New to RWI? RWI stands for Replica Watch Info, a forum that the reptime.help glossary calls one of the largest and oldest in the replica watch community, with strict vetting of trusted dealers. This guide follows the order process that the r/RepTime wiki (updated April 9, 2026) and the reptime.help newbie guide describe, step by step, with the factory facts we checked in October 2026.
Step 1: learn the basic words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rep and gen | A replica and the genuine watch |
| TD | Trusted dealer, vetted by a forum such as RWI, RepGeek or RWG |
| QC | Photos or a video of your exact watch before it ships |
| GL and RL | Green light (approve) and red light (reject) after QC |
| W2C | "Where to cop": a request for a seller |
| NWBIG | The top mark of the community guide: "Not Worth Buying In Gen" |
The glossary has more than 90 terms.
Step 2: choose the watch and the factory
A replica is built by a specific factory, and quality depends on the factory. The r/RepTime "Who Makes the Best" guide, updated May 29, 2026, names the best, second and third factory for each model, with the movement. Factories change: Clean was reported raided in July 2025, and ARF, APSF and VF had raid reports in 2026. Check the factory profiles and the brand guides before you choose.
reptime.help describes three tiers:
| Tier | Price range |
|---|---|
| High tier (top factories, clone movements) | 350 to 900+ USD |
| Mid tier (budget factories, less fine detail) | 250 to 400 USD |
| Bottom (DHGate, AliExpress) | 30 to 200 USD |
Step 3: choose a trusted dealer
- r/RepTime has no trusted dealers of its own. Its wiki says that a dealer with trusted flair holds that status on one of the forums.
- "Do not under any circumstances Google a TD, use the forum links provided only!" (r/RepTime wiki). reptime.help adds that scammers use look-alike domains.
- Any trusted dealer can source any watch that is still in production; dealer websites are catalogues, not stock lists.
- To have recourse with a dealer, join the dealer's forum before you buy (r/RepTime wiki).
Our Trusted Dealers list describes five dealers from their own published terms. It is our own selection, not a forum list.
Step 4: place the order
Ask the dealer if the factory still makes your watch ("in stock"), the price, and how long QC takes. reptime.help recommends WhatsApp as the fastest route and email as the slowest. Do not enter card details on a dealer website.
Step 5: pay
The r/RepTime wiki and reptime.help list Wise (the best exchange rate, according to the wiki), Western Union, PayPal Friends and Family (some dealers, often only for repeat customers) and crypto. The wiki advises against credit or debit cards unless you use a one-time card number.
Step 6: QC
After payment, the dealer sends photos of your exact watch. reptime.help says this can take from hours to two weeks. You can post the photos to r/RepTimeQC for feedback. Give a green light only when you have checked the details; our QC photo guide lists what to check.
Step 7: shipping and customs
Delivery takes one week to two months, according to reptime.help; track the parcel with 17Track. The r/RepTime wiki says that trusted dealers "almost all offer a customs guarantee", a free replacement if customs seizes the watch. If you get a customs letter, reptime.help says: do not reply, and contact your dealer. Read our guide to the legal position for your country.
Step 8: when the watch arrives
reptime.help gives three tips: buy a bracelet tool before the watch arrives, expect about ±30 seconds a day from an unserviced movement, and treat the watch as not water resistant until it is tested. If something is wrong, work it out with the dealer first, then use the forum's dispute route.
Sources
- r/RepTime Wiki: A Guide to Replica Watches, updated April 9, 2026, read October 14, 2026
- reptime.help newbie guide, glossary and factories page, read October 14, 2026
- Who Makes the Best guide, spreadsheet updated May 29, 2026 (r/RepTime)
- Clean Factory got raided, July 14, 2025, VF and APSF is down, May 13, 2026, APSF: raided or not, May 30, 2026 and ARF shut down? June 11, 2026 (r/RepTime)