New GMT Master II BP factory

[JordanEleven]

Hi everyone, trusty has put these GMTs with SH3285 on sale, can they be a valid alternative economic solution? They don't look bad in my humble opinion.

ROLGMT0302D - GMT II 126710 Jub SS/SS Blk BPF SH3285 CHS [ROLGMT0302D] - $418.00 : Trusty Time Watch, Your Trusty Watch Shop

Trusty Time Watch ROLGMT0302D - GMT II 126710 Jub SS/SS Blk BPF SH3285 CHS [ROLGMT0302D] - BPF Factory with SH3285 Hour Hand Adjustable Correct Hand Stack Movement MOVEMENT: SH3285 Automatic GMT movement with decorated bridges & rotor with correct hand stack (Hour Hand Adjustable) - Functions...

trustytime888.io

ROLGMT0302C - GMT II 126710 Jub SS/SS BPF SH3285 CHS [ROLGMT0302C] - $368.00 : Trusty Time Watch, Your Trusty Watch Shop

Trusty Time Watch ROLGMT0302C - GMT II 126710 Jub SS/SS BPF SH3285 CHS [ROLGMT0302C] - BPF Factory Asia 3285 Hour Hand Adjustable Correct Hand Stack Movement MOVEMENT: SH3285 Automatic GMT movement with decorated bridges & rotor with correct hand stack (Hour Hand Adjustable) - Functions 1:1 like...

trustytime888.io

 

[Reaps]

At $418 just splurge the extra $150 on a Clean DD3285 instead of this.

 

[Feefo]

First things first, I have no experience about GMTs. But I have experience with BP. Their dials are really good, and for the simpler watches (explorer 1, OPs) they do a pretty decent job, better if equipped with an eta clone movement.
But I have a cookie monster from BP and, boy, it doesn't do it. The bezel is crap, the bezel action is even worse, I'll get rid of it. I'm with @Reaps , for some kind of watches it doesn't pay off to go cheap.

 

[KJ2020]

I have maybe 8 - 10 BP GMTs between 5 and 6 digit models. One way they keep prices down is by openly stating the use of 316F steel which other factories use and and claim it's 904L.

Today we tested all the popular SUBs for 904L steel

Only 2 of them turn out to be using 904L entirely and one of them is using 316L but advertised as 904L and the rest are 316/904 hybrids Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

forum.replica-watch.info

On all the 6 digit BP GMTs I have, the quality has been acceptable to me. The bezel action in particular has been excellent. Firm distinct movement with minimal back play and no grease. I would take it any day over the CLEAN bezel disaster, though I don't have the newest CLEAN.

Here is a CLEAN retaining ring sitting on top of a BP. Not hard to see which factory took the cheaper route.

BP dials and hands are typically quite good and their cases and bracelets are fine.

Day lume appearance is good, night lume is a weak point, nearly always grainy and weak (short duration).

Inserts are generally acceptable, ofc nothing can touch a CLEAN but these days most factories seen to be sourcing the CLEAN inserts.

Crystals are standard cheap rep fare, I've changed a few to Clark's for ~$35.

With the SH3285 movement and what looks like a decent insert, personally I wouldn't mind checking one of these out at $190 less than a CLEAN.

Prices have really gotten ridiculous, I paid like $278 for these BPs. Still some of my fav's, completely stock and running well for 3+ years.

 

[Feefo]

I have maybe 8 - 10 BP GMTs between 5 and 6 digit models. One way they keep prices down is by openly stating the use of 316F steel which other factories use and and claim it's 904L.

Today we tested all the popular SUBs for 904L steel

Only 2 of them turn out to be using 904L entirely and one of them is using 316L but advertised as 904L and the rest are 316/904 hybrids Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

forum.replica-watch.info

On all the 6 digit BP GMTs I have, the quality has been acceptable to me. The bezel action in particular has been excellent. Firm distinct movement with minimal back play and no grease. I would take it any day over the CLEAN bezel disaster, though I don't have the newest CLEAN.

Here is a CLEAN retaining ring sitting on top of a BP. Not hard to see which factory took the cheaper route.

BP dials and hands are typically quite good and their cases and bracelets are fine.

Day lume appearance is good, night lume is a weak point, nearly always grainy and weak (short duration).

Inserts are generally acceptable, ofc nothing can touch a CLEAN but these days most factories seen to be sourcing the CLEAN inserts.

Crystals are standard cheap rep fare, I've changed a few to Clark's for ~$35.

With the SH3285 movement and what looks like a decent insert, personally I wouldn't mind checking one of these out at $190 less than a CLEAN.

Prices have really gotten ridiculous, I paid like $278 for these BPs. Still some of my fav's, completely stock and running well for 3+ years.

Firsthand experience goes a long way. I've been unlucky then with my cookie monster bezel, though it's a different construction

 

[WatchSmith.US]

I’m seeing more and more watchmakers who refuse to service SH movements so it’s something you might want to consider when purchasing.

 

[KJ2020]

I’m seeing more and more watchmakers who refuse to service SH movements so it’s something you might want to consider when purchasing.

Really, is it the new SH3285 or the bad SH3135 / SH3186s ?

You can easily see the lower quality SH3285 parts compared to the DD3285 in @CTime's comparison pics but I haven't seen any posts detailing problems with the SH3285 movement.

New Released Clean 3285 Movement(from Dandong) Compared With GEN and Shanghai 3285 Movement

Hello everybody I’m back with the fresh new released Clean 3285 movement(from Dandong) compared with GEN and Shanghai 3285 movement. This timhe power reserve of Shanghai movement is 40 hours. However, we couldn’t know the exact duration of Shanghai movement due to our hasty time . I hope it...

forum.replica-watch.info

 

[Cziggy]

For the price difference, go with the Clean version with the DD3285

 

[WatchSmith.US]

Really, is it the new SH3285 or the bad SH3135 / SH3186s ?

You can easily see the lower quality SH3285 parts compared to the DD3285 in @CTime's comparison pics but I haven't seen any posts detailing problems with the SH3285 movement.

New Released Clean 3285 Movement(from Dandong) Compared With GEN and Shanghai 3285 Movement

Hello everybody I’m back with the fresh new released Clean 3285 movement(from Dandong) compared with GEN and Shanghai 3285 movement. This timhe power reserve of Shanghai movement is 40 hours. However, we couldn’t know the exact duration of Shanghai movement due to our hasty time . I hope it...

forum.replica-watch.info

The ones I spoke to are pretty much ruling out servicing any SH because of how troublesome and time consuming they can be. I can't speak for every watchmaker but the majority or nearly all in the group I'm associated with have about ruled them out. Hopefully people are getting reliable performance from them and not needing service because it's looking like it's going to be difficult to find.

 

[KJ2020]

The ones I spoke to are pretty much ruling out servicing any SH because of how troublesome and time consuming they can be. I can't speak for every watchmaker but the majority or nearly all in the group I'm associated with have about ruled them out. Hopefully people are getting reliable performance from them and not needing service because it's looking like it's going to be difficult to find.

Apparently VRs have really been SHs all along. Someone should really give the SH3285 a teardown and see if there any significant issues. I would if I had one. I guess getting parts might be a problem until spares can be built up.

 

[WatchSmith.US]

Apparently VRs have really been SHs all along. Someone should really give the SH3285 a teardown and see if there any significant issues. I would if I had one. I guess getting parts might be a problem until spares can be built up.

Here's a teardown before I salvage the kiff springs and trash the rest. It's a real dog, and I assume it's SA or SH. I'm not certain about the name, and I'm not sure what factory the watch (BLNR) is from. Customer didn't know.

 

[KJ2020]

Here's a teardown before I salvage the kiff springs and trash the rest. It's a real dog, and I assume it's SA or SH. I'm not certain about the name, and I'm not sure what factory the watch (BLNR) is from. Customer didn't know.

Oh yeah, that's a GMF SA3285 - total POS. The 7 hole rotor axle is unique to the GMF SA movements.

I don't believe this is related in any way to the SH3285 which should be considerably better, though obviously not on par with the DD3285. But I haven't read a single complaint about the SH3285 either, which like the SH3135 V2s in the new ARF 16610s, looks more like a VR than the SHs of old.

 

[WatchSmith.US]

Oh yeah, that's a GMF SA3285 - total POS. The 7 hole rotor axle is unique to the GMF SA movements.

I don't believe this is related in any way to the SH3285 which should be considerably better, though obviously not on par with the DD3285. But I haven't read a single complaint about the SH3285 either, which like the SH3135 V2s in the new ARF 16610s, looks more like a VR than the SHs of old.

Thanks for your clarification, KJ.
Total POS is putting it mildly!