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VSF release 8800 Super clone Movement

Snooky

Came for the reps, stayed for the banter!
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23/11/23
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Great news, some real good improvements here. But the additional regulator arm is an instant tell (just like in the 8500 / 8900 in my Aqua Terras). I wonder why VSF have added this obvious ‘flaw’ :confused:
 

Chrono2249

Do not accept unsolicited offers
16/11/24
8
2
3
Great news, some real good improvements here. But the additional regulator arm is an instant tell (just like in the 8500 / 8900 in my Aqua Terras). I wonder why VSF have added this obvious ‘flaw’ :confused:
maybe it can be hidden under "fake" regulator arm?
 

Valaj

Active Member
15/3/23
411
501
93
Illinois
Great news, some real good improvements here. But the additional regulator arm is an instant tell (just like in the 8500 / 8900 in my Aqua Terras). I wonder why VSF have added this obvious ‘flaw’ :confused:
This. To someone who knows what the movement kinda looks like (me, for example), this is a more obvious tell than the fake deco plate in the current one!
 

dogwood

I'm Pretty Popular
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maybe it can be hidden under "fake" regulator arm?
I prefer when the movements don't try to hide real regulator and beat adjuster under the balance bridge or under a fake hairspring stud. Making these two arms hidden just makes the job of regulation harder. Also, the less accessible the arms are, the higher the risk that a tool slips during regulation and damages the hairspring.

Let's be honest, if somebody is looking through the crystal caseback at the movement of my watch, I've already told them it's a rep. Your mileage may vary, but I'm not worried about fooling anybody, least of all those who know what they're looking for. These movements will never fool anybody, but that doesn't make them any less impressive feats of replication.
 

sfbatman787

Renowned Member
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17/4/17
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I prefer when the movements don't try to hide real regulator and beat adjuster under the balance bridge or under a fake hairspring stud. Making these two arms hidden just makes the job of regulation harder. Also, the less accessible the arms are, the higher the risk that a tool slips during regulation and damages the hairspring.

Let's be honest, if somebody is looking through the crystal caseback at the movement of my watch, I've already told them it's a rep. Your mileage may vary, but I'm not worried about fooling anybody, least of all those who know what they're looking for. These movements will never fool anybody, but that doesn't make them any less impressive feats of replication.
Rep movements will never be like gen, and if they ever get close, they won’t stay as affordable as they are now.

Trying to pass a clone movement as gen is just silliness.

For most people, a clone movement allows them to use many gen parts—similar to the clone 4130—without modifying gen parts, which could otherwise devalue them.
 

Chrono2249

Do not accept unsolicited offers
16/11/24
8
2
3
Rep movements will never be like gen, and if they ever get close, they won’t stay as affordable as they are now.

Trying to pass a clone movement as gen is just silliness.

For most people, a clone movement allows them to use many gen parts—similar to the clone 4130—without modifying gen parts, which could otherwise devalue them.
What do you mean?
VS3235 when well lubricated is at least as good as swiss entry level movements - i would argue its even better.
 

bavarex

Omega collector/watchmaking
3/4/21
155
182
43
EU / CAN
The movement looks really well made and can't deny its Dandong genes. Some parts even look like they are the same with the 8500 / 8900 movements. If it's the same quality as the 8500s / 8900s, that would be a big thing. Looking forward to see how its actually constructed.
 
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bavarex

Omega collector/watchmaking
3/4/21
155
182
43
EU / CAN
Great news, some real good improvements here. But the additional regulator arm is an instant tell (just like in the 8500 / 8900 in my Aqua Terras). I wonder why VSF have added this obvious ‘flaw’ :confused:
because the alternative would be to use an actual free spring balance. but that would make the movement not very service friendly, because regulating it is much much more difficult than a sliding regulator, and it is still not a coaxial-movement. So even if you make the balance free, experts will still recognize it ;).
 
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bavarex

Omega collector/watchmaking
3/4/21
155
182
43
EU / CAN
Seems like is how the new VSF 8800 looks, at least the autowinding bridge. Pretty close to the gen i think. But they used some parts from off-the-shelf-movements. Similar to the 8500 "clone"
Don't expect too much interchangeable parts

 

TheBigJS

Play nicely
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7/12/22
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Great news, some real good improvements here. But the additional regulator arm is an instant tell (just like in the 8500 / 8900 in my Aqua Terras). I wonder why VSF have added this obvious ‘flaw’ :confused:
They have to, the regulation method requires an arm to hold the spring and a second regulator arm that can be moved to adjust the spring.

And it's not that they can't build a free sprung balance, it's that regulating it requires quite a lot of repeated dismantling, minute adjustment, reassembly and retesting.

Hence the fake Patek with a free sprung balance on that Wristcheck video (which is I presume a couple of thousand dollar Chazingtime special) is miles out, it's not that it can't be regulated, it's that it's 25% the cost of the watch to do so.
 
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Frank Machin

Getting To Know The Place
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7/6/25
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Hi guys
Reading this thread hurts my head. Obviously,you fellas are very knowledgeable about the movements.

However, am i correct in saying that i should be very happy seeing the 8800 in a rep i consider purchasing.
 
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