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watchrw · 6 months ago

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The History Of Replica Watches

The Origin of Replica Watches

Replica watches, as the name suggests, are copies of world-famous watch brands (such as Rolex, Omega, IWC, Panerai, etc.). They are produced using molds taken from the original models, with an appearance identical to the authentic versions. The term "high-quality replica watch" first emerged in China at the end of the 1980s. When the national watch industry was established, to consolidate its own watchmaking influence, China imported more than a hundred thousand sets of watchmaking equipment from Switzerland. For the sake of overall harmony, it is estimated that this equipment was distributed among Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangdong. The former two have become what are now the Shanghai Watch Factory and the Seagull Watch Factory, while Guangdong has become the largest site for watch parts assembly. It was against this backdrop that high-quality replica watches slowly emerged. In 2013, NOOB Factory's replica watches, known as the "five great pieces", soared in popularity and kicked off the era of high-quality replica watches! To this day, Guangzhou's replica watch market attracts traders from all over the world on a daily basis, with trade covering the globe. Modern high-quality replica watches now widely use domestic movements that imitate ETA movements, and the quality of these movements is quite impressive. They also perform exceptionally well in terms of accuracy.

Some watch enthusiasts who love Swiss luxury watches used to disdain replica watches, viewing them as nothing more than cheap knock-offs with poor workmanship and quality. However, once they actually encounter the replica watches from major factories like N Factory, ZF Factory, and KW Factory, they realize that even though these watches may only cost around 2,000 yuan, their craftsmanship, water resistance, luminous effects, and other features can far exceed those of Swiss luxury watches that cost over ten thousand yuan. This is why high-quality replica watches have always been bestsellers overseas.

The Two Major Bases of High-Quality Replica Watches

1. Taiwanese High-Quality Replica Watches

Taiwan is the pioneer of the replica watch industry. Whether it's replicating electronic products or Swiss luxury watches, its technology can be considered world-class. While creating numerous billionaires, it has also given rise to many new stars in the field of high-quality replica watches. Neighboring Taiwan, Fujian was among the first to establish the replica watch industry in the Pearl River Delta, operated by people from Fujian. Due to Taiwan's legal system, the official crackdown on high-quality replica watches has become increasingly stringent, leading to a gradual shrinking of Taiwan's replica watch market, which is difficult to return to its former glory.

2. Guangzhou High-Quality Replica Watches

Currently, China's replica watch market is mainly concentrated in the Zhanxi watch market in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. After twenty years of development, there are no less than a hundred replica watch factories, focusing more on quantity than on quality. Since most of their orders come from undeveloped regions overseas, with virtually no after-sales issues, these watches cannot match the quality of Taiwanese replicas. However, in terms of watch movements, these factories have produced an uncountable number of them. Well-known domestic mechanical watch movement manufacturers include the Hangzhou Watch Factory, Tianjin Watch Factory, and Guangzhou Watch Factory. The movements made by the Guangzhou Watch Factory, known as Mingzhu movements, are commonly used in ordinary high-quality replica watches. Currently, there are many watch factories on the mainland, and any reputable manufacturer has its standout products, all of which are sources of high-quality replica watches, such as N, H, ZF, KW, TF, BP, MK, JF, V6, etc. As part of a grey industry, the replica watch market is full of mixed quality, and it's very chaotic. For instance, Factory N and Factory H might share the same case manufacturer... Each manufacturer has its own models they excel at, such as Factory N's Fifty Fathoms and the Master Compressor.

What Are High-Quality Replica Watches

Appearance High-quality replica watches are modeled directly after authentic products, made to the same proportions, and typically achieve a 1:1 ratio in comparison to the originals. The materials often used include 316L stainless steel, and some high-end replicas have started utilizing 904L stainless steel for increased comfort, virtually indistinguishable from the genuine article. In terms of polishing and the finer details, replicas can now match the original watches without discernible differences.

Movement As is well-known, the heart of any watch lies in its movement. Since domestic mechanical watch movements can only perform basic timekeeping functions and have yet to achieve the more complex chronograph functions, replica watches opt to use Swiss mechanical movements. However, Swiss luxury watch manufacturers have their own unique processes for creating movements, which they use exclusively and in limited quantities. These movements are not available for purchase by others to create replicas. Consequently, replicas now extensively utilize domestic movements that imitate ETA movements, and these movements are of quite high quality, performing impressively in terms of accuracy. Common imitations include ETA 2824, 2836, and 2892 movements, particularly the 2836 is often used in Rolex replicas.

Price In the replica watch industry, pricing is primarily determined by the movement utilized. As mentioned, replica watches largely use domestic movements modeled after ETA's 2824, 2836, and 2892, among others. Watches priced between 1,000 and 2,500 yuan usually feature something like the Seagull imitation of the 2892 movement, which, in terms of finishing and appearance, closely resembles the real ETA 2892. This type of movement is often used in ultra-thin watch models. Models ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 yuan typically incorporate chronograph functions using movements from Shanghai or Dandong watch factories, imitative of the ETA 7750 series. Fiyta's aviation series and Rossini's chronograph watches, for example, utilize the 7750 movement produced in Shanghai. Watches with manual winding often employ movements from Hangzhou or Seagull factories, modeled after the ETA 6497, and are used in replicas of brands like Panerai, with accuracy comparable to the real ETA movements found in authentic Panerai watches. Prices generally range from 3,000 to 6,000 yuan, with many featuring tourbillons. The tourbillon movements used in high-quality replicas are typically from Dandong and Beijing, although arguably the best domestic tourbillons are produced by Seagull. However, due to their higher price, they are less commonly used by replica watch manufacturers.

Wearing High-Quality Replica Watches

High-quality replica watches can now emulate the functions of the original models, so correct usage and maintenance during wear are extremely important.

Water resistance depths of 30M and 50M do not mean that the watch can be submerged 30 or 50 meters underwater without allowing water in. The 30M and 50M ratings are for everyday life water resistance only, and these watches should not be worn while swimming.

General water-resistant replica watches are not intended for swimming or diving. Although they use sealing measures that prevent splashes and everyday sweat from entering, they should not be submerged in water. In real life, constant temperature and immobility do not exist. Therefore, wrist activities in water can significantly increase water pressure on the watch and, based on the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, the watch case may expand and allow vapor to enter the movement through the gaps and then condense into droplets. Over time, the movement could rust.

Leather straps, whether made of cowhide or alligator leather, have a lifespan. Generally, they should be replaced after two to three years of wear. During daily wear, try to avoid contact with chemicals and corrosive substances such as acids, alkalis, and salts to prevent damage to the appearance of the watch, affecting its look and use.

It is best not to wear the watch while engaging in outdoor sports. High-speed vibrations at the wrist can damage the movement of the watch. The anti-magnetic capabilities of general mechanical watches are limited, and if exceeded, the steel components within the watch can become magnetized. The hairspring may also be affected, leading to inaccuracies in the timekeeping, either running slow or fast, and in severe cases, the watch may stop altogether.

If a mechanical watch is not worn for an extended period, it should still be wound regularly.

Mechanical watches inherently have errors, and these are larger than the errors in quartz watches. If you absolutely cannot tolerate inaccuracies, consider purchasing a quartz or digital watch.

Calendar watches cannot use the quick-set mechanism to change the date during a certain period, known as the "forbidden zone". During this time, the date changing gear teeth are aligned with the gap on the calendar disc, and using the quick-set feature can obstruct the rotation of the calendar disc, potentially damaging the components. Therefore, do not use the quick-set date adjustment during the "forbidden zone". Do not adjust the calendar of the watch between 10 pm and 2 am as this can possibly damage the movement if done repeatedly.

If wearing a watch with a leather strap style, it's better to have an additional nylon weave or rubber strap for summer wear. Sweat can cause significant damage to leather straps due to the increased likelihood of perspiration in the summer.

Purchasing High-Quality Replica Watches

Due to the unique nature of the high-quality replica watch industry, sales are primarily conducted online, as it is not feasible to open physical stores and offer public sales. Currently, the NOOB factory is highly recommended among replica watch manufacturers, so many dealers name their replica watches after the NOOB factory. There are innumerable websites selling replica watches, and online you can find sites such as the "N Factory Official Website," "N Factory Flagship Store," and various sites claiming to be associated with the NOOB factory, leading to a lot of confusion. It makes it quite difficult for an end buyer to discern where to purchase.

Online, the term "N Factory" initially referred exclusively to the NOOB factory, but it has now become a synonym for all high-end replica watches. The so-called official websites for replica watches are actually just gimmicks aimed at attracting customers. Many NOOB factory models have ceased production, and the currently available noob watches include popular Rolex models like Submariner, Sea-Dweller, Datejust, Oyster Perpetual, Daytona, Yacht-Master, and a limited number of Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and a few niche brands. It's unrealistic to sell only NOOB factory products. Websites typically named after the NOOB factory or N factory generally focus on NOOB factory products, supported by other major factory goods, and our website is no exception.

Our website is a replica watch dealer platform that directly cooperates with the NOOB factory, mainly used to stabilize market prices and release new models, but in the past two years, it has also collaborated with other factories. Watches on our site are straightforward, with clear categories, full range of styles, and you can find almost all major factory products here, which is convenient and reliable. The pricing is also reasonable, ensuring that customers won't be deceived. Everyone is welcome to visit and learn more.

Lastly, a few words from the heart: one should maintain a good mindset when buying high-quality replica watches. It can be said that particularly with mechanical watches, you should be prepared for the possibility of issues, and this is true even for authentic models. Although the replica watch industry may not be highly reputable, a lot of effort is put in. Do not underestimate a high-quality replica watch—the processes involved are nearly as extensive as those for the original, making the replica industry quite challenging.

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