RAF 16610, New 5 Digit Factory

[dk2852]

Received the RAF 16610LV today, thanks Trusty for another smooth transaction.
Out the box, the watch looks great. I replaced the crown with the genuine, and it fit perfectly with no issues. Screws down fully and looks good. The bracelet quality isn't great, but not bad by any means. Movement functions well, I went ahead and regulated it to COSC standards while I had it open. Obviously winding isn't like gen, but not bad and surely will keep good time. Crystal and cyclops looks good as well, AR is obviously not like gen, but does seem to have some AR coating on it.
The only real complaint is the bezel action, while the insert looks good, the bezel rotation is cheap and feels/sounds like a DHgate shitter. I have a King Factory 114060 which feels and sounds way better.

Now for the fun part! I don't have a gen 16610, but I do have a late 5 digit Explorer II from the same time period so we can compare some things like rehaut engraving, crystal, cyclops, bracelet, and clasp!




Lume Wars!





Wrist shot

 

[GrandmasterChime]

Received the RAF 16610LV today, thanks Trusty for another smooth transaction.
Out the box, the watch looks great. I replaced the crown with the genuine, and it fit perfectly with no issues. Screws down fully and looks good. The bracelet quality isn't great, but not bad by any means. Movement functions well, I went ahead and regulated it to COSC standards while I had it open. Obviously winding isn't like gen, but not bad and surely will keep good time. Crystal and cyclops looks good as well, AR is obviously not like gen, but does seem to have some AR coating on it.
The only real complaint is the bezel action, while the insert looks good, the bezel rotation is cheap and feels/sounds like a DHgate shitter. I have a King Factory 114060 which feels and sounds way better.

Now for the fun part! I don't have a gen 16610, but I do have a late 5 digit Explorer II from the same time period so we can compare some things like rehaut engraving, crystal, cyclops, bracelet, and clasp!




Lume Wars!





Wrist shot

The bezels have to much up and down slap which makes them feel cheap. Push down as you turn and you will feel a closer to gen click. These aonly work off one piece of wire for click so pointless comparing to 6 digit action. Im giing to try the extra washer to tighten mine up

 

[wisedennis]

I've been perfectly content with my BP 16610s, YMMV. Note that the 2824 and DG versions have the DW and dial window in the wrong place for Rolex (1mm right), and the 3135 LV has a maxi hour and second hand that it should not. Also the chamfers are too wide but if you want a good cheap sample, they scratch the itch well enough. Ofc the SA3135 is a POS movement but I do have one operating perfectly (including stem functions) for about 6 months now. Best to plan on a swap to VR though.

Gen dials and hands - LV has maxi dial ofc, and just one maxi hand, the minute hand. Hour and second hands are identical to the LN.

BP 3135 16610 LN

BP 3135 16610 LN with blue insert

BP 2824 16610 LV (note date window position)

BP 3135 11610 LV (note maxi hour and second hands, I have BP 3135 16610 LN hands for replacement)

BP 2824 16613 Serti (note date window position)

BP 3135 16613 Serti

BP 2824 16610 (converted to 14060, Raffles dial and hands)

BP 2824 16610 (116610 LV dial and hands)

BP case next to a TC, it compares pretty well IMO. BP's wide chamfers and ofc the non gen-spec wire bezel assembly and insert are the main flaws.

TC is unengraved and has lugs drilled

BP chamfers can be narrowed with some careful casework, but a JF/ARF (or even RAF) would be a better Franken base if you can see past the stubby CG's. And the SH3135 isn't ideal either.

But the BP is fine for a daily beater. I never look at any of mine with anything but satisfaction.

Thanks KJ2020 brother; your ideology of price to quality ratio and happily rocking/collecting “good enough” watches actually influenced / inspired me.

Previously I always wanted to get the top/best grails and Franklin watches.. but most of the time, it could be translated to more expensive watches and modding parts..

Now I breathe deeply and re-think, hmm, even some watches may not be perfect, they may have some flaws, but they can be good enough for me, at a certain good price. And they can scratch the itch well enough

 

[mmax]

Received the RAF 16610LV today, thanks Trusty for another smooth transaction.
Out the box, the watch looks great. I replaced the crown with the genuine, and it fit perfectly with no issues. Screws down fully and looks good. The bracelet quality isn't great, but not bad by any means. Movement functions well, I went ahead and regulated it to COSC standards while I had it open. Obviously winding isn't like gen, but not bad and surely will keep good time. Crystal and cyclops looks good as well, AR is obviously not like gen, but does seem to have some AR coating on it.
The only real complaint is the bezel action, while the insert looks good, the bezel rotation is cheap and feels/sounds like a DHgate shitter. I have a King Factory 114060 which feels and sounds way better.

Now for the fun part! I don't have a gen 16610, but I do have a late 5 digit Explorer II from the same time period so we can compare some things like rehaut engraving, crystal, cyclops, bracelet, and clasp!




Lume Wars!





Wrist shot

Congrats, looks great and thanks for the comparison. To fix the bezel action you might try this:
Post in thread 'RAF 16610, New 5 Digit Factory'
https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/raf-16610-new-5-digit-factory.10925336/post-11155957

 

[heska]

CL06 clasp code, that's something new! First time I see it.

How does the bracelet feel compare to your gen explorer one?

 

[muiramas]

Loose / tappy bezels - there should be a tension ring underneath it. If you put 3 equidistant creases in it, it should then be nice and tight.

 

[dk2852]

CL06 clasp code, that's something new! First time I see it.

How does the bracelet feel compare to your gen explorer one?

Honestly, the bracelet is pretty good. It's a little rougher than gen, some sharp edges on the links. It's very comfortable on the wrist though and it looks great.

 

[Zoidberg]

The bezels have to much up and down slap which makes them feel cheap. Push down as you turn and you will feel a closer to gen click. These aonly work off one piece of wire for click so pointless comparing to 6 digit action. Im giing to try the extra washer to tighten mine up

Received also today .. and the same. Feels super cheap the bezel and I can move in both directions.
Will buy a new clickspring. Hope to fix that with a new spring

 

[GrandmasterChime]

Received also today .. and the same. Feels super cheap the bezel and I can move in both directions.
Will buy a new clickspring. Hope to fix that with a new spring

They move both ways because the up and down movement means the speing can slip under the teeth

 

[McDuck888]

I bent the click spring in the bezel a little and now the click sounds/ feels superb. Also on subject of these crowns that are sticking out on some of our RAF 16610 watches:
I thought there was a problem with the tube not being sunk enough in the case.
So I added a different rep crown (BP Factory), it still stuck out.
So I added a gen crown, it looks perfect. - So now I feel that the 'problem' of the crown sticking out is the shape of the RAF stock crown itself and not necessarily the tube.

 

[Geonor]

I bent the click spring in the bezel a little and now the click sounds/ feels superb. Also on subject of these crowns that are sticking out on some of our RAF 16610 watches:
I thought there was a problem with the tube not being sunk enough in the case.
So I added a different rep crown (BP Factory), it still stuck out.
So I added a gen crown, it looks perfect. - So now I feel that the 'problem' of the crown sticking out is the shape of the RAF stock crown itself and not necessarily the tube.

Probably the inner part that is slightly different.

 

[McDuck888]

To be sure, I just put the RAF crown onto an ARF case, and it also looks like it is sticking out. So the crown is the thing that is causing the gap. Perhaps not the tube at all.

 

[rockdaytona]

To be sure, I just put the RAF crown onto an ARF case, and it also looks like it is sticking out. So the crown is the thing that is causing the gap. Perhaps not the tube at all.

Great news!!! I have all the parts suggested by @Saggiolus on order, excited for this project!!

 

[KJ2020]

Probably the inner part that is slightly different.

This is interesting. Another factor can be O rings. A gen triplock has room for a lot of them. If any are missing or the wrong thickness on a gen (or a rep) crown or tube, it can affect where a crown sits on the tube.

 

[McDuck888]

Cheers KJ!

 

[Bpyfu]

I know it’s in the thread somewhere but I can’t find it…
What is the correct gen crown part number?
On the bay I see a lot of 703 and 704.
Oh, and I recieved a tracking update from USPS, the watch should be out for delivery today

 

[KushBandit]

I know it’s in the thread somewhere but I can’t find it…
What is the correct gen crown part number?
On the bay I see a lot of 703 and 704.
Oh, and I recieved a tracking update from USPS, the watch should be out for delivery today

You can use either. 703 was the one originally used for 5 digit subs, but Rolex will replace with 704 if sent in for service with a bad crown.

 

[Bpyfu]

You can use either. 703 was the one originally used for 5 digit subs, but Rolex will replace with 704 if sent in for service with a bad crown.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Bpyfu]

Recieved mine this evening. The bezel ootb feels worse than most AliExpress shitters. I swapped the bezel with the Wso assembly. Still feels like crap. I will have to try different combinations of spacers bezels and click springs. Honestly overall I’m not impressed at all with the fit and finish of the watch.

 

[GrandmasterChime]

Recieved mine this evening. The bezel ootb feels worse than most AliExpress shitters. I swapped the bezel with the Wso assembly. Still feels like crap. I will have to try different combinations of spacers bezels and click springs. Honestly overall I’m not impressed at all with the fit and finish of the watch.

Are you familiar with gen 5 digits? Youre right about the bezel but the rest in terms of fit and finish is pretty good.