GMF Day-Date 40mm Tungsten Heavy Version

[KJ2020]

I think our perception of how much a watch  should weigh factors heavily into our acceptance of it. I weighed a few common watches and the results are below. Your results may vary slightly due to type of bracelet and number of links, etc. but these are good for relative comparison purposes as they are all configured for the same size wrist. The one irregularity is my gen GMT which has a Glidelock clasp that obviously weighs more than a tuna can fliplock.

As far as actual weights go, there are many other reps that come very close to the same weight as a BP/GMF Day-Date. So for me it feels just as substantial as a CF Datejust which is to say I don't find the rep Day-Date to be unnecessarily light. It is a dress watch after all so extra weight in the same size (greater density) is not really any benefit. I don't wear it around people who know gens and would never hand it to anyone.

Just a different perspective on the issue. Here are some sample comparison weights.

 

[992TurboS]

If anyone is consumed by the bezel , just buy a gen one and swap it out. Problem solved.

Will it fit? I just made a thread about it since i Can actually source one for a decent price. It would really lift the watch visually

 

[johnlogan]

Will it fit? I just made a thread about it since i Can actually source one for a decent price. It would really lift the watch visually

GM has a GEN spec bezel assembly on the Datejust. Pretty sure this will fit on the DD. You just need the right tools.

 

[BigJimbo]

Also received mine yesterday. Very impressed. Weight with all links was 166g.

I have th old WG DD from GMF so was able to compare like for like and the new model is such a huge step up.

Can confirm the increased case weight is significant, and the bracelet also has added weight. 2 links of the old bracelet weighs in at 4g and the new weighs in at 5.5g. Feels SO much more solid too

 

[BigJimbo]

 

[Benjijm]

How do you find the gold colour, my rose one looks slightly coppery in some lights and very rose in other lights. Is the yellow gold accurate to gen?

 

[BigJimbo]

How do you find the gold colour, my rose one looks slightly coppery in some lights and very rose in other lights. Is the yellow gold accurate to gen?

Very good colour, I’ve always found the GMF Yellow gold is close to gen and this one’s no exception.

 

[KJ2020]

In case anyone didn't know, there is no A3255. That version is just a 2836 with a fake deco plate. So if the goal is to maximize weight, the better option is to get the 2836 version since it comes with more tungsten.

In these pics you can see the ETA regulating arms under the cheap looking deco "3255" balance bridge. Among other cheap looking decorations.

 

[KJ2020]

Per some previous discussion, this pic shows how viewing angle changes the apparent position of a daywheel. Note how the letters look closer or further away from the window frame depending on the view angle.

Ofc this same phenomenon occurs with a date window and understanding this helps in knowing whether a day or datewheel is aligned or not.

Are my eyes deceiving me?

 

[KJ2020]

To put the new 166g DD weight in perspective, here are two reps of similar weights, a Tudor BB GMT and a Noob Skydweller.

Both these reps are bigger and thicker than a DD and the weight difference is quite noticeable. These new DD models may not be for everyone, haha.

 

[Th4ySoN]

@NewtUK how is the weight distribution? does it feel even on the wrist or is it off like i.e. top to heavy vs. bracelet?

Don’t know yet but people already said in here the bracelet also has more weight to it.

It looks very good, what do you think about the rose gold color in life?

I’ll probably send mine to a proper wrap and gen crystal swap

If anyone is consumed by the bezel , just buy a gen one and swap it out. Problem solved.

Not sure if it would fit mate, big bucks gamble.
Unless it was done previously

 

[McDuck888]

@Siz93 Call me crazy ;-) but I've got a strong feeling that a plated rep datejust 41 bezel also fits on the DayDate 40.

 

[johnlogan]

GEN looks great !

Kettle Club London on Instagram: "Just had the pleasure of being able to source the stunning yellow day date 40 green dial , thank you for the trust and allowing us to be part of the journey 🙏🏻 #SOLD 🤝 📍53 Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 7QN Kettle

Kettle Club London shared a post on Instagram: "Just had the pleasure of being able to source the stunning yellow day date 40 green dial , thank you for the trust and allowing us to be part of the journey 🙏🏻 #SOLD 🤝 📍53 Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 7QN Kettle club watches est 2015 Shop...

www.instagram.com

 

[992TurboS]

@Siz93 Call me crazy ;-) but I've got a strong feeling that a plated rep datejust 41 bezel also fits on the DayDate 40.

Yeah it might But that would just make it lighter in weight. I want the goooooold

 

[McDuck888]

Yeah it might But that would just make it lighter in weight. I want the goooooold

Hahaha, oh gotcha!!! You want a watch straight ballin'!!!

 

[Th4ySoN]

I know it’s possible to use a gen crystal with gen gasket as there’s a silver green dial on Reddit that was sold by someone with the crystal mod done by Nikz19.

But my experience with bezels is that what makes it stay in place it’s microscopic, I had 2 Daytona bezels in my hands and one would fit while the second would be loose spinning free and falling from the watch…
Therefore you buy it, try it, let us (me) know.
And I shall buy one too

 

[lee714]

Per some previous discussion, this pic shows how viewing angle changes the apparent position of a daywheel. Note how the letters look closer or further away from the window frame depending on the view angle.

Ofc this same phenomenon occurs with a date window and understanding this helps in knowing whether a day or datewheel is aligned or not.

Are my eyes deceiving me?

This is sadly only one issue with these day date reps. If not the angle and the alignment of the day. The font and crispiness is also off sometimes. It's an easy tell once you see it. When you look at THURSDAY or FRIDAY on a gen, the font is just so much more cleaner and noticeable. Having a gen and the rep (gmf or bp) side by side, you'll start to see the different in the day font right away. And also the alignment issue (at any angle).

 

[KJ2020]

This is sadly only one issue with these day date reps. If not the angle and the alignment of the day. The font and crispiness is also off sometimes. It's an easy tell once you see it. When you look at THURSDAY or FRIDAY on a gen, the font is just so much more cleaner and noticeable. Having a gen and the rep (gmf or bp) side by side, you'll start to see the different in the day font right away. And also the alignment issue (at any angle).

Agree that these reps still have issues - for years rep DDs haven't gotten near the attention that Subs, GMTs, and Daytonas have. They are still using an A2836 even now. But it's not really fair to expect this rep daywheel to compare favorably to a gen one. A gen datewheel is one of the first things to mod on many Rolex reps so it's a flaw on them all.

There should be no reason why a gen daywheel could not be used as an overlay, even if it had to be cut out some and thinned. You can do that with a datewheel so it would be the same for a daywheel.

Gen or Gen-spec DW as a DWO

But whatever day/date wheels are used, the apparent alignment shift will always be present when the viewing angle changes. That in itself is not a flaw, ofc rep factories are not always careful to ensure a perfect installation.

Day appears right justified, date appears left and top justified on this gen. I'm sure they are not.

One last point about rep DD wheel font alignments - These dials are not fit to the movement, the feet are set into holes in the movement holder. The movement (tab) screws have enlarged head flanges which then anchor the movement to the movement holder (sometimes there are actual tabs). It's a double anchor arrangement unlike in most other reps and gens. TC 2824s are like this.

This means that the movement and its day and date wheels can slip from center and can also be adjusted by manipulating the movement (tab) screws inside the movement holder and rotating the movement slightly while the dial remains stationary. Or the dial can be slightly rotated separately from the movement. This can explain why some rep wheels appear misaligned even when viewed dead center.

It can be aggravating to get all the screws tightened with everything centered (rehaut crown, stem, cyclops too) which easily leads to rep factory shortcomings.

 

[lee714]

Agree that these reps still have issues - for years rep DDs haven't gotten near the attention that Subs, GMTs, and Daytonas have. They are still using an A2836 even now. But it's not really fair to expect this rep daywheel to compare favorably to a gen one. A gen datewheel is one of the first things to mod on many Rolex reps so it's a flaw on them all.

There should be no reason why a gen daywheel could not be used as an overlay, even if it had to be cut out some and thinned. You can do that with a datewheel so it would be the same for a daywheel.

Gen or Gen-spec DW as a DWO

But whatever day/date wheels are used, the apparent alignment shift will always be present when the viewing angle changes. That in itself is not a flaw, ofc rep factories are not always careful to ensure a perfect installation.

Day appears right justified, date appears left and top justified on this gen. I'm sure they are not.

One last point about rep DD wheel font alignments - These dials are not fit to the movement, the feet are set into holes in the movement holder. The movement (tab) screws have enlarged head flanges which then anchor the movement to the movement holder (sometimes there are actual tabs). It's a double anchor arrangement unlike in other reps and gens.

Which means that the movement and its day and date wheels can slip from center and can also be adjusted by manipulating the movement (tab) screws inside the movement holder and rotating the movement slightly while the dial remains stationary. Or the dial can be slightly rotated separately from the movement. This can explain why some rep wheels appear misaligned even when viewed dead center.

It can be aggravating to get all the screws tightened with everything centered (rehaut crown, stem, cyclops too) which easily leads to rep factory shortcomings.

Here's a rep DD40. With also THURSDAY showing in the window. See how the spacing is off to the GEN. Compared to the gen photo you posted and the rep photo, the spacing between R and S looks a bit too much. That could be the angle of the pic too. If you start to look at it for too long you can see it looks like THUR SD AY. Another flaw I just noticed is the A in THURSDAY looks more bolder. Do you see all of this too?

 

[KJ2020]

Here's a rep DD40. With also THURSDAY showing in the window. See how the spacing is off to the GEN. Compared to the gen photo you posted and the rep photo, the spacing between R and S looks a bit too much. That could be the angle of the pic too. If you start to look at it for too long you can see it looks like THUR SD AY. Another flaw I just noticed is the A in THURSDAY looks more bolder. Do you see all of this too?

I definitely see the extra spacing and agree that's unsatisfactory. That's just bad printing which should be a batch issue. If that's a newer rep, it merits us asking to see some more days, especially THURSDAY. GMF had a fiasco a year or so ago where their daywheels were printed backward and "advanced" to yesterday.

I've had 5 or 6 of these BP/GMF DD's and have never seen the issue you pictured above before. It's definitely a dealbreaker for me, though if spending money on gen parts (crystal, bezel, plating, etc.) I would absolutely try to source a gen daywheel (and datewheel) . If these will take a gen dial it stands to reason a gen daywheel will line up even with the rep dial.

A gen dial would need the feet clipped or the underside rims shaved off, then be epoxied onto the movement holder. It's a viable technique that I've used successfully, just 4 small blobs of epoxy at 2 4 8 and 10. Dial dots are not secure enough for this many moving parts plus add unwanted spacing. Epoxy is easily sliced through with a razor if necessary then lightly scraped/sanded away. BSI 30 minute slow cure clear epoxy is an exceptional product.

One good thing is the dial doesn't need to be glued rotationally perfectly since the movement holder allows it to be adjusted separately. Alternately new feet can be epoxied on which would need a shallow detent notched in the holder (like at the stem) to accommodate the feet bases.

If using the newest generation dial with underside rims and no feet, a skilled modder could possibly even notch slots into the movement holder outer perimeter to fit the dial like a date plate does on a gen-spec movement. This might mean repositioning one or more of the holder's tab screw holes but what a pro install this would be as it wouldn't modify the gen dial.

Pic is a DJ41, the DD is similar. 3235 and 3255 are the same base movement.