Tribute to the fallen H factory

[m5smg2]

If you’ve been collecting reps as long as I, you’ll remember a humble factory from the 2000s called H maker. Unfortunately, they were raided around 2017 and never recovered. To honor them, I thought I’d share some of their contributions to our hobby so we can all appreciate their legacy.

The “H” and their claim to fame came from the first HUBLOT Big Bang rep and it was very good, especially at the time (V6 factory with deco 7750 has since surpassed it). Beyond the first HBB, H maker made some excellent replications from Breitling, Chopard, IWC, Panerai, and others. They made the first IWC rep in full Ceramic case with the Top Gun. They made solid 1:1 reps with crisp dials, SuperLume, AR crystals, quality case machining and finishing, all with very good and consistent QC. They still impress even by today’s expectations. If you’re the proud owner of an H piece, please share it here and how it’s special to you. Here are some I have or had over the years...

Today 1:1 reps may be the norm, but in the mid-late 2000s it was a big deal indeed. Most notably, they were the first to portray factory side by side gen photos when other makers only claimed to have the gen:

CHOPARD Mille Miglia Edition
12 & 6 printed on crystal per gen. Mille Miglia race engravings on case back.

CHOPARD Gran Turismo chrono
Dunlop tire rubber strap. The rubber even had a Vanilla scent just like the gen.

HUBLOT Big Bang Mat

IWC Cousteau Divers
Clever IWC design feature: the inner bezel rotating ring adjustment is integrated with the 4:00 chrono pusher — the chrono reset pusher doubles as the bezel rotation knob. Fun fact

IWC Spitfire Doppel Chrono
Layered 3D dial. Doppel (double) is IWC’s Rattrapante or Split Second chronograph.

IWC TOP GUN Ceramic Doppel Chrono
First rep with real Ceramic case (not DLC/PVD coating).

PAM 089 GMT
Anthracite dial. Titanium case.

PAM 188 Daylight
3 & 9 sunken sub dials per gen. A7753 with date change push button @ 10:00.

PAM 212 Flyback

PAM 224 Firenze
A7753 with date change push button @ 10:00.

PAM 228 Firenze
Stunning blue dial. Detailed case back engravings.

PAM 243 Submersible
Enough said.

PAM 308 Regatta
Waffle pattern dial with matching Sportech strap.

 

[kilowattore]

Blast from the past! These were the good old times when every PAM release was a hit. They did a great job on those IWC as well.

 

[dylan]

Amazing brother!

 

[whitegold]

Pioneered the way to where the rep watch industry is today!

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[nivlek]

Waoh all very nice reps with very good attention to the details!

 

[dadog13]

Did someone say HF?
I am still crying almost on a daily basis because this factory was shut down by the chinese authoroties. They made some amazing quality of PAM reps and I can only imagine what they could have done if they were not closed..

 

[Kandinsky]

Did someone say HF?
I am still crying almost on a daily basis because this factory was shut down by the chinese authoroties. They made some amazing quality of PAM reps and I can only imagine what they could have done if they were not closed..

I just had a small accident.... :/


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[KOT1917]

Thanks to HF for this couple.

PAM026 K
PAM056 C

 

[leo6929]

Wow, your collection and the details on those pieces look really amazing.

 

[ssouthall6]

Seeing these pics make me miss my 26k hfac. First ever rep!


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[sukwonee]

Here is my 3 for contribution to this awesome thread.

 

[mandipan]

H factory was great. Had the 026 and the Cousteau divers, if only I could find them again...

 

[KOT1917]

I'll add a couple more from myself with pam089 and pam005

 

[mrsullivan]

Great homage thread to HFac. I've been in the rep game for less than 2 years but that H sounds mythical and always makes my heart beat faster when I see a sale on M2M. Definitely a part of the replica's "H"eritage.

I had a PAM 288k, and still a proud owner of a Breitling SO Steelfish.

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[kilowattore]

How could I forget their Breitlings?
I still miss my grey skyland avenger

 

[kilowattore]

And possibly even more my blue steel fish

 

[sukwonee]

KOT1917 that 089..... Gorgeous

 

[KOT1917]

KOT1917 that 089..... Gorgeous

Thank you, I think so too. AR on crystal is layered on the very sparkling texture of the dial, and as a result, it can look absolutely anything. Every look on the wrist is a look at a new watch.
Much work of this factory with this dial, and in general, their dials were almost always the best among the competitors.
(You know yourself, having 005)

But special thanks to them for my favorite watch, pam056.
I love the richness of their tobacco dials.
Also, HF for me is the factory with the best rep straps for pams ..
Yes, they are often fancy, but they are often made well, and are very interesting in style.

PAM056 HF on the crocodile strap also HF.

 

[dylan]

Love these pics!
Keep em coming guys!


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[Thatwatchguy]

I too miss my Skyland avenger grey dial...not sure why I moved it on.

At least is still have this v3 avenger seawolf