Probably the world's first franken Datejust 41 LOL
Specs as of now
- DJF base
- Gen dial
- Stock everything else
I had to modify the movement ring extensively to accommodate the gen dial. I only have a file to do it (no dremel, no belt sander).
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Mini DJF Datejust 41 review
Pros
1. It has the correct crown / stem / tube height like gen
2. Fluted bezel looks nice like gen and unlike BP / Noob
3. The date disc is aligned to gen dial's date window (in fact it doesn't need to use a DWO: DJF printed the rolex numbers directly onto a stock 2824-2's date disc)
4. The seconds hand has that middle cylindrical feature like gen hands! Comparatively, the ARF Datejust 36mm (i.e., 116200 series) doesn't have this feature and it's the quickest way for me to spot a rep / franken ARF Datejust 36
Cons
1. SEL / lugs have some gaps
2. Dial and hands have green lume... incorrect for gen
3. The crystal's LEC is quite visible
4. The crystal's cyclops doesn't have AR
5. The crystal's gasket is crap.. it doesn't allow the crystal to sit flat and the material is crap
6. The jubilee bracelet is flimsy and a lil' sharp: it feels NO WAY AS GOOD AS ARF'S JUBILEE BRACELET
7. lug holes aren't aligned perfectly, leaving some gap in the front
8. The hands don't have long post, so they are sitting quite close to the dial
9. Although some TD websites say that this watch has a 2836-2 movement, it doesn't: it has a 2824-2 movement
10. Rehaut isn't shiny like gen
11. I think the movement ring was also made of 904l steel. Therefore, it was painful to mod / file it down to make it accept gen dial's mount (protrusions)
Conclusion
- For most people, the cons outweigh the pros. If you could tolerate having the wrong crown/stem/tube height, then buy ARF. I can't live with the wrong crown/stem/tube height so... I need to make a compromise in my purchase decision
Future plans
1. Relume hands to blue chromalight lume
2. Upgrade crystal / gasket to Clarks 25 318c AR
3. Install an ETA 2824-2 with H4 wheel / pinion
4. Polish the rehaut with autosol
Specs as of now
- DJF base
- Gen dial
- Stock everything else
I had to modify the movement ring extensively to accommodate the gen dial. I only have a file to do it (no dremel, no belt sander).
__________________________________________________ _______________________________________________
Mini DJF Datejust 41 review
Pros
1. It has the correct crown / stem / tube height like gen
2. Fluted bezel looks nice like gen and unlike BP / Noob
3. The date disc is aligned to gen dial's date window (in fact it doesn't need to use a DWO: DJF printed the rolex numbers directly onto a stock 2824-2's date disc)
4. The seconds hand has that middle cylindrical feature like gen hands! Comparatively, the ARF Datejust 36mm (i.e., 116200 series) doesn't have this feature and it's the quickest way for me to spot a rep / franken ARF Datejust 36
Cons
1. SEL / lugs have some gaps
2. Dial and hands have green lume... incorrect for gen
3. The crystal's LEC is quite visible
4. The crystal's cyclops doesn't have AR
5. The crystal's gasket is crap.. it doesn't allow the crystal to sit flat and the material is crap
6. The jubilee bracelet is flimsy and a lil' sharp: it feels NO WAY AS GOOD AS ARF'S JUBILEE BRACELET
7. lug holes aren't aligned perfectly, leaving some gap in the front
8. The hands don't have long post, so they are sitting quite close to the dial
9. Although some TD websites say that this watch has a 2836-2 movement, it doesn't: it has a 2824-2 movement
10. Rehaut isn't shiny like gen
11. I think the movement ring was also made of 904l steel. Therefore, it was painful to mod / file it down to make it accept gen dial's mount (protrusions)
Conclusion
- For most people, the cons outweigh the pros. If you could tolerate having the wrong crown/stem/tube height, then buy ARF. I can't live with the wrong crown/stem/tube height so... I need to make a compromise in my purchase decision
Future plans
1. Relume hands to blue chromalight lume
2. Upgrade crystal / gasket to Clarks 25 318c AR
3. Install an ETA 2824-2 with H4 wheel / pinion
4. Polish the rehaut with autosol
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