You’ve probably never heard of this manufacturer, and frankly, neither had I. I first came across its name when a customer asked me about it. Back then, I was completely confused — Nail Factory? Nail‑branded factory? What an amusing re‑branding tactic! It is obvious that the brand renamed itself to ride on existing popularity, borrowing the letter “N” from the well‑known Noob Factory. I then did some research and requested a mass‑production sample from the manufacturer to disassemble and inspect. What caught my attention was the manufacturer’s promotional copy, quoted below: (Ceramic Bezel: The green ceramic bezel achieves 99% of the genuine watch’s vivid emerald tone, while the black Submariner bezel has zero colour‑difference from the original. Like the authentic model, the markers are coated with platinum plating, which resists dirt‑build‑up and darkening. The luminous pearl is full, plump and crystal‑clear. Rotating Bezel: The diver’s bezel offers satisfying feedback. Each click locks firmly into place with distinct positioning, delivering the same cushioned resistance felt on an original watch. It turns smoothly without stiffness or slippage — a feature claimed to be exclusive to the NAIL Factory. The clicking sound is crisp and identical to that of the genuine watch. Materials: The whole watch is crafted from 904L stainless steel (including the crown, spring bars, screws… pending lab test report). Its weight matches the original at approximately 155 grams. Movement: Modified 3135 movement fitted with the same Parachrom blue niobium hairspring found on genuine watches. The time‑setting direction matches the original 3135 calibre. Power reserve exceeds 72 hours, meaning the watch will not stop over three full days. If you take it off on Friday and wear it again on Monday, it will still keep accurate time. Case: When magnified 100 times, the inner‑rehaut lettering is identical to the genuine version. Every watch carries a unique individual serial number at the 6‑o’clock position on the inner rehaut (one unique number per watch). The sapphire crystal features a hidden anti‑counterfeit logo. Bracelet: Sharp, well‑defined brushed finishing. The bracelet connects seamlessly with the watch case. An elegant NAIL‑branded screwdriver is included, allowing you to adjust bracelet length yourself. Clasp: Flawless seamless fit with no welding marks. The logo on the safety clasp is exquisitely engraved, and the clasp features a quick‑adjust extension system for fine‑tuning bracelet size. Dial: Powerful, bright luminosity matching the brightness level of the original dial (NAIL provides a charging lamp for luminosity testing). Calendar: Oversized date window matches the genuine watch in dimension. Raised‑print date font shows no ink‑bleed or ragged edges even under 60‑times magnification. Case‑Back: 144‑tooth knurling, identical to the original, with sharply defined, burr‑free edges. Conclusion: NAIL outperforms all other replica versions in workmanship and fine details, reaching the pinnacle of replica‑watch craftsmanship.) Please note that this text was provided directly by the factory. I could never write such over‑hyped descriptions myself. Two selling‑points particularly grabbed my interest: first, the colour accuracy of the ceramic bezel, and second, the claimed three‑day power reserve. Without further delay, I began my hands‑on review of the production sample. The photo below shows all included accessories. To be honest, I never even opened the free gifts, as the packaging immediately gave off a strong knock‑off vibe. Cheap‑looking packaging does not automatically mean poor‑quality watch, though. For your reference, the price of this NAIL‑factory Submariner is significantly higher than that of the Noob‑factory version. With such a bold price tag, it must have something special to offer.
I will not go over the specifications again, as you can refer to the factory‑supplied description. Let’s start with the colour of the ceramic bezel. It really is eye‑catching. Having reviewed countless Submariner replicas over the years, I would say this colour is not merely acceptable — it is excellent!
The picture below shows a side‑by‑side comparison between the Noob‑factory version and the NAIL‑factory model. The NAIL variant delivers a more vibrant emerald‑green tone than the Noob‑factory watch.
Probably around 70% of buyers who purchase replica Submariners have never handled an authentic watch. Let me explain the composition of the markers on the genuine piece: they contain platinum, and will slowly take on a faint yellow tint after long‑term wear instead of turning dark. Their recessed cuts are perfectly clean, with zero colour bleed‑out even under 50‑times magnification. This is the craftsmanship standard of an original Rolex. Turning to the NAIL‑factory model, its markers are highly impressive, featuring even, bright‑white colouring. When magnified, the markers on the Noob‑factory version show slight jagged edges and minor white colour bleed. Bear in mind, this comparison is carried out under magnification of more than ten times. The marker width on the Noob‑factory watch is also slightly narrower.
To sum up the ceramic bezel: when comparing colour and markers alone, the NAIL factory version outperforms the Noob factory one hands‑down. Whether it will darken over time, only time will tell… Now moving on to the movement. Both are advertised as 3135 calibres. Deep down, I have never been fond of replica‑made 3135 movements. They are prone to breakdowns, frequent repairs and end up costing me customers. Yet uninformed buyers keep demanding them, so the market has no choice but to follow this trend. As someone who greatly admires Rolex, I place even higher value on quality. Will this 3135 movement change my opinion? The blue hairspring… it is an over‑hyped selling point that you can largely ignore. On replica watches, the blue hairspring is nothing more than coloured decoration and offers zero improvement to performance.
Its gears deliver genuine power transmission, unlike the decorative gears found in the V9‑factory model. Its advertised selling‑point is a 3‑day power reserve, which certainly sounds appealing. The stability and long‑term reliability of this movement remain to be seen through real‑world use, yet the claimed 72‑hour power reserve is indeed a fresh selling feature. From my own experience, however, all replica 3135 movements share one common flaw: the rotor produces noticeable noise while winding. Put simply, every movement of your wrist gives away a cheap‑sounding impression. If it were up to me, I would rather spend the price difference to upgrade a Noob‑factory watch with a Swiss‑made movement, which would be far more practical. Naturally, this is only my personal opinion. Some buyers prioritize long power‑reserve while others prefer quieter operation. Objectively speaking, this 3135 movement outperforms the 31‑calibre movements from manufacturers such as AR and V9, and that deserves recognition.
Now that I have covered all the advantages, it is time to talk about the drawbacks. When it comes to the calendar window, the font quality of both models is roughly similar. However, one strange issue stands out: why do the date numerals on the NAIL‑factory watch show such prominent jagged edges? I initially thought it was an isolated defect, but later found the same flaw present on every date wheel. That said, these jagged edges are acceptable when viewed at normal social distances, considering the photo was magnified approximately 30 times.
Outer clasp / Inner clasp: I did not use heavy magnification, yet you can notice that the logo on the NAIL‑factory piece and the raised bump in the centre of its inner clasp are rather pronounced.
There is not much to comment on the crown workmanship. The two versions are comparable in build quality, and the refinement of the rotating‑click sound fails to live up to the factory’s overstated promotion.
To sum up the fine‑detail workmanship: the Noob Factory outperforms the NAIL Factory. Both the clasp and date print of the NAIL‑factory watch leave room for improvement. Buying advice: If you are a big fan of the green Submariner, prioritize a ceramic‑bezel colour extremely close to the original and long power‑reserve for the movement, and you can overlook minor workmanship flaws, then you may consider the NAIL‑factory version. It would be nearly perfect if you replace the steel bracelet with a rubber strap. If you prefer an established brand with reliable after‑sales service and solid finishing quality, the Noob‑factory watch remains the recommended choice. There is a price gap of several hundred dollars between the two models, with the NAIL version costing more. I rarely recommend newly‑emerged factories, because I worry that if these new‑comers fail to gain enough market traction, they may discontinue the model. This would lead to a lack of spare parts and after‑sales support. That is why I tend to be relatively conservative with my recommendations, always keeping buyers’ best interests in mind.
