New Release: BBR Perpetual Calendar

[VintageCollector12]

Interesting to see how this, unfolds about whether the black BBR Perpetual Calendar is ceramic or PVD. For what it's worth, I lean toward PVD based on the photos and comments about the finish, ceramic usually has a distinct shine that’s hard to replicate.

That said, I totally understand the disappointment for those hoping for true ceramic. Even if it’s not, this release is still a solid offering for anyone looking to add a complex AP replica to their collection. Let’s keep those updates coming, especially once QC pics roll in and excited to see how this one holds up in hand.

 

[giezzo]

Just so I’m clear: APSF in real black ceramic is currently available to order?

 

[JayBee0815]

Just so I’m clear: APSF in real black ceramic is currently available to order?

There are two versions. The "bad" ICHS-Version, which is afaik always available, and the "good" CHS-Version, which is very hard to get.

 

[fletch512]

I would pick APS just for the pizza present on BBR

I have the BBR green dial, and comparing it to gen pics online, I honestly don't see a pronounced pizza hand stack effect. Yes, the week hand base is a bit wider than the hour/minute, but the same is true for the gen.

That being said, the current offerings I've seen for APSF have an incorrect hand stack (the week hand is on top of the hour/minute hand rather than beneath them). I know there was a release where the week hand was changed to a GMT function rather than a seconds sweep function on the APSF release to more resemble a weekly counter, but I don't know which APSF movement is currently available.

So, some things to consider for those that are looking at the APSF perpetual calendar but may be unfamiliar with the differences in movement between BBR and APSF.

 

[JayBee0815]

I have the BBR green dial, and comparing it to gen pics online, I honestly don't see a pronounced pizza hand stack effect. Yes, the week hand base is a bit wider than the hour/minute, but the same is true for the gen.

We had this "pizza-nonsense" already earlier in the thread. Maybe this is a running gag ;-)

 

[Virpag]

Attached are my QC since receiving I have decided to abandon the purchase and get the Code
The watch is PVD and as you can see the shade of blue is definitely off from the gen and missing markings etc
It’s a fun watch but when you decide to sell it’s a pain (I have a YG up now with no interest)

 

[Dr Fun Socks]

Attached are my QC since receiving I have decided to abandon the purchase and get the Code
The watch is PVD and as you can see the shade of blue is definitely off from the gen and missing markings etc
It’s a fun watch but when you decide to sell it’s a pain (I have a YG up now with no interest)

Man that blue is way off…. Cant imagine these will sell well. Shame they went to all the effort of making what seems to be a decent movement but cheaped out on ceramic. Even if it cost more id bet the vast majority of people here would pay it.

 

[Jojhafu]

Hey there everyone, I have just received QC from my non TD of the black "ceramic" pvd perpetual calendar, it looks better than the blue one for sure but not as nice as the real ceramic one but it'll do. I'm actually pretty happy on how it looks, granted it beautiful even though it isn't perfect.

 

[Horace_Derwent]

There are two versions. The "bad" ICHS-Version, which is afaik always available, and the "good" CHS-Version, which is very hard to get.

Intime (but of course also other TDs) have V3 and V4 APSF listed.

Considering that APSF and these BBR has the same price, for me it is a no brainer.

As for hand stack, I would prefer Real Ceramic case... I mean, for me APSF ICHS > BBR PVD.

 

[Jojhafu]

Hello everyone, I have to report that the bbr black ceranic is half ceramic half pvd coated, the main watch itself isn't ceramic but the band are, a person told me to use a magnet to see if it's pvd coated or not and it didn't stick, also I compared it to my other bbr steel band and this one feels very light so I'm guessing they just used a ceramic band but not for the main watch itself.

Very important tip, please be careful with the pushers lol, when I was setting up the watch, I noticed the watch moonphase pusher seems stiff as hell, I don't know why so I try to push it harder and it seems to not move, felt like something broke which gave me a heart attack, but I decided to forward the time to see if the moonphase did work and it did and for some reason the moonphase pusher worked and I was able to advance it.

 

[Horace_Derwent]

@Jojhafu : thank you for the insight, i was convinced it was 100 % PVD SS; glad to see there is also Ceramic involved !

 

[Jojhafu]

@Jojhafu : thank you for the insight, i was convinced it was 100 % PVD SS; glad to see there is also Ceramic involved !

Yeah man I was pretty happy it has some ceramic parts to it, though I was also having a literal heart attack that one of the pushers broke lol

 

[Dr Fun Socks]

@Jojhafu any chance of a picture of the side of the bracelet? Does it have visible pins like the gen or is the rep actually better in that regard that they have managed to hide them?

 

[Jojhafu]

@Jojhafu any chance of a picture of the side of the bracelet? Does it have visible pins like the gen or is the rep actually better in that regard that they have managed to hide them?

Yep I'll send soon, a bit busy right now

 

[Jojhafu]

Here's the best photo I can send lol, hope that helps

 

[Dr Fun Socks]

if it is all actually ceramic they have very much made life harder for themselves by not making it the same way as the gen! Gen just has metal pins pushed through the holes with no covers

 

[Horace_Derwent]

if it is all actually ceramic they have very much made life harder for themselves by not making it the same way as the gen! Gen just has metal pins pushed through the holes with no covers

As far as i understand , all Ceramic is only the APSF one.

The BBR seems to be half SS and half Ceramic .

 

[Dr Fun Socks]

As far as i understand , all Ceramic is only the APSF one.

The BBR seems to be half SS and half Ceramic .

Yeah but hes saying its the bracelet that is ceramic? Just saying its incredibly hard to get a friction fit on the little bits of ceramic that would need to be pressed into the holes on the side of the bracelet, probably why ap decided to leave the holes open and show the pins on the gen.

 

[RollyAP]

Yeah but hes saying its the bracelet that is ceramic? Just saying its incredibly hard to get a friction fit on the little bits of ceramic that would need to be pressed into the holes on the side of the bracelet, probably why ap decided to leave the holes open and show the pins on the gen.

So what you're saying is.....we need to wait for a V2?!

 

[fletch512]

I have my doubts that the bracelet is ceramic, as well. Setting aside the odd decision of making a watch that has a steel case and ceramic bracelet, I notice that the BBR has screws. The gen has pins. I don’t know shit about manufacturing ceramic, but I believe it would be pretty hard to thread ceramic to accept screws, which is why gen AP watches have steel holding the ceramic bracelet together.

So either this bracelet is steel, or some Chinese rep maker found a better way to manufacture ceramic bracelets than AP.