A quick comment on clasp. Until now, I used to get ARF clasps for all my Noob bracelets. However recently (last month), I got a Noob GMT 116710 and YM 116622 (the 904L version). The clasp has improved in terms of how it “clicks” close, feels just like the ARF now. The Rolex logo is also more polished looking now. I don’t know if the Noob v3 Daytona has the same new clasp (I think it would). If that is the case, i am not sure if you still need an ARF clasp.
ok guys, you want clasp, here it is.
I won't repeat everything in the photo, but as you can see the ARF looks much more like gen. Let me just say that I was stunned to see that
the noob clasp coronet is actually flat, I can't believe that - how is it even possible that we are on Sub v9 and this is still happening? Not exclaiming just really doubting. Can someone else with a Noob clasp PLEASE confirm?
About actual operation of the clasp (after 30+ times of opening and closing with my thumb):
I'll break the operation into two parts:
1) the feel of flicking open/closing the safety clasp (top part with coronet);
2) the feel of closing or locking the main clasp.
Here is the interesting part. The ARF v1 clasp back in the day on my 116520 was EXACTLY like the gen in terms of operation, the rounded springy-ness, that gently pops when you flick open the safety clasp, or snap the clasp back into locking position is the same if not BETTER than my gen. The "better" is subjective to my own taste, and I say better because the clasp actually felt tighter and required a little more force to open/close in both operations 1) and 2), which to me was a feeling of extra security. But one could argue that Rolex engineered it to open/close at the right effortless force. To each his own.
Now in terms of operation 1), the ARF v2 clasp in the picture, was a deterioration from the ARF v1, in that the safety clasp (top part) doesn't open with the same kind of "rounded springy-ness", and was a little coarse. The noob was the same way but marginally worse, more coarse and flat. I opened and closed the two clasps at least 30 times like those testing machines at the Rolex factory (if you ever seen the video), with my eyes closed.
In operation 2, the actual "closing/locking" of the clasp, both ARF v2 and Noob are in the same department. I can't tell the difference, all very solid with a gentle click.
Guys, take this with a grain of salt, because I think some really bad QC factor is in play here. Some of you may get a clasp that's a lot better, and others will get something that's worse than what I had. But the visual differences, as portrayed in the photos, will stay the same.
Over and out.
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