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ARF SD43 904L 126600 review (many pics)

botsyboy

Put Some Respect On My Name
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Certified
1/9/09
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U.K.
Very true. I’m 6’4” and solid so I get away with most big watches but I would say it wears just a bit heavier than a Subc.


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m5smg2

Mythical Poster
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23/8/07
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To remove the cyclops I dismantled the watch first. I’ve also added a better Noob dwo. I removed the crystal and then applied gentle heat from my kitchen blowtorch to the cyclops a little at a time until I could remove the bubble with pliers. Clean off the glass and re-fit.
I also stripped the bezel down and softened the teeth a little and then polished the whole watch for a more gen like sheen.
As for fitment of the insert, there is no glue used on this ARF which is exactly as it should be. There is a bezel washer/pressure ring that when the insert is pressed in somehow holds the whole thing in tightly. Please be careful if you try this at home due possible cracking of the insert if you’re too heavy handed.

This is all awesome info. Thank you for taking the time to share this. By far you have the best SD43 here. The cyclops removal makes it even better.
 

Drifter

Renowned Member
31/10/17
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82f2acbee611e7e4e44b6dda2da3030a.jpg


My new daily beater :D


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Looks phenomenal.

GEN ?
 
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Smpfan

Renowned Member
18/9/11
996
303
63
Don’t believe this is gen. Look at the 3 and 9 o‘clock markers. They don’t have rounded edges.
If you know where to look you always can spot the rep. But this one is so good...
 
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Drifter

Renowned Member
31/10/17
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Clean shaven look reminds me of my DSSD dblue..very nice.



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ILuvTheCLock

Known Member
23/7/17
198
23
18
Well, I hate the cyclops and I don't forsee me selling this ARF. I have made the decision to remove the cyclops. Will post the results (disastrous or me celebrating!!!!)

ALSO, Maybe I am crazy for thinking about doing this. But it looks like the ARF Seadweller uses a 31mm crystal (I do not know the depth measurement). I am giving serious thought to switching in a DD Sapphire with Blue AR into this (I think of reps as mod watches....I give zero Fks if it looks like the original in any way.....I might be alone in this thinking)

Here is my Steinhart O1B with the crystal I want to install in the ARF.

2svY8T7.jpg


Here is the current state of the ARF
PanKdgn.jpg



Should I leave it as is.....or break out the tools? :) (a very small part of me is thinking, if I have to do all this work....I bought the wrong watch and should just sell it and buy something different.....but I LOVE this huge chunk of steel) :) I would lose the INVISI-Crown etching if I switch to the dome :(
 

chamonix

You're Saying I Can Sell?
22/3/17
29
3
3
I took some pics for comparison of the DW. IMO the only flaw is the overall print quality and the position of the digits. They are not always centered in a correct way. But font seems to be correct. Mine is a V1 with updated DW font. Gen is always the first pic:

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Have a nice weekend!

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Great job, thanks for your efforts. Some numbers aren't that bad but some others are totally pathetic.
 

peterpl

Put Some Respect On My Name
24/7/11
4,669
637
113
Guys,

You need to be careful the new V2 has incorrect mag again. Its not as huge as the initial first batches but now its like x3 mag instead of the Rolex specified 2.5x mag. I honestly don't know why they do stupid things like this. Seriously.

Here is some comparisons of a watch I got yesterday. It looks quite big when its next to a Noob v7 or a Gen. Not the best pics but you guys can see it.

Some ppl say its not much difference but when you have seen and held gens a lot especially right next to the new ARF 43 - its very very obvious the mag is totally incorrect.

1) ARF SD43 v2 vs Noob v7

SD43_vs_Hulk.jpg


SD43_vs_Hulk2.jpg



2) ARF SD43 vs a Gen 116613LB

20180313_223730.jpg


SD43_vs_Gen.jpg
 
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RS6man

This member is doing hard time, they pissed off the goat.
INMATE
6/3/18
73
18
0
I received my V2 yesterday. It has gained 0.5 of a second after 30 hours. Incredible timekeeping.

1a4eaecd217baa54e.jpg

2c73d724e661b2764.jpg
 
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Gildabah

You're Saying I Can Sell?
5/10/17
48
4
8
Guys,

You need to be careful the new V2 has incorrect mag again. Its not as huge as the initial first batches but now its like x3 mag instead of the Rolex specified 2.5x mag. I honestly don't know why they do stupid things like this. Seriously.

Here is some comparisons of a watch I got yesterday. It looks quite big when its next to a Noob v7 or a Gen. Not the best pics but you guys can see it.

Some ppl say its not much difference but when you have seen and held gens a lot especially right next to the new ARF 43 - its very very obvious the mag is totally incorrect.

1) ARF SD43 v2 vs Noob v7

SD43_vs_Hulk.jpg


SD43_vs_Hulk2.jpg



2) ARF SD43 vs a Gen 116613LB

20180313_223730.jpg


SD43_vs_Gen.jpg

What do you mean the “ mag”? (sorry , im not professional yet)
 

peterpl

Put Some Respect On My Name
24/7/11
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What do you mean the “ mag”? (sorry , im not professional yet)

Look how big the Date appears in the window compared to the others. Genuine Rolex's all have x2.5 magnification of the date. The new v2 ARF looks like the Magnification is either x3 or x3.5 which is incorrect for any Rolex and TBH its quite noticeable.

I've returned my one now for a refund. Please can other ppl who have recieved a recent v2 post some comparison pics of it next to say a Noob v7 sub or a gen Rolex? I would like to know if this problem is across the board of all SD43's latest batches.
 

Gildabah

You're Saying I Can Sell?
5/10/17
48
4
8
Look how big the Date appears in the window compared to the others. Genuine Rolex's all have x2.5 magnification of the date. The new v2 ARF looks like the Magnification is either x3 or x3.5 which is incorrect for any Rolex and TBH its quite noticeable.

I've returned my one now for a refund. Please can other ppl who have recieved a recent v2 post some comparison pics of it next to say a Noob v7 sub or a gen Rolex? I would like to know if this problem is across the board of all SD43's latest batches.

tnx for your eplain' think that its the same in arf V1 too as i see