RC is an old factory now, but compared with VS, QF, they are still new, I think some people still have not heard RC, they started their replica watches business by making good quality Rolex Day-Date with close weight to genuine watches. Now in this field, a lot of people think RC Factory makes the best replicas of Rolex Day-Date. Now, RC has expanded their business, they now make Datejust, Daytona, Submariner, all watches from them are increased weight versions, also known as gain weight or weighted in this industry.
This Datejust shown in the article is the new model published by Rolex in 2026, it has a two tone style and features a white dial. On this replica made by RC, the white dial looks very good, it has a smooth and lustrous finish, looks like a jade. This replica watch has two case size options, 36mm and 41mm. The weight of this watch is up to 149.1 grams. The gold Datejust V2 edition from VS also has a weight around 145 grams to 147 grams.
I thought DD3235 is still only being used VS Factory, but RC Factory claims a DD3235 movement in this Datejust replica watch. Look at the movement picture, it is indeed a DD3235 movement. Currently many other factories also use this movement in the Rolex, like Clean Plus. In the era of free sprung, the clone 3235 movement also has free-sprung balance version, but RC Factory does not use free-sprung movements in their Rolex replicas. For the 3235 movement, VS Factory has a free-sprung effect, Rich Factory has a true free-sprung balance.
Now many factories are producing replica Rolex Datejust watches, RC, VS, Clean Plus, GS, AR, QF, Gold, etc. Their products are far too similar to each other and lack differentiation. I think people will be confused if they are looking for the best Datejust replica, if you ask me which factory makes the best Datejust, I do not know. Some will say VS Datejust is the best, but I think their watches are overly promoted, and ordering from them usually takes a very long time. Many dealers often order Datejust watches from other factories and pass them off as VS Factory products, and their customers usually can’t tell the difference.
V7 Factory makes a lot of good quality replicas of IWC watches in the past and they have been closed for a long time, today I saw some news saying that V7 has come back to life under a new name.
If you follow some watch dealers, you have probably already seen the posts everywhere.
But what I find strange is that all these promotional posts seem almost exactly the same.
Previously, there was an MZ Factory claiming that V7 had been revived.
MZ, not previous V7 Factory
Then there was G7 saying it was the rebirth of V7.
Now A7 is also saying that V7 has come back through them.
And actually, this is not the first time we have seen something like this.
After Clean Factory disappeared, Clean Plus was said to be the rebirth of Clean. RC was also called the rebirth of Clean. Gold Factory was another Clean revival, and V Factory was supposedly one as well.
Whether A7 really is the revived V7, I honestly do not know.
As for whether A7 Factory really has anything to do with V7, I do not care that much.
If A7 eventually produces watches that reach the same level as the old V7, I will recommend.
But is this simply another attempt to borrow the V7 name for attention and traffic, we do not know.
The following pictures show one Ingenieur watch made by A7.
Is the Rolex Yacht-Master a very popular Rolex collection? In my impression, the last really popular Rolex Yacht-Master was probably the traditional 116680. The 42mm white gold Yacht-Master 226659 can also be considered one of the more popular models in recent years.
In the replica watch market, apart from the 116680, high-quality replicas can be found for almost all of the other Yacht-Master models.
At present, the main factories producing Rolex Yacht-Master replicas are VS, QF, and ER. VS has been producing them for quite some time, while QF and ER can now equip their Yacht-Master models with free-sprung 3235 movements. Unlike the so-called fake free-sprung design used by VS, QF’s free-sprung movement has balance weights.
VS has now upgraded this rose gold Yacht-Master to the V2 version. In fact, the main change is simply an increase in weight. Tungsten steel material has been added mainly inside the case, bringing the total weight of the watch to 129.7 grams.
Curved steel inserts have also been placed inside the rubber strap. The strap itself is a high-quality type that does not easily attract dust, and it is quite expensive even if you buy it separately. After adding the steel inserts, the strap feels like it fits the wrist better and is more comfortable to wear.
VS previously made two upgrades to another Yacht-Master model, the 226659, which has now reached the V3 version. The V2 version weighed more than 130 grams, while the V3 version weighs more than 140 grams. I do not know whether VS will continue increasing the weight of this rose gold Yacht-Master in the future and eventually release a V3 version.
This Rolex Yacht-Master is equipped with VS DD3235 movement, and there are both regulated and free-sprung versions available.
For a watch with a closed caseback like this, I personally feel that choosing a free-sprung movement does not have much meaning. If the watch develops a larger timekeeping error in the future, adjusting a free-sprung movement can also be more troublesome, especially in the case of VS fake free-sprung movement.
Since around 2019, the replica watch industry began seriously developing its own movements.
When it comes to so-called super clone movements, DD’s earliest modified 8900 movement and Panerai P.9000 movement were mainly developed by combining and heavily modifying existing 2824 and 7750 movement architectures.
This actually makes some sense, because the genuine Omega 8900 itself shows certain similarities to the 2824 and 2892 architecture, while the P.9000 was also independently developed with some design ideas related to the 7750.
Because of this, DD can be considered one of the industry leaders in replica watch movements field.
Later, the old SH movement factory, also known as MZ, was invited by AR Factory to develop a Rolex 3135 movement.
That movement was honestly pretty disappointing.
At the same time, VS had DD develop its own DD3135 movement, and the DD3135 completely destroyed the old SH version in comparison.
DD3135
More importantly, it was one of the earliest clone movements that allowed genuine movement components to be directly swapped onto it.
For example, you could install genuine parts such as balance bridge, escape wheel, pallet fork, main plate directly onto the DD3135.
At the time, this was an almost legendary-level movement in the replica watch market.
After that, DD continued pushing forward and produced many impressive movements.
These included the DD4130, which became famous worldwide among overseas buyers.
DD4130
Watch collectors were crazy about this movement.
Although, to be fair, I do not think this was entirely because DD itself was so incredible. A large part of the reason was that Rolex’s original 4130 design was simply excellent.
Then came the DD925 used in Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The early version of this movement was actually quite poor, and DD spent nearly three years gradually improving it before it became reasonably good.
The DD324 movement also took almost two years of optimization.
Later, DD developed movements including: 3235, 3285, 3230, 4131, RMUL, 4302, 4401, 8800, 69385, 330 and others.
As of now, these are basically the super clone movements that DD has developed.
Things Changed
Although DD has definitely brought many interesting movements to replica watches and to watch enthusiasts like me, I personally feel that something started to change beginning around the 4302.
Why?
I want to talk about several points.
Development of New Movements Has Slowed Down
Back when Clean was still heavily involved in Rolex, they also had plans to expand into brands such as AP and Patek Philippe.
So the DD 4302 and 4401 movements we see today were, to some extent, also influenced by Clean’s involvement and investment.
However, when it comes to Patek Philippe movements, we have not really seen much progress.
At the moment, the main fully clone movement we can see is the 330.
Other projects, such as additional 324-based modules and the previously discussed CH-520 movement, have shown almost no progress.
There has been no meaningful news for a long time.
DD Has Become Lazy With Free-Sprung Movements
Starting with the 4302, DD began playing games with fake free-sprung systems.
For its AP clone movements, DD did not use a genuine weighted free-sprung balance wheel.
Instead, they created a lotus-shaped balance wheel and then hid a regulating stud underneath the bridge to make it look as though the movement were truly free-sprung.
From a consumer’s perspective, I honestly find this pretty disgusting.
Recently, DD has continued doing the same thing with movements such as the 3235 and 4131.
These so-called free-sprung versions are basically achieved by hiding the regulating stud and changing the appearance of the regulation system.
Visually, they may look more similar to the genuine movement.
But in reality, the balance wheel still does not have proper regulating weights.
And somehow, these movements are actually more expensive.
The even more ridiculous part is that most of these movements are used inside watches with closed casebacks.
Only a small number of newer Daytona models have transparent casebacks.
And on those transparent-caseback models, the lack of proper balance weights is still visible.
If you understand movement regulation systems, you can still see the flaw in DD’s fake free-sprung design.
If you do not understand movement regulation systems, then there is no real reason for you to pay extra for this fake free-sprung version anyway.
So in my opinion, the whole thing feels somewhat pointless.
Movement Quality Has Been Downgraded
On DD’s 32-series movements, the calendar retaining system was changed from the earlier special retaining screw plate to a much simpler slotted screw plate.
Functionally, there is not a massive difference.
But visually, it is obviously rougher.
The reason is simple: it is easier to manufacture.
Some of the later gear-train bridge shock-protection components also appear to have been slightly simplified.
I genuinely do not understand what DD gains from cutting corners like this.
Then there is the DD 8800.
That movement is even more obvious.
It is basically a heavily modified 2824 hybrid.
Forget about the genuine Omega co-axial escapement technology.
Even the positions of the gear train are significantly different from the genuine movement.
Everything I have described above is based on actual observable facts.
Conclusion
DD’s so-called free-sprung movements are not all genuinely free-sprung.
When choosing a replica watch, do not blindly buy something simply because it uses a DD movement.
And do not let the words “DD movement” become the main reason you choose one replica watch over another.
Yes, DD movements can be stable.
But that does not mean only DD movements are stable.
A replica watch is not just about the movement.
The most important thing is still the overall accuracy of the watch’s appearance compared with the genuine version.
When evaluating movement accuracy, the more relevant things to look at are mainly the finishing and the regulation system.
In the future, there will probably be fewer and fewer genuinely good new replica watch releases.
I hope everyone can make more objective and more suitable choices when selecting a replica watch.
