This reflects just my personal opinion on this issue for the time being. Any other divergent opinion is perfectly understandable and acceptable for me. I do like a good, well assembled watch with centered rehault engravings, well applied lume and centered pearl, working clasp, good time keeping and that´s it, from a certain level onward I don´t want to pay 100 usd for each 1% it gets better.
The comparable former BP Ceramic Submariner was 268 USD (now 238 USD) the new Noob with the Asian ETA came out at a "shocking" 368 USD (+37% price increase). As this was immediately out of stock only the decorated Asian movement is available at 448 USD. That´s a +210 usd price difference for arguably better looks as I haven´t seen a "complete" V3 yet it has been either a V2 or a V3 with V2 parts. The caseback is closed anyway and if You do open it the decoration on the movement won´t fool anyone, so its useless per se.
The "quality" meaning movement/assembly/threads/stem/O-rings is exactly the same - either good or bad, depends on luck, not visible on qc-pics - on both the now 238 usd BP version and the "new" 448 usd Noob V3.
This means the "assembly quality" is not better on the Noob V3, possibly or arguably the "visual quality", the looks, may have improved - not enough imho to justify +37% and never 448 usd. (+ shipping its 500), difficult to impossible to see on the wrist anyway. (looks 65%-70% Gen imho)
At this price level I see 4 options:
1. Buy the BP Sub-C - this has the very comfortable glidelock clasp bracelet and in my opinion the still better dial - gets You a fairly priced Submariner for trying out
2. For just a little nothing more go direct for the TC - Sub 16610 classic model (thinner lumedots/ green lume/ no engravings at all/ fantastic dial/ in comparison much higher assembly quality and movement quality - the TC clone movement is shockproof/ assembled cleaner and has a higher quality) plus looks 90% gen (against the 60%-65% of the BP and the 65%-70% of the Noob V3) If it´s a KH dial this one You may even check it with a 10x lupe to see how good it is; TC-Sub is thinner, thinner is better sits more flush to the wrist, has another gravity point and thus "feels" better;
3. Buy the Steinhart Ocean 1 or Military gen at the same price level - this comes with a true Swiss movement and qualitywise is in another dimension, 200 m waterproof and with warranty
4. Take 358 USD and buy the AP Diver V5.1 in SS, now that is a really good-looking, gen-feel-like and quality rep and with the money left over get the 16600 BP Seadweller with the highbeat improved Asian 2813 for just 188 usd - and it looks supergood
Thank You if You liked this and to illustrate some pics below
Hope another member can add some V3 pics later
This is what the 238 USD BP submariner can look like
BP Sub-C vs. TC special, self-explanatory
BP Seadweller 16600
TC special compared to BP Seadweller
Just a little more distant
BP Sub-C compared to TC special
All 3 side by side: wrist-time is 40% Sub-C 35% TC and 35% Seadweller - like this preserve them all
The picture that does not belong here - it´s the previous version AP Diver V5 the V5.1 is out now
