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Who has the best sub? A guide for noobs
- Thread starter Nivka
- Start date
- 7/8/16
- 2,464
- 767
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I over passed from the nearly banned to be cited in a beautiful thread like this!!!
I'm very happy :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
I'm very happy :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
This was very very helpful mate,thank youThis is the most commonly asked question by people new to the hobby, and it tends to annoy some senior members because it's not an easy question to answer and people don't want to spoon feed you because it's lazy and you actually get so much more out of this hobby by doing your own research. This post is meant to help noobs find the answer for which is the best sub for them by describing things in simple language without assuming much prior knowledge.
The submariner has been around since the 1950s and has undergone many iterations over that time. The history of the sub is described wonderfully by @Bonesey here https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/143458-Rolex-Submariner
In this thread, I’m going to focus on the LN (lunette noir, that is French for black bezel)
The most popular models on the forum are the most recent two: the 16610 and the 116610.
16610
The 16610 is described as a 5 digit. It was in production from 1987 to 2010 and over those 23 years it underwent a few variations in terms of the dial, rehaut, bracelet, lug holes etc. see here for discussion http://rolexpage.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/evolution-of-submariner-16610.html
The overwhelming consensus on the forum is that the best 16610 is made by Thomas Cadel, who is known as TC. He is a supporting vendor here and you can purchase his watches directly from him. They are quite expensive by rep standards, but you get what you pay for. TC has devoted a lot of time and effort into developing this watch and you are buying a hand-crafted watch by a passionate enthusiast and has evolved over several years to give us the most recent version, the v7 https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/334379-TC-Sub-V7. Some people take his base watch and add in genuine parts like bezel insert, crystal or crown. These are called frankenwatches and you see them come up on a weekly basis in the member to member sales section, but they often go for nearly USD$1000.
Nice 16610 TC v6 pictorial review https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/300003-TC-Classic-Sub-pic-heavy!
TC16610v7 vs gen comparison https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/341203-TC-Submariner-V7-review-and-GEN-comparison
Discussion of TCv6 to v7 and v7 extreme https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/333440-TC-Sub-V7-Extreme-New-TC
Members show off their TC subs https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/216084-Show-off-your-TC-Subs
116610
The 116610 is also known as a 6 digit. It has been in production from 2010 to the present. It may look similar to its predecessor at first glance, but it's a different watch. The bezel insert (the black bit around the watch with numbers that rotates) is made of ceramic, instead of aluminium like on the preceding models, making it more resistant to scratches. You also sometimes see this model referred to as sub-c, referring to the ceramic. Also, the crown guards are stubbier and the lugs are wider, giving the impression of being slightly bigger. On top of that, the hour markers on the dial are larger (so-called maxi dial) and the bracelet is heavier because the links are solid. There's a great article comparing the two models here https://www.bernardwatch.com/blog/rolex-submariner-116610-vs-16610-comparison/
@occb2 shows details of the 116610 bezel here https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...Ceramic-Submariner-official-break-down-chart/
Noob v6 vs v7 vs gen by @Subjeff https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/328680-Noob-v6s-V7-Vs-Gen-116610
Noob v6s vs JF v2 comparison https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/290073-Noob-V6s-vs-JF-V2-subc-review
The 116610 has been replicated by a few factories: noob, BP, JF and others. Of those, noob factory tends to get the best reviews. There have been multiple attempts by noob to replicate this model, each with their own pros and cons. When I joined the forum, they were up to the noob v5, then there was v6, v6s and at the time of writing the v7 is the top version, although there are already whispers of a v7s soon. These watches come in two version with different movements: SA3135 and A2836. The SA3135 is more expensive and less reliable (can die within 2 days https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/341073-V7-Sub-randomly-stopping), but has a closer to gen case in terms of the bezel feel and the look of the crown guards; it also gives you more options for adding genuine components or upgrading parts such as the movement, dial and hands. https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/341630-Is-this-the-V7s
The A2836 option is cheaper, more reliable, but the case is less accurate and you can’t really substitute components very easily.
A great review from the master @smoke on the v6s https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/295118-Noob-v6s-LN-pictorial-review
A thread on the v7 https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb...b-V7-Submariners-Wrist-Shots-and-SEL-Pictures
Another v7 thread https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/325657-Noob-v7-submariner-new-rehaut
Another trusted seller on the forum is BK, who takes the latest version of the noob watch A2836 version and does a few modifications on it to make it as good as it can be, including taking the Chinese clone A2836 movement and substituting a genuine swiss ETA 2836 movement instead. This is a really quality movement that should last you a long time if you take care of it and any watchsmith should be able to service it.
So, which is the best sub for you?
The first thing you need to decide is whether you want the newest, shiny, weighty ceramic 116610 or whether you prefer the classic, aluminium, hand-crafted 16610.
If money is not an issue, buy a gen lol. If you can afford to spend around $1000, you could buy a noob v7 116610 with the SA3135 movement and wait until it dies, then substitute in a yuki 3135 for $500 or a $200 alternative from TC. You’d also have the option of adding a genuine dial and hands. If you want the 16610, you can stalk the member to member sales section for a TC frankenwatch with gen parts.
This guy paid a modder to put in a gen crystal and date wheel overlay on a noob for €1150 https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/341376-my-new-SUB-116610-LN
If you’re not experienced at all with modding watches and want the simplest, easiest out of the box solution, you should either go with the TC v7 16610 or the BK modded noob v7 116610. Both sell for about $600-650. You’d be hard pressed to find a dissatisfied customer who’s bought either of these watches.
If you want to impress your friends and have the most genuine-looking watch that experts will have a harder time picking as a replica, go with the TC (with all the genuine parts if you can afford it).
If you’re sceptical about sending random people on the other side of the planet your hard earned money via Western Union (as I was!), consider an entry level sub. Wacko Bird Keeper (WBK aka Stan) sells a pretty good sub for $158 and was my first purchase on this forum https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/226733-Rolex-SubC-(-104)
If you're not sure having read this, please post your question and people smarter than me will chip in. We live in a wonderful community and we were all noobs once. Just please don't start a new thread entitled 'who has the best sub?'!
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Thank you! Surprisingly, something like this isn't mandatory for people to read as soon as they join!
Great post!
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Great post!
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I don't have time to read it. Could you just summarize the key points and then tell me the best one, and then go ahead and order for me please? Also which td gets the best watches?
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SUBKILLER
Renowned Member
- 30/7/16
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d.brocke
I'm Pretty Popular
Excellent post with straight forward answers and linked facts.
But I have to wonder if any of you guys happen to know who has the best Sub and where I can find it ?
But I have to wonder if any of you guys happen to know who has the best Sub and where I can find it ?
[MENTION=100385]Nivka[/MENTION] kudos! Great Gaby filled write up!
I actually posted a question about the JF vs Noob.
I was shocked to see how much better the JF coronet was.
Sent from a remote corner of the world using a series of clicks, grunts and generous amounts of profanity
I actually posted a question about the JF vs Noob.
I was shocked to see how much better the JF coronet was.
Sent from a remote corner of the world using a series of clicks, grunts and generous amounts of profanity
pengo
I'm Pretty Popular
- 11/7/15
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Sorry, Thrasher, I'm not exactly sure what you mean. Are you saying TC's blog is down, but people need to email him if they want to place an order because they can't assume he'll contact people if they post in his threads or tag him expressing interest in buying from him?
He told me the BLOG will not be going up again, if you want something email him and everything that was in the blog can be found here on the forum just search posts started by TC670207
https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/search.php?searchid=5389061