Bad experience with DD4130 - Can it be overcome?

[supesrep]

So I bought a Daytona about 3-4 years ago, it was a Noob with a "SA4130" movement. I am writing this post because I just learned that apparently the DD4130 movement that everyone thinks is so reliable is the same as this SA4130.

When I first got the watch, it ran great on the timegrapher, and I didn't wear this watch, but after a few months I put it back on the timegrapher and was shocked to see the beat error was all over the place. Of course, this can happen when the watch is magnetized, but the watch was stored in a safe with many other watches that don't get magnetized. This has only ever happened to me with one other watch, the Vertigo Pilot One with the Seagull ST19 movement - in other words, the only 2 movements I've experienced messed up beat error was in Chinese chronograph movements (both just broke in storage, not through wear)

I have 3 different types of demagnetizers, the best you can get, and I could not demagnetize either the Pilot One or the rep Daytona. I also spend $1k with a watchmaker who claims to be able to repair reps, and he totally destroyed the Daytona. So I feel really burned with the rep Daytona.

Recently I wanted to get a BLRO, and did the research and apparently the DD3285 is the best. So I ordered one. I have never experienced issues with GMT reps, so I felt safe ordering it. I then recently decide to take another look at the Daytona to see if it's evolved, and there are many posts lauding the DD4130. But just now I was shocked to learn that the DD4130 is the same movement as the SA4130!!

So now I want to ask the forum: has anyone else experienced the crazy all over the place beat error with any reps, and what the possible cause could be, and should I expect the DD4130 to be as reliable as the DD3285?

Thanks!!!!!

 

[MaximillianGT]

I have a Clean V3 which means a DD4130 for over a year and it never fell out of the range of +-2 sec/day. Of course, I have frankened it with some gen parts but I have never touched the trainwheels as of yet. So I think this is a factory error between different batches of movements.

 

[MaximillianGT]

Oh, BTW, take a look at the balance, this is the typical weak point of a DD4130, their rep balance is prompt to damage easily. Mine broke during postage and went from +-1 sec/day to +-17 sec/day, so I changed a gen one.

 

[supesrep]

Oh, BTW, take a look at the balance, this is the typical weak point of a DD4130, their rep balance is prompt to damage easily. Mine broke during postage and went from +-1 sec/day to +-17 sec/day, so I changed a gen one.

Thanks for this. It really sounds like it was some sort of balance damage as opposed to magnetism because generally a magnetized watch will just show +5 minutes a day accuracy as opposed to messed up beat error.

Question: does the DD3285 movement have the same weak balance as the DD4130? And who else on this forum has experienced a failed DD balance? Thanks!!

 

[Karbon74]

A testimony that I don’t look at the time on my Daytona…BTF

I have been wearing it daily for the past two and a half week. Only watch currently while traveling…

Today I noticed it was 3 mins late…so probably -10ish/day

Maybe I will regulate it when back home, or maybe not…so lazy

 

[MaximillianGT]

Thanks for this. It really sounds like it was some sort of balance damage as opposed to magnetism because generally a magnetized watch will just show +5 minutes a day accuracy as opposed to messed up beat error.

Question: does the DD3285 movement have the same weak balance as the DD4130? And who else on this forum has experienced a failed DD balance? Thanks!!

I’ve noticed that the balance hairspring material in most Rolex clone movements is pretty much the same. For my DD4130, though, the balance antishock mechanism isn’t functioning as it should. I’m not sure if the 3285 suffers from the same issue, especially since not every 4130 balance has this problem. But when it comes to the manufacturers, I doubt they’re different in terms of material and design.

 

[Reaps]

NOOB 4130 is not exactly the same as the DD4130. While they share alot of the same parts, both BTF and Clean updated the Noob 4130 and made it more stable.

Not to "blame you" but you did take it to a incompetent watch maker who destroyed your replica. And now you feel some kind of bad way towards the 4130 - when really it's not even the 4130 fault.

 

[Reaps]

Remeber. Replica is replica. You're paying $800 for a replica watch made in sub par conditions and sub par material. Gen balance springs are tested, made out of premium materials, assembled in a robot workshop, with quality control standards.

Please remeber to yourself what you can get for $800 in the "gen" market. A Seiko Speedtimer Mecaquartz with some leftover for a rubber strap.

 

[Karbon74]

Remeber. Replica is replica. You're paying $800 for a replica watch made in sub par conditions and sub par material. Gen balance springs are tested, made out of premium materials, assembled in a robot workshop, with quality control standards.

Please remeber to yourself what you can get for $800 in the "gen" market. A Seiko Speedtimer Mecaquartz with some leftover for a rubber strap.

 

[MaximillianGT]

Remeber. Replica is replica. You're paying $800 for a replica watch made in sub par conditions and sub par material. Gen balance springs are tested, made out of premium materials, assembled in a robot workshop, with quality control standards.

Please remeber to yourself what you can get for $800 in the "gen" market. A Seiko Speedtimer Mecaquartz with some leftover for a rubber strap.

I spent 800 on an apple watch.

 

[asusundevils1971]

I spent 800 on an apple watch.

Saying this comment you should automatically lose "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified Mofo " forever and take the replica watch retraining program offered by RWI with GingerBubba as the professor.

 

[MaximillianGT]

Saying this comment you should automatically lose "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified Mofo " forever and take the replica watch retraining program offered by RWI with GingerBubba as the professor.

"Tim Cook Certified Mofo" then.

 

[supesrep]

Remeber. Replica is replica. You're paying $800 for a replica watch made in sub par conditions and sub par material. Gen balance springs are tested, made out of premium materials, assembled in a robot workshop, with quality control standards.

Please remeber to yourself what you can get for $800 in the "gen" market. A Seiko Speedtimer Mecaquartz with some leftover for a rubber strap.

You can get a microbrand with a Miyota 9075, sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel on a bracelet with screw pins. So basically an equivalent watch with a very very solid true GMT movement. Your argument isn't very good. Having a balance that doesn't break by itself in a safe isn't very taxing to achieve, and many reps and cheap gens achieve that easily.

My question is about people's experiences, has anyone else experienced what I have, especially with the DD3285 movement? Thanks.

 

[supesrep]

I’ve noticed that the balance hairspring material in most Rolex clone movements is pretty much the same. For my DD4130, though, the balance antishock mechanism isn’t functioning as it should. I’m not sure if the 3285 suffers from the same issue, especially since not every 4130 balance has this problem. But when it comes to the manufacturers, I doubt they’re different in terms of material and design.

Thanks!

 

[supesrep]

NOOB 4130 is not exactly the same as the DD4130. While they share alot of the same parts, both BTF and Clean updated the Noob 4130 and made it more stable.

Not to "blame you" but you did take it to a incompetent watch maker who destroyed your replica. And now you feel some kind of bad way towards the 4130 - when really it's not even the 4130 fault.

No, I feel bad about the SA4130 because it broke (erratic beat error) when I did nothing to it, except store it in the safe. The same exact thing happened to the ST19 in my Vertigo Pilot One as I mentioned - I sent that back for warranty repair - it came back fixed, but then after a few months in the safe developed the same problem (erratic beat error).

Now the obvious thought is that the safe is causing the problem, and the only thing could be magnetism - which was exactly my thoughts - but I have like 30 watches in the safe, including some older reps with dubious movements, and they are all working great. I also have an older ST19 based rep that doesn't have any issues. Plus both watches didn't get fixed after trying to demagnetize them with the best degaussers you can get (I have a $400 one, plus 2 others).

 

[derjenigewelcher]

Oh, BTW, take a look at the balance, this is the typical weak point of a DD4130, their rep balance is prompt to damage easily. Mine broke during postage and went from +-1 sec/day to +-17 sec/day, so I changed a gen one.

Thats also what I would do IF I was able to regulate a gen movement. But I am afraid of microstellar regulation

 

[Reaps]

No, I feel bad about the SA4130 because it broke (erratic beat error) when I did nothing to it, except store it in the safe. The same exact thing happened to the ST19 in my Vertigo Pilot One as I mentioned - I sent that back for warranty repair - it came back fixed, but then after a few months in the safe developed the same problem (erratic beat error).

Now the obvious thought is that the safe is causing the problem, and the only thing could be magnetism - which was exactly my thoughts - but I have like 30 watches in the safe, including some older reps with dubious movements, and they are all working great. I also have an older ST19 based rep that doesn't have any issues. Plus both watches didn't get fixed after trying to demagnetize them with the best degaussers you can get (I have a $400 one, plus 2 others).

It's just replica brother. You win some you lose some.

I own 10 DD4130s. Only 1 gave me trouble. so 9/10 is pretty good.

 

[Reaps]

You can get a microbrand with a Miyota 9075, sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel on a bracelet with screw pins. So basically an equivalent watch with a very very solid true GMT movement. Your argument isn't very good. Having a balance that doesn't break by itself in a safe isn't very taxing to achieve, and many reps and cheap gens achieve that easily.

My question is about people's experiences, has anyone else experienced what I have, especially with the DD3285 movement? Thanks.

For $800 please show me a fully functioning 3 subdial, vertical clutch chronograph like a Clean Daytona......

$800 for a 9075 with some sub par finishing and $50 sapphire crystal and $50 ceramic insert cannot compare to the clean Daytona's specification and details and polishing....

I won't get into this argument anymore

Simply put - if you're worried about the DD4130, then don't buy a Daytona. Simple as that. Noone can guarantee you 100% accuracy ,100% reliability rate, even gen cannot achieve this. If you want warranty, guarantees, etc, then just buy gen.