Introduction
This is my first mini review to contribute something back to this fantastic forum. Most of the information in this small write up can already been found somewhere either in this forum or in some neighboring forums. Anyhow, the info is not likely to be complete but it will be a good summary for most noobs or folks not too familiar with this AP FC diver. Some of the AP pros here surely have more knowledge than I can capture in this mini review.
There are actually a few versions of this diver rep and they are all 42mmx14mm and are all closed back versions.
This model is, IMHO, one of the best AP reps (together with SS version and Ceramic version) out of the box till date – Jan 2016.
Pros and Cons between JF v5 and Noob v4
As of Jan 16, the 2 best available versions are:
1. Noob AP FC Diver v4 A2824 (around USD 480). This rep was launched somewhere in 2014 september.
This is the link to one of the TD sites:
http://www.puretime.watch/product/r...oob-11-best-edition-on-rubber-strap-a2824-v4/
Pros:
2. JF AP FC Diver v5 miyota decorated 3120 (USD 480), launched sometime in Nov 2015:
This is the link to one of the TD sites:
http://www.puretime.watch/product/r...-11-jf-best-edition-on-rubber-strap-a3120-v5/
Pros
I would also suggest these 3 good threads to read and consider before anyone decides to pull the trigger:
https://rwg.cc/topic/181118-ap-fc-gen-to-rep-comparison (but the compared versions are those before Nov 15 versions)
https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...oob-Forged-Carbon-(FC)-Diver-is-BACK-in-STOCK!
https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...-1-JF-Best-Edition-A2824-V5-(PIC-HEAVY)/page3
Pictures illustration of some of the Pros and Cons
Nov15 Noob v4 (courtesy of APCheng’s QC pictures)- see the clearly better thin black lines but DW font is now same as JF V5:
The original link is here:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...ged-Carbon-(FC)-Diver-is-BACK-in-STOCK!/page2
Nov 15 JF v5 (intime website). Notice the white hour hand now, it is no longer grey. But one can still clearly see the 2 thick lines on the hour hand.
http://www.intime.co/audemars-piguet/1600-royal-oak-offshore-diver-forged-carbon-a3120-v5.html
Old Noob V4 (before Nov 15). The DW font was apparently more gen like:
QC care (what to look out for during QC):
Read this thread also for a good comparison of V4 vs V5:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...d-Carbon-Diver-Noob-v4-or-J12-v5-which-to-get
Checklist should include these:
Another qc thread with Noob V4 qc pics:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...C-pics-question-bezel-alignment-with-caseback
Some rep shots:
FC diver on a nice red rubber strap (courtesy of d09624008):
FC diver on a sub-6 inch wrist. So yes, folks with small wrist can wear this but the lugs are a little bit overhanging, IMHO:
Another perspective, same rep, same small wrist:
Special mentions and thanks:
This is my first mini review to contribute something back to this fantastic forum. Most of the information in this small write up can already been found somewhere either in this forum or in some neighboring forums. Anyhow, the info is not likely to be complete but it will be a good summary for most noobs or folks not too familiar with this AP FC diver. Some of the AP pros here surely have more knowledge than I can capture in this mini review.
There are actually a few versions of this diver rep and they are all 42mmx14mm and are all closed back versions.
This model is, IMHO, one of the best AP reps (together with SS version and Ceramic version) out of the box till date – Jan 2016.
Pros and Cons between JF v5 and Noob v4
As of Jan 16, the 2 best available versions are:
1. Noob AP FC Diver v4 A2824 (around USD 480). This rep was launched somewhere in 2014 september.
This is the link to one of the TD sites:
http://www.puretime.watch/product/r...oob-11-best-edition-on-rubber-strap-a2824-v4/
Pros:
- DW most gen like (but reps purchased after Nov 2015 version seem to have the wrong DW or rather the same DW as the JF v5 version)
- A2824 without decorated plate: less likely for things to go wrong (and it is a closed case anyway). Note that I have not yet opened up my FC diver received in late Jan 16 to verify that it is still a A2824 undecorated.
- The A2824 can be modded to a lower beat movement (but big note: not easily done and I there are only a couple of modders who can do that in this forum)
- Hour hand is o correct colour, correct lume and presents thin 2 lines.
- Correct bezel font size
- AR crystal might not be as good as JF version.
- The DW font is harder to read (probably the cyclops mag is not right and cyclops AR is cloudy).
2. JF AP FC Diver v5 miyota decorated 3120 (USD 480), launched sometime in Nov 2015:
This is the link to one of the TD sites:
http://www.puretime.watch/product/r...-11-jf-best-edition-on-rubber-strap-a3120-v5/
Pros
- Better crystal
- Some say better FC case (might not be really the case IMHO because I can’t figure out how one distinguish a better FC case since the FC patterns will always vary from rep to rep)
- DW might not be as good as Noob
- Hour hand: too grey (likely fixed in the Nov version) but the 2 thick lines are still there on the hour hand!
- Miyota movement: reportedly more noisy (note: I find my FC diver on A2824 to be more noisy than my AP 15400 miyota. Movement is decorated which means might present additional risks )
- Smaller (incorrect) bezel font size
- Some say the miyota movement is noiser (note: I find my noob v4 to be noiser than my miyota AP 15400)
I would also suggest these 3 good threads to read and consider before anyone decides to pull the trigger:
https://rwg.cc/topic/181118-ap-fc-gen-to-rep-comparison (but the compared versions are those before Nov 15 versions)
https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...oob-Forged-Carbon-(FC)-Diver-is-BACK-in-STOCK!
https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...-1-JF-Best-Edition-A2824-V5-(PIC-HEAVY)/page3
Pictures illustration of some of the Pros and Cons
Nov15 Noob v4 (courtesy of APCheng’s QC pictures)- see the clearly better thin black lines but DW font is now same as JF V5:
The original link is here:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...ged-Carbon-(FC)-Diver-is-BACK-in-STOCK!/page2
Nov 15 JF v5 (intime website). Notice the white hour hand now, it is no longer grey. But one can still clearly see the 2 thick lines on the hour hand.
http://www.intime.co/audemars-piguet/1600-royal-oak-offshore-diver-forged-carbon-a3120-v5.html
Old Noob V4 (before Nov 15). The DW font was apparently more gen like:
QC care (what to look out for during QC):
Read this thread also for a good comparison of V4 vs V5:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...d-Carbon-Diver-Noob-v4-or-J12-v5-which-to-get
Checklist should include these:
- Have to check to see inner bezel marker align with outer marker (one of the most common QC issues with FC diver)
- Check that the 12 oclock markers are both of same length
- Check DW window alignment (to be straight)
- Check also that all markers are aligned correctly
- Check the inner bezel numbers 30, 40 and 50 all do not touch the dial
- Check also that there is well defined border on all inner bezel numbers (which defines the lume areas).
- Check the AP wordings on the straps
- Engraving at the back of buckle (“TITANE”: correct. Other wordings such as "stainless steel" and etc are wrong version or buckle)
- If buy JF, have to also check the date between 20 to 31 to see if you can see the next date (next date should not appear).
Another qc thread with Noob V4 qc pics:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...C-pics-question-bezel-alignment-with-caseback
Some rep shots:
FC diver on a nice red rubber strap (courtesy of d09624008):
FC diver on a sub-6 inch wrist. So yes, folks with small wrist can wear this but the lugs are a little bit overhanging, IMHO:
Another perspective, same rep, same small wrist:
Special mentions and thanks:
- Firstly, I have to thank ALE7575, yes ALE7575, the king of PAM. He is the one that guided me the most when I first joined this forum in Oct 15. A truly nice guide with tons of knowledge, not only on PAM but also Hublot! I would not have gone so deep in this hobby if not for him.
- Secondly, I have to thank APCheng and d09624008 because I used their photos. J
- Thirdly, I have to thank…. Aflop, this guy is why I have bought 3 Aps and counting. Because I saw his wrist shots sometime in end Oct 15 and I asked myself: “hmmmm…. Why the fxxk are these reps so nice?” and before long, I have 3. His wrist shots are nice, his mods are excellent and his eyes are super sharp (can distinguish gen from rep a mile out). This guy is one of the AP pros in this forum.
