Blue Aquanaut(s)

[zinduna]

Looks like 3KF is granting your wish with an updated clone 330 movement @DaveinKeller. This is the hacking movement in the 5168g. Who knows how good the new clone movement is but it ought to hack.

3KF Updated 5167?

Sorry If this has already been posted, I could not seem to find it. However, This looks pretty neat. Will have to wait until first batch of QC's release though. I was recently looking to get the 5167a but now I guess I will wait to see how these hold up!

forum.replica-watch.info

 

[John_Masterson]

That is very interesting. Looking forward to seeing more updates...

 

[j2k]

I have been meaning to get a 5167a, is the zf finishing and feel higher quality? Still can't decided between 3kf and zf. I don't really care for the new updated model, (not a fan of the clasp design), and if possible want to get the older version.

 

[Seb75]

Hello everyone,
I checked again my january 2023 3KF and it is indeed already a 26-330 marked caliber. So I guess the only difference with the new thing is the clasp !

 

[j2k]

Hello everyone,
I checked again my january 2023 3KF and it is indeed already a 26-330 marked caliber. So I guess the only difference with the new thing is the clasp !

good to know! thanks for sharing!

 

[fishysquishy]

Hello everyone,
I checked again my january 2023 3KF and it is indeed already a 26-330 marked caliber. So I guess the only difference with the new thing is the clasp !

So intrestingly enough, I have this watch on order from Puretime and when I saw the QC I thought the same (this must be the new "330" version) I was told that although the current watch says 330, 3KF is infact going to produce an actual clone movement of the 330 and not just this 324 with 330 written on it. I tried clariying again and Puretime confirmed.. im not sure I belive it as there might have been a miscomunication with 3KF factory but just wanted to put it out there..It'll be great if we can get confirmation from another TD about this. My order is currently on hold as they said I should wait 2 weeks and check in for the "new" 330

 

[Seb75]

Interesting... Wonder if theres really gonna be any difference, because its already very slim differences between the 324 and 330 in gens. See this article https://www.hightime-reviews.com/patek-philippe-26-330-caliber-review/ well there are differences but its so little, I wonder if they are gonna play in designing/manufacturing new calibers.
I mean the only thing they really ought to do is actually use white lume on the dials and hands héhé.

 

[notyouravgwatchconsumer]

Hi @Seb75 thank you so much for sharing your 5168 journey and creating this thread, I have been following it for awhile now. Truthfully I've always had an interest in the 5168G with a slight difference to the Green model instead of the blue and your constant sharing (which is a delight btw) has convinced me to go ahead and make a purchase for the green model. With your experience on the Aquanaut so far, do you mind sharing on how do you size the straps properly or if you have any tips and tricks at all on that department to share? It is my first purchase for the Aquanaut and would love to learn more before my package arrives.

 

[Seb75]

Bonjour @notyouravgwatchconsumer, thanks for your kind words. Just sharing my experience !
A few months later, Im still wearing my ZF 5168G-001, mainly because my 3KF was a lemon (hours bias & caliber hicups). Honestly difficult to "feel" the difference between the two otherwise.
I'll see if a few months from now I order the newest 3KF with jitime (was super happy with the QC and overall experience) or maybe a 5167-001, for a change. Anyway, I pondered wether to get custom dials & so on but I ended up figuring that it wouldnt make it more gen, the base watch is still great and wears nice, its just a tool watch ! I will see if I have pictures of the strap cutting, I ended up doing it right in termes of size and place to cut, so I never have any opening in the clasp, its just perfectly tight, as it should be.

 

[Seb75]

-msg deleted, double send !-

 

[notyouravgwatchconsumer]

@Seb75 I see, i think the main difference for what they have is really just the look from the case back and that minute extra difference in thickness. Really is up to how well accurate you would like for your watch to be even from areas that aren't normally visible to others. I do think from the little that i know about the movement, that a good service might just bring it back up running well.
I went with the 3kf 5168G Green and opted for mods to it changing the dial, dw and hands as the 3kf stock green 5168 has pretty inaccurate color presentation.
Thanks for sharing how do you cut it! do you use a scissors for the cutting and does the rubber fray out ? Good that you mentioned the place to cut etc so as to not form an opening on the clasp, this is actually what I was worried about as well, I've wondered if there is a right angle to cut it to get it right.

 

[trailboss99]

Thanks for your report and pictures on both watches.
I do have the 3KF 5168G blue V3 from jan 2023. One thing I didn't like at first sight was the dial. It looked so fake and the sunburst is just unreal so fake.
How would you compare the 3KF to the ZF dial? Is there a big difference as of the pics they have kind of same colour blue. IMO the KMF looked way better and closer to gen.

I did wear my 3KF only once and thinking of selling it on here for a nice friendly price...

Thanks for your help on the ZF.

Please take out a ticket at The RWI Help Desk to fix your multiaccount issue or your posts will not be seen.

 

[Seb75]

To reply to the double-gentleman from which I missed the post a while again, the 3KF and ZF dials are fairly similar, just the ZF has the dial lines spacing slightly wrong so with the index in place, it doesnt quite touch the lines. But you need good eyes to spot it anyway. As for the KMF dial, yes I like it better, the blue is deeper, the sunburst doesnt burn your eyes and the engraving of the lines is deeper/richer.

 

[Seb75]

@notyouravgwatchconsumer see below how I did cut the 3KF, KMF and ZF straps : I leave as much rubber on the outer edge. Who did you go with for your mods ? Lets share with us when you get it so we can all see it

 

[trailboss99]

How can I do this? I want this account to be deleted and use just one account... Thanks for help.

As I said above, please take out a ticket at The RWI Help Desk. The link is at the top of every page

 

[trailboss99]

Yes, as I did few times before, when clicking I get an error message. Page can't be shown as well

Works for me, https://rwihelp.com/

 

[Noob42069]

Any updates to a consensus on 3KF vs ZF?
On the black aquanaut thread people initially say 3KF and that ZFs Myiota movement is not good in the aquanaut.

Then there’s a guy who points out 3KF bezel is a little more square and ZF bezel is rounder ie true to gen.

Makes it hard to say which is best to get if I have no plans to mod it, just wear it OOTB.

For the guy here who got both ZF and 3KF, do you lean one way over the other for general enjoyment?

 

[Seb75]

Bonjour,
An update is indeed needed... In the past six months (or so), I have been wearing the ZF roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of the time. The design of this aquanaut is really comfy, I mean there is no arguing there !
I have been seeing the actual reserve of the ZF wearing out, from tens of hours to really not keeping up when putting the watch down part of the day : its a bummer and I think it comes down to what has been said in the other aquanaut thread : the caliber is on its knees, there are no margins there anymore in terms of manufacturing tolerances.
Considering this, I might get myself another 3KF at some point, one with decent QC (hence not using the first vendor but the last one). As for the flaws of the ZF or 3KF, beyond the actual "time" issues, I'd say that for both the sunburst is way too much (dial could use a darker tint) and the lume is too greenish. But hey, that pricepoint is unbeatable !
Cheers

 

[Starchild70]

Bonjour,
An update is indeed needed... In the past six months (or so), I have been wearing the ZF roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of the time. The design of this aquanaut is really comfy, I mean there is no arguing there !
I have been seeing the actual reserve of the ZF wearing out, from tens of hours to really not keeping up when putting the watch down part of the day : its a bummer and I think it comes down to what has been said in the other aquanaut thread : the caliber is on its knees, there are no margins there anymore in terms of manufacturing tolerances.
Considering this, I might get myself another 3KF at some point, one with decent QC (hence not using the first vendor but the last one). As for the flaws of the ZF or 3KF, beyond the actual "time" issues, I'd say that for both the sunburst is way too much (dial could use a darker tint) and the lume is too greenish. But hey, that pricepoint is unbeatable !

Hello, totally agree with you on the dial. It was a disappointment for me when opening the box as on the websites it looks better. Apart from this you can tell 3KF is good quality watch.
Mine I did wear for an afternoon but the 42mm is way too big for my wrist.
Will put it on offer for sale here after I found out how this works as I’m a newbee

 

[j2k]

@Seb75 I see, i think the main difference for what they have is really just the look from the case back and that minute extra difference in thickness. Really is up to how well accurate you would like for your watch to be even from areas that aren't normally visible to others. I do think from the little that i know about the movement, that a good service might just bring it back up running well.
I went with the 3kf 5168G Green and opted for mods to it changing the dial, dw and hands as the 3kf stock green 5168 has pretty inaccurate color presentation.
Thanks for sharing how do you cut it! do you use a scissors for the cutting and does the rubber fray out ? Good that you mentioned the place to cut etc so as to not form an opening on the clasp, this is actually what I was worried about as well, I've wondered if there is a right angle to cut it to get it right.

Hiya! Have you recieved your 5168 khaki yet? I've been on the fence about this or the 5167a. I know both aren't the best ootb but I really want to believe the green looks fine in real life. Any pics and updates would be much appreciated!