[HONT] Repair of a watch faulty on arrival

[Cprhawkeye94]

I purchased a BPF 39 Explorer 1 from HONT and it arrived into the UK a couple of days ago.

When I unpacked the watch all initially appeared well. I wound the watch fully (Wound 30-40 times) and put it on only to find it losing 3-4 minutes after only 15 mins. I then looked down to find the watch completely stopped. I wound the watch again and it then ran for a short while before stopping again. I repeated this test a couple of times to no change.

I’ve been in touch with HONT and the resolution he has offered to me is to send the watch back to Macau (China) and he will repair the watch free of charge & then send it back. I do not want to send the watch to china but am currently not being given any other option by him.

HONT is currently unwilling to give me any form of refund to go some way to allowing me to repair my watch in the UK.

Any advice is appreciated thanks.

Note: I have purchased 2 watches from HONT before so am a regular customer of his but this is the first time I have ran into any issues with him. I also posted an initial review on Reddit and a lot of posters on there have even questioned whether the model I have received is actually even a BPF factory model and some have stated it is from other factories which is another issue. I have attached images for your information.

 

[Nono92]

It's a pity you can't repair it in the UK...

 

[ward1991]

Shake it, is anything rattling in there, like say a small screw.

This is the "million dollar" wound. Every once in awhile the person in charge of securing movement clamp screws fails and one is floating around underneath the caseback. You manipulate your wrist and the screw falls and lodges in the balance wheel and stops the watch. Then you manipulate your wrist and the screw falls away from balance wheel and movement starts up again.

This is the luckiest version of a DOA rep.

If you hear a light rattle when shaking the watch head, open the caseback with a big ball of inside out duct tape.

These are reps, when you buy one you are biting the bullet. You'll never get gen-like aftercare.

 

[KJ2020]

AFAIK BP or partner GMF have never made a 214270 Explorer with a dial like that one.

JF, ARF, Noob, and some lesser factories like maybe UBF, etc. all have the dial number 3 wrong like yours. The right side outer curves are too accentuated - this has long been the Achilles heel of non BP models and widely discussed.

The gen number 3 has a straighter "backbone" like the BP and is one reason why the BP is a NWBIG. Also the numbers and other hour markers are thicker.

JF models and IIRC early ARFs also had the
E XPLORER text "flaw" that yours has. If you want definite proof, post a movement pic. If it's an SH3132 it's absolutely not a BP.

Here is mine, which I put a gen 2824 in.

 

[Cprhawkeye94]

Shake it, is anything rattling in there, like say a small screw.

This is the "million dollar" wound. Every once in awhile the person in charge of securing movement clamp screws fails and one is floating around underneath the caseback. You manipulate your wrist and the screw falls and lodges in the balance wheel and stops the watch. Then you manipulate your wrist and the screw falls away from balance wheel and movement starts up again.

This is the luckiest version of a DOA rep.

If you hear a light rattle when shaking the watch head, open the caseback with a big ball of inside out duct tape.

These are reps, when you buy one you are biting the bullet. You'll never get gen-like aftercare.

I’ll try and open the case back and have a look. I wound the watch today and sat it directly on its back. So far it’s keeping accurate time leading me to believe that it may be the issue you’ve mentioned above. I’ll try and have a look tomorrow.

 

[Cprhawkeye94]

AFAIK BP or partner GMF have never made a 214270 Explorer with a dial like that one.

JF, ARF, Noob, and some lesser factories like maybe UBF, etc. all have the dial number 3 wrong like yours. The right side outer curves are too accentuated - this has long been the Achilles heel of non BP models and widely discussed.

The gen number 3 has a straighter "backbone" like the BP and is one reason why the BP is a NWBIG. Also the numbers and other hour markers are thicker.

JF models and IIRC early ARFs also had the
E XPLORER text "flaw" that yours has. If you want definite proof, post a movement pic. If it's an SH3132 it's absolutely not a BP.

Here is mine, which I put a gen 2824 in.

Thanks so much for this. I really appreciate it. You are correct, comparing mine to this the number 3 is different as is the printing on the dial. I’ve sent HONT some images and will await his reply.

 

[wisedennis]

Hope it’s a small issue

 

[Cprhawkeye94]

I purchased a BPF 39 Explorer 1 from HONT and it arrived into the UK a couple of days ago.

When I unpacked the watch all initially appeared well. I wound the watch fully (Wound 30-40 times) and put it on only to find it losing 3-4 minutes after only 15 mins. I then looked down to find the watch completely stopped. I wound the watch again and it then ran for a short while before stopping again. I repeated this test a couple of times to no change.

I’ve been in touch with HONT and the resolution he has offered to me is to send the watch back to Macau (China) and he will repair the watch free of charge & then send it back. I do not want to send the watch to china but am currently not being given any other option by him.

HONT is currently unwilling to give me any form of refund to go some way to allowing me to repair my watch in the UK.

Any advice is appreciated thanks.

Note: I have purchased 2 watches from HONT before so am a regular customer of his but this is the first time I have ran into any issues with him. I also posted an initial review on Reddit and a lot of posters on there have even questioned whether the model I have received is actually even a BPF factory model and some have stated it is from other factories which is another issue. I have attached images for your information.

HONT has stated I can ship the watch to his friend in Germany. Once the watch arrives to him he will offer me a refund. Shall I do this? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[KJ2020]

If he says he will do that I think you can trust him to do so. IDK where you are but if shipping to Germany is safe for you it may be the best option. I would order a BP from a different TD if you still want one. It may have been an honest mistake though and it sounds like an acceptable resolution.

 

[Cprhawkeye94]

If he says he will do that I think you can trust him to do so. IDK where you are but if shipping to Germany is safe for you it may be the best option. I would order a BP from a different TD if you still want one. It may have been an honest mistake though and it sounds like an acceptable resolution.

Yeah. I’m in the UK so hopefully it’s not too much of a problem. I’m going to do my research on which TD is best for that model and go from there once my refund it through!

 

[KJ2020]

Yeah. I’m in the UK so hopefully it’s not too much of a problem. I’m going to do my research on which TD is best for that model and go from there once my refund it through!

Try Li at Jtimewatch. Pretty much flawless in all respects. I doubt he lists this model but he can can get anything made. Send him a link to the exact one you want and specify movement, type steel, etc. (even though the link would include that it pays to be clear). Pick a link with the lowest price you can find from a TD, as the practice is to match whatever price you link to if they don't list it.

BTW some TD sites list this model as coming with a 2836 but typically it will have a 2824 if it's an ETA. It's also made with an SA3130 now but I don't recommend that, it's an inferior clone movement. Ask for the 2824 and no need to argue over it if it's a 2836. Either one is easily replaceable with a gen ETA if you want.

 

[EisEiche]

Hont could just send the correct model to you instead of refund?
I ordered the BP with 2824 and 904L a few days ago from him and je confirmed its in stock.

 

[Cprhawkeye94]

Try Li at Jtimewatch. Pretty much flawless in all respects. I doubt he lists this model but he can can get anything made. Send him a link to the exact one you want and specify movement, type steel, etc. (even though the link would include that it pays to be clear). Pick a link with the lowest price you can find from a TD, as the practice is to match whatever price you link to if they don't list it.

BTW some TD sites list this model as coming with a 2836 but typically it will have a 2824 if it's an ETA. It's also made with an SA3130 now but I don't recommend that, it's an inferior clone movement. Ask for the 2824 and no need to argue over it if it's a 2836. Either one is easily replaceable with a gen ETA if you want.

Thanks! I’ll send him a message once it’s all sorted.

 

[Cprhawkeye94]

Hont could just send the correct model to you instead of refund?
I ordered the BP with 2824 and 904L a few days ago from him and je confirmed its in stock.

Probably because he’ll then be out two watches!

 

[EisEiche]

Probably because he’ll then be out two watches!

Well not your fault, I mean it would be more simple than waiting for refund and contacting another TD.

 

[Cprhawkeye94]

Well not your fault, I mean it would be more simple than waiting for refund and contacting another TD.

If only! He was awkward about even giving me a refund to get the watch repaired myself never mind sending me a watch for free.

 

[EisEiche]

I mean after you returned the watch to wherever he told you he should just send the correct one.
Can‘t see why he would refuse to do that since he can keep the money this way.

 

[Cprhawkeye94]

I mean after you returned the watch to wherever he told you he should just send the correct one.
Can‘t see why he would refuse to do that since he can keep the money this way.

To be fair I don’t want any further watches from him & I would rather just go and try another TD.

 

[EisEiche]

I get it, please keep this updated.
Wanted to order more but I‘ll wait and see if I get my BP and you the refund.

 

[Cprhawkeye94]

I get it, please keep this updated.
Wanted to order more but I‘ll wait and see if I get my BP and you the refund.

I will do.