[Pompompurin's] VSF Rolex 116400 Milgauss (VS3131 version) quick review + franken process

[pompompurin]

Out of curiosity, I bought a VSF Milgauss to see if the movement is a true 3131 clone.

I have already frankened a GMF 116400 before (https://forum.replica-watch.info/th...ersion-quick-review-franken-process.10959182/), so it's mandatory for me to also franken a VSF Milgauss haha.

Short summary of the advantages/ disadvantages:
+ The VSF Milgauss probably has the best case shape in the current market, compared to GMF/ BP/ etc.
+ The anti-magnetic cage is screwed onto the movement, which i believe is the same as genuine.
+ The crystal uses a white gasket. The green edge of the crystal does not rely on using a green-coloured gasket, unlike GMF/ BP/ etc.
+ The overall fit and finish feel the best, compared to GMF/ BP/ etc.
+ The bezel construction is like genuine, unlike GMF/ BP/ etc., although I prefer the simplicity and praticality of handling the GMF/ BP bezel.
- The green crystal has a very, very, very annoying green tint that can be easily seen at an angle and under dim lighting. The genuine Milgauss has a very transparent crystal with a green edge.
- The vs3131 movement is not a true clone of the genuine 3131 movement: without modification, the vs3131 movement cannot accept genuine hands. The VSF Milgauss hands have taller posts to clear the dial and anti-magnetic cage, whereas the the genuine Milgauss hands have short posts and taller cannon pinion/ seconds wheel/ hour wheel.
- The font of the dial's "MILGAUSS" text appears too bold.
- Modifying the vs3131 using donor parts from a vr3186 is not straightforward. E.g., critical parts number 335, 230, and 268 are not interchangeable between vr and vs movement.

I will update this post with more pictures and the franken process shortly.

 

[pompompurin]

All the parts needed to franken/ install gen hands into a VSF milgauss:



Build specs:
- VSF Milgauss base watch
- Gen dial
- Gen hands
- Gen crystal (not pictured: it is currently in the mail)
- VR3186 donor movement
- Swiss aftermarket 3155-280 hour wheel

Firstly, de-case the movement/ dial/ hands:



The stock VSF Milgauss hands all have tall posts. The genuine Milgauss have short posts. Therefore, in order to fit genuine hands, the movement needs to be modified.



The dial mounting screws are sunken into the movement. VSF reused the same screws used in their vs3135/ vs3130/ etc. movements. I believe the genuine 3131 movement has longer dial mounting screws that extends further outwards and fits flush with the side of the anti-magnetic cage.



There are 3 mounting screws on the vs3131 movement that screws the anti-magnetic cage onto the movement. I believe this is the same for the genuine 3131 movement. The vr3131 movement that is used in the GMF/ BP Milgauss does not have these mounting screws.



The vs3131 reuses the same calendar plate (without some jewels) that is also used in their vs3135 movement:



I partially disassembled the vs3131 movement to access the cannon pinion and seconds wheel:



I also partially disassembled the donor vr3186 movement to swap the cannon pinion and seconds wheel:



But to my surprise, the vr and vs movement's bottom part of the cannon pinion are incompatible with each other because of the different sizes of the jewel hole in the mainplate. Pictured below is the vr3186's cannon pinion being unable to fit the vs3131's mainplate:



At this point, I decided that it is more practical to use the vr3186 movement as the base movement for this build and swap-over/ remove the following parts:

- remove all date-related parts in the vr3186 movement
- add 3155-280 hour wheel
- swap-over 3130-230 from vs3131. The base of the part 3130-230 needs to be filed so that it can fit onto the vr3186 movement
- swap-over calendar plate from vs3131
- swap-over 3135-260 from vs3131
- remove the gear on part 3185-268 in the vr3186 movement
- reuse the washer 3185-5226 in the vr3186 and add it onto the 3155-280 hour wheel





The vr3186 movement is now converted into a 3131 movement:



The converted vr3186 movement fits snuggly into the anti-magnetic cage.

Gen dial and hands installed:





The bezel and crystal are removed because I will add a genuine crystal (when it arrives by mail). The bezel construction appears to be like gen-gen spec. The crystal gasket is white which is good.







Reinstalling the converted movement into the case:





And now I have to wait for the genuine crystal to arrive by mail before i can fully assemble the watch.

This gen milgauss dial variant is not paired with green sapphire crystal. Instead, this gen milgauss dial variant is paired with a clear transparent crystal. Here is an online picture and my end goal:

 

[Streetiq]

You did it again! Very impressive, amazing build!

 

[KJ2020]

Great effort with awesome pics and commentary, bravo!

I love this variant best of all the Milgauss models - I never cared for the green crystals.

Question - could you swap the 3131 minute bridge into your modded 3186? Give it another nice touch of authenticity.

 

[Got20Mate]

Great to see the process, you're a wizard mate. Always good to see the process for some things, not so much sausages, but you know what I mean

Excellent work

 

[Rolexman72]

Wow complimenti bellissimo, un vero capolavoro!

 

[Repmaster1337]

Nice work man! Ordered the VSF Milgauss black, think the case is stunning.

 

[Watch_Addicted]

Outstanding work! congratulations!
I have two questions for you in my technical ignorance:
-if I wanted to install the GEN dial on the VSF milgauss leaving the VS3131 movement and VSF hands, would it be immediate or are modifications needed ? (I tried to follow the steps but obviously you also changed the hands so it was a different job)
-I have a milgauss GSF. What do you think the GSF glass is like ? Regarding the VSF glass on the other hand I had read elsewhere that in the front view it is less green than the GEN, while for you it is "too" green ?
Thank you for your opinion !

 

[honkiss]

Very impressive conversion of the movement to fit the gen hands, amazing build!

 

[pompompurin]

Question - could you swap the 3131 minute bridge into your modded 3186? Give it another nice touch of authenticity

I haven't thought about swapping that but i think it should be interchangeable. The model number on the bridge doesn't bother me because of the closed caseback. Plus I think it's like an added novelty/ Easter egg when one opens the caseback to realise and appreciate that a modified vr3186 movement was used to franken a milgauss!

-if I wanted to install the GEN dial on the VSF milgauss leaving the VS3131 movement and VSF hands, would it be immediate or are modifications needed ? (I tried to follow the steps but obviously you also changed the hands so it was a different job)

If you are planning to install a gen dial only into a vsf milgauss, then no need to modify the movement since you will be reusing the same set of hands.

However, depending on the year, the gen 116400 milgauss dials have either superluminova lume or chromalight lume. If your dial has superluminova lume, then you will need to relume the stock vsf hands with superluminova lume.

-I have a milgauss GSF. What do you think the GSF glass is like ? Regarding the VSF glass on the other hand I had read elsewhere that in the front view it is less green than the GEN, while for you it is "too" green ?

I haven't handled a gsf milgauss before, unfortunately.

 

[Watch_Addicted]

However, depending on the year, the gen 116400 milgauss dials have either superluminova lume or chromalight lume. If your dial has superluminova lume, then you will need to relume the stock vsf hands with superluminova

Thank you very much! at this point it seems the easiest thing is to change the dial while leaving the original hands (which seem to me to be made very well). Regarding the lume talk, I had read that starting in a certain year (I don't know which year though), Rolex began experimenting with Cromalight on the Milgauss, applying it to the hour markers at 3-6-9 o'clock, while the remaining hour markers remained with superluminova. The effect was then a light blue color on indexes 3-6-9 and light green on the remaining indexes. From the photos I found, however, the hands have the same color as the remaining indices (light green). Are the hands therefore actually covered by superluminova ?

 

[pompompurin]

Thank you very much! at this point it seems the easiest thing is to change the dial while leaving the original hands (which seem to me to be made very well). Regarding the lume talk, I had read that starting in a certain year (I don't know which year though), Rolex began experimenting with Cromalight on the Milgauss, applying it to the hour markers at 3-6-9 o'clock, while the remaining hour markers remained with superluminova. The effect was then a light blue color on indexes 3-6-9 and light green on the remaining indexes. From the photos I found, however, the hands have the same color as the remaining indices (light green). Are the hands therefore actually covered by superluminova ?

Hands that glow green = superluminova

The stock vsf hands glow blue (chromalight):

Milgauss 116400GV VSF 1:1 Best Edition 904L Steel Blue Dial on SS Bracelet VS3131

puretimewatch88.io

Late gen Milgauss have chromalight lume applied to all indices and hands:

Rolex 116400GV Milgauss "Z-Blue"

Rolex Warranty to 2025

www.watchclub.com

 

[McDuck888]

Always good to see the process for some things, not so much sausages, but you know what I mean

Best line on the forum 2024 goes to @Got20Mate!!!! This had me in histerics! Haha.

 

[Watch_Addicted]

Hands that glow green = superluminova

The stock vsf hands glow blue (chromalight):

Milgauss 116400GV VSF 1:1 Best Edition 904L Steel Blue Dial on SS Bracelet VS3131

puretimewatch88.io

Late gen Milgauss have chromalight lume applied to all indices and hands:

Rolex 116400GV Milgauss "Z-Blue"

Rolex Warranty to 2025

www.watchclub.com

great now it is clear. so there was a transition superluminova--> superluminova hybrid with chromalight--> chromalight. In case I need to reapply superluminova, would it be simple for a watchsmith ? thank you

 

[pompompurin]

In case I need to reapply superluminova, would it be simple for a watchsmith

Should be doable by all watchsmith. Make sure the watchsmith is using high quality luminous powder with glow strength that is comparable to rolex's lume

 

[pompompurin]

The gen crystal arrived. I reused the stock white vsf crystal gasket. Everything fitted fine without any hidden surprises.

The watch is now complete and regulated.

 

[ludabs]

Thank you for the lesson.
Congratulatios Maestro.

 

[sfbatman787]

The gen crystal arrived. I reused the stock white vsf crystal gasket. Everything fitted fine without any hidden surprises.

The watch is now complete and regulated.

Would gen gasket have worked with the rep bezel and retainer ring?

 

[pompompurin]

Would gen gasket have worked with the rep bezel and retainer ring?

I have no idea. The gen crystal came without a gen gasket

 

[jacklarssen]

Thanks for this great review MR!!!!

So do you think the milgauss VSF is waterproof out of the box please?




MANY THANKS and great review.