Guide to Cosplay Factories
Rolex
Submariner
126610LN, LV & all variants
3235 movement: JVS or VVSF. Clean also makes a good sub as well but be warned about fakes. (VSF, but now closed)
2836, 2824 movements: GMF/BP are good.
116610LN, LV & all variants:
3135 movement: ZF JVS and VVSF are good, as is Clean (but there are fakes of Clean). (VSF, but now closed)
124060, 114060 (no date): Clean, BPF/GMF, ROF (VSF, but now closed)
Two tone and RG subs (i.e. 116613LB): Clean, GMF, ARF
Daytona
Special note: Noob Daytona v4 was the best with true clone movement but they are now closed. All others listed below have thin Asian 7750 movements but are a bit thicker (i.e. 0.5-0.7mm thicker than gen).
All Daytona models:
ARF has gen-like thickness (slightly thicker), but the subdials that would count hours and minutes while the chrono is working do NOT function. If you don’t use chrono often, go for this one.
Fake Noob & VRF – this is a modified 7750 with a thinner case than traditionally made with a 7750. Still 0.5-0.7mm thicker than gen.
GMT Master II
PEPSI 126710BLRO, 116710BLRO: Clean Factory, VRF updated bezel, GMF/BP
BATMAN/BATGIRL 126710BLNR, 116710BLNR: Clean, VRF, ARF (best insert, movement might be unstable)
116710LN: Clean, VRF
GMT Master I: BPF
GMT Master 6542: RBF (only available via Puretime for some reason)
Explorer II 216570 – All models: GMF/BP (timebomb)
Explorer I 214270: BPF
Two-tone Explorer I 124273: EWF
Airking 116900: GMF (904L), BP (316L)
Milgauss 116400GV:
Blue: ARF or BPF
Black: BPF
Yachtmaster:
226659: 3EF, JVS/VVSF. (VSF, but now closed)
116622: ARF
116655 (Rose gold): VRF
126655 (Rose gold): EWF
268622 37mm: ARF
116655 (Rose gold): VRF
126655 (Rose gold): EWF
268622 37mm: ARF
Datejust 36 – All models:
Decorated 3235: ARF. ARF has good dials, but date font can be too bold (v3 might be fixed now) and the crystal lacks enough AR coating on the cyclops.
2824: GMF is well executed overall, gold plating does not cover the side of the midlinks/endlinks, but the date font is better overall. There are a few other factories in the 36mm space, and GMF and ARF do not cover all dial variants. Take your time and look around and compare to gen
Datejust 41 – All models:
3235 Clone movements: Clean
2824: ARF, GMF and BP
Special note: VSF made great DJ41s but are no longer available
DayDate 40 & 36 – All models: BPF, GMF
SkyDweller – all models: JWF. Has low beat movement, and other issues with the movement not being like gen, but it’s the best we’ve got.
Datejust 28 – all models: GMF
Patek Philippe
Nautilus
5711 – All models: PPF v4 best overall factory but has a fat bezel. 3KF v2 has a good movement but small date font. OVERALL BEST NAUTILUS IN GENERAL is the PPF 5711.
Iced out Nautilus – R8 factory. Very well done. DM v2 is also well done and differently styled (baguette bezel)
5712 (moonphase date) – Green factory/PPF Known issues: power reserve is non-functioning second time zone, moon phase is slightly sunken
5726 (triple calendar) – PPF.
5980 Chronograph – I cannot recommend any good model. All have poor date font, too thick and not done very well. TWF, BPF and a few others are in this space.
7010 Ladies 33mm – PF. Overall well done, quartz movement.
7118 Ladies 35mm – PF. Very well done.
Aquanaut
5067 ladies 35mm aquanaut – PPF. Thin, quartz, but gen like.
5164 Travel Time – GRF v2. Too thick compared to gen, time zone functionality does not work. Gray dial and rose gold model are the only good options here.
5167 40mm – All models: ZF Factory best overall factory, despite the “5” flaw (the line of the grenade pattern extends below the lower left of the 5 numeral, unlike gen). 3KF has a clone movement but machining is not as nice as ZF. OVERALL BEST AQUANAUT roleplay IN GENERAL is the ZF.
5168 42mm Blue and Green – ZF. Blue dial isn’t quite as nice as gen, green dial and strap misses the mark compared to gen. Overall best execution though.
5968 Chronograph – OMF. Very thick, overall not recommended unless you like the look.
Calatrava
5077 – Notre Dame & Bhutan enamel craftsman dials – FLF Factory
5088 – FLF Factory
5089 Azulejos enamel craftsman dial – FLF Factory
5119 – TW Factory
5120 – TW Factory. Very nice execution.
5123 – TW Factory. Overall decent execution.
5196 sub seconds – AIF.
5296 (open caseback) – All models: ZF Factory. OVERALL BEST CALATRAVA IN GENERAL
5297G (diamond bezel) – ZF Factory
5153 (officer’s caseback, smaller case) – All models: ZF Factory
5227 (officer’s caseback, lacquer dial) – All models: ZF Factory. OVERALL BEST CALATRAVA IN GENERAL
6007 – ZF Factory. Dial and strap color are not as dark as gen.
7112 – KGF. Decent execution, not amazing.
Grand Complications
4968 Ladies moonphase – KGF.
5070 – There is a roleplay, unsure of the factory. Not all versions are in stock though.
5205 Triple calendar moonphase – GRF v2 or KMF. Both are not great compared to gen, honestly, but look fine enough.
5396 – GRF for all models.
Known issues: sunken date disc, smaller day and month font than gen.
5524 Travel Time – GRF v2. Get the blue textured dial with brown strap, but the GMT hand is fixed on a 24hr loop, and the inner circle of that hand should be blue and not white. time zone switching is faux. Dial is not as nice as gen, but overall nice try and relatively thin.
6102 Celestial map – TZF. Looks good, but functions nothing like gen. Not recommended overall unless you love the look.
NOTE: Patek has almost never put a tourbillon in a watch and had it visible from the dial side. They have for a select few references a long time ago.
Audemars Piguet
15500 41mm – ZF
15400 41mm – ZF
15450 37mm – JF
15202ST 39mm ultra thin – XF has thinner hand base, ZF has better dial color. Choose according to your preferences they are both great.
15202IP – XF
15202 green dial and diamond variants – BF v2
15703 & 15710 42mm Offshore: ZF and JF are overall similar enough.
Note: colored variants of these models will be from JF or BPF
67540 Ladies Offshore 37mm: unknown factory, but a high quality roleplay is out there with real diamonds. Ask your Cosplayer.
Royal Oak Tourbillon – R8 Factory
JF made a good ultra-thin tourbillon (but still ~11mm)
26579 Annual Calendar – ZP factory
26331 Chronograph – BF and OMF, but none are great.
Open work tourbillon – R8 factory
77350 34mm Royal Oak – 8F
Royal Oak Offshore 44mm: JF for nearly all models
Vacheron Constantin
Overseas Ultra-thin 2000V: XF for all models (black, grey, blue) – currently closed. Cross is a bit flat below the 12 marker, movement finishing isn’t great, but overall a great roleplay.
Overseas generation 2 reference 47040
JJF Factory is no longer making these, but in general had a good roleplay if you find it on M2M. Their v2 was superior to their v1.
MKS Factory – seems to take cues from JJF. Best models are the grey and blue models. Gen-like thickness.
Known flaws: Black and white dials have different dial patterns than gen. The triangles/pyramids should be stacked on top of each other, but they are instead offset between rows. Grey dial bezel should be titanium, but appears to be painted (unvetted claim). All models have a flat cross below 12, gen has a nicely beveled cross
Overseas generation 3 reference 4500V
BP Factory is the best overall factory, however no model is accurate. Thickness is similar to gen.
Blue and Black dials do not have sunburst (or very minimal), BP factory has a harsh sunburst and the wrong blue color dial.
White dial has polished markers and hands, but gen uses smoked white gold indices and hands
All models have a flat cross below 12, gen has a nicely beveled cross
Chronometre Royal 1907: MKS factory for all models. Good not great roleplay.
Patrimony reference 85150: 3 main factories: AIF, MKS, and FKF. Not enough comparisons between models, but both MKS and FKF are very good.
Fiftysix reference 4600: ZF for all references.
Fiftysix complete calendar: ZF
Historique reference 86300: GSF for all models. Not great, but good roleplay
All other references – check the Cosplayer listings for other models available, but most are either too thick, or have other significant flaws.
Richard Mille
RM011: KVF – thick but best deco, older models for thinner cases but worse deco. Glossy ceramic instead of matte, carbon fiber reinforced plastic instead of NTPT
RM035: ZF – real NTPT, closest to 1:1 size and proportions, v4 for absolute best, but all acceptable
RM055: ZF – real ATZ matte ceramic case, closest to 1:1 size and proportions
RM027: EURF – serviceable tourbillon movement
RM056: EURF – sapphire bezels, plastic midcase, serviceable tourbillon movement
RM052 Skull: JBF – sometimes branded as ZF, serviceable tourbillon movement, out of production. EURF model may be available from some sources, may be same thing as JBF (unconfirmed)
RM012: KVF – thick case and weird deco, but real tourbillon. May be serviceable movement
RM68: RR Factory
RM010: RR Factory
RM07: RM Factory – including bon-bon model
Omega
Seamaster: All permutations – VSF (now closed), ORF, OMF
Aqua Terra: OMF
Diver 300M: OMF
Planet Ocean: MKF
Speedmaster Racing: HRF
DeVille 33mm: UVS Factory
No Time to Die Seamaster: ORF
Deville Dew Drop 33mm: 3S Factory
Tresor Quartz 39mm: 3M Factory
Deville 36mm: HR Factory
Speedmaster 57: OMF (but not great)
Deville Prestige 39mm: ZF
