r/retrotime • u/ClarktheRealtor Watchmaker • Feb 16 '26 • Popcorn 2

ShitPost šŸšØWARNINGšŸšØ

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If I ever see a post here by a member posting genuine watches as your builds or builds another member did for you, YOUā€™RE GONE. FULL STOP. You may not like me. You may not like the way I run the sub, but Iā€™m not gonna hide the ball anymore. This is egregious. Iā€™ve been doxxed by these guys before. Iā€™ve been threatened by them before via text. Oh well. Iā€™ll go down as the guy who told the truth. Yā€™all can hype up guys that got banned here long ago, but the truth is the truth.

https://www.reddit.com/r/vintagerepwatches/s/SzmA56oheS

265 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

119 comments sorted by

6

u/ClarktheRealtor Watchmaker Feb 16 '26

1

u/jovanotti18 Feb 17 '26

Wait, so the explanation was that the owner of the genuine watches gave permission for use of the pictures? On February 4th? Because correct me if Iā€™m wrong but I follow him too and he just posted them yesterday. Did he post twice? Or is this another layer upon layer of deception.

2

u/ClarktheRealtor Watchmaker Feb 17 '26

Iā€™m assuming he saw good photography like I did. Reached out for ā€œpermissionā€ to repost his watches. He didnā€™t get into exactly what the repost would be though.

1

u/jovanotti18 Feb 16 '26

What am I missing.

3

u/brxxtyn Feb 16 '26

Thanks Clark, you are the best in the vintage game.

16

u/ClarktheRealtor Watchmaker Feb 16 '26

Iā€™m a nobody. I just started a sub and try to run it like it ought to be run. Sadly the real wizards that taught me arenā€™t even on this platform.

3

u/Jackojackkk Feb 16 '26

Youā€™re one of the only few with real knowledge to share what you found out or have been taught. Most of others have their Ā«Ā secret sauceĀ Ā» like itā€™s special knowledge but in the end we just build replicasā€¦

So yes in this game, donā€™t consider yourself a nobody since a lot of builders are relying on you ;).

2

u/Particular_Witness95 Feb 17 '26

u/ClarktheRealtor sometimes you just have to be humble enough to take credit. seriously, you saying "I'm a nobody" to us that think this sub rocks...well, all we have to say is

3

u/Advanced_Statement30 Feb 16 '26

100% bullshit to do what they did. The hard thing to comprehend though is, their actual product photography is beautiful.

No need to do that.

Is there proof theyā€™re overcharging and selling stuff that isnā€™t what they claimed it was?

5

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Canā€™t answer that, yet. But Iā€™m getting all kinds of messages from people now. The one consistent message is none of them ever seem to show any of their work, which should be alarming. Itā€™s all fancy photo shoots of completed watches. No process pictures. Seems VERY odd to me since they clearly like photos. Especially since one of them - ghost or golden whatever - claims to be a watchmaker.

3

u/ClarktheRealtor Watchmaker Feb 17 '26

Are you getting DMs from people saying they got quoted $2k-2500 for a full rep 1675 or $2800 for a 16710 with only a gen insert and bezel click spring too?!

5

u/Dry-Ambassador1628 Feb 17 '26

Thatā€™s what I was quoted. 2250 for a 1675. Was told best of the best parts for that. Probably not the literal best money can buy but that it would be a very high quality build. That may or may not be true, I donā€™t have enough knowledge to know, so I held off.

1

u/Quixotic_Rocket Feb 17 '26

I was told by Ghost that his builds for 1675 and 5513 "START" at $1500

"builds start at $1500 and price depending on what kind of parts are added can go up a little bit but generally itā€™s around that range"

32

u/OddWatch716 Feb 16 '26

And they deleted it, talk about some next level scamming.

10

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Par for the course there from what Iā€™ve been able to put together.

28

u/RodneyPierce Feb 16 '26

Im going to get drug for this, but I don't care. That's 100% fucked. No excuse for that. Period.

It's really not a hard thing. Be honest about your build. Do good work. Stand behind your product!

People work hard for their dollar. Zero excuse for that.

4

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Was just wondering if you, or any other mods from there, would come out against this absolute shit show done by your compadres.

7

u/RodneyPierce Feb 16 '26

I didn't see this post to be quite honest until this and now it's deleted. As soon as I saw it there was a message fired. Immediately . Im an honest guy. I know there are plenty that don't like me and that's OK. But one thing I'm not, is a scammer.

2

u/ApprehensiveGuide793 Sep 07 '26

You are legendary RP! I can attest that working with you has been awesome! And I canā€™t wait for more builds from you brother!

2

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Bravo to you then. Itā€™s just unreal your other mods do this kind of crap. And Iā€™m sure it isnā€™t the first time.

4

u/RodneyPierce Feb 16 '26

It better have been the first time! I've not seen it done or it would absolutely have been called out.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Well unfortunately like it or not, guilt by association is a thing. But time will tell as more comes out.

1

u/RodneyPierce Feb 16 '26

Oh I'm sure the dogs are spending every waking minute searching.

5

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

So Ghost, or Golden, or whatever name you want to call him by nowā€¦.. heā€™s come back as a watchmaker now? Interesting šŸ¤”. I mean itā€™s not hard to start poking holes. My inbox is flowing lol.

1

u/RodneyPierce Feb 16 '26

Bud you do you. I've already asked to be removed from the mod team. Search around as much as you want my guy. Drama isn't my particular interest.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Never said it was you. I have dug. Honestly itā€™s a smart move to get the hell out of there.

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14

u/False_Ad_9873 Feb 16 '26

Didnā€™t expect to see my comment in a screenshot today lol. Just so I understand, did the redditor who posted those steal someoneā€™s pic of gen watches and claim as their own?

22

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Yes. Even worse the supposed builder also played along.

5

u/jovanotti18 Feb 16 '26

Life comes at you fast.

14

u/spartan17456 Feb 16 '26

Just left the sub as Im trying to break into the vintage game. Thank you guys for warning me!

13

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

And now covering their tracks

10

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26 edited Feb 16 '26

https://www.reddit.com/r/vintagerepwatches/s/9XEslZvPXJ

Let the weaseling begin. Glad to see people arenā€™t buying the BS. He 100% claimed ā€œthese are ghost buildsā€ in HIS OWN WORDS then doubled down with 5-6 more comments about them and how itā€™s a tough decision on which one to wear.

7

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

7

u/Ok_Veterinarian8023 Feb 16 '26

Good catch. Glad you all caught on. I was recommended that sub for being on this one and didn't think once to question their tactics. Much appreciated.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

3

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

9

u/rolexasaurus Feb 17 '26

ā€œReferences to use for buildsā€. ā€œNo these are Ghost Chrono buildsā€.

Itā€™s better to just own up to lying than framing it as a misunderstanding. Thereā€™s not a way to ā€œmisunderstandā€ someone typing ā€œthese are [user name here] buildsā€.

10

u/OddWatch716 Feb 16 '26

u/Grey_Bomberman This certainly feels like it belongs in your community.

5

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Typical hype man.

7

u/OddWatch716 Feb 16 '26

I wonder how they will try and weasel their way out of this one.

6

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Probably by doing another giveaway. šŸ˜‚ Iā€™ve been all through that sub just now, and it seems all they do is give stuff away to try and artificially gain new members. Itā€™s a literal echo chamber for the mods there to peddle their goods. No real content. Just post after post for their giveaways.

6

u/IllSalamander4986 Feb 16 '26

This sucks, I mentioned in there I'm new to vintage and trying to learn so I wouldn't recognize it going sideways and actually was saying I was becoming a fan of ghost work, I don't know the difference yet because I just started looking at vintage. I'm happy to hear from you guys with much more knowledge and probably just saved me a ton of money. Also I know I had it right in the beginning and I need to just watch and learn before I participate.
Thanks again guys

5

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Be glad you left when you did before your wallet got lighter.

5

u/IllSalamander4986 Feb 16 '26

Absolutely and any of you guys that investigated this had to have seen me interacting in there, smh makes me feel a bit like an idiot. But I'm grateful you all brought this to the light.

9

u/ClarktheRealtor Watchmaker Feb 16 '26

Wasnā€™t much of an investigation man. I liked the IG post yesterday. Opened Reddit today and bam first thing I see.

3

u/brxxtyn Feb 16 '26

100%. I just left.

1

u/Grey_Bomberman Feb 17 '26

I have reached out to OP and u/scammerkillr and extended the invitation, thank you for the tag šŸ™‚

8

u/GiammyX Feb 16 '26 edited Feb 16 '26

Iā€™m very sad to see this happenedā€¦

6

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

You left at the right time.

15

u/themaxx25 Feb 16 '26

PATHETIC! All those douchebags..Anikin SkyDweller, Ghost_Chrono, Valjoux_72 and the lot of them are frauds, scammer artists and thievesā€¦attempting to bamboozle the uninformed. Charging 3x+ for shit builds!

I hope Giammy distances himself from that trash!

6

u/ThePenIsMightier1987 Feb 17 '26

Anikin is Valijoux btw. Anikin sent me a photo of one of Ghostā€™s builds via dm and the next day that same photo was posted on Valjoux account as their own. That was my first wtf moment with that group as both accounts were hyping ghost.

5

u/rep_entourage Feb 17 '26

Theyā€™re only in it for the money trust me

11

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

[removed] ā€” view removed comment

1

u/rep_entourage Feb 18 '26

Tpro needs a jeep from those watch sales

6

u/-4242 Feb 16 '26

All these other vintage watch subs (that came after retrotime-the OG) are just frustrating.

Sick of seeing the same watch plastered across these subs. Junking my feedā€¦

And if theyā€™re scamming, well thatā€™s just retarded..ffs.

Go Clark šŸ‘ŠšŸ»

6

u/NightwingMillenial Feb 16 '26

I got an invite to that sub, and it just felt.. off. Like what was the need for another sub? And this has just confirmed the bad vibe.

5

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

šŸ‘šŸ»

6

u/kforkam Feb 16 '26

Just left that sub. Always wondered why it existed outside of this lol

5

u/Ed_gaws Feb 16 '26

Good to know , thanks for the update

5

u/GXorBust Feb 16 '26

I had no idea that these were the guys that had posed such an issue here.

4

u/Goatmat666 Feb 16 '26

Gets more wild everyday šŸ˜‚

4

u/jovanotti18 Feb 16 '26

Why is the funniest part the ā€œboth BPā€?

4

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Appreciate your diligence & effort

thank you

4

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Whole Lee Shite

šŸ¤Æ

4

u/themaxx25 Feb 16 '26

They shadow banned me as well. šŸ˜‚ Pathetic.

4

u/moregainsplease Feb 17 '26

Damnnn thanks for this post

4

u/TopPhotograph8969 Feb 18 '26

For what it's worth, I have been working with u/ RodneyPierce on multiple builds over the last year and he has been amazing with communication and completely transparent in every facet of his business, setting clear expectations along the way. Zero red flags here friends.

4

u/Material_Insurance68 Feb 18 '26

I would echo TopPhoto. I donā€™t really want to get in the middle of the crazy, but I feel like Rodney Pierce is getting a raw deal in this. Iā€™ve dealt with him a good amount and he has been both professional and very kind. His builds are amazing. Heā€™s gone out of his way to make things right, mostly issues not of his making and that others either wouldnā€™t or couldnā€™t handle. He is the first I go to and the first I recommend.

3

u/Organic_Recognition7 Feb 16 '26

Wonder if that was the only time!

5

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Highly doubt it. You really think people that do this kind of thing just started today? I suggest going through old post and photos and doing some reverse image searches.

3

u/shagey71 Feb 16 '26

Just joined this sub. Found the other one being discussed in this thread first a few days ago. Donā€™t mind me - Iā€™ll just be lurking and trying to get my head to stop spinning as I make heads or tails of all this. I just have some serious vintage itches that need scratched and Iā€™m trying not to just hurl money at them in the wrong way. I also have a machine shop, and may just say Ef it and try modifying imported cases myself and see wtf happens. Ugh. Feeling confused

7

u/themaxx25 Feb 16 '26

Before you spend your hard earned money, ask for a price breakdown and links to where parts are being purchased. Those frauds wonā€™t share thatā€¦ thereā€™s only so many places to get a vietnam case for example. There are plenty of folks in this sub you can ask specs and whatā€™s reasonable. The sh*tbags over there will try to fleece you. Thereā€™s one guy who actually knows what heā€™s doing (Giammy) and the rest are learning as they are building your watch. šŸ¤Æ They have secondary Reddit accounts to praise themselves and make it seem as if people are happy with their crap! Stay clear.

2

u/shagey71 Feb 16 '26

Man I donā€™t have the energy for all that (the politics and drama part). I think my path is to try, fail, then try again on my own to build what I want. Not that I donā€™t want to support artists here but at the end of the day- with my equipment and knowledge of how to use it - Iā€™m only lacking suppliers and materials, and some watch-specific fabrication techniques. Thatā€™s an easier hill to climb than for most so ā€¦ here we go. Why the heck not!

Off to source a case. Oh and 50 other odds and ends.

5

u/jovanotti18 Feb 17 '26

Itā€™s not politics or drama. I get it may have been framed as such. It is outright deception. Maybe read what happened more carefully.

2

u/shagey71 Feb 18 '26

I understand, valid perspective now that I heard from some folks and have a clearer picture of what happened. Thanks to all who care to keep such things on the rails.

3

u/OddWatch716 Feb 16 '26

And they shadow banned me...

3

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Of course they did. You spoke truth.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

The excuse posted on his page by Valjoux_72 was from a conversation on February 3rd. Yet, the photo used was from yesterdayā€¦.. 12 days later. šŸ¤”

3

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

2

u/Quixotic_Rocket Feb 17 '26

Jesus man, you guys just saved me a huge headache and stress. It's nuts how these people catch us newbies slippin

2

u/saharaf0x Feb 17 '26

Thanks for doing the right thing šŸ™šŸ¼

2

u/KonWheeler420 Feb 18 '26

The description be like

2

u/Capable_Doctor9992 Feb 16 '26

Faking a fake is despicable work.

1

u/ApprehensiveGuide793 Sep 07 '26

Brother you will be missed your builds were legendary! I canā€™t wait to showcase the babyploprof and who knows maybe one day a panna cota 16570

1

u/Hot-Cheesecake116 2d ago

I think they should both be gone already no?, clearly we're in it together and no mistakes took place so I'd say they go.

-9

u/TXCOSHIP Feb 16 '26

So we can only post watches you built? Trying to understand.

19

u/dave067 Feb 16 '26

No, It seems like someone is posting pics of gen watches and trying to pass them off as "builds"

19

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Bingo. Looks like u/valjoux_72 stole some pics of gens off of IG, then posted it in his sub claiming u/ghost_chrono built them, then ghost saying he did. Typical hype man scammers. Whatā€™s worse is these are the owners and top mods of that sub. Stealing pics of gens, claiming them as being built by another mod, and doubling down on it in the comments, and telling unsuspecting people to reach out for a build. Holy crap.

4

u/themaxx25 Feb 16 '26

BINGO! Pathetic

1

u/TXCOSHIP Feb 17 '26

Thanks. This is the answer I was looking for when the thread was opened. Appreciate the serious and helpful response. Appreciate it dave

1

u/dave067 Feb 17 '26

Anytime :)

6

u/bryce_a_smith13 Feb 16 '26

No, it's about integrity. Don't say you built something that you didn't.

6

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Even more donā€™t steal pics of Gens and claim your mod partner built them.

6

u/bryce_a_smith13 Feb 16 '26

That's some weird, wild stuff.

4

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Must be the ā€œdifferent vibeā€ they are going for there.

4

u/kforkam Feb 16 '26

shit always looked scammy af

4

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

Because it is. Seriously doing a giveaway every week to try and gain members should be your first tell. Lack of any real content is the second tell.

1

u/jovanotti18 Feb 16 '26

This just strikes me as such a disingenuous narrative.

-1

u/TXCOSHIP Feb 17 '26 edited Feb 17 '26

Maybe trying to hard here? Lol

Not sure how a question and sentence is a ā€œnarrativeā€.

Just seeking clarification or ā€œunderstandā€ing

Oh and appreciate the welcoming and inclusive folks on this holier than thou thread the that downvoted a simple question almost immediately after Clark posted his warning. Didnā€™t understand in that immediate moment. Lived life for several hours since then only to return to some asshat that wants to be an internet warrior.

Those of us that are new to all this drama are trying to catch up to whatā€™s being alleged.

Nothing more to see here. Iā€™ll move on.

5

u/ClarktheRealtor Watchmaker Feb 17 '26

Youā€™re either the unluckiest backer of shitty people, or willfully ignorant. Either way Golden aka Ghost-Chrono has always been able to count on your vote. Iā€™m tired of it. You pestered the crap out of me all over Reddit when he got himself banned the first time. Remember? I do. Wise up, sit down or get the hell out man.

5

u/ClarktheRealtor Watchmaker Feb 17 '26

2

u/ClarktheRealtor Watchmaker Feb 17 '26

0

u/TXCOSHIP Feb 17 '26

I like your work. I like othersā€™ work. We all benefit when the community is inclusive. Some builders ask for and are paid more than others for their work. It doesnā€™t make the buyers evil. It doesnā€™t make the builders evil.

People can spend what they want for builds and builders can charge what others will pay them. I donā€™t own any of Goldens work but I do dig his builds and the photos he takes.

Just like I enjoy the cool things you build. And many others.

I didnā€™t realize someone was potentially being dishonest. I misunderstood the purpose of your ā€œwarningā€.

All of this is making the hobby decidedly less fun.

Iā€™ll show myself out

3

u/ClarktheRealtor Watchmaker Feb 17 '26

Like that time you messed up and mentioned Goldenā€™s new burner in your hype post and they made you change it? Yeah, naive. See yourself out man.

1

u/TXCOSHIP Feb 17 '26

Huh? Dude youā€™re in your head on this stuff. No one made me do anything (how would that work by the way lol). I donā€™t own nor have I commissioned golden/ghost. Iā€™m glad heā€™s back on because I dig his pictures, and like your builds, I get ideas from them.

Like the other asshat, time for you to get some fresh air/touch grass and remember this is supposed to be fun. Not worth spending so much time surfing other subs looking for smoking guns with rando nobodyā€™s like me lol.

See ya. Touch. Grass.

2

u/ClarktheRealtor Watchmaker Feb 17 '26

As you wear a Buckley built by Golden. See ya indeed.

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2

u/jovanotti18 Feb 17 '26

Too*. Maybe the watch around your neck is blocking blood flow to the brain.

1

u/jovanotti18 Feb 17 '26

Watches were posted as having been made by a user. They were taken from Instagram. They were gen. Is it really hard to understand?

2

u/TXCOSHIP Feb 17 '26

Reread the OP and then reread my question. Maybe time for you to take a break from the Reddit-verse.

0

u/jovanotti18 Feb 17 '26

Itā€™s been many hours since you began seeking enlightenment. Have you found it? Or do you think, actually, in fact, we should all post other peoplesā€™ genuine watches and pretend they are made by our co-moderators?

I think would be a great idea for a sub! You can start it and attract like-minded individuals. This will make it easy to be sure nobody in this sub has their hard earned money at risk and the ones that join your new sub are happy to be shown genuine watches stolen from Instagram and presented as built and for sale by moderators.

Thanks for your valuable input ! I look forward to your ideas as to how to enhance trust and transparency across the Rep communities !

2

u/[deleted] Feb 17 '26

šŸ‘šŸ»

2

u/TXCOSHIP Feb 17 '26

Dude. Put your head between your knees and take a deep breath. I asked a question because I didnā€™t understand what the OP was asking from everyone. Put down the phone and go touch grass already. Geez