Breitling Steelfish A17390 - gen or not

[Omegafan22]

Just acquired some parts via eBay. I am not sure if they are genuine or not. Please help me out, guys.

More pics are in the link, I commented some

Possible tells:
overall edges of the metal are sharper than on mine
pearl is different than on the gens I know
screws are too thin

http://pho.to/AkLI9

 

[dcharper18]

I'm no expert oh Breitlings or parts of any kind, but honestly, if that is a rep, it looks pretty damn good. I'd need to compare pearl to gen, but the rest looks quite good to me.

 

[Smpfan]

It's gen. But pics are very bad quality. Fake Steelfish bezels don't have screws which can be unscrewed. They are just imitations.


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[Omegafan22]

It's gen. But pics are very bad quality. Fake Steelfish bezels don't have screws which can be unscrewed. They are just imitations.


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Even the H-Factory? I thought they had removable ones?

Here is a comparison. Pics are better, the one in working condition is genuine, the parts are in question







Here you can see different brushing and somewhat different pearl as well

 

[Smpfan]

H-fac has got removable bezels on newer Seawolfs and Skylands. But not on Steelfish. There isn't a newer version of it until now. Normally the tells are shallow engravings and misplaced numbers "15", "30" and "45". They are not exactly in the middle of the rider tabs.


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[Eagl3]

H-fac has got removable bezels on newer Seawolfs and Skylands. But not on Steelfish. There isn't a newer version of it until now. Normally the tells are shallow engravings and misplaced numbers "15", "30" and "45". They are not exactly in the middle of the rider tabs.


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Not true, my h fac SteelFish has removable screws. Bezel won't come off unless I remove them and I can adjust bezel tightness with them.

 

[Omegafan22]

Not true, my h fac SteelFish has removable screws. Bezel won't come off unless I remove them and I can adjust bezel tightness with them.

And what do you say regarding the authenticity?

 

[Smpfan]

Oh! Than there is definitely a newer version on the market. I had such a watch, too. Screws were only imitations.


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[Eagl3]

And what do you say regarding the authenticity?

No idea. I'm really bad at the gen or rep posts unless there are obvious tells.

 

[Smpfan]

For me those parts are looking gen. Especially the case. My former rep case did not have a tube with inner threads. Parts are looking very good. Far too god for a rep.
But we all know reps are getting better and better nowadays. Especially h-fac Breitling reps!


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[dcharper18]

For me those parts are looking gen. Especially the case. My former rep case did not have a tube with inner threads. Parts are looking very good. Far too god for a rep.
But we all know reps are getting better and better nowadays. Especially h-fac Breitling reps!


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Agreed, this would be SUPER impressive it it were a rep, something that hasn't been recreated as far as I know

 

[Omegafan22]

For me those parts are looking gen. Especially the case. My former rep case did not have a tube with inner threads. Parts are looking very good. Far too god for a rep.
But we all know reps are getting better and better nowadays. Especially h-fac Breitling reps!


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Thank you for your answer. Please take no offense in me for wanting more opinions, this is a difficult matter. Especially someone who has Steelfish experience would be highly valuable.

 

[Rx4Time]

I've got an H factory v1 and v2, both tubes have the threads on the inner side of the tube. As far as bezel, I'm not at home but 98% sure the screws are functional. If there is something you would like me to try and photograph I'd be happy to try.


Black dial is v1, blue v2



The best close up I've got of my v2.

 

[Rx4Time]

Honestly the more I compare to my v2 pictures, the more I lean towards rep. I don't have access to remove the bezel to compare the backside.

 

[Smpfan]

This black dialed V1 has got a gen dial and chapter ring?


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[Rx4Time]

Honestly, I don't know, but I don't think so. I got it M2M and it's currently with 14060 or 16610? For a movement service. I do know the dial really pops much more so then the blue dial v2. How can I tell if those parts are gen? I'm having a gen crown and tube installed also as the crown was partially stripped.

This black dialed V1 has got a gen dial and chapter ring?


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[Smpfan]

Difficult. There are 2 dial versions used in the gen watch. Rep makers produced only 1 version afaik. They differ between the chromed numbers, date window frame and the "S" of "Superocean". But the rep dial has got one obvious flaw: The style of the number 10 printed on the rehaut. Spacing between digit 1 and 0 is too big compared to gen. Your black dial has got correct spacing and the chromed numbers are styled like the other dial version rep makers didn't manufacture. But I'm missing the curved "S" of the word "Superocean".


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[Omegafan22]

I've got an H factory v1 and v2, both tubes have the threads on the inner side of the tube. As far as bezel, I'm not at home but 98% sure the screws are functional. If there is something you would like me to try and photograph I'd be happy to try.


Black dial is v1, blue v2



The best close up I've got of my v2.

[/QUOTbsaiciall

I've got an H factory v1 and v2, both tubes have the threads on the inner side of the tube. As far as bezel, I'm not at home but 98% sure the screws are functional. If there is something you would like me to try and photograph I'd be happy to try.


Black dial is v1, blue v2



The best close up I've got of my v2.

Please take a look at my bezel (no homo) in the first messages. I believe it is much finer cut out. On your H-Factory I can see that the tool marks are still visible while there are seemingly none on mine. Also I found this:

The Same brushing, no tool markings left, the pearl is identical and therefore it is genuine. The quality is very good, the steel is brushed in the same way. Turns out the old Steelfishes were called X-Plus. Mine is from 2005 which the case indicates (the case shows 3305 b5 which indicate 33 calendar week of 2005). My parts are the same as the one above although one must notice that on this early bird the hand and bracelet were changed during a service. The Steelfish 44mm I have for comparison in my own pictures above is one of the last badges of Steelfishes made in 2010. No tool marks, deep engravings but less sharp edges, slighty bigger pearl.

 

[Rx4Time]

So I've got my v2 blue dial in hand. First, the screws are real in it, not just machined into the sides in my v2 rep. That being said, they are much shorter and probably only for looks (so short I added a touch of superglue to the one I loosened as I was unsure how they would stay in place). I just unscrewed one and I doubt it holds the bezel in place as it's too short to be anything beyond decorative. This being said, I have to conclude that the bezel pictured is gen.

 

[UDTMIKE]

It all looks pretty gen to me. The one pearl may just be dirty and grungy. Some people don't take care of their watches.