How-why is VS Factory Daytona 4131 recommended?

The Rolex Daytona 4131 model is produced by VS Factory with a solid stainless steel case, standard case diameter and 7750 automatic chronograph movement architecture. It is among the most successful 1:1 super clone watch reviews on the market, with its sapphire crystal AR coating glass, original case tolerances and detailed workmanship.

VS's special edition 4131 movement was developed directly from the original 4131 movement. Its design is appropriate, its stability is good. 95 percent of its parts can be replaced with parts of the original mechanism.

The SH4131 movement is a 4131 movement based on the 4130 movement, which was converted into a 4130 movement made with 7750 technology. It only looks similar from the outside; Most of the parts inside the mechanism were compiled from the technology of low-quality domestic movements. It is not even possible to talk about a standard that parts can be replaced with the original mechanism; If there is such a thing, it's just an exaggerated advertisement. You can go back and look at the promotions where the original movement was disassembled and compared with the SH4131 movement previously circulating on the market.

In fact, the craftsmanship and level of completion of the SH4131 movement is more or less at the same level as that "blue mainspring" 3135 movement from 2018; So it's still rude.

Milling detail on the front of the VS Factory Daytona 4131 movement

When buying a replica, everyone wants to buy a similar, good and stable watch. But as for the replica 4131 movements on the market, the precision of workmanship of the SH4131 mechanism, which has been prevalent in this market so far, and the milling processing on the external appearance of the mechanism, has been processed like a household stainless steel basin or a stainless steel workbench; The milling pattern is too shallow and not clear. Even if you look at it from different angles, its texture looks extremely poor quality.

Since Rolex has a closed case back, you cannot normally see the precision of workmanship of the movement and the differences in its external appearance. But the difference in the quality of mechanism machining is essentially the difference in the power of the factory that produces the movement; It is the difference in the processing equipment and technical personnel of the factory. Can you believe that a factory that cannot even perform a seemingly simple milling operation properly can produce a mechanism with high precision and stable quality? You can't believe it. Just like many domestic cars: it is almost impossible for an automobile manufacturer that cannot even produce the detail quality of the bodywork properly to produce a good domestic engine. This level difference determines the level and quality of the product.

Engraving detail on the back of the VS Factory Daytona 4131 movement

Those who are interested in very small details can examine it themselves. It's clear that VS's special edition 4131 captures the texture of the original.

The processing quality of SH4131, which is currently prevalent in the market, is rough. Do not underestimate this difference. In the world of mechanisms, a narrow gap in precision means a gap in quality.

After reading this far, some may ask: Are you deliberately making SH4131 look so dark and crude? You don't have to worry about this; When you look at the next detail comparison photos, you will see that the reality is really that rough.

Take a look at the back detail comparison of the original 4131 movement and the SH4131 movement. You will be surprised: No more, is it that rude? The SH4131 movement is a stark contrast to those previous introductions; milling and machining are really that rough!

Comparison of the shock absorbing structure of the VS Factory Daytona 4131 movement

Both VS's specially produced 4131 caliber and the original 4131 caliber have real shock absorbers; Their external structure is the same, their functions are real. A fake shock absorber bridge, that is, a low-quality domestic movement shock absorber, is installed in the SH4131 movement.

Fake, non-adjustable type. It is completely different from the original mechanism. More importantly, the stability and impact resistance of the mechanism are much lower compared to the original and VS.

After removing the automatic rotor installation module, you can see this second main plate of the mechanism. Here, the "cunning" of the SH4131 movement, that is, the method of avoiding work, comes into play once again: they replaced the shock absorber that should have been with an ordinary ruby. They replaced the shock absorber with a stone; because the customer, that is, you, cannot see it either.

The reason why the stability of these high-end movements from Rolex is so great is due to the many admirable design details: for example, using shock absorbers at critical points prevents quality problems such as breakage due to falls. VS installed the same shock absorber as the original in the new 3135 movement, at an expense.

Only an ordinary stone is installed in the 3135 movement on the market; Its external appearance is completely different from the original, and the stability of the mechanism and its impact resistance are much lower compared to the original and VS.

Jewel seat detail of VS Factory Daytona 4131 movement

From the processing detail of the stone seat, we once again saw the "cunning" of this common SH4131 mechanism, that is, its method of evading work. They try to be more or less similar in visible places, but they avoid materials and labor in invisible places!

In the original 4131 movement, the stone seat at this location has two rubies, upper and lower, which secure the drive shaft; VS's new 4131 also has two rubies in its stone socket. In the SH4131 movement, there is only that one visible ruby; This causes the drive shaft to have a large play, which causes quality problems such as instability of the mechanism. Although the installation is light, the gears are easily damaged and quality problems such as failure to install occur.

Comparison of the sprocket structure of the VS Factory Daytona 4131 movement

In fact, many parts of the SH4131 were not developed based on the original movement; Moreover, parts of the 7750 movement were also used. For example, this sprocket wheel detail. Both VS's specially produced 4131 movement and the original 4131 movement have a V-shaped escapement unique to Rolex. The SH4131 movement has a T-shaped escapement, which is still used in domestic movements such as the 7750. Apart from this, many parts are different; For example, the limiting structure under balance and the horseshoe shape are not the same.

This small piece is attached to the bottom of the balance and has a nickname: it's called a horseshoe.

Both the shape and function of the horseshoe of VS's specially produced 4131 caliber and the original 4131 are the same.

Its gourd-shaped body limits the tong wheel. The SH4131 mechanism is different from the original and its function is inadequate. It is necessary to add two more small cylinders to have a limiting function.

Comparison of VS Factory Daytona 4131 restrictor structure

In VS's specially produced 4131 movement and the original 4131 movement, there are no extra two struts under the balance. On the SH4131, there are two extra struts under the balance; The structure is different from the original. The function of these two pillars is to limit the tong wheel; Technology of the eighties-nineties. High-end movements have long abandoned this, low-end movements still use this technology. Interested friends can look at the photos below of these two antique mechanisms that I keep:

Operating performance of VS Factory Daytona 4131 movement after disassembly and assembly

VS's specially produced 4131 mechanism, after being completely disassembled and reassembled, its oscillation amplitude can exceed 300; With a little adjustment, the margin of error improves and its operation becomes perfect. After the original 3135 mechanism is completely disassembled and reassembled, its operating data remain extremely good without the need for any adjustments. It's truly awesome.

When the SH4131 mechanism is completely disassembled and reassembled, it once again proves the curse of domestic movements, especially low-quality ones, not being able to withstand disassembly and assembly: after disassembling and reassembling, the oscillation amplitude no longer increases, it oscillates around 200; Once disassembled and reassembled, it becomes almost half-functional. This is the reason why many domestic mechanisms of mediocre quality cannot be repaired after a problem occurs, do not improve despite repeated repairs, and even get worse as they are repaired. (The machining precision of the mechanism parts is not high enough, caused by the fit between the parts not being tight enough.)

SH4131, due to the production equipment and technology constraints of the mechanism factory, as well as the "cunning" in details such as internal structure and parts, that is, the attitude of avoiding work; Unstable quality, lots of problems and high service rate are doomed. The thousand-meter set of quality collapses from the anthill. They do not change the quality of the mechanism, they just weed out the mechanisms with good working data by repeatedly eliminating them. What some factories do is a bit like deceiving themselves; It can only guarantee that the working data looks good at the time of shipment. Whether the customer will be determined after purchasing the watch is left to the customer's luck.

Comparison of the original and SH4131 in the detailed disassembly of the VS Factory Daytona 4131 movement