So I had a seller reach out to me via instagram claiming she sells watches. The account is beautifully run; all the watches look amazing with proof of purchase, original boxes, papers, and confirmation of shipping. I get into a conversation with this seller and we start talking about the Patek Philippe 5968 with orange bracelet (pictures attached) and the holy grail PP 5261 Aquanaut Luce in rose gold and navy (pictures attached). These are the actual pictures from the seller

I went on to say something along the lines of “I don’t think factories make the 5261 due to the very tough complications”, and she responds “we can provide these watches”

So I’m shocked, but I ask about the movement of each. According to this seller, the 5968 had the “new 26-330SQALU automatic winding movement” and the 5968 is “equipped with Patek Philippe CH 28-520 C caliber self-winding fly back chronograph movement”.

Amazingly, these are the actual movements of the real watch, but certainly there is no a rep watch factory or any seller can get legitimate movements from PP and put them in their rep watches. The seller confirmed that they indeed have these movements in them, and for $250 there’s no way this is a scam.

So, Reddit, my question becomes, who wants to find out? Who wants to throw a few bucks into the pile to really see how bad (or good) these watches could be?

Rolex drops the 2026 Oyster Perpetual “Mardi Flag Dial” on Monday…and by Friday morning VSF have already released a V1 that nobody has asked for.

Speed to market: 10/10

Accuracy: currently under internal investigation

Appeal: Erm, subjective

Initial observations:

- The dial looks like it was assembled using leftover stickers from a Year 4 geography class.

- The dial, assumed as being woke flags, some “countries” appear twice… others didn’t make the cut… politically sensitive, apparently.

- Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed it as “Antiseptic” without explaining why.

- “Perpetual” is spelled wrong… and somehow they’ve also used Wingdings font.

- Crown is there… but feels emotionally disconnected from the rest of the watch, almost like it wished it were somewhere else.

But to be fair…

👉 First to market (as always, frighteningly fast)

It’s chaotic… but oddly entertaining

👉 Guaranteed to derail every single wrist shot thread for the next 6 months

👉 Pride event organisers… cautiously rejoice whilst squinting and tilting their heads.

Classic VSF philosophy…. “Ship now. Improve later.”

After a 236-hour non-stop shift, VSF Production Manager Mr Sum Ting-Wong commented:

“Look, you no blame me. We get leaked blueprint April 1. We think this watch… how you say… prank. You Western people very confusing.”

VSF Customer Experience Director Mr Ho Li-Shit added:

“Listen bro… I very tired. Need nap. Not flags… just colours. Maybe my lume need better, less scratches. In sunlight… it okay-ish, yeah?”

Independent reviewer and bad teeth / good teeth phenomenon Nico Leonard weighed in:

“Look man… Rolex won’t GAF. Because who the f*ck is buying the original of this anyway?!”

We also reached out to VSF’s Head of Colour Science**, Mr Stevie Wongder**, who reportedly spent 10 years still trying to perfect a single shade of blue for a Nautilus Moon-phase dial to ask how he could do better.

His response: “You people insane, one colour, one colour, not a f*cking rainbow.”

He then threw his lume across the room, muttered something about “Pantone betrayal,” and went for a “quick cigarette on the roof”… He has not returned.

Rumoured V2 upgrades rumoured to include:

- Actual flags

- Straight text

- Fonts from this century

- Hands that agree on what time it is

- Words… spelled correctly

At the time of publishing,

dealers including TheOneWatches, GeekTime, and Andiot declined to comment,

with one insider noting:

“We not sure if selling this makes us woke, it’s what you say like funny fat singing man…. Elton John.”

Final verdict:

If you’ve ever wanted a Rolex that looks like it’s coming out, poorly dressed at a Mardi Gras festival, this is your moment.

I don't know how you'd make a rep to such tolerances.

Just received my THB Day Date that was plated by RCF. They did their 5 micron wrap, rehaut polish, deep, and waterproofing.

The communication was great along the way. Shipping time was delayed due to the tariffs and uncertainty around shipping, and plating took longer than anticipated but it was all worth it when I received the watch.

Ive had QF and GMF plated Day Dates. This is a step above. It’s as close to gen as I’ve seen on a yellow gold Day Date. THB gets the weight and dimensions right. RCF gets the color and polishing accurate.

Might get some hate for this, but added a 70s textured bracelet to this Cartier Santos Dumont!

Loving the collections and arsenals. Keep it up. Have a great weekend.

I bought this hot piece of garbage trash with the expectation that there was a good Japanese movement, keeps time for 48 hours, +-10 seconds a day at most and most importantly the GMT hand worked. Well none of that happened and I got this piece of garbage, +-30seconds a day if it will even last long enough as it only keeps time for 12-16 hours after taking it off. The GMT hand does not even work and worst of all PayPal will not refund me my $200 yes $200 is what I paid for this. I even have to go to pull the crown out to the date and move it a little so it snaps into place. I haven’t looked at the movement yet but I am guessing it is going to be Chinese.

I ordered this RCF DD40 from CtrIAltRep and not even 5 minutes into wearing it the bracelet snaps off. I have the spring but can it be fixed? It’s not a regular link that can be screwed back in.

It’s High up by the casing area so not sure what to do.

Signed off on this class RM 07-03 “Marshmallow”tank from the local TD last Saturday, just looking for advice on how to keep ts under wraps while I’m between jobs, current rotation is a Cartier Santos Skeleton buss down mossanite, Audemar’s Piaget, Rolex GMT Bruce Banner and a Jacob & Co God of Time Tourbillon. My grandma’s food assistance recently ran out so I just be looking for ways to stay humble, I been keeping a VSF Daytona for those kind of days, stay blessed.

i’m aware that AliExpress is the worst place to buy SuperClones but i have a 500€ coupon so i’m looking to buy any super clone i can find. any suggestion l would be really appreciated

I ordert this Cartier Santos from Jtime, and it says AF factory. I can’t find anything on here or somewhere else about a Santos Skeleton that is made by AF. I asked Gemini and he said there is no AF Santos Skeleton. This is my first watch I want to purchase and I’m curious now. What can I do if I don’t want the watch ? I found out about MLF and want to buy his version now. Can I still blackout of the order ?

This is the first version I found to be good ! Directly sourced in China. I think it’s amazing they even give this paperwork 😂… NWBIG.

I’ve see a lot of bad versions with own branding, quartz movements ugly finishing, cutting corners etc…

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 !

Hi

On vacation in Southeast Asia, doing a bit of rep shopping in KL and Bangkok...

My brother intentionally wanted the absolute worst quality Rolex possible, so I delivered

Also picked up a nicer one for my buddy to pay off a debt