- 12/7/19
- 21
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Thought I'd share my recent purchase from Steve via THEONEWATCHES --- must say I've read a lot of speculation on here in regards to the 3KF 5167 v2 --- Some batches missing the "Swiss Made", poor bracelet, Date font, mismatch lume etc.... Since I have not come across many recent posts about it I thought I'd share & contribute...
My purchase was right before New Years, so I told Steve I need a newer batch with SWISS MADE, and I've also read that newer batches have a bolder font on the Datewheel --- I also checked to make sure the logo was properly centered during the QC Process in which it was, and lastly, all the posts about hands and digits not having the same lume, I received a watch with matching lume.
Upon receiving, the watch was SOLID, great crystal, very vibrant dial in different lighting, brown hues, deep back dial in certain lighting, and very nicely polished numerals. The brushing on the watch was great, mirror finishing on case was great as well. Time has been very consistent, better than some gens I own.
I was pleasantly satisfied with the noise the rotor makes, as I watched some videos I saw online of the 5167 Rotor sound, which is unlike any other watch I've had experience with, refer to this video :
--- the sound of my 3kf was near identical to this.
Take aways from the watch was indeed the strap... To me at least, the clear give away of an aftermarket/replica strap is that missing "ghost" endlink that seems to push through the rubber. The 3KF strap did not appear like that, but the strap was good quality, unfortunately that detail not being there kind of took away from the watch in my opinion. So I combed through eBay and found a Gen C09 Patek Strap, that was cut to the same sizing as the 3kF I just chopped and got it for a little under $400 --- well worth it if the end link OCD bothers you, rubber doesn't seem like much of an upgrade, just a little more "buttery". I did also purchase new push pins that I read would work better with the Gen strap via Amazon, and it did, flushed into the case nicely --- the 3kF push pins produced a tiny gap.
Now, being very happy with the watch, I still thought it could use one more upgrade, which is the Clasp. My stock 3kF clasp did not have a gap, though it seemed to line up a bit crooked, and the emblem on it didn't seem as "rich" as the gens I've seen, there is a foggy, brushed type logo that really pops against the mirror finish on the gen aquanaut --- so I purchased a ZF clasp for around $60usd shipped, I can share the link if anybody needs it.
Final thoughts, the watch is great, stays on my wrist daily, been over a month now and the time has been great, feels solid on the wrist and very comfortable.
My purchase was right before New Years, so I told Steve I need a newer batch with SWISS MADE, and I've also read that newer batches have a bolder font on the Datewheel --- I also checked to make sure the logo was properly centered during the QC Process in which it was, and lastly, all the posts about hands and digits not having the same lume, I received a watch with matching lume.
Upon receiving, the watch was SOLID, great crystal, very vibrant dial in different lighting, brown hues, deep back dial in certain lighting, and very nicely polished numerals. The brushing on the watch was great, mirror finishing on case was great as well. Time has been very consistent, better than some gens I own.
I was pleasantly satisfied with the noise the rotor makes, as I watched some videos I saw online of the 5167 Rotor sound, which is unlike any other watch I've had experience with, refer to this video :
Take aways from the watch was indeed the strap... To me at least, the clear give away of an aftermarket/replica strap is that missing "ghost" endlink that seems to push through the rubber. The 3KF strap did not appear like that, but the strap was good quality, unfortunately that detail not being there kind of took away from the watch in my opinion. So I combed through eBay and found a Gen C09 Patek Strap, that was cut to the same sizing as the 3kF I just chopped and got it for a little under $400 --- well worth it if the end link OCD bothers you, rubber doesn't seem like much of an upgrade, just a little more "buttery". I did also purchase new push pins that I read would work better with the Gen strap via Amazon, and it did, flushed into the case nicely --- the 3kF push pins produced a tiny gap.
Now, being very happy with the watch, I still thought it could use one more upgrade, which is the Clasp. My stock 3kF clasp did not have a gap, though it seemed to line up a bit crooked, and the emblem on it didn't seem as "rich" as the gens I've seen, there is a foggy, brushed type logo that really pops against the mirror finish on the gen aquanaut --- so I purchased a ZF clasp for around $60usd shipped, I can share the link if anybody needs it.
Final thoughts, the watch is great, stays on my wrist daily, been over a month now and the time has been great, feels solid on the wrist and very comfortable.