Speaking of Rolex’s “commuter king”, the Datejust cannot be avoided. It’s hard to avoid aesthetic fatigue after seeing too many black and blue disks. In the past two years, gray disk logs have quietly become popular – low-key and high-end gray tones, suitable for business and leisure, regardless of outfit. No wonder it has become the “hidden style of choice” for many watch friends.
However, the public price is RMB 60,000 to RMB 70,000, and the secondary market price has to be increased, which puts many friends who like diaries in trouble. Fortunately, the replica market gives us a “replacement” option. There are many factories on the market that make logs, but according to purewatches’ actual testing, the one with the most stable quality control and the best details has to be the VS factory. Especially this 41mm gray disk log V2 version, today we will talk about the real performance of this watch.
1. 904 fine steel + precise counterweight: the texture is not timid when you use it
Let’s talk about the hard-core configuration first: VS Factory Gray Log V2 uses 904L stainless steel, not the 316L commonly used in ordinary replicas.
904 steel has a higher proportion of nickel, molybdenum and copper elements, is more resistant to sweat stains and seawater corrosion, and is not prone to blackening and oxidation after long-term wear. This is much more reliable than many small factories.
The size of the entire watch is strictly molded at 41mm, and the radian of the lugs and the lines of the case are almost the same as the original. The case is polished using a segmented process: fine brushing on the sides and mirror polishing on the edges. The transition between the two processes is natural and smooth to the touch without scratching.
The most noteworthy thing is the counterweight. The original log weighs about 133 grams. The V2 version accurately reproduces this weight by adjusting the internal weight of the middle case. The heavy pressing feeling when you first use it, compared with the original version, it is difficult to distinguish the difference with the naked eye. This is a significant improvement over the 129-gram weight of the V1 version.
Two and three-layer electroplated dog tooth ring: brightness and wear resistance double online
The soul of the diary is the iconic dog tooth circle.
VS Factory V2 has put great effort into the bezel process this time. The base is made of 904 fine steel, and the surface is treated with three layers of vacuum plating. The luster is closer to the original platinum model. The reflection is even and soft under strong light, without being dazzling or looking cheap.
The cutting depth of each triangular pit pattern is consistent, with no burrs on the edges and no cutting residue. The underlying steel will not easily leak under slight daily bumps, and it will not fade or turn white easily after long-term wearing. This is much more reliable than the single-layer electroplating on copper base of many small factories. The V2 version will basically not encounter the embarrassment of oxidation and blackening after half a year of wearing.
3. Sapphire mirror + hidden anti-counterfeiting: See the real details for details
The mirror is made of high-hardness sapphire crystal, and the surface is coated with multiple layers of anti-reflective film.
The meter can be read clearly under strong light both indoors and outdoors, and there are basically no traces left behind from daily key friction or bumps against hard objects. The light transmittance is excellent, and the details of the disk surface can be seen at a glance, without any foggy feeling.
The original hidden small crown anti-counterfeiting mark is reproduced at 6 o’clock. The outline of the crown is clear under macro and the edges are not blurry. The lettering in the inner shadow circle is of even depth, and the font thickness is aligned with the original version, and the common problems of skewed lettering and blurred edges will not occur.
The three-point calendar magnifying glass has precise convexity and the magnification ratio is the same as the original. You don’t need to turn your wrist to see the date. This detail is very practical.
4. Gray plate sun pattern: precise color matching and full sense of high-end
The gray plate is the soul of this watch.
Many replica gray plates on the market are either darker, whiter, or foggy, and the color difference is obvious compared with the original version. However, VS Factory repeatedly adjusted the gray tone this time to avoid these common problems.
The dial uses a delicate sunray pattern. When the watch is turned, the gray will change with the depth of the light. It is a high-end matte gray tone and does not feel like cheap plastic. When the light hits it, the subtle gradient effect is very high-end.
The print control on the dial is stable, the Rolex Crown and English fonts at 12 o’clock are printed neatly, and the flat-head A font is used – this is a small detail that distinguishes authentic VS V2. It is difficult for small manufacturers to achieve this accuracy.
The edges of the three-dimensional strip scale are polished and smooth, and the luminous filling is even, making it clear to read in dark light environments. The three needles are paired with a conical solid center axis, with no obvious gaps. The ink in the calendar window is clean, the numbers are centered and not offset, and there are no defects such as ink spills and thick fonts.
5. Side polishing + lock-in handle: Hidden details are not obscured
The sides of the watch case are fully arc chamfered and polished, with no sharp edges and corners, making it smooth and smooth to touch without scratching your hands. The gap between the watch lugs and the strap is tight, and there will be no looseness or abnormal sound when shaking.
The right side adopts Rolex’s classic embedded locking head, the crown is deeply engraved and three-dimensional, and the anti-slip tooth pattern is even in depth. The time adjustment and winding have smooth damping, and the waterproof sealing is in place after locking. You don’t need to take off the watch deliberately when washing your hands or getting wet in the rain.
The crown can be adjusted in three gears: first gear for winding, second gear for quick calendar adjustment, and third gear for time adjustment. The calendar supports instant jump at 12 o’clock, without stuck calendar or half jump phenomenon, and the operation logic is exactly the same as the original version.
6. Movement core: Dandong 3235, stability and peace of mind are king.
The movement is the core competitiveness of VS Factory Gray Log V2.
The Dandong 3235 integrated movement is currently the most popular configuration in the replica log. purewatches will tell you four actual test feelings:
- Accurate travel time: Daily wear for more than 8 hours, the daily error is stably controlled at about ±5 seconds, and the error of most sample watches is only 2-3 seconds. Long-term wear does not require frequent time adjustment;
- power reserve: The measured battery life is 68-72 hours when the watch is fully loaded. If you take it off on Friday and let it sit, it will still run normally when you wear it on Monday. There is no need to rewind the watch every time you wear it.
- Durable construction: The upgraded 27-ball bearing automatic rotor has high winding efficiency and can automatically store energy by raising your hand every day; the clutch wheel of the movement has the same up-and-down bouncing structure as the original version, which is the key point to distinguish Dandong 3235 from ordinary modified movements;
- long term stability: The gears and escapement components are finely polished, which greatly reduces the abnormal noise, stuck calendar, stolen stops and other faults of the automatic rotor. The repair rate is much lower than that of the old 3135 modified movement.
Although the movement cannot be seen due to the dense bottom design, the smoothness of daily travel time and function adjustment can intuitively feel that the movement has a solid foundation.
7. Five-bead chain strap + folding clasp: full of comfort
The strap uses a classic five-bead Oyster chain, also made of 904L stainless steel.
The corners of each chain bead are all chamfered and polished to fit the wrist without irritating the skin. The gaps between the links are extremely small and no hair will be caught. The overall weight of the strap is balanced, and there will be no embarrassment of one side falling when worn.
The buckle adopts the same folding buckle as the original version, with the crown logo on the inside deeply carved and the fonts clear and three-dimensional. The opening and closing damping is moderate, and the one-handed operation is smooth. The coding on the inside of the buckle and the details of the olive mark are complete, and the flat A font inside the mark is aligned – this is also an important detail to identify the genuine V2 VS factory.
The strap supports fine-tuning, so it can fit wrists of different thicknesses. You can also replace the straps and tape modifications later, and the scene adaptation is very flexible.
8. Real advantages and disadvantages, don’t brag or discredit them.
Advantages:
- Made of 904L fine steel, corrosion-resistant and warm in texture
- Three-layer electroplated dog tooth ring, bright and wear-resistant double online
- The sunray pattern on the gray plate is precise in color matching and gives a full sense of luxury.
- Dandong 3235 movement, 72 hours of power, stable and durable
- Five-bead chain strap + folding clasp, high wearing comfort
- VS factory has stable quality control, and the detail restoration is the first echelon in the replica circle.
Disadvantages:
- The movement is not visible due to the dense bottom design, which may be a pity for those who see it through.
- Although the plating layer of the dog tooth ring is wear-resistant, it will still be damaged by severe bumps. Please be cautious in sports scenes.
- 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 the quality inspection before purchasing.
9. Buying Suggestions: Who is suitable to buy?
If you like the classic design of the Datejust and prefer a low-key and high-end gray plate, then this V2 version 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 show any shyness in daily wear or business occasions.
In particular, the combination of Dandong 3235 movement + three-layer electroplated dog tooth ring + precise counterweight is currently the top configuration in the replica log. 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 reliable channels to get the goods, and first check the plating uniformity of the dog tooth ring, the flat A font on the disk and the calendar instant jump 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.