• Tired of adverts on RWI? - Subscribe by clicking HERE and PMing Trailboss for instructions and they will magically go away!

First Impressions: ARF V3 Sea-Dweller 43.

OldNavitimer

I'm Pretty Popular
Patron
Certified
22/1/19
1,332
1,693
113
Its really weird how they cant make Sub the same...
Anyways, just watched the video on Trusty and hands lume is much weaker than markers. Do you have a lume shot? Thanks

N5Xbb.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cadows

macarone

Put Some Respect On My Name
Patron
Certified
7/3/17
5,101
2,985
113
CONUS USA
V3 is for sure a keeper! Congrats on your beauty! Go for an eta upgrade ????.
23b694ba08b0a92b17fe3cfe478e61c2.jpg

94ce6800f7410003eac0c97e15d2c81d.jpg

Mine says hello!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: mclarendude

OldNavitimer

I'm Pretty Popular
Patron
Certified
22/1/19
1,332
1,693
113
Can you swim with it?

Yes. Like just about every other premium Rolex and Omega diver made in the past couple years, its quite water-resistant. I regulate the movement and silicone the seals when I first get them, and they hold up very well. I live on the water, do a lot of boating, and wear my watches in the pool and in the jacuzzi often. I don't go beyond 10ft in depth, but this case and seals should hold up well.
 

Cadows

I'm Pretty Popular
29/3/18
2,051
753
113
Europe
Yes. Like just about every other premium Rolex and Omega diver made in the past couple years, its quite water-resistant. I regulate the movement and silicone the seals when I first get them, and they hold up very well. I live on the water, do a lot of boating, and wear my watches in the pool and in the jacuzzi often. I don't go beyond 10ft in depth, but this case and seals should hold up well.

Just a link to a silicone that your using and im out of questions I swear ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: OldNavitimer

Carbon Summit

Renowned Member
10/12/19
699
187
43
United States
Nope. Bone stock ARF v3. Just got lucky on my 4th copy.

I finally found one CONUS and hope to be receiving it next week I'm excited to get it, but this comment worries me.

Are you saying that you've had a total of 4 ARF V3's, and the first three were not up to par?
 
Last edited:

OldNavitimer

I'm Pretty Popular
Patron
Certified
22/1/19
1,332
1,693
113
Are you saying that you've had a total of 4 ARF V3's, and the first three were not up to par?

No, not at all what I was saying. I've had several ARF SD43s...I keep buying them and then selling them as other watches get more wear in the ridiculous rotation of mine. Then I miss it and I buy another one. Then the new ZZF v2 Sub comes out and I think I like that better, so I sell the next ARF SD43 V2 I had....because its silly to have more than one black Rolex diver.... ;-)
Then the RubberB strap comes out with the black/red version and I get the hots for a SD43 again, this time a v3. That one had the too-thick date font, which was more apparent when I upgraded it with a Prof Xtal. So I changed my mind again and sold that one. And I got the itch again..... see a pattern here?

All four have been excellent watches. One had some paint flake off from the numbers in the insert, and all others were fine. One had too thick a date font, but the others were fine. One had a rocking bezel, but the others were fine. One had a slightly hazy cyclops, but the others were fine. My current version has everything good except a rocking bezel. I'll get around to fixing that soon enough.

No watch is perfect. But they were all up to par or I wouldn't have bought them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mclarendude

Carbon Summit

Renowned Member
10/12/19
699
187
43
United States
No, not at all what I was saying. I've had several ARF SD43s...I keep buying them and then selling them as other watches get more wear in the ridiculous rotation of mine. Then I miss it and I buy another one. Then the new ZZF v2 Sub comes out and I think I like that better, so I sell the next ARF SD43 V2 I had....because its silly to have more than one black Rolex diver.... ;-)
Then the RubberB strap comes out with the black/red version and I get the hots for a SD43 again, this time a v3. That one had the too-thick date font, which was more apparent when I upgraded it with a Prof Xtal. So I changed my mind again and sold that one. And I got the itch again..... see a pattern here?

All four have been excellent watches. One had some paint flake off from the numbers in the insert, and all others were fine. One had too thick a date font, but the others were fine. One had a rocking bezel, but the others were fine. One had a slightly hazy cyclops, but the others were fine. My current version has everything good except a rocking bezel. I'll get around to fixing that soon enough.

No watch is perfect. But they were all up to par or I wouldn't have bought them.

I understand your logic more than you know. lol!
 

muiramas

Erect Aristocrat
18/1/17
5,731
7,107
113
Its really weird how they cant make Sub the same...

All reps are inconsistent. Sometimes they are great, and then something goes wrong - bad lume, bad cyclops, bad something esle...

For a few brief moments, ARF have knocked this one out of the park - you can get one with no 3.5x cyclops, no comedy date font.

I got mine just before they fixed the sharp bezel - the end of March 2018. I fixed it with the simple folks mod...

Apart from the insert, which is engraved a little deep, reps done get any better than this.


IMG-3419.jpg

​​​​​​​
 

Cadows

I'm Pretty Popular
29/3/18
2,051
753
113
Europe
All reps are inconsistent. Sometimes they are great, and then something goes wrong - bad lume, bad cyclops, bad something esle...

For a few brief moments, ARF have knocked this one out of the park - you can get one with no 3.5x cyclops, no comedy date font.

I got mine just before they fixed the sharp bezel - the end of March 2018. I fixed it with the simple folks mod...

Apart from the insert, which is engraved a little deep, reps done get any better than this.


IMG-3419.jpg

Just WOW
 

2470f2.8ii

I'm Pretty Popular
16/12/16
1,291
255
83
man i've had 3 dssds now. they're always just a bit too top heavy but i love the watch design
i was looking to get a sd4k but the lack of 904L is a turn off.

can anyone tell me if any dssd clasps will fit on this sd43? preferably the 116660. id like to have the sd43 with a dssd clasp :)
 

Naths63

I'm Pretty Popular
Supporter
Certified
7/5/20
1,033
311
83
This my 2nd SD43, had a ARF V2 before, but this one seems a bit more mmm!!...if you get what I mean...it’s off for a service and waterproofing next week and might consider a bezel insert upgrade...is it spongebob who does these and is he still doing them?
64c6de0fd32467f5da9b912207d4422d.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Naths63

I'm Pretty Popular
Supporter
Certified
7/5/20
1,033
311
83
V3 this one


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

SS72

I'm Pretty Popular
Supporter
Certified
27/9/12
2,223
6,429
113
Australia
mclarendude Nice choice. Mine says Gday! It's my daily beater since I got it in May. The SD4K and SubC are too small on my wrist for my liking now. Wear yours in great health.
4d63c.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: mclarendude