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IWC Pilot watch 3777-04 - GEN vs V6 vs ZF Comparison

thermalboyz

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29/11/14
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IWC Pilot watch 3777-04 - GEN vs V6 vs ZF Comparison



Following comparison are credited to author from Lingmuwatch . IWC Pilot 3777-04 need no introduction as a popular pilot watch among pilot enthusiast. Also with famous ETA 7750 movement in place is a bonus too if anyone wanted to swap to an ETA.



Lets get start for the comparison between GEN vs V6 vs ZF



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Dimension: 43 mm

Thickness: 15 mm

Bezel: Polished 316L stainless steel

Watchcase: 1:1 Solid 316L stainless steel case with anti-magnetic soft-iron inner case

Dial: Superlumed dial and hands (lumed with genuine Super-LumiNova C1)

Strap: High Quality 316L Stainless Steel bracelet

Crystal: Sapphire Crystal Glass with Double AR Coated (Swiss Standard)

Back Case: Solid Caseback with Detail Engraving

Movement: Swiss ETA 7750 automatic chronograph movement at 28800 vph with working regulator

Function: Hours, Minutes, Sub-Seconds, Day & Date Display

Other Feature: Water Resistance 10ATM (SEE GUIDANCE BELOW)





General Impression



In general, both factories did a great job on this 3777-04 model. It looks very similar in terms of Case, Dial, AR, print, sub-dial etc.



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Dial :



As you can see the blue tint on the crystal is an AR coating which same as GEN. The dial and sub-dial are in black colour.



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Sub-dial :



Concentric circle present on V6 and ZF, the number on sub-dial in GEN looks thinner than the REP. Number and Index printed are quite good in general.



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Hands :



Sec and Min hands on V6 and ZF has bent inwards like the GEN. V6 triangle @ 12 looks stands out more than the GEN. otherwise, both factories did a great job on Hands.



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Date :



From the Font point of view, it's really spot on of the Days and Date. However, in the picture below the Number "1" especially is NOT the same to GEN. Date frame window V6 looks closer to GEN as it has a deeper cut than ZF.



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LOGO/Fonts & Sub-dial :



Sec @ 9 colours is the same but Font on both factories looks a bit bolder than the GEN. In general, the GEN sub-dial print is more fine and details.



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Case :



Case thickness on both V6 and ZF are slightly thicker than the GEN. Brushing on GEN is finer and better looking.



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Crown / Pushers :



Ignore the blue sticker on both REP as they are for protection purposes for scratches and can be taken off. In general, pushers looks very similar to GEN. Crown wise V6 looks closer to GEN but still not as fine as GEN in details. ZF crown looks very poorly engraved as some of the logo/ words not stand out like the GEN.



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Back Case :



GEN engraving on the back case as always very fine and deep. V6 is Deep but not fine enough and ZF is not deep and too fine in fonts (especially spacing between words). Inside of the casing, V6 has 3 screws fixed to the mid-case but ZF only has one, which means V6 is better holding the movement to the case than ZF. Inner case details for the GEN is not available and risky to scratches. Movement pretty much same as both factory uses A7750 and GEN used ETA / VX 7750 so no need to compare.



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Bracelet :



Bracelet brush of both factories are quite nicely made and very similar to GEN. The only tell on the bracelet is the "IWC" on the clasp, GEN is deep and fine and both factories are not to that standard.



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TIPS:



Little tips of how to remove the bracelet.



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TIPs on using 7750.

1) Between 8 pm - 3 am, do not adjust Date and Day.

2) Don't often use the Chrono function (If not an ETA) and use it properly. Start > Stop > Reset.

3) When adjusting Day/ Date or Hour/min, pull crown to the correct position gently.





SUMMARY :



As a summary, I think both factories has its plus and minus. Both factories did a great job on this Pilot Model 3777 and it's a 7750 movement so it is easily replaceable / swap to ETA. Well, swapping still not that simple as need a watch smith to fit the sec hand which is a 0.05mm difference.
 

vicad

Renowned Member
14/6/15
571
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It's an impressive comparison, thank you for sharing it with us ! I'm glad to wear my v6 every day
 

shewie

Renowned Member
27/9/14
513
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London
this date wheel font overall, sunken position in date window, tremendous mistake with "1" disqualify both watches at the very start point.
Nice comparison and contribution thermal, much appreciated.
 

Woody83

Known Member
14/6/16
162
21
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Germany
Is there a possibility to adjust the sunken position on the datewheels? Maybe with a wearing part below the wheels?
Got the ZF-version and the date is indeed a little sunken...
 

higginsd

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31/10/12
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I had an (older) V6F and the date wheel was not sunken. If there is no little gap between the date wheel and the dial the wheel surface would abrade. OK, there shouldn't be a gap noticeable without magnification and from a distance of 1 - 2 m.
 

firetrap

Getting To Know The Place
5/6/16
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Hello guys. Maybe you can help me. I am looking to find a good rep about a 3717 or 3777, but do you know a model with the right date wheel with the good "1"?
 

merowinger

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10/7/13
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Hello guys. Maybe you can help me. I am looking to find a good rep about a 3717 or 3777, but do you know a model with the right date wheel with the good "1"?
Both reps have the datewheel with good "1", as per gen. Like OP said, the picture of the datewheel comparison is flawed, as the gen is not showing the original date wheel. I recommend you the 3777 from ZF....it's a super-rep imo.

Here is the correct gen:
e244ff5ebb22903772679bd8cad85f9d.jpg
 

firetrap

Getting To Know The Place
5/6/16
25
0
1
Both reps have the datewheel with good "1", as per gen. Like OP said, the picture of the datewheel comparison is flawed, as the gen is not showing the original date wheel. I recommend you the 3777 from ZF....it's a super-rep imo.

Here is the correct gen:
e244ff5ebb22903772679bd8cad85f9d.jpg

Thanks for this precision
 

yakon_88

Renowned Member
24/4/14
634
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Guys I know this is a bit of an old thread but I need some advice. I have a 3777 on my wrist and love it. But I would like to swap the bracelet for a kevlar one. How can I take the bracelet off that just seems absolutly impossible. I changed many bracelets but this one is a hard one.
 

pancorjackhammer

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21/12/15
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I would say keep trying - it works the same way.
You can open up the bracelet at the clasp with the spring bar there - when I get frustrated I do that for easy access and it works for me..
By the way - I saw some people have tweezers like sping bar removal tools that press both ends at the same time - I think those would rock.

Guys I know this is a bit of an old thread but I need some advice. I have a 3777 on my wrist and love it. But I would like to swap the bracelet for a kevlar one. How can I take the bracelet off that just seems absolutly impossible. I changed many bracelets but this one is a hard one.
 

yakon_88

Renowned Member
24/4/14
634
7
18
I've given up I wanted to give my bracelet a nice baby oil treatment and all but seems like it will not be for today...