• Tired of adverts on RWI? - Subscribe by clicking HERE and PMing Trailboss for instructions and they will magically go away!

Review: GMF Datejust 36 two tone v2 (wrapped, w/ added weight) Ref: 126233

RX7GP

🦁
Supporter
Certified
16/2/16
1,359
714
113
Yea so unfortunately you got a bad batch.
So ill explain it further since that wrapped guide is very outdated and not correct in its information about replicas.

So the regular plated version of replicas are TiN PVD deposited pieces. Titanium nitride is darker yellow and can be that orange tint you sometimes see in Replicas e.g. VSF 116613 and usually needs carbon parameters played with in order to get a proper gold colour. You can even get Rose gold.

These "wrapped" versions are ZrN PVD deposited. When you see these replicas that look more like Champagne in appearance it's ZrN, which people say it's more gold like in appearance which I kinda see as well..... however they should be done CVD deposited because they claim in their description it's thicker plating right. CVD is for a thicker deposit and PVD is thinner.

Cost wise, the ZrN is more expensive than TiN and more durable.

For your issue. 2 things... Cracking occurs when the TiN/ ZrN is applied too thick and not deposited properly. Personally I don't think factory's will take the time to actually apply it too thick.
The other thing which I believe applies to you and 90% of PVD problems is the watch needs to be very very clean before or it will have adhesion issues as well as an electroplated layer finish. TiN or ZrN will attack the stainless steel if not sealed properly. If the seal is broken you get your cracks and corrosion on your SS like your pictures.

I think you got unlucky unfortunately because these replicas will always outlast real gold plating.

The best plated watches ever were the Seiko watches. They were the first to use PVD deposited TiN and real gold in the vacuum chamber. The TiN since porous would trap the real gold in the valleys and protect it from wear. The real gold would wear off on the top of course like any gold plating but the real gold was trapped at the bottom. Once the real gold wears off the bottom you STILL have the TiN left which looks like gold.

That was very informative, thanks for sharing your knowledge, i agree on second possibility for my issue. There were some blisters before cracking at same places.

I'll stay away from gold BP products (steel ones are good) - this was the reason i'm a little biased on wrapped reps from chinese factories.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Yogibear

Yogibear

I'm Pretty Popular
21/8/19
1,409
620
113
That was very informative, thanks for sharing your knowledge, i agree on second possibility for my issue. There were some blisters before cracking at same places.

I'll stay away from gold BP products (steel ones are good) - this was the reason i'm a little biased on wrapped reps from chinese factories.

I don't blame you, 1k usd for that to happen....that's terrible preparation in order for that to corrode SS. I'm not sure if others had same experience with Wrapped.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RX7GP

Feefo

CEO, Vaselume (TM) Corporation
Staff member
Moderator Sales
Certified
8/5/22
20,557
54,182
113
EU
Bump. How's the plating holding after summer holidays...?
 

Pedoff

Do not accept unsolicited offers
7/9/22
2
0
1
Hi! Where can I buy the best 36 dj jubilee rep? With the best movement?

I bought one on geektime but already broken … (6 months)

Thx a lot
 

Feefo

CEO, Vaselume (TM) Corporation
Staff member
Moderator Sales
Certified
8/5/22
20,557
54,182
113
EU
Hi! Where can I buy the best 36 dj jubilee rep? With the best movement?

I bought one on geektime but already broken … (6 months)

Thx a lot
Hello and welcome.
That's a bit of a jump start here at rwi, 1st post with clichè question that may earn you the wrath of most members. But hey, I'm one of the good cops (mostly)! You have 24 RWI trusted dealers to choose from (geektime isn't one here):
As for the "best" rep with the "best" movement, there's no such thing. If you do a bit of research (an appreciated and encouraged practice here at RWI) you'll find that there's a variety of different opinions for both matters. If you asked such a question in a single threads, you'd first be rigorously flamed, then you'd get x different opinions and no answer for yourself in the end. That is why the research is so important, YOU have to learn what is out there, how it works, what flaws it has and ultimately, with what you can live with. You're entitled to make question, but your starting one is very generic and the implicit lack of elaboration behind isn't well taken here.
For your resarch, you can use the research bar here, or, as I do, use google, adding "...site:forum.replica-watch.info" to your query and obtaining a ton of threads to read and learn from. (ALERT: NEVER use google to look for a TD, use ONLY RWI's links!)
Finally, that your previous rep broke in 6 months doesn't tell anything. That may also happen with the "best" rep, it's an intrinsic risk of this hobby. Would be interesting to know: which factory (was it a dj36?), what movement was inside? That could shed some light into the why it broke.
Now on your specific questions, I don`t have the answers, but an opinion. What I would do today is probably go for a GMF, but I'd do a bit of research first and maybe some specific questions to make sure what the state of the art is. I'd go for BP as well, already have good experience with BP, satisfactory quality for the money. Then, if possible, I'd go for a movement I can swap 1:1 with a gen ETA or Sellita if it craps out (A2824, A2836), or another chinese clone I can find on the net cheap. Not sure which DJ36 models are available with those movements though, maybe none. In that case I'd have to do more reseacrh on movements, because I'm not familiar enough with many others. But this is just MY opinion, there's for sure a bunch of other people who have an opposite one.
Good luck
 
  • Like
Reactions: SwePe

Pedoff

Do not accept unsolicited offers
7/9/22
2
0
1
Hello and welcome.
That's a bit of a jump start here at rwi, 1st post with clichè question that may earn you the wrath of most members. But hey, I'm one of the good cops (mostly)! You have 24 RWI trusted dealers to choose from (geektime isn't one here):
As for the "best" rep with the "best" movement, there's no such thing. If you do a bit of research (an appreciated and encouraged practice here at RWI) you'll find that there's a variety of different opinions for both matters. If you asked such a question in a single threads, you'd first be rigorously flamed, then you'd get x different opinions and no answer for yourself in the end. That is why the research is so important, YOU have to learn what is out there, how it works, what flaws it has and ultimately, with what you can live with. You're entitled to make question, but your starting one is very generic and the implicit lack of elaboration behind isn't well taken here.
For your resarch, you can use the research bar here, or, as I do, use google, adding "...site:forum.replica-watch.info" to your query and obtaining a ton of threads to read and learn from. (ALERT: NEVER use google to look for a TD, use ONLY RWI's links!)
Finally, that your previous rep broke in 6 months doesn't tell anything. That may also happen with the "best" rep, it's an intrinsic risk of this hobby. Would be interesting to know: which factory (was it a dj36?), what movement was inside? That could shed some light into the why it broke.
Now on your specific questions, I don`t have the answers, but an opinion. What I would do today is probably go for a GMF, but I'd do a bit of research first and maybe some specific questions to make sure what the state of the art is. I'd go for BP as well, already have good experience with BP, satisfactory quality for the money. Then, if possible, I'd go for a movement I can swap 1:1 with a gen ETA or Sellita if it craps out (A2824, A2836), or another chinese clone I can find on the net cheap. Not sure which DJ36 models are available with those movements though, maybe none. In that case I'd have to do more reseacrh on movements, because I'm not familiar enough with many others. But this is just MY opinion, there's for sure a bunch of other people who have an opposite one.
Good luck
Hi feefo!
And thank you so much to take time to answer my post.
Sorry, I didn’t want to be so rude or to bother you with my questions.
I’m quite new in this world.

I ve made some researches about différents mouvements, i know a little bit more know!

I will be back, clever than I was!

See u !
 

Feefo

CEO, Vaselume (TM) Corporation
Staff member
Moderator Sales
Certified
8/5/22
20,557
54,182
113
EU
No apology needed, we're all noobs, and you weren't rude at all, really. I was more concerned that someone might take the opportunity to flame you and scare you off! Just a friendly advice on how things work here. And happy to help anytime. This is a fantastic place to be, if you get flamed or ignored sometimes, don't take it personally, there's actually loads of really good and knowledgeable people that are more than happy to share their knowledge. Actually it's the majority. And even if you really should get flamed, most of the time it is someone just wanting to have a laugh at your expense, take it with philosophy. Nobody gets hurt ever. See you, too!
 

ross29

I'm Pretty Popular
Certified
2/10/09
1,123
316
83
That's actually looking pretty good. How's it compare to gen 18K? In case you had anything to compare it too. I usually stay away from plated and wrapped gold reps, but this looks OK.
 

McDuck888

Respected Member
22/2/17
3,245
1,829
113
How are you finding the 'diamonds' OP. Do you whichever stones they use shine in some way under different light conditions please or do they look flat?
 

SwePe

I'm Pretty Popular
Supporter
Certified
23/9/22
1,034
871
113
EU
Thanks a lot for this! Watch looks surprisingly good! Sounds like GMF/BP are taking lead on producing closer-to-gen weight of gold reps lately.

I’m excited to see if other factories will follow. Still think the GMF DJ:s - although looking and feeling very nice overall - lacks in bezel size/shape.
 
  • Like
Reactions: McDuck888

Itto

Overly Invested Hobbyist.
26/9/17
1,734
4,126
113
Giulia's Apartment
Thanks a lot for this! Watch looks surprisingly good! Sounds like GMF/BP are taking lead on producing closer-to-gen weight of gold reps lately.

I’m excited to see if other factories will follow. Still think the GMF DJ:s - although looking and feeling very nice overall - lacks in bezel size/shape.
Indeed - the watch overall is very good but of course it has it's shortcomings.. like you said, the bezel could be better. It doesn't bother me on the wrist, but I will probably mod the watch and the bezel will then be the first part to be replaced.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SwePe