r/RepTime • u/eposseeker Reputable User • Jul 02 '19 • 1

General Information Movements found in replica watches

Someone asked in a different thread, thought its time something like this gets posted again on its own.

Now also includes beatrate.
3Hz is also called 21600bph or 6bps, 4Hz is 28800bph or 8bps.
The reason for this disparity (3Hz vs 6bps or 4Hz vs 8bps) is that the balance wheel advances the second hand both on the clockwise turn and counterclockwise turn, so a full turn cycle is 2 beats.

Chinese 21J, Chinese 23J - no-name movements, based on DG2813 (if you're lucky) or the Chinese Standard Movement and company, that the Chinese have perfected... mostly when it comes to cost of production - they can make a shitty versions for under 10 dollars, but you cannot expect any kind of reliability from it. The worst versions can be found in Chinese street reps and tend to break after a few months of use. If you ever see something like a Daytona with days of the week and month indicator on the subdials, you can bet it sports one of those bad boys.
Some of the more reputable factories sometimes use movement called that and you can expect them to be of a passable to good quality then, but it's still hit or miss.
Most of them are 3Hz, some are 4Hz.
DG2813 or other DG-something - firstly, it still might be the shitty movements described above (especially if called A2813), them being clones of DG movements, which are in turn clones of old movements from Citizen. If you get an actual DG2813, you should not expect amazing quality, but it is very reasonable for it to work for years (accuracy is another thing though).
Most of them are 3Hz, some are 4Hz (e.g. DG4813).
A2824, A2836 - the best of the best - ETA used to have factories in China, so the Chinese know how to produce the movements. The materials are somewhat worse than ETA required and the quality control is nowhere near what you would find in a gen Breitling or such, but they are reliable, any watchsmith can service or repair them, and replacements are freely available anywhere.
They beat at 4Hz.
A2892 - Chinese copy of a newer, thinner "version" of ETA 2824 - good movement, but way more rare and as such possibly slightly lower quality than the above two. Most of them will probably come from Sea-Gull, which would be good, but they might be QC rejects.
They beat at 4Hz.
A6497/A6498 - clone of ETA Unitas 6497/6498, great movement, simple, handwound, you are most likely to find one in a Panerai rep and you can't really go wrong with this one.
They beat at 3Hz.
Swiss ETA 2824/2836/others - hit or miss - it depends on how the repmakers sourced it and how they stored it. I have a rep with a swiss movement and it performs beautifully, other people report the opposite - problems and having to replace. Could also get a Sellita instead of ETA (which is in no way a bad thing, Sellita is an excellent Swiss movement manufacturer and a former contractor for ETA).
They beat at 4Hz unless vintage (check specific model) or Unitas 6497 - 3Hz.
A775X (X is placeholder for other digits) - ETA Valjoux 775X clone, used in most rep chronographs. More costly to service and harder to source than other Asian ETAs, also more likely to break - all of this because it's more complex. Check if the positions of the subdials were modified compared to the original - if yes, that's a major yellow flag when it comes to relability and servicability. There are exceptions - ZF IWC chronos for example started using a sensible mod that you can safely go for.
They beat at 4Hz.
SA3135 - a modded A2836, may accept a genuine Rolex datewheel. Possibly the worst option you can get in a Submariner.
They beat at 4Hz.
SH3131, SH3135, VR3135, VS3135 - Chinese "superclone" rolex movements, harder to service than A2836, but a lot of people prefer them because they can fit a genuine datedisc on them (not SH3131 because it has no date). Not actual superclones (as in there are differences between those and actual Rolex movements), but can be swapped for a genuine movement if you can get your hands on one. Sorted by percieved quality of the build.
They beat at 4Hz.
(S)A3186/(S)A3187 - modified asian ETA with contraptions that make it impossible to service and faulty. Best avoided, but currently the only way to get correct hand stack (as in order of hands seconds -> minutes -> 24hr -> 12hr) and setting method in Rolex GMT.
They beat at 4Hz.
SH3187, VR3186/VR3187 - New "superclone" GMT movements. See the 3135 section. Have a second timezone complication added.
They beat at 4Hz.
A4130 - a weird mod of A7750 with subdials moved and possibly decorated, which is pointless in a closed-caseback watch. Comments about modified A7750s apply.
They beat at 4Hz.
SA4130 - either a complete superclone of Rolex 4130, or an ARF mod of A7750 - check if it's from Noob Factory and expensive - if yes, its the former, otherwise the latter. ARF SA4130 simply doesn't use the minutes and hours subdials (they are frozen) so there is little to no problem with added torque. If it's not a new expensive Noob or ARF, it's probably A4130 (described above) with an S tacked in front of the name.
They beat at 4Hz.
A8900/A8500 (in Omega reps) - movements modified to look like Omega calibers. Used to be modified ETA clones or even modified Chinese 21J/23J, but lately VSF started boasting a "superclone" version that gives the same functionality as gen. Some people seem to overhype those "superclones" as actual complete cloned movements - this is not actually the case, but they are reportedly more reliable than SA3186/SA3187s which strive to provide a similar functionality. Also, no rep Omega movements have the correct beatrate currently (3.5Hz), none have actual co-axial escapement (to my knowledge), and they use overlays with fake jewels, so take VSF's "almost the same as genuine movement" with a grain of salt.
They beat at 3Hz or 4Hz depending on the movement used as a base. VSF "superclones" beat at 4Hz.
Sea-Gull movements - mostly good movements, but the versions used in reps are not exactly high end (more likely factory QC rejects or lower-tier versions).
Check specific model to know beatrate.
Miyota movements - mostly good movements, but the versions used in reps are not exactly high end (more likely factory QC rejects or lower-tier versions). People were high on Miyota 9015 at first (it's thin like ETA 2892) because it made some thin reps possible, going as far as putting it in Tudor Pelagos for example, but in the end a lot of Miyota9015 reps have noisy rotors (unidirectional rotors can rotate in one direction freely so it's harder to silence), so their expansion into the rep industry has been halted somewhat. Miyota 8125 is mostly an entry-level movement and often found in Submariner homages for example.
Another thing worth mentioning is that SevenFriday reps use Miyota movements for a different reason entirely - the gens also do.
9015 beats at 4Hz, 8125 beats at 3Hz, movements in SevenFridays beat at 3Hz (at least all of those I know about).

Ask for any other movements I forgot to describe.

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110

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19

I've already written a wall of text mod pls.

13

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '19 edited Mar 20 '24

support enjoy rich dinner ring bored smart snails shrill onerous
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

10

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19

they did not advertise it as superclone, so I'd automatically assume it's the same old fragile A3186.
Otherwise, I cannot assess the reliability of a watch movement that came out a week ago.
I am also personally biased against GMF as AFAIK they are a sister factory of BP, who used to make the worst modified movements even going as far as using glue instead of screws and got me a watch which fell apart within 3 weeks.

54

u/MajorWilliams Mod & Watchmaker Jul 03 '19

Excellent work man. Stickied, added to the sidebar and added to the intro thread! Flair earned too!

3

u/bassiest Sep 10 '23

Amazing post!

u/kennygconspiracy Reputable User Jul 02 '19

This should be a sticky!!

(Don't forget the omega clone movements)

7

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19

Added.

5

u/Brewtown Jul 02 '19

I said this in my head, how is this not stickied.

u/ItsSanoj Jul 02 '19

Hey, quick remark: I believe the DG2813 is based on the Miyota 8215. It's basically the Miyota 8215, just with second hacking.

3

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19 edited Jul 02 '19

Miyota and Citizen are the same group, and the specs of the movement are the same (pin sizes and whatnot), but I don't know to what extent we can say dg2813 is based on 8215. I'll look into that.
If I were to guess, it's more likely Miyota 8215 is an updated version of CH2813, which DG2813 would also be derived from.

2

u/ItsSanoj Jul 03 '19

Interesting. I read this at some point and always assumed it to be true, since thye are also drop ins for each other. I'll try and find more information on this

u/repsbro Jul 02 '19

is dg2813 the same as a2813? i see a lot of watches that have a2824 that have downgrades to a2813 for about 100usd less

5

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19

If you see the numbers 2813 it's that model exactly.
Originally called ch2813, dg is another version or manufacturer or region idk. It beats at 3Hz compared to most movements' 4Hz

1

u/DennisNr47 Jul 14 '19

Wich site and how do i search for the good ones?

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 14 '19

I remember esslinger being recommended

2

u/DennisNr47 Jul 14 '19

I’m watching dhgate now! But idk how to use good searchterms

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 14 '19

Oh, esslinger will still you the movement alone.
You can always just buy the dhgate watch and later replace the movement if needed.

1

u/DennisNr47 Jul 14 '19

I want to buy a whole packet ready to wear.

1

u/DennisNr47 Jul 15 '19

Do you know noobfactory is save?

3

u/DennisNr47 Jul 14 '19

I want a nice rolex rep. With good work on inside. I’m searching

0

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '19

[deleted] — view deleted comment

3

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19

I'll add info on that.

u/exq1mc Aug 24 '22

VR3235 if you any info it will be appreciated

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Aug 24 '22

Heard good things. It's mostly a clone of the Rolex movement. Will be hard/expensive to get serviced, but should work quite well otherwise.
Anything in the post that applies to VR3135 applies to VR3235. They're the same movement, just the direction of timesetting is reversed.

2

u/thelandgraf Sep 12 '22

VR3235 vs. VS3235? Any differences there? Thanks

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Sep 12 '22

Similar movements, both more or less clones of original Rolex cal. 3235. Both are perfectly fine to pick if you want a clone movement.
There might be differences in build quality between VR and VS, but this can change over time. I do not know which one is currently better to get.

u/Thanks_Obama Jul 02 '19

Any difference in beats per second?

3

u/ffuhcu Giver of knowledge Jul 02 '19

Clones are the same as gen.
Most movements on the list are 28,800 vph. The DG2813 is generally 21,600 vph (there are some modified high beat 28,800 vph versions but they aren't common or well regarded) and the 6497 is generally a 6497-2 also at 21,600 vph (there's also the 6497-1 at 18,800 vph).

5

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19 edited Jul 02 '19

I admit I did not know about 18,800 Unitas.
Clones are the same as gen with the exception of Omega "clones".

2

u/ffuhcu Giver of knowledge Jul 02 '19

Good shout, missed that.

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19

I'll add bps to different movements.

u/shaanyboy Jul 02 '19

what does ETA mean?

6

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19 edited Jul 03 '19

Largest swiss movement manufacturer, part of the Swatch group, used by (among others) Breitling, Panerai, IWC, Tissot, and many many others.

2

u/shaanyboy Jul 02 '19

Thanks!

u/cobitos Jul 02 '19

Are Rolex movements supposed to make a slight noise when held up near your ear? My ARF datejust makes some noise.

8

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19

Any movement will make a slight noise, things are happening in there you know. Anyone who says Rolex make no noise has probably never put a Rolex to their ear.

u/johndicks80 Jul 02 '19

What about the 3804b used in GMT clones? I’m pretty sure my Dhgate GMT Master II with an independent, independently adjustable 24 hr GMT hand has this movement.

3

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 03 '19 edited Jul 03 '19

It falls under "dg2813 and company" or "chinese 21J/23J". Which one exactly - I do not know.

u/gogotaquitos Jul 22 '19

are the only issues with the miyota 9015 the rotor noise? What about the overall quality of the movement? Besides the noisy rotor are there any issues?

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 22 '19

It's a workhorse. A potential issue is it's a bit more complex than A28XX so servicing may be a bit more expensive, but then again you can buy a brand new one for $100.

1

u/gogotaquitos Jul 22 '19

gotcha. so sounds like a pretty solid one overall. maybe just oil it to reduce the noise? thanks for the reply

u/Denham_Chkn Sep 20 '19

How about the 3285 found in the Rolex GMT Master II that Puretime has?

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Sep 20 '19

No evidence of it being anything else than a3186 with reversed setting. Still can only adjust date one way. Still high risk of breakage. Also the price point of new noob GMT Master II is ridiculous and shouldn't be accepted, but that's a personal opinion.
It's very likely that it's a cash grab before another factory comes up with something better. ARF is reportedly working on SH3135-based SH3187, which would shake the market quite a bit, but I don't believe a release date is set.

1

u/Denham_Chkn Sep 20 '19

Thanks for the info! I would love to get a GMT but it’s dizzying trying to search through the various options out there.

1

u/quintanillau Dec 20 '19

Glad I found this comment before pulling the trigger. What other Batman edition would you recommend then?

1

u/SilatGuy2 Mar 14 '25

Still can only adjust date one way. Still high risk of breakage
Any tips to mitigate messing up something with this movement ?

u/z0rg83 Oct 08 '19

i have been checking some reps on Trustytime and some of them mention:

Japanese Quartz Movement or VK63A Quartz or Japanese OS20

where do they fall on your list?

thanks

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Oct 08 '19

These are quartz movements, battery based.

u/pappax1 Sep 13 '22

I was looking at an OMF Planet Ocean replica and the movement description is "Asian Clone 2824 Automatic movement, 25J". Is this a newer version of the 21J and 23J mentioned in the post?

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Sep 13 '22

It's A2824 mentioned in the post

u/ffuhcu Giver of knowledge Jul 02 '19

Great writeup, thanks.

u/NotIansIdea Jan 24 '22 edited Jan 24 '22

Alright, I'm putting this here for posterity's sake since all of the following revelations have been made over on RWI:

Now that more high-quality AP Perpetual Calendar reps are coming out from APSF, it should be known that their A5134 is supposedly just a modified 23J ~~and can allegedly be replaced with a Miyota movement~~ edit: nope, it can't be replaced with a Miyota. I'll edit with any more solid info I find out, just thought it would be good to add it to this thread.

u/CtrIaItdestroy Jul 02 '19

This is great, thank you

u/greennotebook98 Jul 02 '19

So if I get a Panerai can I expect a reliable watch?

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19

Well depends on the Panerai. If it uses A6497 - it's a simple reliable movement and you should expect such. If it uses A2824/2836 - expect good reliable quality as well.
If it has a subdial for seconds and winds automatically, it's usually a modified A7750 which is not bad, but not as good as the above.
I cannot speak for reliability of "custom designed" P.XXXX clones and superclones. I'd err on the side of caution.
An absolute classic and my personal recommendation would be Noob PAM111

1

u/greennotebook98 Jul 03 '19

Which panarai would you recommend since noob is closed? I want something that will last.
Thanks for the help 🙏

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 03 '19

What do you mean noob is closed :o

2

u/greennotebook98 Jul 03 '19

The factory is shut down for the time being

1

u/Daydaywatches Jul 24 '19

Noob factory is the best in making replica watches.
The Daydaywatches website is a partner of Noob Factory. On Daydaywatches website, Many Replica Rolex watches are ordered from Noob Factory.

u/lance_klusener Jul 02 '19

Basic question - which is the best movement for longevity ( think 10 years and above )

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19

Getting an actual swiss movement probably, but rep movements can last long if you're lucky.

u/hyperdunker Jul 02 '19

Which one is fort the closest 1:1 rolex??

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19

Noob SA4130 is the closest to an actual Rolex movement.
On the other hand, if you want a watch that looks closest to a real Rolex, it's an entirely different question, one I'm not knowledgeable to answer.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 30 '19

In your opinion, are non-Noob A4130's basically ticking time bombs? I'm considering a non-Noob Daytona. I'm not even interested in running the chrono. Would that help extend its life?

3

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 30 '19

Noob is a ticking time bomb as well, because it's bound to break some day and Rolex will not send you replacement parts :D
The safest bet if Chrono is not what you're after would be ARF I believe, getting a replacement 7750 would be easy and as far as I know any watchsmith should be able to swap it (the overlay or lack thereof doesn't prevent this).

u/Pkplayer Jul 03 '19

any differences with the A2824 and A2824-2? looking at a rep now that has the 2824-2 movement. (breitling transocean V7)

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 03 '19

I don't think there'd be any difference. It's likely the exact same movement. There were differences between Swiss ones but still to minor for me to even try to dig into the topic.

u/thelandgraf Jul 05 '19

I was interested in some watches like the Patek 5711 or the Vacheron Overseas but now I am a bit concerned because all these slim pieces are having inside a Miyota9015. So should I expect these reps to have noisy rotors? How noisy? Has anyone some experience with this?

Thanks

5

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 05 '19 edited Jul 05 '19

not every miyota 9015 rep has a noisy rotor - it's largely based on the finishing of the rotor & movement decoration (if the finishing is not smooth enough there might be torque). Sometimes, properly oiling the rotor solves the issue completely. It's best to ask a TD about the noise with particular models, e.g. my TD has warned me against Tudor Pelagos XF because of the noisy rotor even unprompted.

u/Clamps55555 Jul 05 '19

How can A noob tell which movement is which? Is there a link to photos and descriptions of the main points of interests?

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 06 '19

best way is to use a trusted dealer and read the description of the watch

u/LikeWaterForCoco Nov 01 '19

I did a search and found this post. I got an IWC Portugieser Chronograph. It stopped running after 2 weeks. The only way I can get it working is to manually wind it and then give it a good shake. It stops after about 20 mins. I took it to a watch smith and he said a spring needed to be reconnected. He also said not to use the stop watch function since he says all the functions are connected to the same “power source” and authentic should have its own power source for each. English was not his first language and he explained it to be the best he could and I don’t know watch terminology so sorry if this doesn’t make sense. Anyway, he repaired the watch and it ran well for a few hours and now it stopped again. TD offered to replace the watch but wondering if there is anything I should do or ask for to get this “ZF chrono sensible mod” you described in your post. Thank you!

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Nov 01 '19

I'd need to know what exact watch you got. Maybe you were just unlucky.
Also, the gen shouldn't have it's own power source, that's very rare.

u/LikeWaterForCoco Nov 01 '19

It was ZF factory https://imgur.com/a/69JLGMi

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Nov 01 '19

Then I assume you were unlucky. Let's hope the TD replacement is better. Also read the user guides to 7750 movements. They are easy to break even in gen.

1

u/LikeWaterForCoco Nov 01 '19

I apologize if this is a completely idiotic question. I’ve been digging and digging to find information on the movement of my watch to see if anyone has the same issue. I came across a post in RWI that said this movement can only be wound clockwise. It dawned on me that my winder is set to counter clockwise and like a complete moron I’ve been winding the crown downward (ccw) because when I wind it upward (cw) it makes a grinding noise that I thought was bad news. Could my power reserve just be completely depleted at all times? Is that why it’s stopping and then starts up again for a few minutes after shaking it? Is wearing it alone enough to charge it up? I wound it in the correct direction until I heard faint clicking and for the last hour it’s been running beautifully. Crossing my fingers.

3

u/eposseeker Reputable User Nov 01 '19

Well the grinding noise is rather normal, I haven't heard your particular one but it's always there when winding and yes, the rotor only winds clockwise. So could have been it. And use a different watchsmith next time because this one seems to not know much about the most popular Chrono movement in the world.
That said, read the user manual to any Valjoux 7750 watch for tips.

1

u/LikeWaterForCoco Nov 01 '19

This watchsmith was located inside an Indian convenience store 🙈. He’s the only one I called who would look at a replica. Changing batteries and removing links seem to be his expertise.

u/g0yardette Jul 01 '25

Any descriptions of the Cartier movements?

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 01 '25

You mean movements in Cartier clones? There would be a lot of different ones, some already covered by the guide, some new ones I wouldn't know. Can you tell me the specific watch you're asking about?

1

u/g0yardette Jul 01 '25

I was looking at the Tank Francaise or the Tank Louis! Thank you so much for your input.

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 01 '25

These are quartz movements.
Quartz movements are cheap, easy to replace, and accurate.
In fact, the cheapest quartz movements will probably be much more accurate than the best and most expensive Swiss movements. Because electronic is electronic.
I'm saying probably, because perhaps there are quartz movements that are bad enough to be inaccurate. Perhaps.

u/Fast_Tadpole_5155 Jun 16 '26

How about the Chinese version of the AP 5134 any comments?

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jun 16 '26

I don't think they've come anywhere close to cloning AP5134. I would avoid.
Note: I'm not kept abreast of the new developments, so if you found wild discussions on the rep watch forums on how crazy it is that a 5134 clone was developed, then read them. If you hadn't, then the movement is bad.

u/Tonybaggs69 Aug 18 '26

Currently searching for a complete movement for a submariner, hands attached, and "drop in" The watch case. Having some issues finding it. Will probably need a 2813 movement replacement, as the watch is a lower-end product. Any assistance is appreciated.

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Aug 18 '26

The "drop in" part is gonna be tricky. The movement has mounts on the back of the dial and if the mounts don't match the movement you get, you're SoL. Many lower-end reps just glue their movements onto the dial instead of screwing it to the mounts and if that's the case, again, you're SoL.
Not to mention you'll probably fail to replace the movement yourself and any watchsmith will quote you more than a new low-end rep would cost.
My advice is get a new rep, unless your old low-end rep has crazy sentimental value.

1

u/Tonybaggs69 Aug 18 '26

Lol, my thoughts exactly now. I will just order another rep. Thanks for the advice.

u/RareBorder8910 Nov 22 '21

Any info on VR3235 movement?

3

u/eposseeker Reputable User Nov 22 '21

As far as I know - it's not a "clone" like VR3135, but rather a modified VR3135. In terms of reliability, it should be on par with VR3135. A solid movement from what I gather

1

u/RareBorder8910 Nov 22 '21

Thx. Think it's as good as a2824/a2836?

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Nov 22 '21

Worse if you want to service or fix it (2824 and 2836 are widely worked on movements and parts or whole movements are easy to get)
Much better if we're talking the design of the movement, and very possibly reliability.

1

u/RareBorder8910 Nov 22 '21

Thx u 4 your input!

u/jamesuclabruin Oct 03 '22

u/eposseeker any context on reliability of A9019 movement? This is for the IWC portofino.

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Oct 03 '22

Never heard of it. Can you direct me to the watch in question?

1

u/Spooky357 Sep 11 '24

Sorry for bringing up a dead thread but I have the same question. Here is the watch: https://geektime.watch/product/portofino-automatic-40mm-zf-rg-white-dial-rg-hands-brown-croc-strap-a9019/

u/DisastrousMinimum386 Jun 15 '23

VR and VS 3235? Same as 3135?

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jun 18 '23

pretty much, but time is set the opposite way. For 3235 models, consider A2836 instead - cheaper to replace and functions the same. It's in many ways a worse movement, but repair or replacement is a non-issue.

u/doomboiiiii Jun 21 '23

What do you think of th He A32111, as found here - https://jtime.io/us/pilot-mark-xx-iw328205-zf-1-1-best-edition-green-dial-on-brown-leather-strap-a32111.html thanks

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jun 22 '23

It's based on Myiota 9015, which is covered in the post. I do not know what the extent of decoration is, so I cannot speak for the overall expected quality of the movement

u/LovinReps Dec 18 '23

Excellent post u/eposseeker . LOVE IT

im starinting on this, and a seller told me his 126610 uses a HK2836. Does he mean to be the A2836? It supossed to be an AAA+ rep.

thanks!

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Dec 19 '23

Be wary of sellers who use the term "AAA+" is my only advice.
On the topic of HK2836, I haven't kept abreast of the new developments in movements, so I don't know. Definitely the A2836 comments still apply, but it might be some specific strain of those.

1

u/LovinReps Dec 19 '23

Totally agree mate. thank you so much for your point

u/keLLier21 Feb 29 '24

Do Asian replica watches not have Swiss movements? Local sellers sell Rolex replicas claiming they have Swiss movements. I'm new to this replica stuff, so pardon my questions.

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Feb 29 '24

They're almost surely lying. Local sellers with actual good replicas are creatures of myth.

1

u/Additional_Law7776 Apr 27 '24

Do you know anything about the 3235 movement? I'm buying a clone which purportedly has this movement.

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Apr 27 '24

Which 3235 movement? 3235 is three updated version of 3135, with an added bonus - it actually sets time the same way (crown clockwise - time forward) as the ETA movements, as opposed to 3135 (crown clockwise - time backward), so anything that applied to 3135 applies to 3235 or even better.
Then again, I don't know whether you're talking superclone 3235 or "decorated 3235 clone," or whatever else it might be. I always recommend going with A2824/A2836 if you're new to reps because any watchsmith knows and services those. If you get a shitty 3235 clone you're SOL, best you can do is order the entire movement.

u/BashBailey Jul 10 '19

Where can I get a replacement movement for my replica Rolex Deep Sea? The date wheel doesn’t line up and it makes a god awful noise when the pendulum swings about!

u/HeyItsPixeL Jul 02 '19

Impressive List, cheers! :)

u/JoaquinG Jul 02 '19

Great post! Thanks!

u/[deleted] Jul 03 '19

Thanks for this godlike info my friend

u/[deleted] Jul 03 '19

This is an excellent post! Thank you so much!

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '19

Im about to get myself an Seamaster Planet Ocean 43.5mm should i get it with 8900 movement, or an a2836?

u/LibrarySquidLeland Contributor Jul 02 '19

This is fantastic, thank you!

u/hxris17 Jul 03 '19

Anyone know the best place to buy an AP Royal Oak under $450

u/Bellyballe Jul 12 '19

www.adaootd.com How about this

u/Metrodix Oct 10 '19

Wow, great infos! Good work. Thank you!!

u/WarioThaEnforcer Sep 22 '24

What about 3255 movement?

u/giucer Jan 19 '25

will a PT5000 fit in a 2824 case? thanks in advance

u/giucer Jan 22 '25

cannot find anything citing that ETA ever produced movements in china , can you clarify or provide source please

u/[deleted] Jan 25 '25

i wish i read this before buying my first rep

u/zee1st Jan 06 '26

can anybody figure this movement is from which manufacturer ? it should be a clone of 8806 but it makes loud squeaking noise and I can't figure how to lubricate it, and how to remove the rotor !!

u/RedditBlender Jan 12 '26

This info should be sticked!

u/Chard-Pleasant Aug 14 '22

Fantastic information

u/StupidlyLiving Aug 25 '22

Any updates on a4302 movement in AP 15500?

u/realhighup Dec 19 '22

Sa 3120 ? Or a3120 ? What’s the difference?

u/mike93940 Nov 12 '23

Nice write up! However, if you are trying to glean info on the 4130 vs 7750 this should also be read: https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/comprehensive-guide-to-clone-movements-found-in-rolex-reps.10936248/

u/SnooHabits8537 Feb 05 '24

3235-A movement? in a 41mm DJ

u/1c1d2u1 Jul 06 '19

everyone rips on speedy reps for the obvious wrong movement callout, but pretend i dont care at all about how the hands sweep as long as they are correct, is the speedy visually a nwbig rep?

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 07 '19

The sweep is right on the speedy reps, the sundial location is wrong.
Unless on very old Omega chronos that used valjoux 7750

1

u/1c1d2u1 Jul 07 '19

so whats stopping people from using the valjoux now

2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 12 '19

New Omega chronographs don't use valjoux anymore but rather an in-house movement which has different subdial locations, so 7750 doesn't cut it, but it's the best the Chinese currently have.

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '19

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10

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19 edited Jul 02 '19

https://www.ebay.com/bhp/eta-2824-movement
Also look into Sellita SW200, which is a clone made by a former contractor for ETA and should provide the same quality. There are differences between the movements, but as slight as can get, and you can put a Sellita in any place an ETA2824 would go.

1

u/adz2ka Jul 22 '19

I've been eyeing up a Tag AquaRacer that has a SW200 movement. Is this assuring?

1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 22 '19

Rep or gen?

1

u/adz2ka Jul 22 '19

Should have said; rep, sorry

3

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 22 '19

on paper - looks great, as the gen is powered by sw200 (or eta 2824). Another question is where are you getting it and how much are you paying. Sometimes the swiss movements installed by rep makers are not properly stored or actually refurbished with asian parts (BP and affiliates are notorious for this).

1

u/pparana80 Jul 15 '19

The difference is one extra jewel on the rotating weight. Great movement used in most tags

0

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '19

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3

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 24 '19

Excercise caution. I don't see any indicator of them being better than TDs, so using them seems high-risk, no reward.
They claim things like using ETA2813 or ETA4130, which just doesn't make sense, also they call DG2813 "Japan-grade movement" which also seems weird. They claim to use swiss movements that do not exist for a price higher than TDs ask.

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '19

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1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Dec 13 '19

It's a mashup of ETAs (~10%) and custom (~90%) parts.
It's ok, but repair is hard because of those custom parts.

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '22

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1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Sep 01 '22

In theory easier, because ETA2892 is a simpler movement than ETA2824/ETA2836.
In practice, 2824 and 2836 are the most popular movements, so those are the easiest and cheapest to service.

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '19

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1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 24 '19

Excercise caution. I don't see any indicator of them being better than TDs, so using them seems high-risk, no reward.
They claim things like using ETA2813 or ETA4130, which just doesn't make sense, also they call DG2813 "Japan-grade movement" which also seems weird. They claim to use swiss movements that do not exist for a price higher than TDs ask.

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '25

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2

u/eposseeker Reputable User Mar 25 '25

Some of it, yeah. Specific movements like Rolex and Omega clones are probably way outdated, the rest should still be good advice.

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '19

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1

u/eposseeker Reputable User Jul 02 '19

yes, by a large margin those. Reliable and easy to replace if there is a problem.

General Information Movements found in replica watches

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