The Moon Thieves (盜月者)

The old timers used to say...

horologists mustn't get attached to their watches.

As I see it now, don't get attached to anything at all

albeit it's a truth seen too late.

To Kwun Tong,

Yau Tong.

Those are mine, mate...

These green boxes are not mine.

Told you,

only grab the ones with dinosaur stickers.

Return those.

A box is missing; where's the "bridge"?

Come back anytime

if any issue arises.

Sure, thanks.

- You're most welcome. - Bye.

Lend me a bridge.

What for?

For a 1967 Submariner.

That watch is older than me.

You can't make it.

I can if you spare me a bridge.

It's bad enough that you run a forgery business.

How dare you involve me?

Forgery? I only use legit, period-correct parts.

A period-correct (PC) watch...

is made with original parts salvaged from beat-up watches

of the same model and vintage.

While every part used is genuine...

once assembled, they become a counterfeit.

You're meeting Wayne the Butch?

That's why you must help me.

If you don't, I'll tell on you.

Jerk.

Back then, my dad earned his pot of gold...

opening a butcher shop.

He bought the same watch to commend himself.

The sight of this watch...

reminds me of the past.

Wait.

The certificate?

The owner was in his eighties.

He had wished to be buried with this watch and...

didn't keep any papers.

Can we have it authenticated in the service center?

I... suppose.

- Then again... - Why?

Will it be deemed a fake?

My goodness, Mr. Wayne.

Who dares scam you?

You may inspect a new watch as often as you please.

As for discontinued watches...

service center technicians are notorious for...

swapping true vintage parts out for aftermarket ones.

Your good watch could return a Frankenstein.

We're done for.

They say a wearer complements his watch, not vice versa.

If I'm wearing this watch...

no one will believe it's genuine, albeit a proper certificate.

Why? Because I don't deserve this watch.

As for you, Mr. Wayne

who on earth will doubt if...

someone of your stature is wearing a fake?

See you.

Call me anytime.

Bye.

Told you I could make it.

- You jerk. - I know...

Forgive me, okay?

Vincent Ma.

You've got mail from the US.

How dare you use my shop address for mail?

- So petty... - Unbelievable.

Here we are... after breaking the bank.

You worked so hard to hustle Wayne...

just to pay for a stack of photocopies?

I used all my resources...

to smuggle these papers out of the Smithsonian.

You won't understand.

See this?

S/N 43.

Moonwatch.

the first watch ever worn on the moon.

Moonwatch.

the 50th anniversary edition.

Built in the 4th generation style, ST 105.012...

that astronauts wore during Apollo 11... want one?

I want the "real" Moonwatch.

Screw Moonwatch, it's nothing but a big gimmick.

Add a word, change a color.

Here comes your new model.

The make and model are unimportant here.

It's all about the story behind.

True, but even NASA couldn't locate that watch.

What makes you think you can?

Get real.

What do you care?

S/N 43 is not a myth; I'll prove it.

Snob.

Bumpkin.

Hello?

Vincent Ma, Uncle wants to meet you.

Did you wait long?

Not at all.

- I'm... - Vincent Ma.

- Yes. - Have a seat.

Thank you.

I'm here to meet Uncle.

My dad died 2 years ago from a stroke.

But it didn't stop clients from asking for him.

So I took his nickname.

I see.

I run this place the same way my dad did.

So, why are we here, Uncle?

Ma, your family runs a watch repair shop.

You literally grew up among watches.

You made your first Frankenwatch at age 15...

then turned pro during university.

You were busted once and got schooled.

Lesson learned:

Lies are...

best based on truths.

After that, you got hooked on PC watches...

and were never caught again.

Don't worry.

I've invited you here...

for a consultation.

The Picassos?

These Picasso-owned watches went missing after his passing.

They've turned up recently...

now set to be auctioned off in Japan.

A full-blown bidding war is expected.

The value of Picasso's name is priceless.

I'd like you to make a trip to Japan.

Build me a period-correct set of those 3 watches...

and verify the genuineness of the lot.

The auction house surely has examined the lot.

It's got to be real.

Uncle.

How about...

letting me build the PC replicas here in Hong Kong?

As for the trip to Japan...

perhaps...

I can be excused?

As you know, my forte is building PC watches

not inspection.

I don't want to... become a liability.

I can refer someone for the job though.

You can build period-correct watches

but not identify one?

Nothing gets past you.

The truth is, I seldom... commit felonies.

Please understand.

Sure.

Thank you, Uncle.

It was nice meeting you all.

As sad and quiet as this shop may seem...

it's indeed the world's most capable stolen watch dealer...

Uncle's headquarters.

As long as your pocket is deep enough...

Uncle will deliver what you want no matter the difficulty.

What are the odds?

How about that, Mr. Wayne?

You told me to avoid the service center.

So I called Uncle; he offered to inspect my watch.

Here I am.

Ah... you'll need some privacy; I'd better go.

What's the rush? Did you do something bad?

No.

- Join us. - Sure.

- Sit down. - Sure.

Watch him.

Uncle.

Japan boasts...

the best authentication services.

Then again...

my shop is not bad either.

Uncle.

So, is it the real thing?

Your watch...

has been opened.

- Son of a gun. - Wait...

I know Japan well, let's go there...

Hold on.

What now?

I didn't say your watch was tampered with.

What?

Vintage watches require servicing and oiling every so often.

Your watch has been opened.

But the parts inside are all-original...

especially the "bridge".

It's not a PC watch.

Are you sure?

Don't trust me...

trust the respected Loi Bo Watch Co.

Sorry, did I scare you?

No, no, it's nothing.

Drop by my shop to get some prime cut.

Thank you, sir.

- Get the watch, meathead. - Goodbye.