VS Factory Releases Heavyweight Daytona Series – A Strong Competitor in the Super Clone Market
Last week, VS Factory announced the production of a heavyweight version of the 12xxxx series Daytona, now available in seven models—five with rubber straps and two ice-blue Daytona with stainless steel bracelets.
Are these heavyweight Daytona worth it? My answer is yes. This isn’t VS Factory’s first attempt at weighted Rolex replicas. Remember their 42mm Yacht-Master? It remains one of the best-selling super clones, now in its V3 iteration, weighing around 148 grams—extremely close to the genuine piece. As for the new heavyweight Daytona, the rubber-strap models weigh approximately 138 grams (see images below).
A common concern among buyers is whether the case or electroplating will peel over time. VS Factory assures it won’t, and I believe them. Their tungsten-steel Yacht-Master 226659, released years ago, has held up well with no reported peeling issues. Customers have been highly satisfied, so I trust VS has maintained the same quality with these new Daytona.
Before VS, other factories like QF and APS also produced weighted 12xxxx Daytona, and another called Gold Factory attempted it (though it’s unclear if they still do). QF’s version is now at V10, and APS continues refining its models, but both use the Shanghai 4131 movement—a drawback, as Clean Factory has already upgraded to the more reliable Dandong 4131. QF’s Daytona weighs ~155g, while APS’s is ~151g. Both use tungsten steel wrapped in stainless steel, but if poorly crafted, the case may darken or peel over time.
VS’s Daytona weighs ~138g, still ~20g lighter than genuine. However, VS claims the case itself matches the authentic weight, with the difference lying in the strap and buckle. For perfection, you could pair a VS Daytona with a genuine bracelet and buckle.
I’m excited about VS’s new release—it’s a great opportunity to compete with Clean Factory, especially at a similar price point (Clean’s standard Daytona weighs ~108g).
A suggestion for VS: Why not use real gold wrapping (white or yellow) on the case? This would eliminate peeling concerns without a significant cost increase, and enthusiasts would gladly pay extra for such an upgrade.
Below are images of VS’s heavyweightDaytona lineup:
- Replica Rolex Daytona 126518 (Yellow Gold)
- Replica Rolex Daytona126519 (Grey)
- Replica Rolex Daytona 126519 (Diamond Markers)
- Replica Rolex Daytona (Black Dial, Yellow Gold)
- Replica Rolex Daytona 126519 (Black Dial)
- Replica Rolex Daytona 126506 (Ice Blue Dial)
- Replica Rolex Daytona (Ice Blue, Diamond Markers)
This release solidifies VS Factory’s position as a top contender in the high-quality replica market.