Buying a gen 114060 - Best way to Authenticate vs VSF Rep

[Rocket99]

Hi All,

I have a VSF 114060 and have now decided to purchase a gen. I have done a deal with a small dealer that has offered me a gen 2017 (full set) at a fair price.

On collection I would like to check as best I can it is indeed a gen (with the help of my rep).

Keen to get peoples thoughts on the best comparison points I can look at to authenticate it is gen (I have a basic eye glass to help). Having done a bit of reading, I think the following:
Rehaut on gen should be more polished than the VSF
spacing and height of the “m” after the 300 (m on the rep is too close to the 300 / height might be off)
Maybe the bezel action will be tighter / less roll back?
Maybe the winding action will be smoother?

Any go to points to check would be great (I won’t be able to open it sadly).

Assuming all goes smoothly I will post my own Rep vs Gen post lol

Cheers

 

[Endez]

Go to a watchsmith or Rolex to authentify. If it is a small dealer he will provide you guarantee that it is gen, and you return of it is not the case. You need to authentify that ALL parts are gen, it happens that the watch is gen, but customs hand, or whatever

 

[Rocket99]

Go to a watchsmith or Rolex to authentify. If it is a small dealer he will provide you guarantee that it is gen, and you return of it is not the case. You need to authentify that ALL parts are gen, it happens that the watch is gen, but customs hand, or whatever

Good shout - I will do this what ever. I will do a good comparison before I walk away with it though

 

[p0pperini]

Best way to avoid getting scammed is buy from a 100% trusted dealer. As Endez says, such a dealer would allow you to get the watch authenticated and guarantee money back if it turns out to be at all suss.

 

[xray7]

You were not born knowing every street and lane way in your city - you likely use a map or a GPS for which you paid, one way or another, to supplement your own knowledge.

If you don’t know what you’re looking for, bite the bullet and pay for advice.

If you can’t tell on a visual or detailed inspection yourself, it’s just this simple - you are buying the vendor as much as the product. If you are unsure on the vendor, you will or should be unsure on the goods.

 

[Rocket99]

OK - quick update. I collected the gen 114060 today (2017 year). I will do a separate comparison post vs my vsf later, but here are the main differences (should anyone else want to try and check they are buying a gen lol). I had a good play with my eye glass comparing. In order easy to spot / check:

Bezel stiffness - the VSF is way easier to rotate. To the point i would love to know if a mod is out there to sort this??
Adjusting time - adjusting the time is very different, the VSF hands move much more quickly when turning the crown.
Winding - the gen wind is pretty silent vs the VSF which has a slight grind noise
Rehaut - the gen is slightly more polished than my vsf (but not as big a difference as i was expecting
hand attachment point - on the vsf you can see copper colour in the dial centre hole (just silver on the gen)
floating m - my vsf does not really have much of a float but an obvious one to check
6 o’clock marker - this sits too close to the “swiss made“ text below
Clasp - the protruding hook bit soldering can be seen on the vsf (have to look hard with the eye glass)

Confirms how good the VSF is - but i would love to sort the bezel stiffness out if a mod is out there.

 

[dpd3672]

This has been posted and discussed before, but it's a pretty good guide. IMO, opening the case back and looking at the hair spring would be the best way, although it's possible (I believe) to swap the VSF hairspring with gen.

 

[Mjh2k4]

So I don’t have a gen Sub, but I do have a gen DSSD and I don’t get a stiff bezel play compared to my ARF DSSD or VSF 12. But my 116610LN from RXF has a stiffer bezel click. So maybe it’s that generation?

 

[Rocket99]

Quick pic. Gen on the left and VSF on the right.

 

[Rocket99]

So I don’t have a gen Sub, but I do have a gen DSSD and I don’t get a stiff bezel play compared to my ARF DSSD or VSF 12. But my 116610LN from RXF has a stiffer bezel click. So maybe it’s that generation?

Am beginning to think that maybe my vsf 114060 has an easier bezel than it should. So maybe not reflective of the norm (got a bad bezel spring maybe lol)

 

[dpd3672]

Am beginning to think that maybe my vsf 114060 has an easier bezel than it should. So maybe not reflective of the norm (got a bad bezel spring maybe lol)

I suspect the tolerances of these being less precise than gen, things like winding feel and bezel movement are probably a lot more varied.

The hundredth of a millimeter difference in size can make a tangible difference in these things.

 

[geoffdragon]

VSF make a mighty fine clone that is for sure!

 

[Rocket99]

This has been posted and discussed before, but it's a pretty good guide. IMO, opening the case back and looking at the hair spring would be the best way, although it's possible (I believe) to swap the VSF hairspring with gen.

Thanks for the share of the vid. Of the 5 points in this video it’s only the clasp hook that stands out for my comparison (as cant open back). Crystal height is fine in my vsf and so is the Renault alignment. No date rules out the font check.

Couple of other bits I forgot to mention - with the same number of links they weighed the same (5g in it). Also the vsf glide lock is great (did need a bit of lubrication though when i first got it).

 

[Endez]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[derjenigewelcher]

You dont buy the watch, you buy the business/seller.

 

[breitling87]

really shows how good the vsf reps are hey, i bought a gen 126610 this year and still mostly wear my vsf version and i could barely tell the difference

 

[xray7]

really shows how good the vsf reps are hey, i bought a gen 126610 this year and still mostly wear my vsf version and i could barely tell the difference

I used to buy reps to test drive the gen.

Now I don’t bother buying the gen.

 

[TheBigJS]

I used to buy reps to test drive the gen.

Now I don’t bother buying the gen.

I was in the Omega AD the other day, they got the new FOIS and Speedmaster out, as I held them both in one hand it never occured to me "that's a cool £14k there boy, be careful!) 'cause I handle my 15 or so "top end" reps all the time and never think twice about it.

 

[JustWatching]

OK - quick update. I collected the gen 114060 today (2017 year). I will do a separate comparison post vs my vsf later, but here are the main differences (should anyone else want to try and check they are buying a gen lol). I had a good play with my eye glass comparing. In order easy to spot / check:

Bezel stiffness - the VSF is way easier to rotate. To the point i would love to know if a mod is out there to sort this??
Adjusting time - adjusting the time is very different, the VSF hands move much more quickly when turning the crown.
Winding - the gen wind is pretty silent vs the VSF which has a slight grind noise
Rehaut - the gen is slightly more polished than my vsf (but not as big a difference as i was expecting
hand attachment point - on the vsf you can see copper colour in the dial centre hole (just silver on the gen)
floating m - my vsf does not really have much of a float but an obvious one to check
6 o’clock marker - this sits too close to the “swiss made“ text below
Clasp - the protruding hook bit soldering can be seen on the vsf (have to look hard with the eye glass)

Confirms how good the VSF is - but i would love to sort the bezel stiffness out if a mod is out there.

How was the bracelet on the VSF compared to the gen?

Just wondering what the differences are to touch in terms of finishing and weight in hand.