What is a replica watch? What does a replica watch mean?

Many watch friends don’t know much about replica watches and think that replica watches are so-called imitation watches. This statement is actually not entirely correct.

So what is a replica watch ? Simply put, a watch is made by copying each component of the original watch in a 1:1 mold.

A true replica watch is a tribute to a classic. With the permission of the original copyright designer, a representative watch is remade by comparing the design, template, material and other details. The product will be marked as a replica and will also make slight improvements or innovations to the original watch. This is the behavior of the original factory, and the quality standards also follow the design of the original watch.

But in China, it now generally refers to a type of replica watch with a high degree of restoration and quality that is almost comparable to the original. Some regular watch factories in China use the original mold to make replica watches, and their design, materials and craftsmanship are strictly imitated from the original. This kind of watch has many advantages such as high simulation, fine workmanship, stable performance, etc. Most replica watches can also realize all the functions of the original watch, which is why many replica watches can be sold overseas.

What does replica watch mean?

When it comes to China’s manufacturing industry, “copycat” is an unavoidable topic, and it is also the topic most criticized by “keyboard warriors” on the Internet; copycat watches are naturally not immune to criticism. Therefore, the editor of Clonewatchs to spend a few issues to introduce to you the domestic imitation watches – what are replica watches?

Although there has been a long-term lack of market supervision and no clear regulations, in the long-term transactions, everyone has set a standard for imitation watches according to the degree of restoration of the imitation watches and divided them into several grades: God level, Super A, A, B. Let me introduce them to you step by step from low to high.

B-grade watches: they are not the same as the ones in the pictures, they are fake and of poor quality (the Rolex that lost its hands back then was one of these products). The price of these products is extremely low, and if they are sold for a few hundred yuan, they are considered unscrupulous merchants. Don’t expect the original functions of the genuine watches, they may have functions that they didn’t have before (just give you a piece of printed paper)! There are even many styles that are not officially launched, and some merchants will make them and sell them.

A-grade watches: At least they are well made and will not look fake at first glance, so they can be considered A-grade watches. Most organizations that make A-grade watches are small manufacturers or family workshops. Most of them only make watches based on photos of target watches and data and pictures published by the manufacturers of real watches. Most of the movements will also use Seagull movements or Japan Citizen movements (Citizen is fooling you that they are imported movements), and the price is generally around 1,000 yuan. However, the overall workmanship is still not good, and even without the help of an expert, a careful girl can easily find the shortcomings. A-grade watches can be easily spotted by people who understand watches from the details, which is enough to fool laymen!

Super A watches: The degree of simulation reaches 90% or even 97%. Unless you are an expert who deals with fake watches all day, it is difficult to tell the real from the fake. Even these experts need to hold it in their hands and open the case to see whether it is real or fake. This kind of fake is a super A product. The reason why this degree of simulation can be achieved is that these watches are made by watchmakers after disassembling the parts of genuine watches one by one and replicating each component in a 1:1 mold. And they will continue to improve their products based on market feedback.

God-level watches: To put it bluntly, they are fake watches with real movements. The watch factory buys genuine watches and disassembles them. After making the watches, they keep the cases and use fake cases to put the real movements in and sell them as second-hand watches. However, the number is extremely rare, and we will basically not come across them. Most watch dealers tell you this just to cheat you out of your money.

However, apart from morality and law, “replica watches” represent the pinnacle of my country’s folk watchmaking industry. In 1958, when everything was in ruins, my country imported 100,000 sets of watchmaking equipment from Switzerland, of which 25,000 sets were given to Tianjin, 25,000 sets were given to Shanghai, and the remaining 50,000 sets were given to Guangzhou. As a result, Tianjin produced Seagull movements, which started by imitating ETA movements; they are known for their durability, stability, and accurate timekeeping. After ETA stopped supplying movements from manufacturers other than Swatch (you bought my movement and it sold better than my watch, can I still sell you a movement?), many luxury brands began to buy movements from Seagull in 2015, including the well-known Armani, Gucci, LV, and Chanel.

Tianjin produced a Seagull. Then from north to south, let’s take a look at the Shanghai Watch Factory in Shanghai. After liberation, the state developed it into a leading watchmaking enterprise. The pinnacle of the Shanghai Watch Factory is the Shanghai 7750 movement (actually a knockoff of the ETA7750). However, the omnipotent Chinese people explained what it means to be better than the master! The 7750 movement of the Shanghai Watch Factory has created a new platform for complex timing in the Chinese watchmaking industry. Perpetual calendar? Complex hands? Perpetual calendar with three questions? Perpetual calendar with moon phases? Simple square moon phases and zodiac signs? No matter what watch you have, I will use the Shanghai 7750 to transform it for you. Not only that, the Shanghai 7750 is also the designated timing movement for China Aviation.

Tianjin and Shanghai each took 25,000 sets of equipment and achieved such a great result. What about Guangzhou, which monopolized half of the equipment? It has now become the distribution center of fake watches, imitation watches, and big-name watches in the world. Don’t underestimate imitation watches. It is impossible for the watchmaking process of every genuine factory to be leaked to others. Chinese watchmakers only rely on buying genuine watches, disassembling them, and searching for information on the Internet to reversely copy imitation watches, and the degree of simulation is particularly high. Take the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak as an example: the octagonal bezel with subtle contrast between frosting and polishing, 8 hexagonal screws made of platinum, and 18K rose gold to create an integrated design of the case and strap, the strap links are smooth, the natural transition from wide to narrow, the screw-in crown, the anti-glare sapphire crystal surface and bottom cover. Every process can be copied for you by Chinese watchmakers.

It is no exaggeration to say that there is nothing that the Chinese cannot imitate. After they buy the genuine products, they are completely disassembled by professionals and decomposed into the case, sapphire mirror, dial, hands, outer ring, bottom cover, movement, inner cover, crown, strap, buckle, and lugs. Then they are processed one by one, and each component is individually plated. They are completely made from the original mold, and the production materials must also be 1:1, completely consistent. The movements are mostly Japanese Citizen movements, domestic Seagull movements, and Swiss ETA movements (very few). After production, they are assembled and debugged by professional masters. These are absolutely impossible without professional skilled workers. It is definitely not something that a small workshop or any random person can do.

China has craftsmen and great watch factories. They are fully capable of making watches that are no less good than those made in Switzerland. However, they are not recognized by consumers. They think that domestic products are inferior. It is better to imitate something that is easy, recognizable, mainstream, and sells quickly, and make a fortune quietly. The things they make are at least close to the same level as Switzerland. In terms of dexterity, they can catch up with the West. But there will be differences in design and mechanical structure. However, in the watch industry, few people know their names.