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Review: ZF Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze V2

gb7007

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5/12/16
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405
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I´ve had mine for about 2 months now and it does develop some kind of patina but nothing extreme. Only thing i have noticed is the bronze getting darker evenly but theres no greenspots or spots that have more patina than others. Also ive been wearing the watch in the gym aswell sweating and never got any green spots on my skin

Thanks for the feedback. So time will tell. Anyway, the watch is a little bit too big for me, so I might sell it ...
 

robinstyler

Renowned Member
4/7/16
658
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Thanks for the feedback. So time will tell. Anyway, the watch is a little bit too big for me, so I might sell it ...
how big are your wrists? mine are 6.7inches and you could say it is too big for me aswell but i really like it funny how tastes vary on that. I might even get myself a pam at some point even though those are even bigger
 

gb7007

Renowned Member
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5/12/16
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how big are your wrists? mine are 6.7inches and you could say it is too big for me aswell but i really like it funny how tastes vary on that. I might even get myself a pam at some point even though those are even bigger

My wrist is only 6.1 and the feeling wearing the watch is not so comfortable, even with a short strap compared to the smaller Black Bay model.
 

tknospdr

Active Member
29/11/16
290
3
18
The aluminum bronze won't patina the same as copper bronze will. But it WILL patina.
It's more of an even darkening.

If you want the green grunge, and you want to stay in the rep world go for the PAM bronzo. They use CuSn8 and will get a nice knarly patina.
If you want gen then go micro with a Zelos, Stevral, Prometheus, Ancon, or Vanguard.
 

Overworkin

Getting To Know The Place
13/1/17
81
2
0
I had a great time doing the ZF Tudor Pelagos Blue review so have decided to do another short review on this Tudor beauty again by ZF.

I've ordered this from my TD and received it several days ago again from ZF, the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze in its latest iteration v2.0. According to my TD, this fine example was replicated using a genuine Black Bay Bronze so it is definitely an improvement over the previous versions released by both ZF or KW/v6.

The initial release was exhibits an reddish bronze tone found commonly in the likes of the PAM 382 Bronzo which is incorrect. In the gen, Tudor used an alloy of aluminum and bronze for this watch which gives it a more yellow gold-ish tone and is supposedly more resistant to patina.

The watch came bundled with both the brown distressed leather strap and the dull yellowish-green nato strap. Had the opportunity to compare the leather strap with a gen and its almost 90-95% spot on but as we all know distress leather hides the colour tones are rather hard to match but is good enough for me. The hardware found on both the leather strap and nato is also of the same yellow-gold tone but the later in sandblasted finish as per gen.

Now on with the pictures:
TBronzeZFv20001_zpskxe9q8mt.jpg

TBronzeZFv20003_zpslgvtqj7c.jpg
TBronzeZFv20002_zpsieklh0fc.jpg

TBronzeZFv20008_zpsqjffqi9g.jpg

TBronzeZFv20005_zpshn3rxbz4.jpg

TBronzeZFv20006_zpsaadjfehu.jpg


Crisp engraving of the Tudor rose insignia on the Crown
TBronzeZFv20007_zpssc6odaey.jpg

TBronzeZFv20004_zpsz2tfrhec.jpg


Caseback, Strap & Buckles
TBronzeZFv20009_zpsljou6ru0.jpg

TBronzeZFv20010_zpsvxjtpke1.jpg

TBronzeZFv20011_zpsfmnvabw8.jpg


Lume & Wristshot:
TBronzeZFv20013_zpsc2mk11jg.jpg

TBronzeZFv20012_zpsy76gik0g.jpg


I also had a brief chance to compare it with a genuine example but did not managed to capture many shots
genvszf1_zpszix39ugt.jpg

genvszf2_zpshcotirrc.jpg


Comparing with the gen even for a brief while, this v2 by ZF is definitely leaps and bounds over the initial releases by any makers. To me its a very well made product that is almost on par with the gen, ZF definitely spared no effort in getting the alu-bronze colours spot on.

Cheers & Hoped you enjoyed this short review!
Ash

Which one is the gen? Mine should be on its way soon. Didn't see the review on the KW v3 before I ordered so I hope its as nice as everyone says. I'm sure I'll be happy. Do any BBB owners know were to get some good quality straps?

JC


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Overworkin

Getting To Know The Place
13/1/17
81
2
0
My BBB from inTime was just shipped. I'll try to do a write up on it once I get it. Not an experienced reviewer but hey what the heck.

Here are some QC pics.

d03d746e330e1511ccb2950460cf4c16.jpg
39cc3f1033affd4a934fec7b1b5ce1d3.jpg
415df4b7efc82dc25064327f24e1694f.jpg


Any comments appreciated

JC


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Overworkin

Getting To Know The Place
13/1/17
81
2
0
This looks terrific. KW or ZF?

ZF, just received it tonight!! Build quality seems very good. Bezel is a little loose while rotating but not to the point were it bothers me especially since I hardly ever use the bezel. Colouring and fonts look very good, to my untrained eye at least.

Looks smaller on my wrist then I had hoped and the strap is a little too short. I'm not a small guy so I'll have to look for a nice replacement strap but I haven't seen any 23mm leather straps. If anyone knows of some please share.

I tried to take some pics but the lighting was not very good and its been gloomy here for seems like weeks. I'll try to get some better pis soon.

Overall I'm happy with the watch.

Cheers


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Overworkin

Getting To Know The Place
13/1/17
81
2
0
e567a9eda736227020a7f9b318ea84d9.jpg
870a8cf6632479fad08f4048a2f460de.jpg
b92ecddfafccd359674d4398ff6d74be.jpg
3bd20c189fa422689b6785412da73369.jpg


Other than needing a longer strap, just my preference, I cant see anything wrong with this watch.


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Ironmanic

Getting To Know The Place
5/6/15
79
18
0
Received my ZF this week as well and the build quality is defintely spot on. The only potential flaw I see is that the dial isn't as dark as the gen? To be fair I haven't seen the gen in person, but just my opinion from pics I've seen on the net.

Also the quality of the rep nato is pretty solid. Certainly a step above standard nylon natos, but obviously not as HQ as the gen fabric. Oddly though, both the leather strap and nato strap are short and may be tough to fit on a larger wrist (I.e. > 7.5')
 

zethunder

I'm Pretty Popular
9/8/16
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I received my KW v3 a few weeks ago (I had the previous version also) and while I absolutely love it, lume on the hands are in different color than the hour markers ( a tad darker cream, not easy to tell but you can see under certain lighting conditions). The same problem exists for the ZF version as well, so I am not sure why the factories chose not to use the same lume color on both the hands and the hour markers...but other than that, it is a gorgeous watch. Bezel color is definitely more brownish than red (unlike the ZF version). I really don't know which one is more close to gen as there are plenty of gen pics and videos that I could swear the bezel color looks 1:1 to the kw one but there are also some that I feel like it is more like the ZF one...It appears to be a lighting issue so I can't really comment beyond that.

Coming from the previous version, the leather band and the fabric strap are SUPERB...I am genuinely impressed by the straps.
 

frankhamil

Getting To Know The Place
29/11/09
45
3
8
I like your choice better than mine. I bought the ZF V2. When I was looking at pictures, in the ones I observed, the ZF v2 and KW v3 looked the same in bezel color. I just looked at a different dealer, and the KW v3 is definitely more brown and closer to the Gen. Oh well, I still like the watch, and I got it when tswatch while tswatch is running their 15% sale, across the board.

Frank Hamilton
 

Ironmanic

Getting To Know The Place
5/6/15
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I like your choice better than mine. I bought the ZF V2. When I was looking at pictures, in the ones I observed, the ZF v2 and KW v3 looked the same in bezel color. I just looked at a different dealer, and the KW v3 is definitely more brown and closer to the Gen. Oh well, I still like the watch, and I got it when tswatch while tswatch is running their 15% sale, across the board.

Frank Hamilton

I would agree that the bezel on the latest kw is closer gen. But if it makes you feel better the "Tudor" print on the ZF is sharper (still not gen level) than the Kw. And personally I prefer the more maroon bezel of the ZF from an aesthetic standpoint regardless of accuracy to gen. Just my two cents.

Did you find the nato strap to be oddly short? Wondering if I received a shorter one or if it was a production issue.
 

frankhamil

Getting To Know The Place
29/11/09
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I would agree that the bezel on the latest kw is closer gen. But if it makes you feel better the "Tudor" print on the ZF is sharper (still not gen level) than the Kw. And personally I prefer the more maroon bezel of the ZF from an aesthetic standpoint regardless of accuracy to gen. Just my two cents.

Did you find the nato strap to be oddly short? Wondering if I received a shorter one or if it was a production issue.

Thanks for the input. And, I agree with your points. I actually like the color of the ZF, too. But, I love dark brown watches. I have a gen Breitling chrono with dark brown dial and bezel with dark brown deployant band.

I have not tried the nato strap, but the leather strap is shorter than I prefer. I can now wear it on the second hole. As I said in another post, I find it strange that I always have to take links out of the rep bracelets, but the leather bands are always short.
 

zethunder

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I would agree that the bezel on the latest kw is closer gen. But if it makes you feel better the "Tudor" print on the ZF is sharper (still not gen level) than the Kw. And personally I prefer the more maroon bezel of the ZF from an aesthetic standpoint regardless of accuracy to gen. Just my two cents.

Did you find the nato strap to be oddly short? Wondering if I received a shorter one or if it was a production issue.

I quite enjoy the brownish bezel insert on my KW as I already have a BB red, so it is a nice mix :)

The fabric strap is million times better in these versions (compared to the first ones) but yes, they are kinda on the short end, even for my skinny wrists (I wonder if the gen is like this also?)
 

Overworkin

Getting To Know The Place
13/1/17
81
2
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Received my ZF this week as well and the build quality is defintely spot on. The only potential flaw I see is that the dial isn't as dark as the gen? To be fair I haven't seen the gen in person, but just my opinion from pics I've seen on the net.

Also the quality of the rep nato is pretty solid. Certainly a step above standard nylon natos, but obviously not as HQ as the gen fabric. Oddly though, both the leather strap and nato strap are short and may be tough to fit on a larger wrist (I.e. > 7.5')

Agree about the straps although the NATO I have had better luck with but just.

I have tried some 24mm straps on it but they really done do the trick since they are only slightly too wide for the buckle the edges rub and will wear quite a bit.

Even though I like the watch I may sell it only because I do find the watch to be too small and the strap too short. I am a large guy and prefer larger watches.

Cheers


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