First off, let’s be real, owning a genuine AP Royal Oak Offshore, especially the Shaq edition (ref. 26133ST.00.A101CR.01, for all you watch nerds out there), is, like, a serious flex. We’re talking *serious* money. So, it’s no surprise people are looking at replicas.
Now, the thing about these “replicas” (and let’s just call ’em what they are: fakes), is the quality can be, uh, *variable*. You got your “high quality” replicas, like the ones that boast about using 904L stainless steel (which, BTW, is a fancier type of steel, supposedly) and then you got… well, the *other* ones. The ones where the “chronograph” probably doesn’t actually do anything other than make the little subdials spin around randomly. And let’s not even *start* on the quartz movements. Seriously, a quartz movement in a supposed AP? That’s just… ouch.
I mean, some of these sites are straight-up hilarious. “Replica Watches suíça OnSale!” Like, Swiss OnSale? Is that even a thing? It sounds like something outta a bad translation. And “qualidade superior movimento cronógrafo de quartzo japonês?” Dude, pick a lane! Either it’s a superior Swiss movement (it’s not) or it’s a Japanese quartz (probably).
But hey, I get it. You wanna rock something that *looks* like a million bucks without actually *spending* a million bucks. Just… don’t expect it to fool anyone who actually knows anything about watches. And for the love of Pete, don’t try to pass it off as real. That’s just embarrassing.
Personally? I’d rather save up for something legit, even if it’s a *much* more affordable watch from a totally different brand. At least you know what you’re getting. Plus, you avoid the whole ethical quandary of buying something that’s basically ripping off a legitimate company. (Okay, I’m getting all serious now. Sorry.)
Oh, and that reversed “3” and “2” on the dial as a nod to Shaq’s jersey number? That’s actually kinda cool. But still, doesn’t justify a fake.
