The battle for supremacy in the replica watch industry often comes down to the smallest details, and the VS Factory Green Submariner and Clean Factory Green Submariner are no exception. These two titans have delivered some of the most sought-after replicas, and today we delve deep into their features to determine which factory reigns supreme.
1. Overall Appearance and Dial Details
At first glance, both watches appear nearly identical, making it hard to distinguish their origins without closer inspection. Both models use the same ceramic bezel supplier, ensuring consistent quality and avoiding issues like the infamous “duck-green” tone seen in early replicas.
- Bezel and Night Pearl:
- VS Factory: The luminous pearl leans toward a cooler white tone.
- Clean Factory: Offers a warmer yellowish glow with better transparency. While both are faithful to the original design, Clean’s night pearl is often preferred for its authenticity.
- Dial and Indices:
- Both factories excel in their 3D oil-printed fonts, with no visible differences in clarity or precision.
- The 6 and 9 o’clock indices feature rounded edges, maintaining the correct specifications.
- Hands:
- Clean Factory: Slightly thicker and heavier.
- VS Factory: Slimmer and better centered. Both are polished to perfection, with no visible burrs or rough edges.
2. Crown and Case Details
- Crown and Caseback:
- Both feature highly detailed and well-executed Rolex crown logos.
- Clean Factory: The crown sits lower, which is more faithful to the original.
- VS Factory: The crown is slightly higher, giving it a less accurate profile.
- Crystal:
- Clean Factory edges ahead here with its lower-profile crystal and subtle chamfered edges, closely mimicking the original. Unfortunately, VS Factory does not replicate this feature as effectively.
3. Bracelet and Comfort
Both factories source their bracelets from top-tier suppliers, ensuring high quality across the board.
- Clean Factory:
- Uses the same supplier as AR Factory, renowned for their superior 904L steel bracelets.
- The polishing and brushing are precise, and the bracelet feels more comfortable on the wrist.
- VS Factory:
- While also excellent, the bracelet falls slightly short in terms of overall refinement and comfort compared to Clean’s version.
4. Movement
The movement is where the real differences emerge. Both models feature 70-hour power reserve movements, but the choice of manufacturer significantly impacts performance.
- Clean Factory:
- Equipped with the Shanghai 3235 movement, which is based on the 3135 architecture.
- While reliable, it doesn’t fully replicate the original 3235’s architecture, with minor differences in components and assembly.
- VS Factory:
- Boasts the Dandong 3235 movement, a fully re-engineered clone that is compatible with original parts.
- Offers superior polishing, stability, and precision. Post-sale testing reveals consistent performance with a beat amplitude between 220-270, closely matching the original Rolex specifications. The Shanghai movement, on the other hand, often exceeds this range, at 240-310, which can deviate from the authentic experience.
5. Maintenance and After-Sales Support
- VS Factory:
- Faster repair services and greater availability of replacement parts. The compatibility of Dandong 3235 components also ensures seamless maintenance.
- Clean Factory:
- Slower turnaround times for repairs and occasional delays in parts availability. However, the widespread compatibility with other factories’ parts mitigates these issues to some extent.
Final Verdict
Choosing between the VS Factory and Clean Factory Green Submariners ultimately depends on your priorities:
- For aesthetics and external details: Clean Factory takes the lead with superior bracelet comfort, bezel accuracy, and crystal design.
- For movement and reliability: VS Factory wins with its more refined Dandong 3235 movement, which outperforms the Shanghai counterpart in both precision and durability.
Recommendation: If you prioritize external perfection, go for the Clean Factory Submariner. If you value a high-performing movement, the VS Factory Green Submariner is the clear choice.