As some of you may recall I posted a thread awhile back on the Rolex fakes that are out there that are stunningly well copied… at least so far as on the wrist. The Sky-Dweller fake was easily detectable off wrist as the weight and general appearance were pretty spot on, but the complication was obviously very different and could not be duplicated - at least not at a price point people would likely purchase.

As you may also recall, my firm’s general counsel is also the counsel for the local Rolex AD and he is a collector himself. Easily more than a quarter million dollars in his personal Rolex collection. He was positively disgusted when he compared the fake Sky-Dweller that came into the AD and his genuine piece. He shares with me an article that said 1 in 5 “luxury watches” in NYC are fake and most of the owners are completely unaware that they’ve been taken.

So when I decided to pick up my Tudor Pelagos FXD I wasn’t going to take any chances and I purchased from Chrono24 with their escrow service and authenticity guarantee. It arrived today and here is a photo of it next to a counterfeit - on the wrist and without the ability to compare side to side, I’d say most people wouldn’t stand a chance identifying a fake. There’s a little more stutter in the second hand’s sweep compared to the genuine watch, but that’s me looking at it for 20 seconds or so up close, and it’s not THAT noticeable even on close examination.

Please be careful and purchase from sources that have escrow services and an inspection period. I’ve been very happy so far with my two transactions on Chrono24, and I believe even eBay authenticates these days and offers escrow.

The Rolex copies are so good that Chinese companies are doing knock offs of the Chinenese companies that produce the super clones

VSF and Clean Factory make the best copies.

Recently people have started to receive COA's with their fakes

Attached File

Holy Shit fakes of fakes? A day late to be April Fool’s!

Can we get a pic of the lug bars? I’m trying to play which is the fake with a buddy

I think it's legit as it keeps getting posted on RepTime

I was in Bangkok the other week looking for a good clone, but I don't have the experience or eye many here do, so I'll probably order one online from a "reputable" dealer

I'm betting the Left is the fake. Something just doesn't look quite right about the bezel. That's scary how identical they are though.

Surprised they could copy it that quick.  It hasn't even been around that long.

Judging by the strap only, I'm guessing the left is real as the 7 rows of stitching looks OEM. That said the Chinese probably stole the looms from the monks on the mountain in France whereTudor straps were made.

I'd say the one on the left is fake. Knurling on the bezel on the right looks more refined and sharper. Quality of the strap and clasp look better quality. The watch on the left has a fog about the entire thing. Man I hope I'm right.

There are more reps on eBay than in a Chinese warehouse.  They like the commission earned on fakes.

I own a pelagos, and I'm looking at it now. I can't tell which is fake by just the picture. I would guess the left is real because of the symmetry in the velcro, but that's a huge jump. And the clones may be better than the real ones.

that said, where does one get a fake like this? My 8 year old can rock an upgrade from his seiko

I'm guessing left is fake.  Minute hand just appears to be in slightly wrong position relative to where second hand is.  Could just be the picture angle.

With that said, I like the strap on the left better.  The right strap looks fancier.

The right one looks like the fake to me. The Pelagos lettering lacks depth. That could also just be the angle of the photo though.

forum premature post

The left is the fake, and yes Robert, the angle probably mislead some folks. Putting them side by side and getting both framed perfectly was a challenge.

With reference to some of the other questions...

I did not know there were fakes on eBay still. I thought they cleaned that up long ago.

As to where to get, there are websites but you roll the dice and take your chances I guess. Not worth the risk. Facebook Marketplace is also full of sellers, probably preferable, and major cities will have a "China Town" where the fake market flourishes in watches, hand bags, shoes, sunglasses, etc. I have a friend in NYC who says it is alive and well. His wife has a handbag fetish and she said the high end fakes are near indistinguishable as well. As soon as companies roll out a security feature, the Chinese duplicate it. I saw one video on youTube where the laser etched coronet on Rolex crystals was actually clearer on the fake than the original.

I'm not big on reps, but seeing as this was a completely new design for me (fixed lugs) I acquired one to see if I liked how it wore. I liked it so much I promptly laid out the money for the real deal and I'm glad I did. The replica will be relegated to wearing in areas where I'm afraid of damaging the real one or where an urban resident might try to liberate it.

The replica is surprisingly good in build quality and sports a Miyota movement, so unlike a lot of fakes with questionable Chinese mass produced movements, this one should actually last awhile and a replacement movement can be sourced readily and inexpensively should it shit the bed.

I hesitated to make this thread because admitting I bought a replica here is opening one up to ridicule, but making a $4,000 investment in a new design which you're not sure you'll like was too much of a gamble for me. When I saw how close in appearance they were, I felt it important to do a comparison to make sure folks don't get taken. I've seen watch boxes and booklets for sale on eBay, and it wouldn't be hard to package the replica up and pass it off as real.

Someone asked for a picture of the lugs, I'll upload one later today.

The strap on the fake looks better than the genuine one, so that threw me at first. The Pelagos logo on the fake is obviously not right compared to the genuine watch, and the fake bezel looks off. Otherwise, the fake is pretty good.

is the left fake? There is a noticeable difference in the corners of lug holes for the strap.

Nice.

I forgot to wear a watch today.  Now I feel nekid.

Yes, the left is the fake.

I'm not at all a fan of the olive velcro strap as I wear flannels a lot and the exposed velcro tends to collect flannel fluff. I purchased a few aftermarket single pass buckle straps that I really like. The nice thing about the FXD design is changing straps is effortless.

They really shine on an Erika’s. To me, it’s the ultimate strap for that watch.

I'm considering picking one up. I just spent $175 for a couple of Speedmaster Professional links so I'm going to be a good boy for awhile. I agree, great straps.

I suspected the left, lettering just seemed not as sharp, but damn close. Where did you purchase it at? I have a Wimbledon Datejust and have been thinking of Tudor as I cant justify the price and wait for a new Rolex, and am too nervous to purchase a used one for the reasons you mentioned. I wouldnt mind a super clone like this for the reasons you mentioned as well. Thanks

I sincerely hope you wouldn't get any flak here for posting your fake. I'd say us Gun & Watch Nerds are more laid back than Watch Nerds Only on other forums. We've all laid out too much money on multiple hobbies.
Thanks for the warning and the interesting post. It's good to see this forum getting some more activity.

I get that for some they feel the sacrifice and accomplishment their luxury watch represents are diminished by fakes. Fair enough. I’ve owned a few over the years. Always told people they were fake when asked about the watch. Always purchased when considering buying the genuine to make sure it was for me. Nearly every time I ended up purchasing the real deal as I did in this case.

Too much money! Reported for personal attack
Attached File



I’ve never owned a decent fake but do have an homage Seiko that looks like a rootbeer. I wanted to try the look before I considered a real version. Glad I did because it turns out I don’t like the magnifier or the GMT hand.

I assume most of the higher end watches I see in real life are fake or clones. Older guy with his shit together in a pressed shirt having dinner in the $200/plate restaurant I’m in with him? Yeah thinking that two tone sub is legit. Yesterday I saw our janitor at work pushing a dumpster with a solid yellow gold sub. Assuming it’s fake.

I don’t care and it’s cool to see people rock what they want, but follow some of the reptime or chinatime reddits and you will find clones of $45 watches are everywhere, so obviously much of the higher end is out there too.

Interesting post OP, thank you.

I bought my BB58 back when they were difficult to get.  Purchased from “watchshopping” (or something like that)

I subsequently read some less than stellar reviews and was worried I’d been had but my watch has been to RSC so I guess I got lucky.

What's the price difference between the copy and the real one? What's case size on that watch?

42mm case size.

Suggested retail on the real FXD is $4,150 I believe and the fake is around $450. A little pricey, but there weren't many options to get a sense for how this watch would wear. I found something called "Tactical Frog" which looked to be close to the FXD but hard to tell. I wanted to make sure that I got as close to a sense of how it would wear as possible.

Pricey for sure for a fake, but like I said I'll still use it for situations where I don't feel comfortable wearing the real one.

And I picked up the real one off Chrono24 for $3,400 NIB with full warranty, so even with the cost of the fake factored in I'm still below what a new one would cost at an AD and the one Jomashop had for $4,150 only had a one year Jomashop warranty.

Like I said, NYC (and I assume others) will have a "China Town" where all kinds of counterfeit goods are sold. I see them listed on Facebook rather openly with sponsored content. Facebook apparently doesn't give a shit as the money is green. There are forums out there like ARFCOM for this interest. Somebody posted previously about one called Reptime but I have never been there. Reddit also has forums dedicated to "Chinese Watches" and I'm pretty sure they are openly sold there.

Do a search for replica watches on Google and your Facebook feed will no doubt fill with them!

Here is the article our counsel sent me on the abundance of fake watches on the market.

I'm not a watch guy at all but I've wanted a Rolex GMT Master II Red/Blue since I became a pilot. When I upgraded to Captain, that was my "present" to myself for achieving the position... I've been on the AD "list" for a while. Not being a watch or jewelry customer, I don't think I'll ever get the call. I refuse to pay the grey market price and the thought of spending all that money to end up with a fake makes me sick to my stomach. I may never get the watch but that's better than the alternative to me.

You can find homages and straight up fakes:
R/Reptime
R/chinesewatches

also "jason" from AliExpress is typically a solid source.

"Jason"... I can't help but envision a little Asian man in a trench coat outside Grand Central Station...

Stick to people like DavidSW, Chrono24, Bob's watches, et cetera. Buy the seller not the watch.

The whole point of this thread it to avoid situations like you describe. Don't want to see anybody taken.

I don't give two shits if somebody wants to wear a fake, I just don't want anybody to buy a fake thinking it is the real thing like the customer from the AD in my other thread that bought a knockoff Sky-Dweller thinking it was real.

Spending $3k on a watch is a lot for me, and losing that would crush me. Couldn't imagine losing $15k.

Trusted sellers of legit watches and websites which guarantee authenticity and have an escrow service. Only way to go.

Years ago in college I bought a fake watch, it was terrible.


I didn't realize there were high end fakes. I like the watch but don't want a brand fake. They should just write "dive watch" on it and sell it like that..I would buy one

Fair point, and I agree. The only other watch I saw in this style was labeled “Tactical Frog.” Hard pass!

Yeah, strange brand names are quite common on Aliexpress watches.   "Berny", "Bliger", "Benyar", "Mysterious Code", "Heimdallr", "Parnis", "Seestern", "Tactical Frog", etc!  The chinese still haven't figured out how to market to an American audience.  

Despite the odd name, the "Tactical Frog" watches appear to be very good quality for their price point. Seiko NH35 movement, sapphire crystal, etc. Not bad for $179.

Aliexpress Tactical Frog

Attached File

Attached File

Enjoyed the video, thanks for sharing. I subscribed to his channel.

Tactical Frog cracks me up.  I want one just because the name is ridiculous.

I agree 100%.

This thread was making me anxious thinking about all the people who may get scammed unknowingly buying a fake and now I just want a tactical frog copy of something ridiculous.

Now you fuckers are making me want one for the novelty... my own thread is going to cost me a fortune!

I got an "Octopus" brand version of a fancy/famous watch. It was a Myota movement, kept great time, etc. I have no issues with the Tactical Frog or Octopus or whatever brand, but know what you're getting into

I’ve had a green one in the cart a couple of times. They actually get decent reviews.

If they can get me one labeled tactical frog with a Pepe logo on it, I'm in!!