Over the past five years, significant advancements have been made in the replica watch industry, particularly in materials, finishing, and movements. Would you agree?

Today, I will provide a concise overview of the movements utilized in super clone timepieces. These movements differ substantially from those employed in replicas produced eight to ten years ago. Nowadays, enthusiasts in this field are highly knowledgeable. They are familiar with each factory, their backgrounds, and their renowned watch models. Additionally, they understand which movements are most reliable. The majority of movements available in the market are manufactured by movement factories located in three regions of China: Dandong, Shanghai, and Hangzhou.

Dandong produces a wide range of movements, including the 4130, 4131, and 3235. Many individuals became aware of this movement factory due to the 4130 movement initially used by Noob Factory. Currently, the 4130 is utilized by numerous factories, such as Clean, VS, BT, and New Noob. The Dandong 4131 is employed by VS and Clean, while the Dandong 3235 is exclusively used by VS Factory. The Dandong 4130 represents one of the most successful developments in the replica watch industry and is also considered the most stable chronograph movement. Generally, all movements from Dandong exhibit high stability, with the exception of the 925 and 938.

Dandong 4130
The best chrono movement in replicas – Dandong 4130

The images below depict the Dandong 3235 movement, also referred to as the VS 3235 or Custom VS 3235. This movement is exclusively used by VS Factory and can be found in their Datejust, 41mm Submariner, Oyster Perpetual, YachtMaster, and Sea-Dweller models. It is regarded as the best clone 3235 movement in the market, known for its exceptional stability and a power reserve lasting up to 72 hours.

Dandong 3235 Movement
Best clone 3235 movement- only used by VS

One movement from Dandong that should be avoided is the 938, which is equipped in the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Q1372520 replica. This replica is primarily manufactured by two factories, AZ and ZF. It is advisable not to purchase this watch, as this movement tends to encounter issues during use. Nearly every replica of this watch sold by these two factories experiences movement-related problems.

Replica Jaeger LeCoultre Q1372520
938 movement, developed by APS, we should not buy the replica with this movement.

Another less stable movement from Dandong is the 925, which is used in Jaeger-LeCoultre moon phase replicas. These replicas are produced by APS and ZF and are quite popular; however, their movements are even less stable than the Dandong 7750.

Replica Jaeger LeCoultre Moon Phase 1368430
Replica Jaeger LeCoultre 925 Movement

The SL6000 movement is equipped in replicas of the IWC Portuguese 7 Days PR and Big Pilot, currently used by AZ and ZF. This movement performs well and offers a power reserve exceeding 50 hours. The Portuguese 7 Days Power Reserve from ZF is a replica I highly recommend, as it is very classic.

Developed by Dandong, the 8500 and 8900 movements are used in Omega Seamaster 150m and Seamaster 600m replicas, contributing significantly to VS Factory's global reputation.

Exclusively used in Panerai replicas by VS Factory, the P.9000 movement, along with the 8500, forms the cornerstone of VS Factory's development.

There are two generations of the SH3135 movement. The first generation has been discontinued, and all current watches utilize the second generation. This movement exhibits stability comparable to that of the Dandong 3135.

SH3235. Apart from VS, other factories widely use this movement. For instance, Clean employs it in their Datejust, 41mm Submariner, and Sea-Dweller models. While the stability of this movement is acceptable, its power reserve is approximately 45 hours. If you intend to purchase a Submariner from Clean Factory, I do not recommend the 41mm model. Instead, the 40mm Submariner with the Dandong 3135 movement is a more cost-efficient choice.

Shanghai 3235 Movement
SH3235

Shanghai 7750. This movement is not highly regarded but is still widely used in replica watches. In the past, Z Factory randomly used either the Shanghai 7750 or Dandong 7750 in their IWC Portuguese Chrono replicas. Those who received watches with the Shanghai 7750 were unlucky, as this movement lacks stability.

The Hangzhou 72a0 movement is used in the Datejust and YachtMaster replicas produced by EWE Factory. EWE modified its appearance to resemble the Rolex 3235. This movement is excellent, offering a power reserve of up to 60 hours. The Blancpain 50 Fathoms replica from Z Factory also utilizes this Hangzhou movement.

Hangzhou 3235
Hangzhou 3235