How the designations work
The letters indicate the clone family; the number is the calibre the movement is built to copy. DD3235 is built as a copy of Rolex calibre 3235, DD3285 copies calibre 3285, DD4131 copies calibre 4131, DD8500 copies Omega calibre 8500, and DD4302 copies AP calibre 4302.
We print the designation exactly as the product record carries it. Where the trade uses more than one naming convention for the same calibre — as it does on the Oyster Perpetual builds — we do not normalise the record to a single spelling.
Movement map
Counted live from our catalogue of 231 references: 191 carry a movement designation. 40 do not, and are listed as such rather than guessed.
| Movement | Built as a copy of | References | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| DD3235 | Rolex calibre 3235 | 53 | Datejust 35 · Yacht-Master 9 · Submariner 7 · Sea-Dweller 2 |
| DD3230 | Rolex calibre 3230 | 28 | Oyster Perpetual 22 · Explorer 3 · Air-King 2 · Submariner 1 |
| DD3285 | Rolex calibre 3285 | 16 | GMT-Master 14 · Explorer 2 |
| DD4131 | Rolex calibre 4131 | 16 | Daytona 16 |
| DD3255 | Rolex calibre 3255 | 16 | Day-Date 16 |
| DD8500 | Omega calibre 8500 | 13 | Constellation 10 · De Ville 2 · Seamaster 1 |
| DD3135 | Rolex calibre 3135 | 10 | Submariner 10 |
| DD8800 | Omega calibre 8800 | 10 | De Ville 6 · Seamaster 4 |
| DD8900 | Omega calibre 8900 | 9 | Constellation 5 · De Ville 3 · Seamaster 1 |
| DD4302 | AP calibre 4302 | 7 | Royal Oak 7 |
| DD8806 | Omega calibre 8806 | 4 | Seamaster 4 |
| DD2500 | Omega calibre 2500 | 3 | De Ville 2 · Seamaster 1 |
| DD8912 | Omega calibre 8912 | 2 | Seamaster 2 |
| DD4130 | Rolex calibre 4130 | 1 | Daytona 1 |
| DD4132 | Rolex calibre 4132 | 1 | Daytona 1 |
| VS3230 | Rolex calibre 3230 | 1 | Oyster Perpetual 1 |
| DD8906 | Omega calibre 8906 | 1 | Seamaster 1 |
What we do not publish
Beat rate, power reserve, accuracy figures and thickness: we have not measured them ourselves, and a number we cannot stand behind is worse than no number. The same applies to water-resistance ratings — no listing here claims a depth in metres or ATM; the listings state daily water resistance only (splash and rain, not for swimming).
We also do not rank clone calibres by reliability. We have no verified failure dataset, so any ranking would be marketing rather than information.
Where our record carries no movement — Omega 1, Panerai 39 — the listing states nothing, and neither does this page.
Identifying the movement in your watch
The function set is the practical way to confirm which calibre family you are holding: the no-date calibre has no date setting position at all, the date calibres quickset, the GMT calibres set the 24-hour hand independently, the Day-Date calibre sets day and date, and the chronograph calibres follow the pusher and subdial layout of the calibre they copy.
Some builds have a display back and some are solid — the movement is visible only where the case back is clear, so check the photographs on the listing for the case as it is.
Service and longevity
Clone calibres are serviced like any mechanical movement, by a watchmaker who works with them; genuine parts generally do not interchange. We do not publish a service interval — servicing on symptoms rather than on a fixed calendar is the sensible approach.
Questions buyers ask about movements
Straight answers, no marketing filler.
What is the difference between DD3285 and SH3285?
Both are GMT-capable clone calibres, from different clone families in the trade. Our catalogue records DD-family designations, and the code on a listing is what our product record holds for that reference. We do not relabel a record to match a different naming convention.
Is DD3235 the same as VS3235?
Both spellings circulate in the trade for the copy of Rolex calibre 3235. In our data the Datejust, Submariner, Yacht-Master and Sea-Dweller builds are recorded as DD3235, and one Oyster Perpetual 41 is recorded as VS3230. We print each record as it stands rather than normalising the catalogue to a single spelling.
Which VS Factory movement is the most reliable?
We do not rank clone calibres by reliability, because we have no verified failure dataset and we will not publish a ranking we cannot stand behind. What we can tell you is which movement each reference uses, and that every watch is photographed and filmed for your approval before it ships.
Can a clone movement be serviced?
Yes — clone calibres are serviced like any mechanical movement, by a watchmaker who works with them. Genuine parts generally do not interchange, so the parts used are the clone calibre's own. We do not publish a service interval; service on symptoms (rate drift, reduced power reserve, roughness when winding or setting) rather than on a fixed calendar.
Do I pay more for a particular movement?
No. The price is set per reference and published on each listing; the movement designation does not add a surcharge.
Why do the Panerai listings not state a movement?
Because the product record for those references does not carry one. 40 of our 231 references have no movement designation recorded, so the listings and this page state nothing rather than guessing.
Browse the VS Factory catalogue
Every reference is listed with its factory line, reference number and movement — and shipped only after you approve the QC photos of your own watch.
View all references