- 28/11/09
- 37
- 4
- 0
Today I received my new ARF 126600 SD43 v3, bought from PT, with excelent communication and customer service as always, shipping to Spain took 17 days including a little detour to UK (scheduled)
Packaging was great, I like the ARF detail of providing the watch with the rolex service case, card with the s/n, etc.
After spending quite a bit of time removing all the protecting plastics, there goes my first impresions, specially comparing to a TC V6 maxidial that is (was) my daily beater
- The watch is simply amazing, couldn't be happier with it
- This is a heavy watch! I think it feels even heavier than my gen Tudor Big Block, maybe it is due to the "solid" feel of the watch, which brings me to the next point
- The feel is that this a solid watch, no looseness or rattling on the bracelet, most probably because it is new than anything else, but definitely the quality jump ahead from aluminum bezels to ceramic is more than noticeable
- At first sight it looked very tall, with the domed caseback and specially compared to the TC, and it is of course taller, but nothing outrageous at all, you get used to it in litteraly minutes.
- Size for me is perfect, I always had the feel that the TC, and the aluminum subs in general, looked small on my wrist at 39mm, and was a litlle afraid this one was going to be too big, but again my fears were totally unfounded
- Comparing to the TC side by side, the proportions on the SD43 looked much more "adequate" or "right", the TC looks like the dial/cristal is overly big and the bezel too thin, I also like the design of the lugs much more than the wider lugs of the regular ceramic subs
- As I prefer reliability over looks on the movement, I think the best choice is the A2824 I took, which will be replaced with a swiss 2824-2 -as it is a direct swap- when the asian movement fails
- Coming from the good ol' TC aluminum bezel's clasp, the new one is simply into another level, the feel, fit and finish, not too bulky, and the microadjuster, is, one word, perfect.
- The feel of the bezel teeth is a bit on the sharpy side, your fingers get a bit sticked to the bezel when you stroke it, dont know if this a thing of the ceramic subs, but I guess (hope) it will soften over time, clicking of the bezel seems spot on to me, but to be honest never touched a gen one
- Date font and lume looks ok to me, never been too picky about that, as this is something much more noticeable in pics than in real life, unless it is outrageosuly bad, of course
- I dont know if it is because of my tired eyesight, or that we are looking all day to macro pictures scratching little tiny details, but on my wrist the watch looks sharp and flawless, it is incredible the level reached by the manufacturers nowadays, I wouldn't dare to walk into any AD with my SD43 anytime
- In conclusion, a watch that is indistiguishable of the real deal, at 5% of the price, for me, is the bargain of the century
Now onto the pics, please forgive the quality, they were taken with the phone and in less than perfect light conditions
Packaging was great, I like the ARF detail of providing the watch with the rolex service case, card with the s/n, etc.
After spending quite a bit of time removing all the protecting plastics, there goes my first impresions, specially comparing to a TC V6 maxidial that is (was) my daily beater
- The watch is simply amazing, couldn't be happier with it
- This is a heavy watch! I think it feels even heavier than my gen Tudor Big Block, maybe it is due to the "solid" feel of the watch, which brings me to the next point
- The feel is that this a solid watch, no looseness or rattling on the bracelet, most probably because it is new than anything else, but definitely the quality jump ahead from aluminum bezels to ceramic is more than noticeable
- At first sight it looked very tall, with the domed caseback and specially compared to the TC, and it is of course taller, but nothing outrageous at all, you get used to it in litteraly minutes.
- Size for me is perfect, I always had the feel that the TC, and the aluminum subs in general, looked small on my wrist at 39mm, and was a litlle afraid this one was going to be too big, but again my fears were totally unfounded
- Comparing to the TC side by side, the proportions on the SD43 looked much more "adequate" or "right", the TC looks like the dial/cristal is overly big and the bezel too thin, I also like the design of the lugs much more than the wider lugs of the regular ceramic subs
- As I prefer reliability over looks on the movement, I think the best choice is the A2824 I took, which will be replaced with a swiss 2824-2 -as it is a direct swap- when the asian movement fails
- Coming from the good ol' TC aluminum bezel's clasp, the new one is simply into another level, the feel, fit and finish, not too bulky, and the microadjuster, is, one word, perfect.
- The feel of the bezel teeth is a bit on the sharpy side, your fingers get a bit sticked to the bezel when you stroke it, dont know if this a thing of the ceramic subs, but I guess (hope) it will soften over time, clicking of the bezel seems spot on to me, but to be honest never touched a gen one
- Date font and lume looks ok to me, never been too picky about that, as this is something much more noticeable in pics than in real life, unless it is outrageosuly bad, of course
- I dont know if it is because of my tired eyesight, or that we are looking all day to macro pictures scratching little tiny details, but on my wrist the watch looks sharp and flawless, it is incredible the level reached by the manufacturers nowadays, I wouldn't dare to walk into any AD with my SD43 anytime
- In conclusion, a watch that is indistiguishable of the real deal, at 5% of the price, for me, is the bargain of the century
Now onto the pics, please forgive the quality, they were taken with the phone and in less than perfect light conditions
