Explorer I -124270 Gen & Clean Comprehensive Comparison

[FaintOrGloch]

I'm rather new to the space and recently purchased the CF Explorer I Ref. 124700. Earlier in this thread, it had been discussed that the blank space between STEEL and INOX on the clasp imprint was removed by CF. However, after having received QC for my example last week, it was there again. Hence, I asked the TD whether it would be possible to swap the clasp to the new one, thinking I would have encountered an example from an older batch. However, after having contacted the factory, he responded that this clasp with the space between STEEL and INOX would be the most recent one and would also be produced until further notice. So now to my question: Does anyone here know where to buy a clasp without the blank space between STEEL and INOX that matches the CF specs? Thank you very much in advance!

same happened to me. I saw the photo here with it fixed, but the QC showed the same as yours. I didn't think it was reason enough to reject, and to be honest, with the watch in hand, I'm not sure I would go the trouble of changing the clasp.

 

[blankfe1n]

same happened to me. I saw the photo here with it fixed, but the QC showed the same as yours. I didn't think it was reason enough to reject, and to be honest, with the watch in hand, I'm not sure I would go the trouble of changing the clasp.

Okay, then maybe I'll also wait until it arrives to judge whether I want to swap the clasp or not.

 

[Got20Mate]

Ah man. I wanna pick one of these up and see if it scratches the itch, after having a franken ages ago and selling to fund another. Regretted it really! Such a lovely watch

 

[Genuine]

Okay, then maybe I'll also wait until it arrives to judge whether I want to swap the clasp or not.

That’s really not worth it. You should do some effort to be able to see the space between the words because they’re that small.

 

[Genuine]

Are these ‘steel inox’ 36 or 39mm?

 

[blankfe1n]

Are these ‘steel inox’ 36 or 39mm?

Mine is 36mm

 

[kiasunkiasi]

Are these ‘steel inox’ 36 or 39mm?

my CF 39mm Explorer received last week came with STEEL INOX
doesn't matter for me

 

[korora]

The movement in my CF 124270 stopped in a little under two months of ownership. I overwound it once but have taken care of it otherwise. Debating between whether to service the movement or replace it with a different movement. Can movements of the same size or smaller be used to replace the original?

 

[Nur-Uhr]

The movement in my CF 124270 stopped in a little under two months of ownership. I overwound it once but have taken care of it otherwise. Debating between whether to service the movement or replace it with a different movement. Can movements of the same size or smaller be used to replace the original?

You need at least the same clone movement you have now in the watch.
Otherwise you will have to modify tve dial and hands if you swap to a different movement.

Get the mvt serviced and than you have a very reliable watch for years.

 

[stonednerd]

I can totally empathise. I hope it's a cheap repair, or at least you can easily get a new movement installed (I'm sure the folk here can help you do that yourself). If you'd bought a $500 Seiko, you'd be furious if it was DOA.
It helps to remember that most of that $500 goes on the attention to detail in the construction, that's what you're paying for really because we end users are so fussy! I guess the movement, assembly costs and profits are a relatively small part of that, so your investment is still more or less intact!

Probably every rep I buy, I mentally factor in the cost of a new movement because it could run forever - or be a time bomb. I think the CF Explorer would be worth a quality movement - personally it's a keeper and I'd happily drop $280 on a Selitta or whatever in the future, which I wouldn't say about the BP Explorer with the wrong size lugs and bracelet, although it's still a quality piece...

Thank you for your POV, which is helpful.

I am still waiting to hear back from the watch smith.

The 39mm CF Explorer 1 is on a VR3132 movement. Read somewhere in the forum that the 31xx series are compatible - is my assumption correct? If so, a replacement 3130 movement is ~$100 on aliexpress.

 

[Nur-Uhr]

Thank you for your POV, which is helpful.

I am still waiting to hear back from the watch smith.

The 39mm CF Explorer 1 is on a VR3132 movement. Read somewhere in the forum that the 31xx series are compatible - is my assumption correct? If so, a replacement 3130 movement is ~$100 on aliexpress.

Yes you can swap another Clone 3130 / 3132 in it. But no other like ETA28xx = therefore you have to modify too much as dial, hands...

Best way would be to get the "damaged" movement repaired. Afterwards it is a reliable mvt for longer time.
When you buy another 31xx at Ali or elsewhere, mostly those mvt are also "dirty"... so they can make problems again.

 

[stonednerd]

Yes you can swap another Clone 3130 / 3132 in it. But no other like ETA28xx = therefore you have to modify too much as dial, hands...

Best way would be to get the "damaged" movement repaired. Afterwards it is a reliable mvt for longer time.
When you buy another 31xx at Ali or elsewhere, mostly those mvt are also "dirty"... so they can make problems again.

Thank you for your advice!

 

[Karbon74]

Thank you for your advice!

get it serviced, even if it implies shipping it to one of the watchmakers here

the CF Explorer with its stock movement is just a joy. Don't give up on it.

Worse come to worse, you can resell it (factoring in the defect) It will go if the price is right

 

[thisisallen]

Seeing that a few had commented that their watches were running fast, i present another data point.

Despite looking good on the timegrapher QC pic, my 39mm CF was running minutes fast every day since the day i received it. Just brought it to a local watchsmith, he put it on his timegrapher, and ... no lines could show up. Hopefully, he can figure out what is wrong after opening it up.

The watch took 2 months to reach me and then now this.

did you try demagnetizing the watch? I had a Ginault that started running unusually fast and when I mentioned that then everyone told me to try demagnetizing it. It worked. I bought a demagnatizer at Amazon for about $5, I think

 

[stonednerd]

did you try demagnetizing the watch? I had a Ginault that started running unusually fast and when I mentioned that then everyone told me to try demagnetizing it. It worked. I bought a demagnatizer at Amazon for about $5, I think

Thanks for sharing your experience. I did run it through a demagnetizer before i brought it to my watch smith. Still waiting to hear back from him...

 

[ArnovH]

Is there already an update on the wrong STEEL INOX marking. It seems strange to me that the factory would update from the STEELINOX to the STEEL INOX marking.

 

[kiasunkiasi]

Is there already an update on the wrong STEEL INOX marking. It seems strange to me that the factory would update from the STEELINOX to the STEEL INOX marking.

there are times factories purposely not imitate 100%, apparently there's argument that authorities will crack down faster due to pressure from gen if imitated 100%

 

[fra44]

So the Clean Explorer 36 looks as good as it gets, what I wanted to ask is - is the 39 (214270) just as good? I would prefer going for that one if they're on par quality wise

 

[kiasunkiasi]

So the Clean Explorer 36 looks as good as it gets, what I wanted to ask is - is the 39 (214270) just as good? I would prefer going for that one if they're on par quality wise

the 39mm 214270 is very good to a layman like me...
I prefer the word Explorer is on bottom part of dial (unlike 36mm and 40mm), to me it makes the whole dial more symmetrical

 

[fra44]

the 39mm 214270 is very good to a layman like me...
I prefer the word Explorer is on bottom part of dial (unlike 36mm and 40mm), to me it makes the whole dial more symmetrical

Agree, I prefer the word Explorer at the bottom as well. Also, the 36mm is very small, I don't want my sports watch to be smaller than my more elegant office watch on leather.

One thing I have been trying to understand is how well they replicated the matte dial. I saw they got the crystal on point tho, it is without anti-reflection and looks like gen