. That little bit of extra heft feels nice too.

Just wish Patek offered more dial colors. Would've loved a white dial version.

I’m literally losing my mind here and just needed to ask if anyone else is deal with this shit.

I ordered a standard VSF piece from Andiot nearly FOUR MONTHS ago. Four months! We’re not talking about some super rare modded build or custom piece here, just a plain old VSF that every TD usually gets in a few weeks max.

At first, I thought, "Okay, maybe factory delays, I’ll be patient." But now it’s almost 120 days. Every time I ask him on WhatsApp, I get the same copy-paste garbage reply: "Just a few more days, friend." A few more days? It’s been a third of a year!

Honestly, how is this guy still hyped up as a "top TD" on this sub? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. Everywhere I look, people are praising his $30 discount like he’s God, but nobody talks about the non-existent customer support and having your money held hostage for months.

I’m starting to wonder if half the positive reviews here are just paid shills or accounts he controls. Saving $40 bucks upfront is fucking pointless if you never even see the watch.

Anyone else been stuck in limbo with him recently, or did I just draw the short straw?

While waiting for my full black Santos rep, I’m exploring my strap option. Has anyone try to pair all black Santos with stainless steel bracelet? Would it look nice? I played with Gpt, didn’t see much.

I wanted my 15202 bracelet to fit closer to my wrist, i have a small wrist, really stupid in hindsight. How can i fix this besides a new bracelet? JB weld?

Just received a BVF Santos medium and the smart link pins aren’t locking when I before I started attempting to remove links.

Has anyone else had this issue? One pin just straight up ejected itself from the link and I’ve lost it.

That’s all thanks and by diamond I mean Cz

I’m planning to get a 38mm VSF Teak green Aqua Terra and would prefer to wear it on the rubber strap.
Unfortunately, finding the VSF rubber strap specifically for the 38mm seems almost impossible. I’m considering trying the 41mm version, which has a 20mm lug width, whereas the 38mm has a 19mm lug width.
Since the difference is only 1mm, would it be possible to make the 41mm strap fit the 38mm case, perhaps with some minor trimming or adjustment?
Has anyone actually tried this, or know if it can be done without compromising the strap’s appearance or fit?
Would really appreciate any advice or firsthand experience. Thanks!

I see only one website that says it uses the M00F and it is made by Timex. Has anyone confirmed if this is true and what the specs are?

What's interesting is that I made this post in r/watches and Reddit AI recommended to try here. Let's see if I get traffic.

I need help trying to find a factory that does a 36mm datejust two tone everose with brown dial. I know I’ve seen one just can’t find what factory?? All help appreciated. Thankyou

Looking at pulling the trigger on the 40mm Ingenieur. I have pretty large wrists (around 20cm) - will the bracelet be okay without extra links? Spoke to a few TDs and they made out as though it will be pretty tough for them to obtain extra links unfortunately.

Also, I know it’s been discussed before but some TDs are offering both A7F and V7F. I thought that A7F was V7F.

Thanks