In September 2020, Rolex officially released the new-generation Submariner (New Sub). VS Factory purchased the genuine watch at high cost right away for development. The replica watch market operates in much the same way. To capture the market for this model, VS Factory disassembled every component for design research, created molds, adjusted colors, produced dials, and sourced movements. Alongside this watch, the customized Cal.3235 movement was launched. As for other smaller manufacturers, they waited until VS finished its product and then used VS’s watch for their own development. Nicely put, it is secondary development; put bluntly, it is a fake of a fake!
Due to the fallout from issues surrounding N Factory, VS once pulled out of the domestic market to lie low. That was when Clean Factory rose to prominence. This is how the market works: when you step back, competitors move in! Leveraging its ceramic bezel technology and support from the former AR Factory strap manufacturer, Clean gained market share for the Submariner quickly by combining marketing gimmicks with tangible craftsmanship.
The main concern with VS movements lies in failure rates. This independently developed integrated Cal.3235 movement features a custom-engineered barrel, delivering a genuine 72-hour power reserve — not just marketing hype. However, not all versions on the market claiming a 72-hour reserve actually achieve it. We have conducted dedicated power-reserve tests, confirming that the Cal.3235 movement in this watch fully hits the 72-hour mark. Anyone familiar with our style knows power reserve is not our primary focus. After all, genuine watches decades ago commonly had only a 40-hour power reserve and functioned perfectly fine.
That is why we did not recommend many Cal.3135 movements years ago, opting instead for 2824 and 2836. Their high failure rates led to unhappy customers and excessive after-sales costs, benefiting no one. Initially, I was very cautious about the new Cal.3235 and Cal.31 movements. Yet after hundreds of sales records, we found that VS’s Dandong 3-series movements boast solid quality, comparable to genuine Seagull movements and far superior to N Factory’s Hangzhou 28 movements.
When VS encountered early production issues, Clean Factory also released its Cal.3235. Driven by high early sales volume, Clean’s Shanghai-made Cal.3235 had a few teething problems, most notably occasional failure of the calendar disc to advance. Subsequent revisions gradually improved the movement greatly.
Today, VS has recovered roughly 80% of its former performance. For Cal.3235 models, especially the Submariner lineup, I still recommend VS as the top pick, with Clean Factory second. For Cal.3135 watches, either brand is a safe choice.
There are also smaller budget manufacturers competing on low pricing. For example, EW Factory’s Submariner sells cheaply and advertises a Cal.3235 movement, yet this movement lacks retrograde functionality and runs relatively noisily. Given its low price point, some sellers even pass these off as VS or Clean Factory pieces.
VS sources aftermarket bezel inserts crafted with genuine one-piece molding technology. It adopts platinum electroplating paired with ceramic material supplied by Japan’s Kyocera. Senior ceramic technicians were hired at great expense to tune the color formula. The platinum electroplating treatment delivers superior luster and wear resistance, while the bright white tone and soft texture of the printed lettering are also enhanced. Meanwhile, the markings feature pronounced three-dimensional relief, which helps keep the ceramic bezel scale less prone to dirt buildup.
The unidirectional rotating ceramic bezel on VS Factory’s replica Rolex 41mm Green Submariner produces a crisp clicking sound when turned. Personally, I recommend opting for the black version if possible, since near-zero color matching is what we pursue. Its dimensions mirror the original perfectly at 41mm × 12.25mm, a true 1:1 replication. The case is built from 904L stainless steel with secondary brushing treatment. It is fitted with high-transparency sapphire crystal glass coated on both sides with non-reflective clear coating. The new dial utilizes black enamel finishing, plus luminous coating and many other refined details that we will skip for brevity.
In short, this Cal.3235 movement is worth your confidence. This Cal.3235 movement is now widely fitted to matching models including the new Yacht-Master and Datejust. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.
