Alibaba 116610 kit

[johnchpark]

I purchased a 116610 kit and VS3135 movement from an Alibaba seller (“Sillan Watch Co.”)

Ordered on Dec 1, 2022, received in South Korea on Dec 9, 2022. Paid extra for FedEx shipping because it was the only way to avoid Customs issues.

The kit is supposed to be a Noob kit based on the product picture. But the Noob tags didn’t come with the actual kit, so I’m not sure. The kit came in “Vanbaol” labeled boxes, which I assume is the distributor company.

The communication with seller was great and fast. Really great customer service and will look forward to ordering from them again.

Pictures of the kit i received below, and i will assemble in a week or so (waiting on some screw drivers from Aliexpress).

Check out this product on Alibaba App fit 3135 / cal.3135 movement black SUB-mariner watch case kit 116610 904l steel
https://m.alibaba.com/product/16004...7.8.2_share","cacheTime":"1800000"}}&from=IOS

Check out this product on Alibaba App VS factory 3135 Movement Compatible with RLX VS3135 Movement Engraved
https://m.alibaba.com/product/16003...7.8.2_share","cacheTime":"1800000"}}&from=IOS

 

[johnchpark]

pictures of the kit:

 

[johnchpark]

Timegraph of VS3135 movement from Sillan Alibaba dealer.
+12s/d with 0.0ms beat error, so seems like it doesnt need to be regulated!

One note, I noticed that this 3135 doesnt automatically start ticking after I manually wind it. It needs a bit of a shake to get the hairspring started. Is this normal for the 3135 movement? Thanks

 

[wizardblizzardwatch]

Great find! I’m looking through that vendor’s offerings now and tempted to get a kit. Could you confirm that yours was from Noob factory?

 

[johnchpark]

Great find! I’m looking through that vendor’s offerings now and tempted to get a kit. Could you confirm that yours was from Noob factory?

The $150 kit came with a strap code "T1G". SEL code "RS 97200" and Case Serial Code "63k8 V003".
I can't find direct Noob product with these codes, HOWEVER, according to other users, these indeed are Noob.
I asked the seller, and she wouldn't say whether it is Noob or not, but she did say that it is "from the same factory as Noob".

The quality was great regardless.

The seller has another kit for $180, and I checked that one is VSF factory. I requested QC pictures and checked that they correspond to VSF factory serial codes.
I ordered another one of these.

 

[wizardblizzardwatch]

The $150 kit came with a strap code "T1G". SEL code "RS 97200" and Case Serial Code "63k8 V003".
I can't find direct Noob product with these codes, HOWEVER, according to other users, these indeed are Noob.
I asked the seller, and she wouldn't say whether it is Noob or not, but she did say that it is "from the same factory as Noob".

The quality was great regardless.

The seller has another kit for $180, and I checked that one is VSF factory. I requested QC pictures and checked that they correspond to VSF factory serial codes.
I ordered another one of these.

Fantastic. That is some high-level sleuthing! Going to try to pick a set up too

 

[Solution6]

Timegraph of VS3135 movement from Sillan Alibaba dealer.
+12s/d with 0.0ms beat error, so seems like it doesnt need to be regulated!

One note, I noticed that this 3135 doesnt automatically start ticking after I manually wind it. It needs a bit of a shake to get the hairspring started. Is this normal for the 3135 movement? Thanks

Not normal, amplitude is really low - was this at full wind?

 

[manodeoro]

Timegraph of VS3135 movement from Sillan Alibaba dealer.
+12s/d with 0.0ms beat error, so seems like it doesnt need to be regulated!

One note, I noticed that this 3135 doesnt automatically start ticking after I manually wind it. It needs a bit of a shake to get the hairspring started. Is this normal for the 3135 movement? Thanks

+11s/day is not that good and amplitude is really low ... I'd prefer a slightly higher BE with better amplitude and rate.
And check the small rate under the +11 ... it shows +20.
So, if I may say, and though I guess the movement wasn't fully winded before the test, you should check it ... cleanliness and lubrication ... and regulate it.
The goal is to get something like this ...

Nevertheless ... that kit looks pretty good
I've checked the minisite of this Alibaba seller and they offer great deals with 1MOQ and I'll certainly order from them

 

[johnchpark]

Update:
My first $150 kit (Noob) is still on hold. The crown broke (the spring inside popped out of the back of the crown while installing). Seller is sending a replacement crown so I’m waiting on that.

Meanwhile, I ordered a $180 kit from the same Sillan (Vanbaol) seller on Alibaba.
Check out this product on Alibaba App Fit 3135 / cal.3135 movement Embedded ceramic bezel black/green sub-mariner watch case kit 116610 904l steel
https://m.alibaba.com/product/16006...7.8.2_share","cacheTime":"1800000"}}&from=IOS

I ordered a VS3135 with engravings this time. However, the movement had an issue where one of the dial feet screws was stuck way too hard. I couldn’t screw it out and the screw head threads ended up ripping. Never experienced this before.
The seller preferred i send the movement to a local watch repairer, who happened to be her friend. Lo and behold, i got introduced to the “South Korean Case” guy from ebay. Great guy. He helped repair my movement and the seller paid for the repairs.

I was then able to put everything together without any issues. Even learned how to regulate and fix beat error on a 3135 through this build.

I am super satisfied with the $180 kit. It is. VSF, with “S19…” serial code on the rehaut and “7GJ” clasp code. Sapphire glass has the small crown logo lasered in. I have never worn a gen submariner before so i can’t compare, but for a $250 kit (movement+case kit), this feels fantastic to me.

 

[johnchpark]

Photo comparison of the $150 (Noob) and $180 (VSF) kits:

The $180 kit is advertised as with a ceramic bezel. The seller said it also has a better polish. However to me, neither seem that differentiable.

The biggest difference is the sapphire glass. The $150 kit glass sits slight above the bezel (maybe 1-2mm). The $180 kit glass is nearly flush with the bezel (maybe 0.5mm). Both glass seem identical and have laser crown engraving.

The second biggest difference is the bezel sound and feel. The $180 bezel turns with very little resistance. The $150 bezel takes a bit more force to turn.

Everything else is quite identical. Dials seem to be same. Serial codes on the bracelet are different, but bracelet seems similar. Maybe the $180 kit is a little more matte, but it might just be my eyes. I wouldn’t know which one is which in a random pick.

Both feel great to me. I might prefer the bezel feel of the $150 kit because the $180 ends up turning by itself throughout the day with minor brushes. But then again i imagine on a gen rolex you’d have a smoother bezel click.

 

[johnchpark]

I forgot to mention. Another big difference is the case engraving by the lugs. The $180 engraving is much more clear and clean. The $150 engraving definitely is harder to see unless in a specific light, and the lettering are spaced closer together.

 

[johnchpark]

I also just saw. The $180 kit bracelet has thicker sides, while the $150 has thinner sides. I don’t know which would be more accurate to a genuine bracelet

 

[wilsonpepper]

Real nice build job, I also ordered both, and already have the movements. I will show photos when I get with the build, probably in a few months, as I am busy with FlingGolf right now, and I am collecting projects for my retirement in November.

Again, thanks very much for your report and pictures, great encouragement !!

 

[Plantagenet]

Great find thank you very much.

Seems like the seller also has a GMT Master II kit.

 

[johnchpark]

I ordered another ceramic bezel 116610LV hulk kit from the Alibaba Vanbaol/Sillan seller, and used a VR3135 this time.

The kit got $10 more expensive since my first 116610LN order, but came stamped with the S19… VSF serial code on the rehaut.

However, the Hulk bezel has a huge issue, where the bezel sits ABOVE the glass. I don’t know if the glass was fitted too deeply in the case (is this even possible?) or if the bezel is too thick. It’s extremely noticeable by look and feel, and it’s sure to become a dust canyon with wear.

The Black kit didn’t have this issue so it’s disappointing. I messaged the seller and their response was to just order a black one next time…
I asked them to ask the factory, and apparently the factory said this is how the HULK simply is, and is a “feature”.



I also had ordered a $10 wooden watch case box and the box came with several scratches.

 

[johnchpark]

In all honesty,
I have now placed nearly a couple dozen orders from this Alibaba dealer, and that majority of them had problems. All the NH35/70 associated products were fine. But every other kits and movements had some form of an issue. Had some SW200 that came needing rotor replacements, VS3135 that needed dial feet screw extracted with a drill, VR3135 that came needing hairspring replacement. A 41mm datejust kit that came without the case mount and hands. 116610LN kit from “Noob” that had a crown that busted and needed replacement. My latest 116610LV from VSF with its bezel/glass alignment issue.

Each time, the seller told me they would send the missing parts or replacements with my next order, which made me have to order something new just to finish my current project.

The Alibaba store is cheaper than other stores, and their parts seem to be from reputable factories. But i’m not sure if these parts are quality reject parts or what, but their quality has been consistently lacking. And i’m getting more and more disappointed in the customer service with each encounter.

It seems like this store is better suited for people skilled enough to repair movements and kits themselves.

 

[InitialOcelot9001]

In all honesty,
I have now placed nearly a couple dozen orders from this Alibaba dealer, and that majority of them had problems. All the NH35/70 associated products were fine. But every other kits and movements had some form of an issue. Had some SW200 that came needing rotor replacements, VS3135 that needed dial feet screw extracted with a drill, VR3135 that came needing hairspring replacement. A 41mm datejust kit that came without the case mount and hands. 116610LN kit from “Noob” that had a crown that busted and needed replacement. My latest 116610LV from VSF with its bezel/glass alignment issue.

Each time, the seller told me they would send the missing parts or replacements with my next order, which made me have to order something new just to finish my current project.

The Alibaba store is cheaper than other stores, and their parts seem to be from reputable factories. But i’m not sure if these parts are quality reject parts or what, but their quality has been consistently lacking. And i’m getting more and more disappointed in the customer service with each encounter.

It seems like this store is better suited for people skilled enough to repair movements and kits themselves.

These kits look tempting, but I'm willing to bet that they're selling bottom of the barrel rejects as DIY kits.

 

[pompompurin]

Part 1

I bought the 210 USD 116610 LV kit out of curiosity. They appear to be factory rejects:
1. The lug holes are misaligned on each ends of the lugs. The stock bracelet did not fit because of this as the springbars are angled.
2. The case/ caseback threads are stripped. Therefore, the stock caseback could never screw on tightly.
3. The crystal is not from VSF and not the quality kind because the cyclops does not appear to have AR. It is probably a replica 1.8mm thick crystal, thus causing the crystal to be flush against the insert

Overall and in my experience, this was not worth buying mainly because the case/ caseback threads are screwed which renders the watch kinda useless.

The dial and hands, however, might be VSF. The mid-case is VSF too, I believe, and it appears to have a gen-spec 7030 triplock tube.

 

[Frenchaddict]

I forgot to mention. Another big difference is the case engraving by the lugs. The $180 engraving is much more clear and clean. The $150 engraving definitely is harder to see unless in a specific light, and the lettering are spaced closer together.

I noticed them too

 

[pompompurin]

I bought the 210 USD 116610 LV kit out of curiosity. They appear to be factory rejects:
1. The lug holes are misaligned on each ends of the lugs. The stock bracelet did not fit because of this as the springbars are angled.
2. The case/ caseback threads are stripped. Therefore, the stock caseback could never screw on tightly.
3. The crystal is not from VSF and not the quality kind because the cyclops does not appear to have AR. It is probably a replica 1.8mm thick crystal, thus causing the crystal to be flush against the insert

Overall and in my experience, this was not worth buying mainly because the case/ caseback threads are screwed which renders the watch kinda useless.

The dial and hands, however, might be VSF. The mid-case is VSF too, I believe, and it appears to have a gen-spec 7030 triplock tube.

Part 2

I did some frankening and modding on this, out of curiosity.

Firstly, I swapped out the stock crystal to a VSF one (2.0mm thick). The stock crystal is 1.8mm thick and does not appear to have AR. Gen uses 2.0mm thick crystal. After swapping the crystal to a VSF one, the crystal is no longer flush with the bezel insert.





VSF crystal installed




Then i decided to swap the stock date disc (in the vs3135 movement which i used for this build) to gen.

Then i decided to take the tube out to see if it is indeed gen-spec. It turns out the stock tube is not triplock/ gen-spec because it lacks that special gasket between the case and tube.



Therefore, i decided to tap the mid-case and countersunk the mid-case (using a drill) to install a gen-spec Swiss 7030 triplock tube





Also, the ARF 16610 caseback can screw on tightly: this fixes my caseback issue (and hopefully permanently fixed).

Done!
- Alibaba VSF case kit + VSF crystal
- VS3135 movement
- Gen date disc
- Gen 704 crown
- Swiss 7030 triplock tube
- ARF 16610 caseback