New RM61-01 with super clone movement

[MasterWatch]

Case still looks wrong, I have no idea why they don't hit the asymmetric thickness

Looks like the case does have asymmetrical thickness.

Source:【鉴赏RM061白跑道对比ZF优缺点是什么？-哔哩哔哩】 https://b23.tv/R05kWeJ

 

[BIONONE]

No excuse for ZF to get the ribs wrong in the next version on the RM055

It‘s easier to blacken the brushed brass or better say pvd-coat it together with the other bits than to silver plate just a small portion of it which would in turn might affect the already blackened parts.

You‘d have to electrically isolate the parts that shouldn’t be silver plated.

Not to speak of the specific warm hue the exposed brushed and slightly oxidized titanium parts come with. I‘m not sure if you can titanium plate something…

If they‘d use a different base metal it would be much easier to just döc/pvd coat the entire structure and then brush the extruded faces to expose the metal underneath.

 

[GiantSquid]

Looks like the case does have asymmetrical thickness.

Source:【鉴赏RM061白跑道对比ZF优缺点是什么？-哔哩哔哩】 https://b23.tv/R05kWeJ

Oh nice, good looking out!

 

[atom]

It‘s easier to blacken the brushed brass or better say pvd-coat it together with the other bits than to silver plate just a small portion of it which would in turn might affect the already blackened parts.

You‘d have to electrically isolate the parts that shouldn’t be silver plated.

Not to speak of the specific warm hue the exposed brushed and slightly oxidized titanium parts come with. I‘m not sure if you can titanium plate something…

If they‘d use a different base metal it would be much easier to just döc/pvd coat the entire structure and then brush the extruded faces to expose the metal underneath.

Interesting. So are you suggesting it was coated black, then the ribs brushed (revealing brass), then the entire part coated a second time. So it made the movement "more black" and the ribs grey? Would explain why the silver ribs on the back are still like frosting. Though I think (even if "inaccurate") it would have looked nicer with these nicer black ribs on the back.

Why don't they just use aluminum or something?

 

[j21]

All this hard work and amazing release, it's a pitty to have wrong this details
Next to the hands, that part of the ribs is absent
And they need to add this cap silver rings

I will leave the missing extension at the back down right side of the ribs as secondary

Balance is ok, I don't expect from a stock one to have free sprung

 

[atom]

All this hard work and amazing release, it's a pitty to have wrong this details
Next to the hands, that part of the ribs is absent
And they need to add this cap silver rings

I will leave the missing extension at the back down right side of the ribs as secondary

Balance is ok, I don't expect from a stock one to have free sprung

It's funny, you don't often see the clone version have more skeletonization than the gen, ha. Also odd is the previous version of ZF on the 55 doesn't seem to have that fault.

I definitely agree on the silver rings (I'm assuming they are threaded inserts for the screws on the other side). So many cheaper versions of this movement have that, but this and the APSF versions keep forgetting those and it's a huge tell. It just looks like stuff is missing, they have a bunch of empty holes.

Luxury watches have considered details and nicely finished parts. For me, if something is inaccurate, I at least want it to look considered. So the rib not being there? Eh, fine. But the holes instead of inserts is just weird, and the caked on paint on the back side of the ribs looks cheap.

But wow, they really nailed the front side ribs on this version. Looks as good as the 15k versions people have been getting, in that regard at least.

 

[Dollar_short]

i am glad i am not looking to buy one of these. if i was i would be pulling my hair out, all one of it.

 

[Stuvetjee]

All this hard work and amazing release, it's a pitty to have wrong this details
Next to the hands, that part of the ribs is absent
And they need to add this cap silver rings

I will leave the missing extension at the back down right side of the ribs as secondary

Balance is ok, I don't expect from a stock one to have free sprung

I have seen versions with black rings too. Depends on the exact model/year/version.

If we are nitpicking that much over a absent little bridge part beneath the hands on a $800+... damn...

 

[j21]

I have seen versions with black rings too. Depends on the exact model/year/version.

If we are nitpicking that much over a absent little bridge part beneath the hands on a $800+... damn...

 

[BIONONE]

Interesting. So are you suggesting it was coated black, then the ribs brushed (revealing brass), then the entire part coated a second time. So it made the movement "more black" and the ribs grey? Would explain why the silver ribs on the back are still like frosting. Though I think (even if "inaccurate") it would have looked nicer with these nicer black ribs on the back.

Why don't they just use aluminum or something?

Because aluminium is too soft and not nice to machine especially when it come to precision parts like these.

The other part you wrote is right. But i dont think it is blackened - sanded - blackened another time.

I think the whole movement is micro-sandblasted, extrusions straight brushed and then PVD coated - the reflection of the brushed parts will make them shimmer differently from the rougher sand blasted parts that absorb more light because of more surface area - come across as darker.

APSF tried to cover the extruded parts with some sort of brushed sheet metal/almost foil like decals that happen to have rounded edges from the stamping which is not so pleasing in comparison.

I think this ZF release tells us that they‘re fully aware of the potential to optimize this very complex release. 10 years ago i would have laughed into your face if you were to tell me a small silver washer or threaded insert would be considered a huge tell lol

 

[atom]

Because aluminium is too soft and not nice to machine especially when it come to precision parts like these.

The other part you wrote is right. But i dont think it is blackened - sanded - blackened another time.

I think the whole movement is micro-sandblasted, extrusions straight brushed and then PVD coated - the reflection of the brushed parts will make them shimmer differently from the rougher sand blasted parts that absorb more light because of more surface area - come across as darker.

APSF tried to cover the extruded parts with some sort of brushed sheet metal/almost foil like decals that happen to have rounded edges from the stamping which is not so pleasing in comparison.

I think this ZF release tells us that they‘re fully aware of the potential to optimize this very complex release. 10 years ago i would have laughed into your face if you were to tell me a small silver washer or threaded insert would be considered a huge tell lol

Aluminum is not much more difficult to machine than brass and something like a 6061-t6, or even a 7 series, which are super common, should be fine for these. Maybe they tried and it didn't work, not sure, but there must be some white metal they could use to achieve it and save all this finishing work.

To me it doesn't look like a single plating process. The color difference between the ribs and bridges in the photos looks too stark for surface finish differences to explain. It doesn't really matter, either way the process wouldn't work to create silvery ribs but works here to create dark grey ones.

 

[atom]

I have seen versions with black rings too. Depends on the exact model/year/version.

If we are nitpicking that much over a absent little bridge part beneath the hands on a $800+... damn...

My thing with the missing inserts is it's a blank hole. Even those darker ones are clearly reflective and fill the holes. Why have the hole at all of you don't have the insert in it? Especially when even the cheapest reps have had that detail for a long time. It's like if a top tier Rolex rep omitted the word "made" at the bottom of the dial and it just said "swiss" but every other detail was perfect. It'd just be weird. The movements are a huge step up from before, but they keep doing weird stuff with the details after making huge strides in the overall architecture. They'll get there soon though, I think.

 

[Dollar_short]

I have seen versions with black rings too. Depends on the exact model/year/version.

If we are nitpicking that much over a absent little bridge part beneath the hands on a $800+... damn...

yeah, but, it keeps them on their toes = better and better stuff for us to complain about, lol. that one looks really good.

 

[Dollar_short]

i machine 6061 a lot, and even cast, its easy. probably many reasons they don't use it, machining is not one of them.

 

[Stuvetjee]

My thing with the missing inserts is it's a blank hole. Even those darker ones are clearly reflective and fill the holes. Why have the hole at all of you don't have the insert in it? Especially when even the cheapest reps have had that detail for a long time. It's like if a top tier Rolex rep omitted the word "made" at the bottom of the dial and it just said "swiss" but every other detail was perfect. It'd just be weird. The movements are a huge step up from before, but they keep doing weird stuff with the details after making huge strides in the overall architecture. They'll get there soon though, I think.

id rather have they upgrade their NTPT game.

 

[BIONONE]

Aluminum is not much more difficult to machine than brass and something like a 6061-t6, or even a 7 series, which are super common, should be fine for these

i machine 6061 a lot

Thanks for your input!

I should‘ve said it differently - of course aluminium is machinable but we are talking about micro precision and tolerances within microns, different behavior of expansion due to heat or cold which is common for aluminium, stiffness/hardness, pressure fitting rubies while keeping accuracy etc. etc.

Not a rant just my thoughts why they do not equip aluminium isn‘t commonly used in watchmaking.

Would love to hear about possible advantages from experts in this field though!

 

[Dollar_short]

i am guessing they don't use it because the ribs would not be the right color. and then perhaps the coats don't last as long. and there is probably more to this. i don't see precision being one of them.

 

[atom]

i am guessing they don't use it because the ribs would not be the right color. and then perhaps the coats don't last as long. and there is probably more to this. i don't see precision being one of them.

If they used aluminum the ribs would be very close to the right color, much better than brass. I wonder if maybe RMF is using aluminum to get their shiny brushed ribs.

 

[d.a.w.]

Why is it so hard to clone an existing watch?
Just buy the gen one, tear it down and replicate every single piece.. don’t get me wrong. what they do is impressive, though.

 

[BIONONE]

Why is it so hard to clone an existing watch?

because it's hard