- 17/3/21
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I'm not the best photographer, nor do I have a fancy camera, so it will be cell phone camera pics. But I'll do my best. Thanks.
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New VRF Pepsi GMT Max
- Thread starter rockdaytona
- Start date
I'm not the best photographer, nor do I have a fancy camera, so it will be cell phone camera pics. But I'll do my best. Thanks.
Oascom, any ideas if any GMT bezel will fit on an ARF 6 digit sub case? I would be looking to replace the whole bezel, not just the insert. No idea if you've tried it but wouldn't surprise me!
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Oascom, any ideas if any GMT bezel will fit on an ARF 6 digit sub case? I would be looking to replace the whole bezel, not just the insert. No idea if you've tried it but wouldn't surprise me!
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
- 12/3/18
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You'll need to change the retaining ring bro but the crystals are the same size so on paper it should work. Of course the Sub springs, balls and click would need to be removed and the GMT 3 pin click ring added if you want proper clicking. A GMT bezel might seat OK and rotate without clicking if no click or click ring is installed. You might even get away without changing the retaining ring in that scenario. The chances for a best outcome increase the more compatible parts you have - retaining ring, hytrel ring and bezel at least.
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Just got mine in. Probably going to C&R unfortunately.
Impressions:
Crystal: needs gen crystal. Cyclops black hole is not nearly as good as VSF or VF, let alone gen.
Date wheel is decent, ok to leave as-is.
Bracelet has more “flex” horizontal (ie links do not feel as tight as gen), and clasp micro-adjust is much stiffer than gen. Otherwise it gets us 90% of the way there in terms of feel and finish.
Overall, good rep all things considered. At arms length, looks really good. Biggest tell from across the room is the shade of red- it’s more bright and red than gen. Then again, gen is so rare in the wild most will not know what it actually looks like.
Will post a few more pics in the daytime tomorrow.
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For reference, my gen is Mark II (if there is such a thing). Purchased at AD Feb 2019.
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As you can see, in some light it appears closer to gen than in others. The red still seems to be the biggest tell since it’s brighter and more saturated.
Crazy as it sounds I prefer the VRF colors, seems like they made a better bezel than Rolex ????????????
Still believe that with a gen crystal, this would make the BLRO NWBIG, especially at today’s $20K+ pricing.
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- 12/3/18
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I said the same thing to a gen owner recently (who also is buying reps) regarding my ROF 116719, which has the same insert. I like the red and blue both better than any of the 3 gen sets of colors.
I thought I was going to have to replace the crystal too but this one is actually good enough. There's no edge distortion in it at all like I was expecting from other pics. Bonus!
As you can see, in some light it appears closer to gen than in others. The red still seems to be the biggest tell since it’s brighter and more saturated.
Crazy as it sounds I prefer the VRF colors, seems like they made a better bezel than Rolex ????????????*
Still believe that with a gen crystal, this would make the BLRO NWBIG, especially at today’s $20K+ pricing.
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Nice comparison, thanks!
You are absolutely right. So close. I too prefer the brighter red.
bupeapoop
Getting To Know The Place
- 5/9/20
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Crystal: needs gen crystal. Cyclops black hole is not nearly as good as VSF or VF, let alone gen.
Overall, good rep all things considered. At arms length, looks really good. Biggest tell from across the room is the shade of red- it’s more bright and red than gen. Then again, gen is so rare in the wild most will not know what it actually looks like.
Thanks for your honest review. The good majority of people here seem to have nothing but good things to say about the overall quality of the VR. The two biggest criticisms would be both the poor quality crystal and rehaut engraving. Sadly there isn't much that can be done to fix the rehaut but the crystal could easily be swapped out for something better.
This clark crystal was recommended in a previous post as a good replacement.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/-Clark-2-8...-for-Rolex-25-295-295C-and-295C2/233840802434
Replisimio
I'm Pretty Popular
I wish they could get the bezel correct(not the insert but the actual inner lip). Only noob have repped this perfectly. The Pepsi does not share the same bezel as others in the gmt line and has a different part number.
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- 12/3/18
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Noob getting the Pepsi bezel shape correct resulted in the construction being faulty though. There have been many reports of the Noob Pepsi bezels working loose or simply falling off. There is no groove for the bezel gasket (hytrel ring). It is just a stairstep cut with an open top that the gasket sits in with nothing restraining it from lifting up but lateral friction and a tiny ledge of the retaining ring lip. Sideways motions and repeated rotations can overcome the restraining friction much more easily than a bezel groove would allow. Then if your gasket gets mangled you are up the creek. Well, until you go fish, lol.
Noob GMT Pepsi's poor bezel design
I didn't discover the following aspect of the fishline fix until a little later. But it would actually benefit and work for the original gasket as well.
Placing arcs of 3M double sided tape rings over the gasket (or fishline replacement) prevents the gasket from lifting up. It needs to be placed precisely. It cannot touch the retaining ring lip or it would interfere with rotation.
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- 12/3/18
- 34,663
- 66,755
- 113
Cant say firsthand bro, but let's use the symmetric and transitive properties, haha.
Noob insert fits perfectly in a VRF bezel, so VRF insert should fit perfectly in the Noob bezel (if a=b, then b=a)
VRF insert = ROF insert (b=c)
So ROF insert should fit perfectly in the Noob bezel (if a=b and b=c, then a=c and c=a). QED.
As to your other question IDK for certain if the Noob V11 Pepsi's still have the half bezel gasket "groove" like the V10's have. I reckon they do. So fitting another bezel on one may not be as easy as on another GMT with a full groove for the bezel gasket.
srhoque
Respected Member
- 28/11/18
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LOL. Agree with your deductive reasoning. I am starting to not like my Noob insert colors, so am tempted to replace all of them. BTW, v11 also have the half gasket groove (that’s how my 126719 blue dial was).
As you can see, in some light it appears closer to gen than in others. The red still seems to be the biggest tell since it’s brighter and more saturated.
Crazy as it sounds I prefer the VRF colors, seems like they made a better bezel than Rolex ????????????*
Still believe that with a gen crystal, this would make the BLRO NWBIG, especially at today’s $20K+ pricing.
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Amazing review
any chance for a straight comprasion pic in direct sunlight?
I must say that outside, especially in the shadows (not direct sunlight ) it gets really close. So I’m not sure any factory will nail it. I do prefer this insert to the Noob, which looks blue and brown. The red on this one, although brighter, does give off the true Pepsi look.
Pics with iPhone 12 Pro Max so be aware there’s a weird color correction thing it does, making the differences more pronounced than I see them to the naked eye.
Gen always on left.
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