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Review of ZZF New Sub 116610 LN and Comparison vs. Gen, ARF, Noob and Nail (PART I)

jtimewatch

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Hello guys,

I have posted a topic told everyone that a new rep Submariner 116610LN from ZZF is going to release soon 2 days ago, and we were preparing a deep review about it, comparison vs. Gen, ARF, Noob and Nail as well.
Here is the post link:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...ease-very-soon

According to our knowledges, ZZF only made the Roger Dubuis Knights of Round Table reps before this new 116610LN Submariner, so it is not very familiar to the crowd.

But as I told in last post that we already have the real piece ZZF new Sub, and after we did some comparison with other factories version ourselves, I suppose ZZF new Sub also did a good job on many details.

Well, there are some other factories such as VRF, V9F also make some good submariners. We did the comparison among ARF, Noob and Nail, because they might be the most popular and best versions at the moment.

We will keep objective on doing this comparison, but please correct us if something we say is not right. Discussion will be always welcomed, and we wish our members can have a better rep Sub to choose and have some fun here as well.

So, let's get down to the review now.

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General Front View of 5 Watches

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Insert Markers Close View

ZZF says that it is the only rep factory using real platinum plated on the insert markers at the moment. From the factory explanation, we know that the adhesive force of platinum is extremely strong after the plating procedure, which means that it will be very hard to deal with the details shaping after the platinum plating.
This might be the reason why other factories didn’t make platinum plating on their insert markers.

We can tell from the pictures that the gen insert markers color is kind of grey-white by the front view and will be dark-silver by the lateral view.

Because of using real platinum plating, ZZF insert markers color is like gen effect, grey-white by the front view and dark-silver by the lateral view. But to be honest, its color is really some darker than the gen as we can see from the pictures.
But under the natural daylight, ZZF insert markers color will have a better performance as I see it myself. So, I will try another comparison under the natural daylight in the PART II review, let us look forward to the PART II.

ARF insert markers color is also good I suppose, only a little bit whiter than the gen. The plating seems a little bit rougher than the gen and ZZF.

Noob and Nail versions are both not very good at this part, and according to former experiences Noob color is going to fade eventually, don’t know how Nail is going yet.

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Shape of the Insert Markers

ZZF says that it is using a mould to build the ceramic insert directly instead of laser engraving markers on insert, then 3D effect will be much better than laser engraving as a result. As the picture shows, the bottom and side edge of the marker is very smooth and it is a perfect right-angle between the bottom and side edge, closer effect to the gen as well as the depth.

ARF is also using a mould to build the ceramic I suppose, shape and depth are also close to the gen as well as ZZF, not bad but just a little bit rougher.

Noob and Nail, are both using laser engraving markers and I think you all already know what is the result.

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Pearl Triangle Close View

ZZF pearl is very close to the gen at its shape, color and “jade-like” effect and it is fitted in a 0.43mm small hole on the ceramic insert, will be the only one can replace perfectly with a gen pearl.

ARF pearl is also a very good built at its shape and color as well as ZZF pearl.

Noob pearl seems not very good, no matter on which details.

Nail pearl is likely good at its shape, but the color is bit whiter than others.

And about the triangle, we can see the edge of the triangle is very near the insert edge on the gen.
But seems all the factories made the same mistake, only Nail did it a little bit better on this part. It is a pretty shame I suppose.

Tips: ZZF is using Clean Factory upgraded V2 bezel and inset set, all friction fitted as same as gen. ARF bezel and insert set is friction fitted as well and Noob version is glue fitted. We are not sure how Nail version fit now, but I think we may find out later and tell everyone in the PART II review and comparison.

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Crystal Side View

ZZF crystal assembly is very good I suppose, very close to the gen with a rounded edge from the side view,

ARF crystal assembly might be worst one among all the 5 watches, the crystal seems too thick so that too much higher than others.

Noob crystal assembly is good as well, but only a little bit thicker and higher.

Nail crystal assembly is very good as well as ZZF, also very close to the gen.

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Cyclops Lateral View

ZZF says that it is using the new tech to plate very light blue AR coating around the edge of the bubble crystal as same as genuine, as a result so there will not be too much light reflection cause unclear seeing the date as other factories versions. And the side of the bubble crystal is dealt with sanding tech in order to create a little frosted effect closer to the genuine.

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Cyclops Front View

ZZF bubble crystal is very clear with less light reflection and we can see a thin “white line” around the edge of the bubble as well because of the sanding tech.

ARF bubble crystal seems be with more light reflection, and as many people said its date wheel font seems too fat.

Noob bubble crystal has the same issue as ARF I suppose, with a thinner font.

Nail did a good job on this part. It is very clear and reflection is good as well as the whole effect.

Tip: Want to see more date wheel font? Please just keep reading, you will find some more details about it later on this review.

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Dial Cambered Edge

As we can see that the center hole and date window on ZZF dial are built with cambered edge very close to the genuine, and it will be the only one doing it at the moment.

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Date Display Window Lateral View

ZZF window edge is cambered very close to the gen, and making a cambered edge on an enamel dial is extremely hard.

ARF window edge is also cambered close to the gen, and this is a good job as well.

Noob and Nail are both wrong at this detail with a sharp trapezoid window edge.

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Dial Marker Close View

ZZF triangle marker, rectangle marker and dot marker are all with rounded edge.

ARF triangle marker and dot marker are with rounded edge, but the rectangle marker rounded edge is not very obvious and seems a bit sharp.

Noob all markers are with sharp edge, seems not very good.

Nail triangle marker, rectangle marker and dot marker are all with rounded edge, but it seems that rectangle and dot markers are not very obviously rounded.

I suppose ARF is the best one at dot markers, and ZZF is the best one at triangle marker and rectangle markers.

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Superlume Filling Front View

ZZF says that it is using the same blue color Luminova material which is well-proportioned filling as the gen, and the granular effect of Luminova material is stronger than other swiss lume materials. There is very small 0.15mm height between the lume material and the top edge of the marker, and it is also very hard to do.

It looks like that there is a little transparent effect when you look close enough at the genuine lume material, and I think all the factories did this effect right except Noob. But I suppose ZZF is the best one regarding to the granular effect.

Another thing I want to tell is that one of our teammates owns a 2014 version gen sub, and the lume material on his sub is already getting a little bit darker than before. I’d like to say I think the gen Luminova material is just kind of ordinary to be honest, even though it is the bluest lume I’ve ever seen when it’s shining. Maybe sometimes genuine sub can make some upgrading as well, hahahaha.

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Dial Font Printing View

As we all can see, the font printing on the gen dial is different between the first line “SUBMARINER” and the second to forth line.

I suppose ZZF is the best one at this part with obvious different fonts. ARF is not right as well as Noob, and I think Noob V7 did such different fonts for a while but now all gone if I remember it right.

Nail did a closer trial but the font on second to forth line is too thin as we can see, especially “1000ft = 300m” part.

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Hand Stack Close View

Well, ZZF is obviously the only factory making a solid hand hole at the moment, it might save you some time and some money to upgrade this part I suppose lol.

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SEL and Lug Close View

ZZF made the lug radian and SEL radian to be the same, and also a small height between lug and SEL. But the height between lug and SEL on ZZF is obviously smaller than the gen.

ARF also made a height between lug and SEL, but it is a little bit bigger than gen. And the lug radian and SEL radian is not same as we can see from the picture.

Noob is obviously wrong again at this part I suppose, barely no height.

Nail did a good job on this part, small height between lug and SEL close to the gen, only problem is that radian is likely not same.

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Date Font Close View (1-31)

Many members pay a lot of attention on the rep Sub date wheel, so I believe these pictures above will help you all to see it all clearly from Date 1 to Date 31.


Here are some more pictures below to some details, I’d prefer to say nothing and let you guys spot it by yourselves lol.

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Markers at 6 O’clock Position

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Crown Side View

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Side View

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Case Back View



Ok guys, due to our time schedule, I think it will be the end of our PART I review and comparison now.
Thank you all for your reading!
Like I said at the beginning of this topic, we are trying our best to be objective, but please correct us if we are not right on something, and everyone will be welcomed to leave comment and discussion here as always.

And yeah, I know some details that people want to see were not shown in this topic yet.
But don’t worry. As I mentioned in this topic title that this is a PART I review, so there will be a PART II coming soon as well.
Actually, we are planning to tear the watches apart (maybe not the new GEN lol) and do a deeper comparison on some other parts such as hands, dial, bracelet, case, crown and etc.
Please keep on attention to it, I think you will see more interesting things in our PART II review.

And everyone will be welcomed to our website: jtime.cc if you want to buy something from us. Sorry for the advertising here lol.

OK, see you guys soon and cheers.

Here is the PART II review link as below:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...d-nail-part-ii


All the best
Li

Jtime Watch
 
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KJ2020

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Incedible review, great job by you and your team with the photos and the commentary. This looks very promising. The ZZF looks as good as gen in some areas. I wish they had given the SELS a little more recess, this would have really been over the top!

Thanks bro!
 

xartan

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Finally rounded rectangle markers!
Many nice details. The hands, however, look much better on the arf judging from these photos. Good date wheel and cyclops on the zzf.
 
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k4jun

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Show us a clasp - opened and closed. What is the clasp code?

Could yout fit ARF bracelet on ZZF case and take a photo?

This ZZF insert is something what you are going to sell as updated CF insert?

BP dials are the best rep dials. It would be handy to see ZZF vs BP/GMF dial. Comparison to Noob/ARF dial makes no sense.
 
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VIV54

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jtimewatch thanks a lot for this!!

With a quick look I have to say that it's one of the best OOTB subs ever made. Only downside are the hands and the SELs but imho this beats the ARF and the Noob v9 OOTB.
 
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palaufreak

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Can't see pics on Tapatalk, someone resend them please!!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

Alibaba89

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Damn look super crisp, only downside I would say are the hands. Whish they would have a better 3D effect hands. Else than that it looks really good. And since it's coming with an eta clone, it's the best option for guyse like m shore are looking for a good ootb ready for use watch.
 

Asmodeus

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Wrong crown guard shape(and obviously height due to A-ETA), bad lugs, lug gaps, hands. The "clean" bezel that you try to pass as the best one is just another rep bezel. Looking forward to more pictures to judge the case better.
 
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k4jun

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Actually, we are planning to tear the watches apart (maybe not the new GEN lol) and do a deeper comparison on some other parts such as hands, dial, bracelet, case, crown and etc.

Try to install a gen bezel on it, with a gen bezel assembly (retaining ring, hyrtel), quite curious would gen be a direct swap. We like to franken the bezels, lol

Please measure high of a crystal gasket.

Also, can you take a photo like that - ZZF SEL vs ARF SEL.
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palaufreak

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Can someone send pictures for tapa Users??

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

Vvvlllooo

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Nice comparisons and Picts! Are there any 3135 movements coming out? Cgs and case are wrong. Also, the crown sticks out more than the arfs. Nice dial and bezel/inserts though and SELs are ok. So far ARF still no 1 OOtb. Look forward to more comparison to make my final judgements.
 
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k4jun

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Nice comparisons and Picts! Are there any 3135 movements coming out? Cgs and case are wrong. Also, the crown sticks out more than the arfs. Nice dial and bezel/inserts though and SELs. Look forward to more comparison Picts.


Full gasket is visible, I assume the crown was unscrewed for this photo;)

Agreed - it is interesting project but we need 3135 case.
 

Tigerdragon

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Great review thank you! :) If they only can get the 6 and 9 oclock marker more rounded :(
 
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