GMF released a GMT 3186 clone movement

[James2020]

There are a lot of factors that come into play when you start messing with crystal heights, date magnification being one of the most important. Factories tend to try to optimize the appearance for a particular model. So things can get totally unacceptable when reducing the height as much as I did on that GMF. I've also seen more than a few examples of that on the ARF 116710 LN. People installing Prof or gen crystals are ending up with 2.0 mag looking dates. So a 3.0 mag cyclops might be the answer. I don't have experience with doing that but I have had cyclops changes for other reasons and I can tell you that even the pros are not perfect at gluing a new cyclops on. It's pretty tricky business and can end up a little messy especially if AR is involved. I wouldn't do it again unless the crystal came from the factory with the 3.0 mag cyclops installed.

Shucks, I haven’t considered the reduction in cyclops mag... Now I’m thinking twice whether to change the xtal with thinner gasket. Maybe I will take the middle route and change the xtal with original gasket.

i just compared my batgirl against your photo and my xtal looks lower. Maybe it’s psychological (to tell myself not to touch the xtal...LOL ) or maybe the recent batches have a thinner gasket...

 

[James2020]

 

[shel504]

James, that the same watch? the crystal in the bottom pic looks higher.

 

[KJ2020]

Shucks, I haven’t considered the reduction in cyclops mag... Now I’m thinking twice whether to change the xtal with thinner gasket. Maybe I will take the middle route and change the xtal with original gasket.

i just compared my batgirl against your photo and my xtal looks lower. Maybe it’s psychological (to tell myself not to touch the xtal...LOL ) or maybe the recent batches have a thinner gasket...

You can always shave a gasket down to whatever height you want. It's really easy to do. Put the gasket on a scrap crystal if you have one, if not you can use the stock one. Lay a piece of 320 grit flat on a bench and start eating away the bottom. Rotate frequently and grip in ever-changing spots to avoid uneven spots. Finish with 400 grit, touch up shards with a razor if needed. Don't use black sandpaper as it can discolor the gasket. Clean in an ultrasonic tank or under warm water with soap.

 

[James2020]

James, that the same watch? the crystal in the bottom pic looks higher.

Yes, it’s the same watch. Now that you mentioned, the xtal in the lower photo does look higher...

 

[James2020]

You can always shave a gasket down to whatever height you want. It's really easy to do. Put the gasket on a scrap crystal if you have one, if not you can use the stock one. Lay a piece of 320 grit flat on a bench and start eating away the bottom. Rotate frequently and grip in ever-changing spots to avoid uneven spots. Finish with 400 grit, touch up shards with a razor if needed. Don't use black sandpaper as it can discolor the gasket. Clean in an ultrasonic tank or under warm water with soap.

Cool, that’s useful info! I shall take the easy route and try the 3mm gasket which I also got from Clark. If the cyclops mag is really too low, will use back the stock one which I recall you mentioned before is 3.3mm

 

[KJ2020]

Cool, that’s useful info! I shall take the easy route and try the 3mm gasket which I also got from Clark. If the cyclops mag is really too low, will use back the stock one which I recall you mentioned before is 3.3mm

Correct. 1.8 glass and 3 0mm gasket might just give you a good result.

 

[shel504]

Cool, that’s useful info! I shall take the easy route and try the 3mm gasket which I also got from Clark. If the cyclops mag is really too low, will use back the stock one which I recall you mentioned before is 3.3mm

Would love to see how it turns out. Good luck!

 

[Hazing]

I explicitly ordered a VR3185 in a GMF v3 - as they are recently shipped out by the factories.

Li did offer me cancellation or change to another watch... but I just GL‘d the first watch Lana showed me (with the old SA3186 movement).

Now waiting for the Pepsi to arrive.

Does anyone know which TD is selling the GMF v3 with the VR3185. I‘m still looking for a BLNR bat girl.

The thing is TDs call what we know as the sa3186 - they call it a VR3186 so if you ask for the VR, he will go out and get it. You and him may just be calling it different things.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[shel504]

The thing is TDs call what we know as the sa3186 - they call it a VR3186 so if you ask for the VR, he will go out and get it. You and him may just be calling it different things.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Sounds like the GMF GMT isn't offered with the VR movement any longer. That was a temporary thing. Here's my email exchange with Li;

Me: " there's mention on RWI that GMF has gone back to using the older movements in the V3, with out the blue hairspring or gold shock absorber on the balance. Do you know anything about this?"
Li: " What you have heard is correct about the GMF V3."

 

[kennygconspiracy]

I've exchanged a couple messages with prof regarding the crystal height. He indicated that he has some crystals with increased magnification. Maybe that could counter the lower crystal height. Do you have any experience with cyclops that vary this way? I'm wondering if it'll result in weird distortion when looking at it on an angle.

Hey mate keep me posted on the potential 3x magnification crystals. I'd buy one from the prof.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

 

[shel504]

Hey mate keep me posted on the potential 3x magnification crystals. I'd buy one from the prof.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

Will do, I'm pretty inexperienced with this, so I'll be asking him for his best recommendation on how to handle it. May be unrealistic, but if I can get the crystal down to the appropriate height without having to mess with the DW, I'll be a happy man. I think it was KJ who'd posted a mod he'd worked on (I'm actually looking for the original post now), where he dropped the crystal down but then changed the DW to offset the change in mag.

 

[Azur2401]

which blnr is recommended at the moment with vr movement, vrf and v9f ?

 

[timavo]

The thing is TDs call what we know as the sa3186 - they call it a VR3186 so if you ask for the VR, he will go out and get it. You and him may just be calling it different things.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Yes, I know. That's why I explained in detail what movement I was looking for (with pics and description). Just doesn't seem possible at the moment. So I'll buy a VR3185 myself and let it be installed by a watchsmith.

 

[bertieng]

So I'll buy a VR3185 myself and let it be installed by a watchsmith.

Be careful. If it is housed with the ETA, it won't fit the VR movement though.

 

[timavo]

bertieng So this won't fit a VR3185?

 

[timavo]

Does anyone know if a GMF v3 can take a gen bezel?

 

[bertieng]

"So this won't fit a VR3185?"

This can and will take the VR

 

[sickopsycho]

Great seller - verify exact specs ahead of time

https://m.pt.aliexpress.com/storesea...toreId=5189030

Nice tip! This movement regularly sells for over a third more on other market places. Thanks!

 

[timavo]

Someone in some thread posted a table comparing the different factories along different criteria. I've been searching for 1.5 hours now and couldn't find it.... Does anybody remember this table and can post a link to the posting?