Ultimate QC Checklist for Super Clones

Quality Control (QC) is the final gatekeeper before your watch is shipped. Reputable dealers will send you high-resolution photos and videos of your actual watch before sending it. Here is our step-by-step master checklist to ensure your super clone is perfect.

Step 1: The Dial and Alignment

This is the face of your watch. Minor alignments can usually only be seen under extreme magnification, but you should look for:

• Bezel Alignment: On dive watches (like the Submariner), check that the 12 o'clock triangle aligns perfectly with the 12 o'clock marker on the dial.
• Rehaut Alignment: Ensure that the "ROLEX" engraving on the inner metal ring lines up with the minute markers. Specifically, the "X" of ROLEX should align with the 5 o'clock marker, and the "R" with the 11 o'clock marker.
• Hour Markers: Check that baton and round indices (such as the 3, 6, 9 markers) are not crooked. Use a digital overlay tool if possible to verify angles.

Step 2: Date and Font Inspection

Date wheels are one of the hardest things to replicate perfectly. Ask for photos showing multiple dates (e.g., single digits, teens, and twenties):

• Centering: The numbers must sit exactly in the middle of the date window. It should not be riding too high or too far to the left.
• Font Thickness: Look for crisp, raised 3D ink printing. If the font is fuzzy, too thin, or too thick, the watch may be a lower-tier replica.
• Cyclops Magnification: Ensure the date is magnified by exactly 2.5x. The cyclops should have a clear, non-reflective appearance without heavy blue tinting.

Step 3: Case, Hands, and Bezel Finish

Check the exterior surfaces of the watch for shipping or factory handling marks:

1. Lume Pip: On the Submariner, the luminous pearl on the bezel should be centered in the triangle, slightly recessed, and have a natural warm white color.
2. Hand Polish: Ensure the hour, minute, and second hands have clean, polished edges without visible scratches or dust under the sapphire.
3. Clasp Alignment: When closed, the clasp should lock firmly and flush with the rest of the bracelet. The Rolex crown logo on the clasp must be crisp and not have soft, rounded edges.

Step 4: Reading the Timegrapher

A timegrapher is a machine that measures the movement's mechanical health. Every QC video from TimeMax includes a live timegrapher test. Here are the healthy parameters you should look for:

How We Handle QC at TimeMax

We do not expect you to be a professional watch inspector. Our team pre-inspects every watch using this exact checklist. If we spot even a minor defect (like a slightly misaligned datewheel), we reject the watch directly back to the factory before you ever see it, saving you time and ensuring you only receive flawless 1:1 super clones.