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Clean Factory vs BT Factory - 116500 Panda Daytona - Updated

2841

2841

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daytonadude said:
Update time!

I have received a gorgeous modded CF with Noob movement, ARF dial, gen pushers, hands and crystal, CF bezel, and heavily reshaped case. Not really discussing the movement here but boy do Noob movements wind smoothly. I’m not sure why this isn’t the case with newer CF and BTF DD4130 movements.

I have compared it to my BTF, which I still think is the best Panda OOTB but not necessarily well suited for modding.

BTF is on the left and I’ve taken photos in the same places and lighting as before to help with the comparison.

Overall, the ARF dial really is something else. It balances the sharpness needed for a Panda dial with a tone that is very lightly cream in some lights and plain white in others. The BTF is really pale in comparison, which I think makes it look more fake, even though it’s probably repping a more modern model. The hour markers are where the ARF really does well, as it gives the dial a sense of dimension and shine that neither the CF nor BTF can do.

The gen crystal is good, but BTF does a great job. Same for the pushers. But I think at this level we’re talking about getting a rep maybe 5-10% better at a high expense to get as close as possible to Gen.

Only thing that I am absolutely adamant about is the case reshaping. Imagine if a case combined the presence of a CF with the sleekness of a BTF. it’s perfectly in the middle, which I didn’t think was possible. The way the case and bracelet meet to make it look like an uninterrupted flow of steel… I love the BTF case but the bottom left and upper right lugs are so sharp that it disturbs the lines and flow of the watch.

I hoped that the recent ZF might be able to get close to this, but I still think there’s room for improvement.
Click to expand...
Letting go of that dial was not an easy thing to do :) Hope you enjoy it bud :)
 
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bpbp

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I wonder are btf and CF Daytona word paint don't have 3d effect like gen?
 
daytonadude

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CONUS
I have recently received my ZF Panda, which I purchased in large part to compare to BTF and Clean before building a hybrid

Before I share the photos, here are my key takeaways:
  • The dial is 100% the same dial as found in a CF. Same with the bezel. - EDIT: The dial is NOT the same as the CF, it's less grey, more white. The ZF dial is much better.
  • ZF's case shape is very nice, maybe 15-20% better than Clean's. The side profile is smoother and a bit thinner, with additional curvature where needed. But it's not that apparent.
  • It also comes with a deep crystal, which means no need to replace the shit crystal as we must do on a CF
  • Pushers are fat, yes, but they are fine. Didn't jump out once I had it in hand. EDIT: definitely swap out the pushers for BTF or Noob.
  • Seems to function as well as a DD, winds the same, and has kept good time
BIGGEST POINT FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO MOD:
  • I bought this to take my CF black dial + movement and put into the ZF case. I succeeded at doing this without an issue
  • However, when I then put the SH4130 from the ZF into the CF to make another watch, the SH movement did not fit in the CF case. To make sure I wasn't making a mistake, I also tried putting it in the BTF case. Same issue.
  • Takeaway: if you really want to create a hybrid watch, your remaining ZF movement + CF or BTF case will have to be sold for parts. It cannot be fit inside the normal DD case.
  • If you want to get a watch and reshape the case, just get a CF.
IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING TO BUY A DAYTONA:
  • I would 100% just get a ZF Panda over a CF panda now, if I were choosing between the two. It's less expensive, has a deep crystal, and a good case shape.
Pictures in the next post! Feel free to ask questions (unless they are dumb)
 
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MaximillianGT

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daytonadude said:
I have recently received my ZF Panda, which I purchased in large part to compare to BTF and Clean before building a hybrid

Before I share the photos, here are my key takeaways:
  • The dial is 100% the same dial as found in a CF. Same with the bezel.
  • ZF's case shape is very nice, maybe 15-20% better than Clean's. The side profile is smoother and a bit thinner, with additional curvature where needed. But it's not that apparent.
  • It also comes with a deep crystal, which means no need to replace the shit crystal as we must do on a CF
  • Pushers are fat, yes, but they are fine. Didn't jump out once I had it in hand
  • Seems to function as well as a DD, winds the same, and has kept good time
BIGGEST POINT FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO MOD:
  • I bought this to take my CF black dial + movement and put into the ZF case. I succeeded at doing this without an issue
  • However, when I then put the SH4130 from the ZF into the CF to make another watch, the SH movement did not fit in the CF case. To make sure I wasn't making a mistake, I also tried putting it in the BTF case. Same issue.
  • Takeaway: if you really want to create a hybrid watch, your remaining ZF movement + CF or BTF case will have to be sold for parts. It cannot be fit inside the normal DD case.
  • If you want to get a watch and reshape the case, just get a CF.
IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING TO BUY A DAYTONA:
  • I would 100% just get a ZF Panda over a CF panda now, if I were choosing between the two. It's less expensive, has a deep crystal, and a good case shape.
Pictures in the next post! Feel free to ask questions (unless they are dumb)
Click to expand...
Thank you for your review. What about the bracelet? Is it a clean bracelet? Do the SELs sit right on the lug?
 
2841

2841

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daytonadude said:
I have recently received my ZF Panda, which I purchased in large part to compare to BTF and Clean before building a hybrid

Before I share the photos, here are my key takeaways:
  • The dial is 100% the same dial as found in a CF. Same with the bezel.
  • ZF's case shape is very nice, maybe 15-20% better than Clean's. The side profile is smoother and a bit thinner, with additional curvature where needed. But it's not that apparent.
  • It also comes with a deep crystal, which means no need to replace the shit crystal as we must do on a CF
  • Pushers are fat, yes, but they are fine. Didn't jump out once I had it in hand
  • Seems to function as well as a DD, winds the same, and has kept good time
BIGGEST POINT FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO MOD:
  • I bought this to take my CF black dial + movement and put into the ZF case. I succeeded at doing this without an issue
  • However, when I then put the SH4130 from the ZF into the CF to make another watch, the SH movement did not fit in the CF case. To make sure I wasn't making a mistake, I also tried putting it in the BTF case. Same issue.
  • Takeaway: if you really want to create a hybrid watch, your remaining ZF movement + CF or BTF case will have to be sold for parts. It cannot be fit inside the normal DD case.
  • If you want to get a watch and reshape the case, just get a CF.
IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING TO BUY A DAYTONA:
  • I would 100% just get a ZF Panda over a CF panda now, if I were choosing between the two. It's less expensive, has a deep crystal, and a good case shape.
Pictures in the next post! Feel free to ask questions (unless they are dumb)
Click to expand...
Same conclusion I came to. CF is still the best Franken base but if you want Stock, there are other options, just pick the flaws you can live with.
 
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daytonadude said:
ZF LEFT, CF RIGHT


Click to expand...
Perfect picture for everyone not understanding what we mean when we say cf has a fat caseback.

Jesus Christ that's a fatty.

Great comparison brother thank you.

daytonadude said:
BTF LEFT, ZF RIGHT


Click to expand...

I still say btf over all others for 500s. Just look at the side profile slope and slenderness.
 
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Karbon74

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daytonadude said:
I have recently received my ZF Panda, which I purchased in large part to compare to BTF and Clean before building a hybrid

Before I share the photos, here are my key takeaways:
  • The dial is 100% the same dial as found in a CF. Same with the bezel.
  • ZF's case shape is very nice, maybe 15-20% better than Clean's. The side profile is smoother and a bit thinner, with additional curvature where needed. But it's not that apparent.
  • It also comes with a deep crystal, which means no need to replace the shit crystal as we must do on a CF
  • Pushers are fat, yes, but they are fine. Didn't jump out once I had it in hand
  • Seems to function as well as a DD, winds the same, and has kept good time
BIGGEST POINT FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO MOD:
  • I bought this to take my CF black dial + movement and put into the ZF case. I succeeded at doing this without an issue
  • However, when I then put the SH4130 from the ZF into the CF to make another watch, the SH movement did not fit in the CF case. To make sure I wasn't making a mistake, I also tried putting it in the BTF case. Same issue.
  • Takeaway: if you really want to create a hybrid watch, your remaining ZF movement + CF or BTF case will have to be sold for parts. It cannot be fit inside the normal DD case.
  • If you want to get a watch and reshape the case, just get a CF.
IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING TO BUY A DAYTONA:
  • I would 100% just get a ZF Panda over a CF panda now, if I were choosing between the two. It's less expensive, has a deep crystal, and a good case shape.
Pictures in the next post! Feel free to ask questions (unless they are dumb)
Click to expand...
thanks. It looks to me that ZF is indeed the best option OOTB despite the uncertainties on the SH. Whenever it dies, swapping a better 4130 will cost sameish that having a crystal change and professional lug reshape at the start. You get to enjoy the watch faster
 
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mmaggi

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Wow. What a great comparison. What many have been waiting for. Thank you!

Assuming the SH4130 holds up I see no reason not to get one. For the price alone it's a great buy and if purchased from a non-TD even better.
 
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