This is an older article to which I have added new content: Names you may have heard such as Noob Factory, JF Factory and V6 Factory do not refer to actual physical manufacturing plants. They are simply aliases used by mould‑makers. These mould‑makers source components from various‑parts‑suppliers before having the watches assembled as a finished product.

The mobile‑phone‑industry operates in much the same way. Phone brands source screens from dedicated suppliers such as Samsung and Sharp, while other components are manufactured by third‑party vendors. Many smartphone labels do not even have the capacity to produce a single component in‑house.

Now, regarding the so‑called “official Noob Factory websites” found online: I have mentioned this many times. Replica manufacturers never run official websites. They keep a low profile to avoid detection and would never openly launch a public site. Anyone buyers come into contact with online is a distributor just like myself.

Lastly, and most importantly — the key point I want to cover today — do not assume every watch model is made by Noob Factory. There are many top‑tier manufacturers on the market, each excelling in its own selection of timepieces. One factory will usually produce only around a dozen different models. Below we take a look at these legendary factories, their history and their present‑day status.

1. NOOB (N‑Factory)

Noob was once the undisputed leader within the replica‑watch industry. While many of its former models have now been overtaken by competing manufacturers, if you asked me which factory built the most famous replica watches, I would still name Noob without hesitation.

Founded in 2003 by an entrepreneur from Chaoshan, the brand began as a small wholesale stall in southern China. At a time when most sellers focused on low‑cost goods, Noob invested heavily to create a replica Submariner moulded directly from an authentic Rolex watch. Although its craftsmanship fell far short of modern standards, the quality was vastly superior to other products on the market at that time, drawing attention even from overseas watch forums.

The factory went on to release dozens of watch models, most famously its legendary “Five Masterpieces”: the Rolex Submariner, Panerai 111, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, Jaeger‑LeCoultre Compressor, and Audemars Piguet 15703.

In later years, mounting competition from newer factories combined with several changes of ownership caused Noob’s operation to shrink gradually, reducing the number of flagship models it produced. The Submariner remains its main pillar product, arguably the highest‑volume replica sold by distributors across the industry.

Noob Factory shut down permanently half a year ago. It represented an entire era and drove replica‑watch craftsmanship competition to unprecedented heights. By modern‑day standards, however, the output once produced by Noob is now regarded as second‑or‑third‑tier quality.

Its former flagship market models included: Rolex Submariner Black‑Dial / Hulk Submariner / Daytona / Datejust / Yacht‑Master, Audemars Piguet Survivor, Jaeger‑LeCoultre Compressor, Panerai 111 / 005 and others.

2. VS Factory

VS Factory shares the same production‑line background as large‑scale manufacturers such as V6 Factory and KW Factory. It was launched by KW as an upscale sub‑brand for developing higher‑end replica watches. After VS developed the integrated 8500 movement and P9001 movement, it gained a dominant market share for Panerai and Omega Seamaster / De Ville replicas. Rather than describing VS as the biggest dark‑horse in the industry, it is fairer to say that it seized the next‑generation lifeline of replica watch production: genuine in‑house‑designed movements.

(The factory ran into trouble previously and has since operated at reduced capacity. Following this downturn, it no longer offers after‑sales support, returns or exchanges — consequences of holding a monopolistic position within its market segment.)

Its signature replicas cover an extensive lineup of Panerai timepieces including the 441, 616, 359, 382, 320, 719, 312, 389 and 438, as well as Omega’s Seamaster 150m, 300m, 600m, De Ville Bright Blue and Deep‑Black editions.

3. HBB‑V6 (V6 Factory)

Shortened to V6 Factory, HBB‑V6 earned its name by developing the Hublot Big‑Bang replica. It began producing replica watches even earlier than Noob Factory. In its early days, the factory mainly targeted overseas clients. At that time, foreign watch forums labelled generic Chinese‑made copies as “copy watch”, while referring specifically to V6‑produced items as “fake watch”, a distinction that demonstrated high overseas recognition for V6’s quality.

Later, the manufacturer gradually shifted its focus to the domestic market. Its subsequent release of the Cartier Ballon Bleu brought it enormous commercial success, and most watch enthusiasts today first became acquainted with V6 Factory through its Ballon Bleu replica. (Having close ties with veteran factories such as Noob, V6 is now operating at reduced capacity due to regulatory scrutiny.)

Signature models: the full Cartier Ballon Bleu collection in sizes 42 mm, 36 mm, 33 mm and 28 mm, men’s‑and‑women’s Cartier Santos pairs, and the Hublot Big Bang.

4. JF Factory (J‑Factory)

JF Factory was one of the few manufacturers powerful enough to rival Noob Factory. It built its reputation with the Chanel J12, hence the name J‑Factory. Its rise took place largely through head‑to‑head competition against Noob. The owner purchased numerous genuine watches to create moulds and developed calibre‑3120 and calibre‑3126 movements, firmly establishing itself in Audemars Piguet replicas and eventually pushing Noob to phase out its AP production line.

JF also competed with Noob on Rolex models. At one point, its V10‑version Submariner nearly undermined Noob’s core market position. Noob was forced to release an upgraded V7 Submariner within just a few months, proving that this healthy competition brought great benefits to watch enthusiasts.

Today, beyond Audemars Piguet and Rolex, JF also delivers high‑quality replicas for many other brands. Later, in a bid to capture a larger share of the Rolex market, JF launched AR as a premium‑tier sub‑brand renowned for its super‑high finishing standards.

(JF has suffered seizures, undergone multiple changes of ownership and stopped rolling out new releases for a long time. Its products have gradually faded from the marketplace, no after‑sales service is offered, and most distributors are reluctant to work with it.)

Signature models: Rolex Submariner, Deepsea, Oyster Perpetual 36‑mm and 41‑mm variants, Yacht‑Master; the full Audemars Piguet collection and Longines Master Collection Moonphase.

5. ZF Factory (Z‑Factory)

ZF began as a market stall operator before moving on to wholesale and reselling watch stock. It was usually the first to receive goods from major factories and would buy‑out popular models exclusively, meaning many items could only be sourced through them at that time. It also entered an exclusive‑distribution partnership with another large‑scale manufacturer, before eventually launching its‑own‑brand production.

In 2015, it released the IWC Portuguese Seven‑Day. Thanks to a supply contract with the Dandong movement factory, ZF obtained exclusive rights to this base movement, whose outward finishing far surpassed versions produced by competitors. The watch won widespread praise upon launch and went through several iterative upgrades afterwards. A point worth clarifying for watch enthusiasts: many buyers ask whether the current best Portuguese Seven‑Day is ZF’s V4 or V5 edition. These version labels are largely marketing terms for customers. A product normally runs off one single production line, so any genuine unit from this factory will always be the latest iteration.

ZF later created a fresh mould for the iconic Noob‑model Fifty‑Fathoms, and its current sales volume greatly exceeds that of Noob’s original version. One of the most prolific replica manufacturers, ZF has launched the widest catalogue of watch models with a highly‑diversified product portfolio.

(Most of ZF’s goods are manufactured by third‑party suppliers under its label. While it once maintained strong sales channels, relatively few products are genuinely produced in‑house. Overall, its output lacks distinct market‑defining features.)

Signature models: IWC Portuguese Chronograph, Portuguese Seven‑Day, Pilot Watch, Spitfire, large‑sized Pilot models in various materials, Jaeger‑LeCoultre Master collection, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, Breitling Superocean, Breguet Reine de Naples ladies’ watches and many more.

6. MKS Factory

MKS Factory entered the market with its replica of the IWC Mark series, hence the name “MKS”. It mainly produces simple three‑hand dress‑watch replicas with a high degree of realism at a moderate price, and has gained great popularity within the dress‑watch segment. Its main current offerings include the IWC Portofino, Omega De Ville, Patek Philippe Nautilus, Piaget Polo and Longines Master Collection. (It carries a relatively small catalogue of models yet delivers consistently superior overall quality. The factory focuses on stable, well‑refined designs with few after‑sales‑related issues.)

7. XF Factory (X‑Factory)

XF Factory was formerly known as KW Factory. Its original owner was a Turkish national, nicknamed “Foreigner”. Following a change in ownership, it is rumoured that V6 Factory is its behind‑the‑scenes controller. XF mainly manufactures replicas of Panerai, Omega and other brands, and owns the high‑end Panerai specialist‑sub‑brand VS Factory. VS has developed the P9000‑series movements whose balance‑wheel position matches that of the genuine watch. Today, VS‑made Panerai replicas even replicate the exact time‑setting operation of the original.

(Products built on XF’s generic‑base‑movements share essentially the same finishing quality as VS‑factory items. Both brands are ultimately managed by the same owner.)

8. GF Factory (G‑Factory)

GF Factory got its name from its early‑day replica of the Glashütte Senator collection. Nevertheless, the factory truly rose to fame in 2017 after releasing the Breitling Blackbird, whose popularity led to constant stock shortages — whenever GF was mentioned, out‑of‑stock status was the very first thing that came to mind. It went on to launch a wide range of models whose craftsmanship set industry benchmarks.

(GF delivers generally excellent finishing with a down‑to‑earth production philosophy. It is a well‑established, powerful manufacturer that runs its‑own‑in‑house factories for watch hands and watch cases.)

Many new manufacturers such as Clean Factory and 3K (BT Factory) have emerged on the market and proven highly‑competitive. Quite a number of their products even outperform older releases from the former Noob Factory. That said, I would much rather these factories offered reliable after‑sales support instead of chasing quick‑profit gains. Around 80 % of factories today operate on a one‑off‑transaction basis with no after‑sales service, adopting a take‑it‑or‑leave‑it attitude.