Hello everyone, I am purewatches. Just after the New Year, the backend private messages exploded again. Almost every day, friends asked the same question: “Can AF Factory Cartier be taken seriously?”
As an old player who has been involved in replica watch circles for many years, today I don’t want to say those ambiguous words, I just want to talk to you about something real from the bottom of my heart. My conclusion may be a bit cold water:It cannot, and should never, be expected to completely replace the genuine article.
I know this sounds harsh, but when it comes to playing with watches, the biggest fear is “self-deception.” If you are staring at the Blue Balloon or Santos from the AF factory, and you have a little calculation in your mind that “the fake is the real one”, I suggest you read this review. This is not only a conversation about watches, but also a conversation about mentality.
1. I have to admit that the AF factory has indeed done enough to save face.
Let’s talk about it. AF Factory can gain a firm foothold in the replica circle not by words but by hard work. Cartier is a brand that sells design, and AF Factory is best at “visual engineering”.
1. The appearance is restored and difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. Take the most popular 33mm blue balloon as an example. The AF factory has stuck the case thickness at 10mm, which is almost the same as the original. I have done a test before. I put the AF factory and the genuine product side by side on the table. I did not touch them with my hands and just looked at them with my eyes. Nine and a half times out of ten, I would make mistakes. This kind of visual deception is indeed the top level on the market.
2. Pay close attention to details The real work is in the small details. For example, the blue spinel on the crown is made by AF Factory, which is transparent and deep. It has the luster of a gemstone when it is turned, and does not become lumpy like low-end products. The pointer uses a blued steel needle, and the faint blue glow at a specific angle is very positive. Even the three-dimensionality of the mimeographed Roman numerals on the dial and the thickness of the LOGO font have gone through several rounds of corrections. At first glance, there are really no major flaws.
2. Why do you say “can’t take it seriously”? These three flaws cannot be hidden
Since they look so similar, why do I still advise you to give up? Because watches are not only for looking at, but also for wearing and appreciating. Once you get started, the difference becomes apparent.
1. Traces of “industrialization” in movement polishing There is an old saying in the replica circle: “Only look at the front, not the back.” Although the AF factory has changed the mechanical model movement gear to the same first gear as the original, the functional logic is no problem. But as long as you take a magnifying glass and look at the back, the truth cannot be hidden. The genuine Cartier movement has a Swiss-made “moisturizing feel” when polished, with delicate Geneva patterns and rounded chamfers. Even if the AF factory uses modified ETA, the polishing is still rough, the edges of the screws are slightly rough, and the lettering lacks three-dimensional agility. This is the essential difference between a piece of art worth tens of thousands of yuan and an industrial product worth several thousand yuan.
2. The “metaphysics” of material texture Many novices tend to ignore the feel. The stainless steel used by genuine Cartier has a special formula. It will have a warm and moist texture after being worn for a long time, which is called “moist” in jargon. Although the AF factory also uses 316L steel, in order to pursue brightness, the polishing is too straightforward, and the gloss is too “thief”. There is also a watch strap. The softness of genuine crocodile leather that gets better and better the more you wear it, is difficult to completely imitate with a replica watch strap.
3. The “psychological baggage” when wearing it This is most true. Wearing genuine products makes you feel magnanimous, and your friends don’t panic when they use them to play with. But wearing a replica watch, no matter how similar it is, there is always a tension in your heart, you are afraid of being seen by knowledgeable people, and you are afraid of going to the counter to reveal your secret. This kind of psychological lack of confidence will directly reduce your wearing experience. Playing with watches and pictures is fun, but if you wear them with fear, you are putting the cart before the horse.
3. The value of the existence of AF factory: it is “replacement” not “deception”
Having said so many shortcomings, does the AF factory have no merit? Of course not. I actually have respect for AF Factory. Its position has never been to help you deceive people, but to give friends with limited budgets an opportunity to experience classic designs.
- For newcomers to the workplace or students: For a fraction of the price of genuine products, you can have the same design aesthetic, match clothes, attend occasions, and satisfy your pursuit of beauty. This is absolutely no problem.
- For those who are hesitant to buy genuine products: If you plan to give your partner an authentic Cartier, but you are afraid that he or she will not like the size or weight, it is a very smart strategy to buy an AF factory one first and go back to “try it on” and then buy the original if you feel it is suitable.
4. Summary: Only by knowing your positioning can you have fun.
Back to the original question: Can AF Factory Cartier be taken seriously?
Visually, it can satisfy your aesthetic; in terms of identity, it can never replace the genuine piece with “Cartier” engraved on it.
AF Factory is a leader in the replica market, and can even achieve interchangeability levels on some appearance parts, but after all, it is an excellent “replica watch”, not a “cheap genuine product”. If you can accept its essence and appreciate it as a piece of exquisite industrial jewelry, then it is extremely cost-effective. But if you expect to rely on it to get by, then I advise you to give up the idea as soon as possible.
When playing with a watch, play with your heart first, and with a correct attitude, whether it is an authentic watch or a replica, the joy of wearing it on your hand is truly yours.