If you are a replica watch hobbyist, I’m sure you’ve visited many forums about knockoffs. I am more than sure that you have come across dozens of comments in which users blamed the replica industry, claiming that imitations are far from the authentic truth. I don’t know if you have come to believe in this myth. And if yes, then today’s article is special for you. Today, we will analyze in detail the similarities and differences between a Daytona knockoff and an authentic one, and you will see that the replica industry makes very beautiful things, actually.
I’m not here to convince you that replica watches are perfect. They are not, and I don’t think they ever will be. But what I want to say is that they are not as bad as some haters try to convince us. I always support the fact that everything depends on the factory and the release of a replica watch. So, there isn’t such a thing as “all replica watches are a lie”; there is only “it depends on what factory made it” instead. Here at AAAReplica, we aim at collaborating only with reputable factories in the field. We always tell them what to improve and they usually fix it.
Of course…
Not all imitations come out perfectly. And as a rule, I write both about the advantages and what did not go well in the execution of the replica watch. Let the world know everything, so it knows what to expect when buying a replica watch. At the same time, it is a mistake to assume that absolutely all imitations are bad. I really disagree here. A good example to confirm my words is the Daytona imitation that I will review today. From my perspective, the knockoff is at the highest level. But I also want to know your perspective! So if you think I’m not right about something, let me know in the comments below. I’d be more than happy to have a constructive discussion.
Let’s get down to business
Even if opinions regarding the quality of replica watches are divided, one thing remains certain for everyone: replica watches have grown enormously in recent years. We no longer see glued hour markers or erroneous distances that are too large between the cases and their crowns. On the contrary, we already see refined, clean, and careful executions, even up to hand-finishing in some cases.
At the same time, we also notice that manufacturers have somehow become more transparent. They establish different price categories, giving a clear understanding of the quality level of the imitation depending on its price. If it is more expensive, the resemblance to the authentic model is more expressive. If it’s cheaper, then the imitation might have some small errors. Either way, the public knows exactly what they are paying for and what it is going to get.
The beautiful side of things…
It’s like the technologies in the replica industry have advanced as much as the technologies in all other industries. What looked rough and ham-fisted a few years ago, today looks delicate, fine, and highly qualitative. Precisely for this reason, different categories of replica watches have appeared, including the 1:1 copies, otherwise known as AAAAA-grade knockoffs. These are at the top level of the replica industry, being not “nearly identical” but “identical” to authentic models in every sense of the word.
One such model is the Daytona 116500LN imitation. If you only had the opportunity to keep both the replica and the genuine in your hands, I assure you that you would be perplexed at how identical they look. And the similarity between them does not consist only of a similar look. The manufacturers challenged themselves to reproduce even the smallest technical details. Respectively, the imitation has the same 904l stainless steel, the same ceramics for the bezel, and a technical architecture identical to the caliber 4130 of the authentic model. Stay with me here to discover what a 1:1 imitation really means.
Let’s move on to our in-depth inspection
When I review other replicas, I usually compare them to their previous versions. The goal is to see what improvements manufacturers have made with each new release of replica accessories. In this article though, I will aim to do a detailed comparison of the Daytona replica with the original Daytona. To further complicate my life, I got my hands on a genuine Daytona. I want to understand how complicated it will be for me to tell the difference between them. I consider myself to have a trained eye regarding replica watches, so the comparison will be objective.
All I have left to say before starting the comparison is that the experience of holding a 10k USD watch and a 1K USD watch is truly amazing. I am filled with emotions holding 2 watches whose value is indescribable. And I’m not necessarily referring to their price if you know what I mean…
The first thing to notice
After careful inspection for a few minutes under different light angles, I notice slight differences in the finish. I think that a person with little knowledge about watches would not be able to identify them at first sight. But an expert in the field is unlikely to omit them. It is about the specific gloss that appears exclusively after hand finishing. So the imitation lacks that precious detail because the fine gloss layer was applied by machine, and not by hand. Respectively, the first subtle difference is the Daytona-specific gloss that could not be reproduced in the Daytona knockoff. I told you I was going to be objective…
The second thing to notice
The second difference he notices is the edges of the watches’ details. The edges of the crown, those of the bezel, as well as those of the indicators in the dial. As you can guess, the original watch has a more refined touch, you don’t notice the texture at all. But if you run your fingers over their surface carefully, you will be able to notice how the edges have a slightly rougher texture. Also, if you have a good light in the room, you will notice that the edges do not catch the light or reflect it in the same way as the authentic watch does when you look at certain angles.
Further on…
It is increasingly difficult for me to detect aesthetic differences. To be honest, I used a magnifying lens and an extremely strong light to identify the following differences…
Dial
On the whole, you will not notice any differences between the authentic dial and the one from the 1:1 copy. Unless you get yourself a magnifying lens too. Under the spotlight, I notice that the looks of the 2 dials are extremely close to each other. However, the one in the replica watch has micro-differences at the level of the crisp effect of the lettering. The authentic watch has fairly subtle crisp lettering. In contrast, the replica watch seems to lack a final detailing to outline the crispy texture more expressively. As I told you, the difference is extremely subtle, so I can hardly explain it.
Color detailing
The “Daytona” writing above the subdial at 6 o’clock has a brighter red than in the replica watch. The manufacturers might have missed half a shade for the color. I notice the same chromatic difference in the shade of gray of the ceramic bezel. The authentic watch features a more pronounced dusting gray. In order to detect this difference, I had to look at the watches both under different artificial lights and in sunlight. My office colleagues said that I have vision problems, if I see different shades. According to them, both the gray of the bezel and the red of the “Daytona” inscription are identical. But our designer, who knows fonts, shades, and shadows better than anyone else, saved me. He confirmed to me that the difference really exists. It is an extremely small one, but it still exists.
Watch construction
While I managed to identify some cosmetic differences, I did not find anything to frustrate me in the general construction of the replica watch. I am referring more to the distance between the crown and the case, the transition from the lugs to the bracelet, the transition areas from one finish to another, or the spaces between the bezel and the dial or the bezel and the case.
As a rule, these elements are very suggestive of knockoff quality. Manufacturers usually focus on replicating the dial so that the watch looks identical, and they can produce errors when replicating the architecture as a side effect. But not in the case of this Daytona knockoff. I find in it an increased attention to execution, in which the manufacturers respected all the “guidelines” of the authentic model. I have no objections to this aspect.
Technical details
The inner mechanism of a watch is the most suggestive detail that reveals whether it is a fake or not. In previous releases, manufacturers equipped Daytona replica watches with all kinds of movements, including ETA 7750 or something similar. They did not perform badly; on the contrary, they have earned a reputation for reliable, cost-effective, and easily-replaceable mechanisms. However, none of them look half as good as a genuine 4130 mechanism.
And here comes the tasty news: this Daytona runs on a 4130 replica movement. The manufacturers have designed it in such a way that it looks genuine and works just like the authentic mechanism. The architecture of the cloned movement features the same intricate details as the genuine one, including a column wheel, balance bridge, and purple reserving wheels. There are even some tiny gold screws that reproduce the original image from the authentic Daytona.
However…
I have to be honest and admit that some areas of the mechanism do not have high-quality processing. Some details have a mediocre finish when looking at them under strong light. Others have a slightly stiffer texture when originally it was supposed to be smooth according to the authentic model.
In the meantime, I found a difference between the 2 internal mechanisms. It is about a regulated balance in the knockoff which must actually be correct free sprung. The irony is that I realized this difference only because I have the authentic model in my hand. If I were to do a separate review of this Daytona knockoff, I would certainly not have noticed this detail, even with my trained eye.
Bottom line
I hope you remained as impressed by this Daytona knockoff as I was. It is one of the best replications so far, if not the best. It is certainly a good example to illustrate what a 1:1 copy actually means.
This Daytona is also a good example to show how much the replica industry has advanced in recent years. I do not pretend to say that the imitation is 100% identical and I think I will never dare. But I must admit that the attempt to bring this model as close as possible to the authentic watch was successful.
It’s a replica watch that looks like an authentic one. And in this context, we hope that our customers will not take advantage of this benefit to try to sell it as an authentic one. As I said before, an expert will necessarily detect the differences, which are insignificant, but still there.
Alternatively, this Daytona knockoff is for you to enjoy the beauty and comfort offered by a watch with history, quality, and phenomenal popularity.
In the same context…
Please keep in mind that not all Daytona replica watches are the same. Each store in the industry collaborates with different factories. Respectively, what I talked about here about this Daytona may not be valid for the same Daytona model from another store.
In this regard, talk to the dealer from whom you plan to buy about the smallest details of the knockoff. Be cautious and make sure you have a quality Daytona knockoff. Do not believe in those who promise you a 100% identical replica watch. Such a thing simply does not exist. A reliable dealer will talk to you honestly about all the pluses and minuses of replica watches.