Clean Factory vs BT Factory - 116500 Panda Daytona - Updated

[daytonadude]

Seems all correct to me. Bezel is identical, bracelet is of the same quality, and the crystal is definitely deep.

For the bracelet, I’m guessing it just means that it’s the same supplier who used to give ARF their bracelets. All these factories don’t manufacture their parts themselves, they buy them and put them together. So it’s not surprising at all that everyone has started buying the same bezel if there’s one supplier that makes it really well. Same with the bracelet.

 

[speedyguy]

Seems all correct to me. Bezel is identical, bracelet is of the same quality, and the crystal is definitely deep.

For the bracelet, I’m guessing it just means that it’s the same supplier who used to give ARF their bracelets. All these factories don’t manufacture their parts themselves, they buy them and put them together. So it’s not surprising at all that everyone has started buying the same bezel if there’s one supplier that makes it really well. Same with the bracelet.

Got it, thank you for reiterating all of that. I know you’ve mentioned these things earlier in the thread but I figured it was worth it to double check.

 

[pbk31]

N'achetez pas le ZF 126500, la forme du boîtier est fausse. Et Clean va très prochainement sortir un 126500 avec une forme de boîtier correcte.

Clean a-t-il annoncé une date pour cela ?

 

[c8vette]

I think daytonadude found that the ZF SH4130 wouldn't fit into the stainless clean case but has anyone tried to see if the ZF SH4130 movement would fit into the white gold Clean or BTF cases?

 

[SHB]

2 weeks now doing my search, dozen of pages read, all the threads have been deeply analyzed from various places, and I can say I'm more lost than before, on the hunt for a black dial, I wanted to go with the BT but theses shiny subdial break everything, I could swap the dial but I have more luck to win at the lottery than being able to swap it.
Maybe go with ZF, good alternative with the fat CF and the shinny BT, but... the movement, the movement!
It would be easier to go with the white dial, but the black one makes me

Thanks for the review btw

 

[Tompa]

2 weeks now doing my search, dozen of pages read, all the threads have been deeply analyzed from various places, and I can say I'm more lost than before, on the hunt for a black dial, I wanted to go with the BT but theses shiny subdial break everything, I could swap the dial but I have more luck to win at the lottery than being able to swap it.
Maybe go with ZF, good alternative with the fat CF and the shinny BT, but... the movement, the movement!
It would be easier to go with the white dial, but the black one makes me

Thanks for the review btw

You overthink. Buy a CF. Amazing watch. If you dont like it sell it

 

[SHB]

You overthink. Buy a CF. Amazing watch. If you dont like it sell it

Thanks for your tips bro

 

[M Scott]

2 weeks now doing my search, dozen of pages read, all the threads have been deeply analyzed from various places, and I can say I'm more lost than before, on the hunt for a black dial, I wanted to go with the BT but theses shiny subdial break everything, I could swap the dial but I have more luck to win at the lottery than being able to swap it.
Maybe go with ZF, good alternative with the fat CF and the shinny BT, but... the movement, the movement!
It would be easier to go with the white dial, but the black one makes me

Thanks for the review btw

- You have posted in the White Panda Dial thread, but it sounds like you really want the Black Dial.
- Clean transitioned to the V3 starting about May of 2023. The Black Clean V2 did have Silver sub-dials that were too thick.
- Some of the early Clean V3s still had thicker sub-dials and some had a hole in the Rolex Coronet that was too large.
- Since that time the quality and consistency of the Black Clean V3 appears to have stabilized really nicely.
- Sadly, now that Clean has so much better, the rumor is that they will stop producing this 116500 Daytona.

This is the Comparison from Steve The One Watches many months ago...
.

This one is from CTime also many months ago...
.

This last one shows the QC for my Black Clean V3 that is currently being shipped to me...
.

 

[SHB]

@M Scott thanks for your reply, you just terminated my questioning, hats off mate!

Gonna get a CF.

Again, thank you!

 

[M Scott]

@M Scott thanks for your reply, you just terminated my questioning, hats off mate!

Gonna get a CF.

Again, thank you!

You may also want to consider a Deep Crystal. My TD installed mine before shipping.
- These QC pictures show before and after the Deep Crystal...
.

 

[SHB]

You may also want to consider a Deep Crystal. My TD installed mine before shipping.
- These QC pictures show before and after the Deep Crystal...
.

Defo a nice improvement!!
Who's your dealer if I can ask?
I might opt for this upgrade this will save me some hassle post-delivery

 

[haze3715]

Thanks for your tips bro

the compromise I would settle for is the BT with shiny subdials.

the lacklustre stock CF xtal would always be in the way of enjoying any gains you get with going with CF (the dial).

 

[M Scott]

Defo a nice improvement!!
Who's your dealer if I can ask?
I might opt for this upgrade this will save me some hassle post-delivery

Steve The One has done an outstanding job for me on this one.

 

[M Scott]

the compromise I would settle for is the BT with shiny subdials.

the lacklustre stock CF xtal would always be in the way of enjoying any gains you get with going with CF (the dial).

I would have agreed with you a year ago, but with the refinements that Clean have made since then, and being able to easily switch to a Deep Crystal have changed my mind.

- I expected and hoped that BTF would have released a V3 to answer Clean and finally fix their Shinny sub-dials, but they haven't.
- My first choice would be a BTF with a Clean Black Dial but that would add a lot to the cost.

 

[SHB]

I would have agreed with you a year ago, but with the refinements that Clean have made since then, and being able to easily switch to a Deep Crystal have changed my mind.

- I expected and hoped that BTF would have released a V3 to answer Clean and finally fix their Shinny sub-dials, but they haven't.
- My first choice would be a BTF with a Clean Black Dial but that would add a lot to the cost.

Can I ask why you didn't go with the ZF? The movement I guess?

 

[Blangaz1]

- You have posted in the White Panda Dial thread, but it sounds like you really want the Black Dial.
- Clean transitioned to the V3 starting about May of 2023. The Black Clean V2 did have Silver sub-dials that were too thick.
- Some of the early Clean V3s still had thicker sub-dials and some had a hole in the Rolex Coronet that was too large.
- Since that time the quality and consistency of the Black Clean V3 appears to have stabilized really nicely.
- Sadly, now that Clean has so much better, the rumor is that they will stop producing this 116500 Daytona.

This is the Comparison from Steve The One Watches many months ago...
.

This one is from CTime also many months ago...
.

This last one shows the QC for my Black Clean V3 that is currently being shipped to me...
.

I do like how the BT version has the minute markers aligned with the rehaut etching. Not that I have OCD. Ahem.

 

[M Scott]

Can I ask why you didn't go with the ZF? The movement I guess?

The V1 ZF 116500 uses a new, unproven SH4130 movement, which even a TD says can have problems as quoted below...

Clean has done a lot of improvements on SH4131, such as overall polishing, reshaping oscillating rotor, upgrading the rotor bearing, rebuilding the auto device bridge, changed the shock absorbing part of the balance wheel... The problems like chronograph hand wrongly zeroing on SH4130 will be solved this time. The stability of this movement is much better after testing.

Clean is using a new, also unproven SH4130 in their new 126500 Daytonas. Based on the SH4130 but refined to improve the quality of the movement.

- If they go back and refine the SH4130 in the same way, then a V2 ZF would become a better choice. The rest of the watch appears to be very good.
- Who knows, Clean may even produce a 116500 with a refined SH4130 at some time.

For me, I wanted to get a Clean V3 116500 with the proven DD4130 before they were discontinued.

 

[SHB]

The V1 ZF 116500 uses a new, unproven SH4130 movement, which even a TD says can have problems as quoted below...


Clean is using a new, also unproven SH4130 in their new 126500 Daytonas. Based on the SH4130 but refined to improve the quality of the movement.

- If they go back and refine the SH4130 in the same way, then a V2 ZF would become a better choice. The rest of the watch appears to be very good.
- Who knows, Clean may even produce a 116500 with a refined SH4130 at some time.

For me, I wanted to get a Clean V3 116500 with the proven DD4130 before they were discontinued.

Thanks for the information.
Now I have to know how to makes sure the dealer will send the DD4130 and not a SH4130.
I guess only a picture of the movement could prove that

 

[M Scott]

Thanks for the information.
Now I have to know how to makes sure the dealer will send the DD4130 and not a SH4130.
I guess only a picture of the movement could prove that

For Daytonas currently produced...

- Clean V3 116500 will have a DD4130
- Clean V1 126500 will have a SH4131
- ZF V1 116500 will have a SH4130

 

[mmaggi]

The latest version from Clean factory with a DEEP crystal swap is the best option although a stock ZF or BTF isn't bad either. You really can't go wrong with any of these options.