VF (Victory) & VS: Who is the best datejust in the market?

You want the best Datejust replica, but the new Victory Factory (VF) is creating confusion. You worry about choosing the wrong one and getting a flawed watch you'll regret buying.

While VF gets some details right, VSF is the better choice. VSF's overall quality is more consistent, and it avoids the fatal engraving flaws and logo errors found on the VF model.

Near the end of 2023, a new player showed up: Victory Factory (VF). The rumor is they are a new team using leftover parts from the legendary Clean Factory. I've been very busy, so I just recently got the chance to sit down and do a proper review. I don't have a Clean Datejust in stock anymore, so I can't confirm the rumor. Instead, let's look at the watches themselves. We will compare VF directly against the current king, VS Factory (VSF), and go detail by detail to see who really makes the better Datejust.

Which Watch Looks Better at a Glance?

You want a watch that looks perfect on your wrist. You are concerned that a small detail like the dial color or the shape of the crown will be an obvious tell.

It is extremely close. VF has a better-shaped crown and hand polish, but VSF has a better dial color and a more accurate logo. From a distance, they are almost identical.

When you first look at a watch, you notice the big things: the dial, the hands, the logo, and the crown. I took both watches outside in the sun and looked at them indoors. The VF dial is a bit more gray, but the difference is tiny. I think the VSF color is slightly better. I wish I had a genuine model to compare for you. When I'm rich enough, I promise I will buy one for a perfect review. If you have a gen, let me know your thoughts. When we look at the logo, both factories do a great job with the font shape. However, I noticed the letter "E" on the VF dial is strange, with the middle bar off-center. This might be a one-off flaw, but it's a concern. VSF's logo ink also looks thicker and more substantial.

Where Do the Critical Flaws Appear Under a Magnifying Glass?

The real test of a super clone is in the tiny details. You worry that your expensive replica will have a flaw that a knowledgeable friend might spot up close.

This is where VSF pulls ahead significantly. VSF's case and caseback engravings are nearly perfect, while VF's are sloppy and completely wrong. These are fatal flaws for the VF model.

This is where the watches really separate. A casual observer won't see these things, but a true enthusiast will. These are the details that matter in a "Super Clone." While both factories do a great job on the cyclops edge polishing and the date font is perfect on both, VF makes some huge mistakes in other areas. The engraving on the case is the first sign of trouble. The VF engraving looks sloppy because each letter is not made in one continuous stroke. The VSF engraving is clean and crisp, like a genuine watch. The clasp engravings also show VF's weakness. The text has burrs, the fonts are wrong (the flat top of the 'a' is missing), and the 'R' is too straight. VSF's 'R' has that elegant curve. But the biggest problem is on the back. The VF caseback engravings are completely wrong. The "W" is the wrong shape, the "R" has an "elephant leg," and the "S" is misshapen. VSF gets these details correct. This is a massive, fatal error for VF.

How Do They Compare in Build Quality and Feel?

A great replica is not just about looks, it is about how it feels. You want a watch with the right weight, a solid bracelet, and a reliable movement inside.

Both use the same excellent DD3235 movement, which is a tie. VSF's watch is slightly heavier (134g vs 129g), which feels more premium due to its white gold plated bezel.

The physical feeling of the watch is just as important as the look. I put both on the scale. The VSF weighs 134g and the VF weighs 129g. This difference comes from the VSF V2 update, where they began plating the bezel in white gold. This adds a nice bit of heft that makes it feel more substantial. Inside, it's a tie. Both factories use the exact same Dandong DD3235 clone movement, so performance and reliability will be identical. The bracelets are very similar. Both have excellent chamfering on the bracelet edges, a high-end touch that feels great. They also both make the same small mistake on the bracelet pins—the heads of the pins should have a small chamfer, but they are flat on both watches. It's a tiny detail, but it's something they could improve. Overall, the build quality on both is impressive, but VSF feels a little more solid thanks to the extra weight.

Conclusion

For me, the choice is clear. While VF has potential and wins on a few small details, its fatal engraving flaws and logo errors make VSF the undeniable winner for the best Datejust.