"Swiss" ETA / Asian Superclones / Asian Clones - What's the best choice?

[peterpotamus]

very informative post, I'm learning a lot here, thanks for the info

 

[ALE7575]

You are welcome
ALE

 

[Rudy40]

Yeah me to. And I found this thread. During the time I was ready to purchase 50th Annv Sub LV -My Grail Rep! The great debate over. Asia or Swiss. The dealer only ended up Swiss anyway. But the great debate go's on!!

 

[mydnytrydr]

ALE,
thank you for this information, it is priceless!!!

+1000... This thread is a "keeper"!:maty:

 

[ALE7575]

+1000... This thread is a "keeper"!:maty:

Many thanks friends
But this thread is not my merit, but the merit of all expert members participating in it. I'm just coordinating.
ALE

 

[Denis_sianto]

I just read all 10 pages and I think my head is going to explode but I do have a better handle on the question of which movement is better. If I got the gist of it, if you really like the watch and want to own it awhile, go Swiss if you have an extra $125.00 available. If you take the ETA Clone option, you will probably be just as happy, until possibly sometime in the future when it does not function anymore and then you will kick yourself for not stepping up earlier, but all is not lost as Wiz or similar can put in a good movement and you are back in business. Thanks to all who added their thoughts.

"put in a good movement"

Does this means I have to replace dead movement with NEW movement, OR I just need to bring old movement for service to watchsmiths like Wiz to get it back to business ?

 

[cubicle_monkey]

I'm curious about asian eta movements, when you wind them manually, do they have the smooth feel of their swiss counterparts or do they wind like their A21 cousins which is to say rough and very gritty?

 

[symbolic]

Ok, so what is the smoothest, most 'realistic' movement? Also, who sells the very best, most authentic Rolex movement watches?

 

[Hasslebank]

Interesting topic: having over 25 watches here is my thinking about it: the best is the swiss ETA (7750) but at the same time I do have an HBB Ice Bang with fully serviced A7750 and runs like a champ, winding smooth as butter just as perfecet as a gen can be..

One is sure: when I'm having any issues with mvmnts that need the intervention of my watchsmith were the A7750-s: bad oiling, the mvm itself is "rough", the dents arent machined as good and carefully as the swiss ones, all in all the quality and the building of the asians and my experience with these make me tell you that you should choose/buid in swiss ones whenever you have the option/funds for it.

FYI: my watches with swiss ETA and never any issues with these (HBB Tuiga, 288, 104, 088, DSSD, Breitling SA (ok this is a gen watch so this doesnt cont here ) FM Conquistador)
Issues despite there were serviced in deep (!): Volcano 3-4 times, AP BT, Hublot King Power: all asians..

 

[Henry J. Miller]

A question about the middle movement. It seems to be relatively new - any feedback on it?
Mingzhu movement - ?

Taiwan Shiying movement ETA 2836 - ?

Real Swiss made ETA 2836 movement

Thanks and Happy 2013

 

[Henry J. Miller]

I have no idea what happened in my above post - but if one highlights the area below the 1st sentence, the text appears.

 

[Raddave]

I have no idea what happened in my above post - but if one highlights the area below the 1st sentence, the text appears.

Its there....zoom in on it....Black font on black background?

 

[symbolic]

I'm looking to buy a few Rolex with the 3135 movement and I see you mentioned that you purchased a watch with the 3135 movement - would you say it is the closest to authentic as possible?

 

[Click]

Asia super clones

How do I purchase one of the Asia super clone

Thanks

 

[clevelandy]

Thank you for taking the time to package all this info in one place. The more you learn about what was true three years ago, the more I wonder what I am missing today. Again thank you for sharing this knowledge and the various opinions/perspectives on the matter.

 

[vevcom]

ASIA 2813 :166USD
ASIA 2836 :266USD
SWISS ETA 2836 : 366USD

so i garner from this thread, the swiss eta 2836 will be smoother and less likely to breakdown than the asia 2836.
But what exactly am I getting? I don't plan to open any watch, so how will i know or feel the difference?
On the reliability issue, what is the average life (without breaking) of the 2 movements?

 

[Q5?]

ASIA 2813 :166USD
ASIA 2836 :266USD
SWISS ETA 2836 : 366USD

so i garner from this thread, the swiss eta 2836 will be smoother and less likely to breakdown than the asia 2836.
But what exactly am I getting? I don't plan to open any watch, so how will i know or feel the difference?
On the reliability issue, what is the average life (without breaking) of the 2 movements?

It all depends on how it was assembled and luck. The QC on each part is not Gen like.

 

[madmex]

I have owned many reps for many years.

I've also owned many gen watches.

I've owned
Miyota 8215: a workhorse, installed on Citizen Automatic watches, Invictas

DG2813s: The cheap movement option in reps. This movement is hit or miss... in my experience it is not reliable for long. It may work flawlessly here and there, will also stop every now and then without explanation. I've owned a handful and I avoid this movement now.

ETA 2824/48/36, 2892A2, 7750/51, 2890 with Dubois Depraz modules
gen new movements are very reliable. The reconditioned movements that have been used in reps are not as reliable as the superclones (in my experience). I've owned watches with rusty parts, debris, stop and go movements, etc. Nightmares! The plus is if you can source a gen movement you can swap it and the hands fit just fine. Sometimes the clone parts work too (sometimes).


Asia superclone 28xx gold plated (Guangzhou 6xxx?)--very reliable, well finished gold-plated movements. These generally look brand new but they are marked 2836-2 ETA etc.

Asia Superclone nickel plated & decorated (TY 2130): Looks like a great movement, and has been tested to be a very good performer! marked 2824-2 at times

Asia Superclone 2892A2, 21 Jewel, SeaGull ST 18: I own one of these and it is finished beautifully, and performs very well. It is one of the most precise movements as far as reliability and timekeeping when on my wrist.

ST19 (Venus 75-like hw chrono, column wheel). This is a workhorse, but I have also owned one that wasn't as reliable... the clickspring busted on mine. One of the dial fastening holes on the main plate was cross-threaded and worn out.

Stellita SW-200: I own a top grade version of this and it is a very good performer. It is a clone of the 2824-2 with an extra jewel (26).

 

[Chrononna]

i would personally go for Asian superclones for the price consideration

 

[Odyseus]

I'm looking to buy a few Rolex with the 3135 movement and I see you mentioned that you purchased a watch with the 3135 movement - would you say it is the closest to authentic as possible?

Well sort of?
I believe that are two versions of this movement now. The earlier versions suffered from broken stems (& I assume the later one's don't).

They are very close to the gen 3135, except that the balance wheel assembly is a lot simpler.

The advantage you get with this movement, is that the hand setting turns the same way as gen and you can fit a gen DW.

In theory, you should be able to fit a gen dial and hands - although several posts seem cast doubt on this.
The other advantage is that the case should be closer to gen with the crown in the correct place (although the makers just use a normal 2836 case and use a different spacer).

The reliability of the movement is pretty good (It's not quite as complicated as an Asian 2836-2) but build quality means that they really need a service for reliable long life.

I want to get a DSSD with one fitted, so that I can take it apart