Hi Folks,
I have been delivered today with the Watchmark version (the 405 USD one). I must confess that this watch is not for me, but for a good friend of mine. But I'll keep it until sunday, so please feel free to ask any question.
I'm starting this thread not to make a review against the gen (experts please chime in if there are obvious points to be mentionned), but to compare what I have come to call the V1 against the V2.
V1 stands for the manufacturer1 version, i.e. the one we have all known.
Although my V1 was a lite version, I consider it as being the same as far as the construction is concerned. The differences between the "V1 lite" and the "V1 plain" version were :
- no AR coating, which was fixed afterwards with a Jakub's Ar coating
- 21,6 kbph movement against 28,8 kbph
- smooth SS PVD coated bezel against knurled ceramic. I have upgraded to a SS PVD coated knurled one thanks to UB7
My V1 is the SS version.
V2 stands for manufacturer2 version. It is commonly admitted that this is a rep of the rep. Due to a price which is higher than the lite version (that BTW seem to have disappeared) but lower, much lower than the "plain version", the big question is : "how does it stand" against the expensive one ?
The V2 is the RG version.
The answer (hopefully) in pictures is about to follow.
For me, the main difference (except of course the movement) comes from the strap, as for the rest, we're only speaking of details.
Why the strap ?
It's actually a much softer rubber, which IMO feels cheaper. It's
fortunately not the extremely cheap rubber we can see on some Omega PO or on the Chopard GTXL. From what I have experienced today, it takes dust inside,
but the outside (maybe thanks to its shape) does not attract dust, at least not much. So most of us will live with this, I'm sure. The most demanding buyers will be able to upgrade to the stiff version for less than 40 USD, as far as I recall Angus prices (who seem to be the only one selling spare parts). Also the V2 version looks absolutely matt, against a satin (almost glossy) finish for the V2.
Honestly I prefer the V1 finish, although noone would really notice the thing if they did not have both ones side by side.
I leave it to you for judging from pics.
Here you can see the dust inside and the softness of the V2.
The embossed markings inside are better on the V1.
A side by side. The second one is something I usually don't do : using the flashlight. But I tought it gives an idea of the AR coating. The V2 has an AR which is hardly noticeable. But it exists : I particularly noticed it when I put water on the dial (to check it's sapphire, and it IS). There, the typical blue hue appeared. I would tend to say it's a single AR coating, but actually am unable to prove that. There you'll also see that the dust does not affect the outside of both straps. That's good to know for those who, like me, hate cheap straps.
Caseback markings look both good. I'm not mentionning the contents, as it seems there are different markings according to the versions.
The V1 has stickers on the rotor, whereas the V2 has real engraving, which feels a bit more like the gen, but before all will avoid dramas with letters falling in the movement.
Deployment clasps are almost identical. The markings on the V2 are bolder, somehow not as well finished than on the V1. But still more than acceptable. I have the feeling that the V2 digs less in the wrist, but that might be an effect of the softer strap.
Sides look absolutely the same to me, except the crown logo which is bolder on the V2. The V2 has no screw-down crown, it is the same standard system as on the V1 : pull-out, push-in :lol: Looks slightly different in the construction.
It has been also said that there's a pattern difference in the V2's dial. It's true. The pattern in the small squares is less marked, but does exist. I must say you can't notice that by naked eyes. (both pictures are from V2)
Last difference which is in favour of the V2 IMO : looks like a tiny detail, but it's an automatic tell for those knowing the 7750 movement. Look at the rotor screw of the V2 : it's smooth, which feels more like the gen.
Conclusion : Those having paid a lot for the "plain" V1 version did not pay for nothing. It's surely the best version around. However, we have an excellent alternative for those willing to pay a more "common" price.
I forgot something : the bezel.
Impossible for me to say if it's PVD coated steel or ceramic. Actually the screws are not the same exactly and I could not use my V1 H tool to detach the bezel. I have unscrewed one screw : looks grey inside, but I'm unable to say if it's the grey of the steel, or the grey of raw drilled ceramic. Also, the screws of V1 simply won't fit in V2. Be carefull if you have to change one (i.e. order from Angus)
Honestly, I don't think it's that important.
An other Version has popped up recently, it's Silix's one. Basically it is the V2 with a different bezel (looks wrong as it's flat). It has the high beat movement. No idea about the quality of the strap. It stands between Watchmark's version and the V1 we know. I tend to believe that it's a special manufacturing or modding done for or by Silix, as I don't think there's a 3rd manufacturer around. Until proven
Hope that was useful.
[Edit] 7th May. Evildee informs us that the rehault is wrong against the gen. It should be gold, whereas here we have a silver one. Although my intention was not to compare to the gen but to the V1, I think that this point is important enough to be mentionned, and not to mislead anyone.
