I'm considering getting replica watches for when I travel in case my suitcase gets lost I won't lose my genuine watch collection. However, even replica dealers post on their sites that replicas are never 100% accurate and will always have flaws. So, I'm wondering if someone has an exact models, but genuine, will they be able to tell a replica just by seeing it on someone's wrist? It's an excellent idea for me to travel with replicas rather than the genuine ones, but it would be pretty embarrassing and a social shun if someone were to find out that they're replicas. So, I'm wondering if there's a chance, even if small, that somebody can tell for sure that it's a replica? Or does it really depends on the model? I'm thinking Patek Nautilus chronograph, AP Royal Oak chronograph, Rolex Sea Dweller, Rolex Daytona, Rolex GMT or Submariner, Rolex Sky Dweller, and Rolex Oyster. Thanks
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Replica Watches vs. Genuine
- Thread starter TimeKeeper1
- Start date
Please don't tell me you leave mechanical watches in your checked in luggage!
Generally the really complicated rep Pateks and Richard Millie would be the play for a guy like you in your situation, too many fake Rolexes already out there in the world.
Yeap. They just don't fit in my carry-on, unfortunately.Please don't tell me you leave mechanical watches in your checked in luggage!
- 25/9/22
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You want to keep it near impossible to tell on wrist, stick with the Rolex Stainless catalogue. Except the Skydweller, that one is also a no go.
AP Royal Oak chronograph, these are ok, the new 26240 can be considered from APSF with clone movement but the Patek Nautilus chronograph, forget it.
Last of all, I say this 100x over but remember that people generally look at you, your social status, and your lifestyle to determine authenticity. Are you a big baller who has a job/social status to back up rocking a $30k watch? If so don't need to blink you'll be fine.
AP Royal Oak chronograph, these are ok, the new 26240 can be considered from APSF with clone movement but the Patek Nautilus chronograph, forget it.
Last of all, I say this 100x over but remember that people generally look at you, your social status, and your lifestyle to determine authenticity. Are you a big baller who has a job/social status to back up rocking a $30k watch? If so don't need to blink you'll be fine.
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Yes it would be so embarrassing if someone knew you wore a rep haha
What about a non-chrono Nautilus?
For Rolex, I've heard non of the reps can get the cyclops for the date correct. It's either too tall, too slim, or it has a blue hue? Any truth to this? What about a Daytona?
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You are nitpicking at details that regular people and most watch people will never know. On wrist these details are impossible to spot.
If you want a true blue basically 99% impossible to tell on wrist, well, VSF 114060 no date submariner, done, don't get anything else. If you ask for any other watch then I just shrug. They all have flaws if you do research.
Non chrono Nautilius, 5711, sure, I guess, but I think they still have many weaknesses out of the box. Whether or not regular layman or watch nerds can tell, hard to say, but better not risk it. Also the open caseback,,.. dial color... datewheel....
But again, these things you have to handle up close, know the replica game deeply or the watch deeply or have the gen side by side to spot. It's simply near impossible to tell on wrist.
All in all, it sounds like you're very paranoid, so I suggest maybe you buy a respectable microbrand GMT like a Traska and wear it around so you don't have to worry about this garbage. Wear your watches, not the other way around.
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If you already have a decent collection of gen watches, why would it be embarrassing and socially shunned if someone finds out you’re wearing a replica? Just say it like it is, you travel with replicas to minimize risk. If people know you and you’ve got the money to back up what you wear, no one will give a shit. It’s really not that big of a deal.
It’s a pointless debate—beating a dead horse in an endless cycle, always arriving at the same conclusion:
No matter how advanced or how modified, replicas will never match authentic timepieces on a true 1:1 level (unless you're frankening the living crap out of your rep with almost every part in gen, including the movement —but then you're almost at the gen price, for a still technically non-authentic timepiece).
Chasing the perfect rep is like strapping jet engines to a P-51 Mustang.
It might fly a little faster, but it will never hit Mach 2.5 like an F-22.
No matter how advanced or how modified, replicas will never match authentic timepieces on a true 1:1 level (unless you're frankening the living crap out of your rep with almost every part in gen, including the movement —but then you're almost at the gen price, for a still technically non-authentic timepiece).
Chasing the perfect rep is like strapping jet engines to a P-51 Mustang.
It might fly a little faster, but it will never hit Mach 2.5 like an F-22.
PS: Just enjoy them for what they are, don't overthink stuff. And don't bother caring about other people's opinions too much. It's just wasted time that you could have used enjoying your fun reps (or gens).
I’ve got plenty of nice reps, but one day I decided to wear my beater Sub — a basic DHGate rep — back to the office. I sat through a whole morning meeting with a colleague right next to me on my left. When we wrapped up, he leaned over and whispered, “Nice Rolex!” I was stunned — like, seriously? This thing isn’t even close to decent. And the guy complimenting it? He’s wearing a genuine two-tone YM.
What’s my point? Most people just don’t care or notice what’s on your wrist, unless it’s glaringly out of place, like wearing a $10k+ watch in a situation where it doesn’t fit. Any OTB rep from our TDs is more than enough to pass 99% of daily scenarios — unless you’re bold (or foolish) enough to flash it at an AD.
Visible flaws? Bear in mind that you are looking at 20x photos when people are discussing that. People surrounding you in your daily life don't have any chance like that.
This is the most thinking that any sane person should spent on this matter. We've all been there... And once you burst out of the horological bubble and realize that even most gen wearers don't really care what you wear (and if they do, they won't be able to spot a rep in a million years), you suddenly start to enjoy shitters.
Guys if I drive Uber wearing my Patek Phillipe Grand Complications will people think my car is a rep?
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Do you own one? Let’s start with what gens you own and are looking to cover. As other a have pointed out, the Stainless sport and datejust Rolex are hard to tell on the wrist. The more exotics have easier tells.
2025 winner for most sage quote of the year?
Here's a comparison between a genuine sub and a VSF 114060. Pretty easy to tell which one's which. I was under the impression that the VSF 114060 was one of the ultimate best replicas currently out there. If this is the best replica then clearly it's pretty easy to tell just by looking at a replica.
Please do share…Here's a comparison between a genuine sub and a VSF 114060. Pretty easy to tell which one's which. I was under the impression that the VSF 114060 was one of the ultimate best replicas currently out there. If this is the best replica then clearly it's pretty easy to tell just by looking at a replica.