Introduction to the Features of the VS Factory Omega Seamaster 8500 Movement
This article provides a visual and textual explanation of the replication process of the Omega Seamaster 8 Series movement by the VS Factory. We will introduce this process in three developmental stages.
Stage One: During this period, replica watches were in their infancy and could be considered rudimentary by today's standards. The movement used at that time was the 2836/2824, and its appearance differed significantly from the authentic movement. It was easy to identify these as counterfeit watches, especially when viewed from the back.
Stage Two: Replicated Omegas used the Japanese SII (Seiko Instruments Inc.) movement (8215) as a base and then fitted it with the appearance of the 8500 movement. This was considered the best solution at the time. However, issues were evident, such as the inability of the second hand to stop, slight shaking of the second hand while the watch was running, and notable differences in the balance wheel's position compared to the genuine movement.
Stage Three: The movement was changed to the 2836 as the base, with the appearance of the 8500 movement deck. This improvement allowed for the stoppage of the second hand, but the misalignment of the balance wheel position with the genuine movement remained an issue. Using this deck approach also made parts on the deck prone to falling off, leading to movement malfunctions.
The Final Solution: After approximately four to five years of refinement, the VS Factory presented the ultimate solution: starting from scratch. They completely redeveloped the movement by dissecting the genuine Omega movement and developing each part to match the original. This resulted in the VS Factory Omega movement we see today. For more details on the performance of this movement, you can refer to other articles on this website. In summary, the VS Factory's all-in-one movement offers a power reserve of nearly 70 hours, with all parts, jewels, and balance wheel positions identical to the genuine movement. The movement also features the genuine calendar quickset function.
