Speaking of Rolex’s “out of stock king”, Green Water Ghost is definitely on the list. The classic color scheme of black plate and green circle is low-key yet a little flamboyant, and can be used in commuting, sports, and business situations. No wonder it has become the “dream watch” of many cousins.
However, the original price is RMB 70,000 to RMB 80,000, and the secondary market price has to be increased, which makes many watch friends who like water ghosts sigh at the sight of “green”. Fortunately, the replica market gives us a “replacement” option. The VS factory has really made something in the field of Rolex replicas in recent years, especially the third generation Green Submariner, equipped with the Dandong 3235 movement. Today Purewatches will put aside those false parameters and teach you step by step how to identify the authenticity of the VS Submariner, so as to avoid spending money on “Li Gui”.
1. V4 replacement ring: platinum coating + moisturizing luminous pearl, see the real chapter for details
The soul of Green Water Ghost is the iconic green ceramic circle.
The third generation Green Water Ghost of VS Factory uses the V4 version of the replacement ring. The details and color reproduction of this ring are considered top-notch in the replica circle. There are three key points in identification:
Identification of night pearls：
- Viewed from the front, it is plump and round, with a jade-like texture;
- Slightly concave when viewed from the side, not convex;
- The luminous filling cannot exceed the metal edge of the disk. Many small manufacturers will be confused about this.
Platinum coating identification：
- The scale coating inside the ring mouth must be gray pitted surface, not white glossy surface;
- The platinum coating is waterproof and oil-proof and does not fade. Small factory craftsmanship cannot achieve this effect.
Color restoration：
- The green saturation is moderate and will not turn gray or dark under natural light;
- There is a subtle gradient effect when the light turns, and the texture is very high-end.
2. Disk details: rounded corners + solid center axis, big manufacturers’ skills will not fool you
As for the disk, VS Factory has done a solid job this time.
scale time scale：
- Inverted triangle, 3/6/9 o’clock bar nails, and corners are rounded, not rigid right angles;
- The fonts are printed clearly, with sharp edges and no smearing, and you can’t find any faults even at a close distance.
pointer craftsmanship：
- The edges of the hour, minute and second hands are polished and smooth without any burrs;
- The central axis adopts a stamen-shaped solid design, which is consistent with the original structure, and there are no obvious flaws in macro observation.
Mirror details：
- The 2.5x calendar magnifying glass is coated with blue film, making it clear and non-glaring when reading under strong light;
- There is an anti-counterfeiting laser mark composed of 152 laser dots at 6 o’clock, which can only be seen at a specific angle. Many small manufacturers will omit this detail.
calendar font：
- The numbers 1 and 3 have small hooks at the beginning and end, and the fonts are centered and full;
- This detail is the iconic feature of VS factory, and it is difficult for imitation products to be so detailed.
3. Buckle identification: one-piece molding + four-point anti-counterfeiting, a must-see for detail control
The buckle part is an important part of identifying the VS factory. There are several key points:
logo craft：
- Open the clasp, and the internal logo is inlaid in one piece, with no welding points;
- Many small factories use welding technology, and the seams can be seen at a close distance.
Details of Dragon Beard Mark：
- The dragon’s beard on the left is carefully carved, with clear lines but not rough;
- The fonts are even in thickness and have smooth edges.
encoding font：
- The last A in the first row of letters must be “flat A”;
- The last E in the second row of letters and the middle horizontal line must be short;
- These two details are the iconic features of the VS factory and are often ignored by imitations.
Olive label + four points of anti-counterfeiting：
- The A inside the olive mark must be a flat A;
- The four-point anti-counterfeiting mark below: one point below O, one point to the left of X, and one point to the left and right of A, with precise positions;
- This combined identification method can basically filter out 90% of imitations.
4. Movement core: Dandong 3235, 5 details to identify authenticity at a glance
The movement is the ultimate trump card for identifying VS factory green water ghosts.
The Dandong 3235 integrated movement has 5 key identification points:
1. Beginning of encoding：
- The movement code under the balance wheel must start with “1S”;
- If it starts with 5A or 9X, it can basically be determined that it is not a Dandong movement.
2. Shock absorber：
- It must be a PF shock absorber, which is standard on Dandong 3235;
- Other shock absorber versions can basically be ruled out.
3. Card position：
- The gold card is on the right and the silver card is on the left;
- The Shanghai movement is just the opposite, and this detail can be distinguished at a glance.
4. Ceramic balls：
- Dandong 3235 has been upgraded to 27 ceramic ball bearings;
- If the number of balls is insufficient or the material is wrong, it can basically be judged to be a low-end version.
5. Clutch wheel details：
- There is a clutch wheel with polished dots behind the 3235 engraving;
- When operating the handlebar, the clutch wheel can jump up and down;
- If it is concave or cannot beat, it is a characteristic of Shanghai movement.
small details of color：
- The Teflon of the Dandong movement is dark red;
- The Shanghai movement is bright red, and the color difference is obvious in close contrast.
5. Real advantages and disadvantages, do not brag or discredit them
Advantages:
- V4 replacement ring + platinum coating, top-level ring restoration
- Rounded corners on the disk surface + solid central axis, details are well controlled
- The buckle is integrated with four-point anti-counterfeiting, and the identification details are clear.
- Dandong 3235 movement, 27 ceramic balls, stable and durable
- The quality control of VS factory is stable, and the overall restoration level ranks first in the replica circle.
Disadvantages:
- The price may be slightly higher than other factories
- There are fake VS versions on the market, you need to identify them carefully before buying.
- Replica watches are replicas after all, and you need to accept them psychologically
- There may be slight polishing differences in individual batches, it is recommended to confirm before buying.
6. Purchasing Suggestions: Who is suitable to buy?
If you like the classic design of Green Water Ghost, but feel that the premium of the original version is too high, then this third generation Green Water Ghost from VS Factory is indeed worth considering. It is not the kind of low-end product that is fake at first glance. It will not look shy for daily wear or gatherings with friends.
Especially the combination of Dandong 3235 movement + V4 replacement ring + platinum coating is currently the top configuration among replica Green Water Ghosts. Although there is still a slight gap from the original version, considering the appearance, movement, and wearing experience, it does deserve the title of “cost-effective replacement”.
Purewatches’ suggestion is: find a reliable channel to get the product. When you get it, first check the movement code starting with 1S, the card position and gold/silver distribution, and the clutch wheel beating function. If there is no problem with these three points, you can basically wear it with confidence.
Warm reminder: This article is only for communication and reference for watch enthusiasts, and supports genuine products and rational consumption. Buy a watch because you like it, don’t let “face” kidnap your wallet. Having fun wearing a watch is the most important thing.