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Top replica watch factories in 2026

Six factory profiles, checked in October 2026 against the r/RepTime community guide and dated owner reports: status, best models and movements.

Stewart Charette, watch industry analyst, holding a brass loupe at a watchmaker’s workbench
Stewart Charette
Updated

Side-by-side comparison

FactoryStatusSpecialtyMovementsCommunity guide
VSF FactoryProducingrolexVS3235, DD4130 and DD4131Named best pick in 82 rows (May 2026)
ZF FactoryProducingaudemars piguet4302 clone (free-sprung), 3120 cloneBest pick in 49 rows (May 2026)
3K FactoryProducingpatek philippe324 clone (Dandong)Best pick in 8 rows (May 2026)
AR FactoryRaid reports, June 2026rolex3135 clone, 3186 cloneBest pick in 5 rows (May 2026)
Clean FactoryReported raided, July 2025rolexVR3235, SH3235Removed in February 2026
Noob FactoryClosed since 2021rolex submariner4130 clone (Dandong)Listed as closed (May 2026)

The factories

Watchmaker placing a Co-Axial-style escapement into a brass-tone movement under workshop lighting

Factory · Producing

VSF Factory

The May 2026 community guide names VSF as the best pick in 82 rows: the Submariner 126610 and the steel Daytona with the top mark NWBIG, the GMT-Master II, most Omega models and most of the Panerai list. Waits vary widely in 2026.

Best at
Submariner 126610 (3235 clone, NWBIG)
Guide
Named best pick in 82 rows (May 2026)
Watchmaker hand-finishing the beveled edge of a stainless-steel octagonal-bezel watch case under warm tungsten light

Factory · Producing

ZF Factory

ZF is the first choice in 49 rows of the May 2026 community guide: the free-sprung Royal Oak 15500, the Royal Oak Offshore, most Tudor Black Bay models and IWC. Several ZF models use a Miyota 9015.

Best at
AP Royal Oak 15500 (free-sprung 4302 clone)
Guide
Best pick in 49 rows (May 2026)
Top-down studio view of an embossed horizontal-pattern luxury sport-watch dial with applied baton hour markers under cool studio lighting

Factory · Producing

3K Factory

3K Factory made the first Patek 324 clone for the Nautilus 5711. In the May 2026 guide it is third for the 5711 and first for the Calatrava 5227, the ladies Nautilus and the 6102 Celestial.

Best at
Patek Calatrava 5227 (324 clone)
Guide
Best pick in 8 rows (May 2026)
Watchmaker assembling a stainless-steel diving watch with black dial under cool overhead LED lighting

Factory · Raid reports, June 2026

AR Factory

AR Factory makes Rolex models and leads the Submariner 16610, GMT-Master II 116710LN and Explorer II 226570 in the May 2026 guide. Members reported a warehouse raid in June 2026 and a new name, ONE, in August.

Best at
Submariner 16610 (3135 clone, NWBIG)
Guide
Best pick in 5 rows (May 2026)
Modern watchmaking facility interior with technicians assembling mechanical movements at long benches under cool LED lighting

Factory · Reported raided, July 2025

Clean Factory

Clean Factory led Rolex replicas until r/RepTime members reported a raid in July 2025. The community guide removed Clean in February 2026; watches sold as Clean now are leftover stock or Clean Plus, a name with no verified link to the original.

Best at
Submariner 126610 (until 2025)
Guide
Removed in February 2026
Watchmaker inspecting a stainless-steel diving watch under amber lamp light at a worn wooden workbench

Factory · Closed since 2021

Noob Factory

Noob Factory led Rolex replicas until the 2021 raids and is closed. Watches sold as Noob, Noob V2 or FNF since 2024 have no proven link to the original factory.

Best at
Daytona with a 4130 clone (no longer made)
Guide
Listed as closed (May 2026)

Which factory is right for you?

Gold, platinum and custom versions

Frequently asked