Why this model matters

Rolex refreshed the modern Daytona line with the calibre 4131 and subtle case/dial updates. The Everose 126515 on Oysterflex has quickly become a community favorite thanks to its warm metal tone, ceramic bezel, and sunburst dials (including the so-called “Becks/Becks-style” nicknames in Chinese forums). Because Clean Factory (C Factory) now offers a 4131-era build, many collectors have asked for a calm, side-by-side read: what’s actually matched, where tolerances live, and what to inspect if you’re considering one.

Terminology note: in the replica community “4131” often refers to a 4131-style clone of the updated Daytona architecture. It is not the Rolex calibre, but it aims to reproduce the display (running seconds at 6, 30-minute at 3, 12-hour at 9) and overall feel.

What changed on the 126515 vs earlier Everose Daytonas

• Movement update: Rolex 4131 (vs 4130) with revised finishing, ball-bearing rotor, optimized escapement/efficiency and new bridges.
• Case & dial tweaks: Very small changes to case profile and dial typography; sunburst treatments and colors received incremental refinements.
• Bezel: Black Cerachrom tachymeter with platinum-toned PVD numerals; on Everose it frames the dial with stronger contrast than metal bezels.

For replica evaluation, these changes mean more sensitive tells live in typography, sub-dial depth, sunburst angle, and hand/marker geometry—not only in broad casework.

Side-by-side: what Clean Factory got right (and where to look closer)

Below is a condensed field checklist from our comparisons (multiple genuine 4131 samples examined alongside the Clean Factory piece).

Dial color & sunburst

• Match: Clean’s sunburst grain density and radial brushing angle are convincingly close; under indirect daylight the dial flips from warm champagne/stone tones to colder greige, as the gen does.
• Lighting behavior: Under warm LED, both gen and Clean show a mild bronze shift; under cool daylight the color desaturates. This is where most older reps failed.
• What to check: Extremely oblique angles—on some reps, the sunburst spokes can appear a hair coarser. It is subtle and easiest to see in macro.

Print & typography

• Match: “DAYTONA” ring, sub-dial scales, and minute track thickness are well controlled; edge fray is minimal.
• Variability caveat: We observed real variation between genuine 4131 dials—some print runs show hair-thicker minute tracks or slightly bolder index hashes. If you’ve seen earlier 116518/116519 batches, don’t assume a single “correct” thickness.
• What to check: The “UNITS PER HOUR” bezel font spacing at 1–2 o’clock; Clean’s spacing is very good, but bezel engraving depth uniformity is worth a quick loupe.

Hour markers (applied indices) & hands

• Community myth vs reality: “Marker thickness must equal X” is unreliable. We handled six genuine 4131 pieces (cement grey 126519, “Becks-style”, black/white 126500, plus two two-tone dials) and index mass did vary within Rolex tolerances; hand shapes also showed tiny batch differences.
• Match: Clean’s indices have crisp facets and consistent polish; handsets are correctly proportioned with good polish on the central pinion stack.
• What to check: Marker feet shadowing under raking light (should be minimal), and sub-dial hand length to track—some early reps had a 0.2–0.3 mm shortfall.

Sub-dials

• Match: Correct concentric azurage (circular graining) and dish depth. Rehaut from center to sub-dial wall is neat with no paint creep.
• What to check: Under macro, ensure the azurage rings are even and not “stepped.” Clean’s recent batches are good here.

Case, bezel, and pushers

• Casework: Everose-tone finishing is sharp; transitions between polished flanks and lug tops are clean.
• Bezel: Cerachrom gloss and platinum-tone fill are consistent; the tachy numerals are evenly filled and not grey-washed (a past weak point in some factories).
• Pushers & crown: Screw-down feel is positive without gritty bite. Thread start is predictable—no cross-thread sensation.

Crystal & rehaut

• Crystal clarity: No haze; edge finish looks correct.
• Rehaut: Even, but always check alignment at 12. Any mis-centered crown is a no-go.

About the “4131” clone inside (what matters in practice)

• Layout & operation: Running seconds at 6; chronograph with central seconds, 30-minute at 3, 12-hour at 9. Start/stop/reset feel is progressive, not spongy; reset lands true at 12.
• Winding & reserve: Smooth hand-wind; power reserve typically ~70 hours in community logs when fully charged.
• Rate stability: Many owners report +5 to +10 s/d after settling. As always, light regulation can improve this.
• Service note: A chrono clone is more complex than time-only. Avoid rapid start/stop “stress testing,” and don’t operate the chronograph under water even if a watch claims a rating.

If you see the movement marketed as “4131,” treat it as a 4131-style clone in practical terms. The visual architecture is close, the functions are correct, and the wearing experience is what matters day-to-day.

The “index thickness” debate (and why you shouldn’t over-index on it)

Because we handled multiple genuine 4131 dials side by side, two observations are worth stating clearly:

1. Marker mass and hand geometry are not perfectly uniform across all genuine samples. Rolex tolerances are tight, but different batches show minute variations.
2. Therefore, “your rep is wrong because the index looks 0.1 mm thinner” is not a fair conclusion without matching the same dial code and production period.

This is also why Clean insists on the “buy the genuine first” approach for each color variant—matching a family requires matching each colorway rather than assuming one master dial equals all.

Quick QC checklist before you size the strap

1. Tachymeter alignment at 12 (triangle area) and numeral spacing uniformity.
2. Sub-dial hand reset to zero precisely; minute recorder jumps at 60.
3. Pushers screw in smoothly; crown tubes feel secure, no wobble.
4. Sunburst under cool/warm light—look for even spokes, no blotches.
5. Index seating flush; no glue halos; handset free of dust under macro.
6. Oysterflex fit to case—end-link curvature should hug the case; clasp closes with an even, decisive click.

Wearing experience (Everose + black bezel + Oysterflex)

• Balance: The Everose case + ceramic bezel combination sits surprisingly balanced on Oysterflex; it wears smaller than the numbers suggest.
• Strap comfort: Clean’s Oysterflex reproduction has the internal blade feel (not floppy rubber). Micro-adjust on the clasp is useful; pick the right strap code for your wrist.
• Presence: Everose warmth + black bezel reads refined, not loud. In low light the dial sunburst adds depth without shouting.

Where Clean still needs vigilance (tiny tells to keep in mind)

• Macro sunburst grain: Some angles may show a touch coarser grain compared with select genuine dials.
• Bezel fill under loupe: Look for consistent platinum tone across numerals; unevenness is rare but worth checking.
• Hand length tolerances: Sub-dial hand tips should land comfortably into the track; outliers do exist in any factory run.

These are fine-grain checks. On wrist, the overall impression is highly convincing.

Community verdict, stripped of slogans

If you come from the legendary 116518 “Shawn Yue” runs, you’ll recognize the philosophy: match color first, then live and die by finishing. The 126515 4131 movement Clean continues that approach. It isn’t “perfect” in the absolute sense—no replica is—but against multiple genuine samples, dial tone, sunburst, print quality, casework, and chronograph feel are decisively in the zone.

The most useful takeaway is not “flawless” but “coherent under scrutiny, convincing on wrist.” And for a modern Everose Daytona with ceramic bezel, that’s the standard that counts.