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Budget $500 ish Hulk Comparison, ARF 2824 vs VRF Max 2836 with prof crystal (Many Pictures)
I joined Rwi since Dec 2018 and learned a lot from this forum. After experiencing and enjoying a couple of reps, I would like to contribute back to the community and help new members to choose a good hulk in a budget. Around $500 ish range. New member always asks which factory or model is the best out of the box hulk. After reading and searching the forum (wife yelling at me all the time cause I read til midnight), I came to a conclusion that ARF 2824 907 Land VRF Max 2836 are the best OOTB king with reliable movement. I am lucky enough to get a hand on these two models by m2m. So let do a comparison side by side.
ARF is always on the right/first and VRF is always on the left/second.
You can tell by the dial also. ARF has the old dial with short f and ”300 m”. VRF has the new dial with long f and ”300m”.
Please note that the comment below is just my experience with these two watches and my humble opinion. I am no expert.
1. Price Breakdown (if you buy new from TD)
Please note that my VRF has prof crystal installed and my ARF is stock.
ARF
$478 plus shipping (around $30 to the USA)
Total investment: $508
Of coz, you can update to prof crystal. Then you will add $208 plus shipping into your investment.
VRF
$358 to $388 plus shipping (around $30 to USA), prof crystal and installation by Steve $208 plus shipping in the USA ($8)
Total investment: $574
2. Case
ARF has 907L
VRF has 316L
Both very solid, cannot tell any difference.
3. Dial
ARF has the old dial with short f and ”300 m”. VRF has the new dial with long f and ”300m”.
For VRF MAX, smoke said the old bp dial with short f and ”300 m” is matching the rehaut for the period. He also pointed out the Rolex Service center doesn't give a shit on matching period. For example, you bring a 2010 hulk into service today, the dial is damaged, Rolex will replace a new 2019 style dial, they won't find a 2010 dial. So if Rolex doesn't care, why would we care?
You can read more here.
https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...53611-sub-c-double-line-engraved-rehaut/page2
The light reflection on both watches are very beautiful.
4. Print / text
For ARF, there is a gap between"S" and "W” of ”SWISS MADE” in the bottom.
And the 6 o'clock mark to "swiss made", the space seems more correct on VRF than ARF.
5. Hands
The hour and minute hands seems more slim like gen on VRF.
6. Lume
Both ARF and VRF lume are very outstanding and long lasting with nice blue color.
7. Date font and alignment
VRF
Some dates between 6-18 appear slightly left justified. Seems like a common case on the VRF Max.
ARF
I heard the new batch has the fat ugly font. But this one I have on hand is the early batch with decent date font.
8. Rehaut
ARF
The rehaut is perfectly aligned.
VRF
The rehaut is misaligned from the TD. This might be a QC issue of the factory on some batches. The member sold me this watch bought it to his watchsmith to fix. It is perfectly aligned now.
9. Crystal
I cannot compare them apple to Apple because ARF has stock crystal but VRF has prof crystal. However, as you can see, stock ARF crystal is already really good quality. Please note that Prof crystal doesn't have the laser crown logo on the 6 o'clock. But the laser logo is very hard to see on gen so I don't think it is an issue.
10. Insert
People always say VRF makes the best insert. I compared them. I can tell the numbers on ARF is a little fatter than VRF. VRF is a little lighter in color.
11. Bezel
Both ARF and VRF turns very good. I think the VRF is a little tighter than ARF.
12. Sel end link
Both of them have tight and nice sel end link. Please see the pictures.
13. Crown
Both watches are using ETA cone, so the position will be wrong. However, I don't see any gap between the crown and the case on VRF. ARF does have a tiny gap. Not sure if it is only on this batch.
14. Bracelet
ARF has 907L and VRF has 316L. They are both very solid. I really cannot tell any different by touching and wearing them. So I will say 907 and 316 don't matter to me.
However, ARF is a little easier to resize, the screws are smoother.
15. Clasp
Both glidelock are functional. VRF is a little smoother than ARF. But I am not sure if it is because my ARF is a little older or needs cleaning.
ARF safety lock is a little smoother and easier to open and close.
Conclusion
To be honest, you can not go wrong with either one. I can not tell you which one is better. But a side by side comparison should give you a chance to see every part of these two watches and facilitate your decision.
Hope this help new members to choose the right version of hulk they like and within the budget. Please let me know if you have any comments. If you ask me, I kept my VRF MAX because I think prof crystal is a must. I actually wanted to keep both, but needed the fund…...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I joined Rwi since Dec 2018 and learned a lot from this forum. After experiencing and enjoying a couple of reps, I would like to contribute back to the community and help new members to choose a good hulk in a budget. Around $500 ish range. New member always asks which factory or model is the best out of the box hulk. After reading and searching the forum (wife yelling at me all the time cause I read til midnight), I came to a conclusion that ARF 2824 907 Land VRF Max 2836 are the best OOTB king with reliable movement. I am lucky enough to get a hand on these two models by m2m. So let do a comparison side by side.
ARF is always on the right/first and VRF is always on the left/second.
You can tell by the dial also. ARF has the old dial with short f and ”300 m”. VRF has the new dial with long f and ”300m”.
Please note that the comment below is just my experience with these two watches and my humble opinion. I am no expert.
1. Price Breakdown (if you buy new from TD)
Please note that my VRF has prof crystal installed and my ARF is stock.
ARF
$478 plus shipping (around $30 to the USA)
Total investment: $508
Of coz, you can update to prof crystal. Then you will add $208 plus shipping into your investment.
VRF
$358 to $388 plus shipping (around $30 to USA), prof crystal and installation by Steve $208 plus shipping in the USA ($8)
Total investment: $574
2. Case
ARF has 907L
VRF has 316L
Both very solid, cannot tell any difference.
3. Dial
ARF has the old dial with short f and ”300 m”. VRF has the new dial with long f and ”300m”.
For VRF MAX, smoke said the old bp dial with short f and ”300 m” is matching the rehaut for the period. He also pointed out the Rolex Service center doesn't give a shit on matching period. For example, you bring a 2010 hulk into service today, the dial is damaged, Rolex will replace a new 2019 style dial, they won't find a 2010 dial. So if Rolex doesn't care, why would we care?
You can read more here.
https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...53611-sub-c-double-line-engraved-rehaut/page2
The light reflection on both watches are very beautiful.
4. Print / text
For ARF, there is a gap between"S" and "W” of ”SWISS MADE” in the bottom.
And the 6 o'clock mark to "swiss made", the space seems more correct on VRF than ARF.
5. Hands
The hour and minute hands seems more slim like gen on VRF.
6. Lume
Both ARF and VRF lume are very outstanding and long lasting with nice blue color.
7. Date font and alignment
VRF
Some dates between 6-18 appear slightly left justified. Seems like a common case on the VRF Max.
ARF
I heard the new batch has the fat ugly font. But this one I have on hand is the early batch with decent date font.
8. Rehaut
ARF
The rehaut is perfectly aligned.
VRF
The rehaut is misaligned from the TD. This might be a QC issue of the factory on some batches. The member sold me this watch bought it to his watchsmith to fix. It is perfectly aligned now.
9. Crystal
I cannot compare them apple to Apple because ARF has stock crystal but VRF has prof crystal. However, as you can see, stock ARF crystal is already really good quality. Please note that Prof crystal doesn't have the laser crown logo on the 6 o'clock. But the laser logo is very hard to see on gen so I don't think it is an issue.
10. Insert
People always say VRF makes the best insert. I compared them. I can tell the numbers on ARF is a little fatter than VRF. VRF is a little lighter in color.
11. Bezel
Both ARF and VRF turns very good. I think the VRF is a little tighter than ARF.
12. Sel end link
Both of them have tight and nice sel end link. Please see the pictures.
13. Crown
Both watches are using ETA cone, so the position will be wrong. However, I don't see any gap between the crown and the case on VRF. ARF does have a tiny gap. Not sure if it is only on this batch.
14. Bracelet
ARF has 907L and VRF has 316L. They are both very solid. I really cannot tell any different by touching and wearing them. So I will say 907 and 316 don't matter to me.
However, ARF is a little easier to resize, the screws are smoother.
15. Clasp
Both glidelock are functional. VRF is a little smoother than ARF. But I am not sure if it is because my ARF is a little older or needs cleaning.
ARF safety lock is a little smoother and easier to open and close.
Conclusion
To be honest, you can not go wrong with either one. I can not tell you which one is better. But a side by side comparison should give you a chance to see every part of these two watches and facilitate your decision.
Hope this help new members to choose the right version of hulk they like and within the budget. Please let me know if you have any comments. If you ask me, I kept my VRF MAX because I think prof crystal is a must. I actually wanted to keep both, but needed the fund…...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
