The VSF Submariners Thread

[Frankieboy]

I have just received my VSF Sub no date and I love it. A real noobie question, the bracelet feels a little 'rough and clanky' I have seen lots of posts around an 'oil bath' and this could give it a much more smooth and buttery feel similar to the gen.

I just want to make sure I understand the steps correctly before attempting. Firstly, remove the bracelet, place the bracelet in a zip bag with enough baby oil to cover, and through the bag, massage the oil into the bracelet, remove the bracelet and clean and dry.

A couple of questions,
1. I have seen references to baby oil and dry lube, which is better for the smooth finish?
2. How long should the bracelet stay in the bag?
3. Do i remove the glide clasp before placing the bracelet in the bag?
4. Whats the best method the clean the oil/lub off the bracelet after coming out the bag ?

Thanks all.

 

[JustWatching]

I have just received my VSF Sub no date and I love it. A real noobie question, the bracelet feels a little 'rough and clanky' I have seen lots of posts around an 'oil bath' and this could give it a much more smooth and buttery feel similar to the gen.

I just want to make sure I understand the steps correctly before attempting. Firstly, remove the bracelet, place the bracelet in a zip bag with enough baby oil to cover, and through the bag, massage the oil into the bracelet, remove the bracelet and clean and dry.

A couple of questions,
1. I have seen references to baby oil and dry lube, which is better for the smooth finish?
2. How long should the bracelet stay in the bag?
3. Do i remove the glide clasp before placing the bracelet in the bag?
4. Whats the best method the clean the oil/lub off the bracelet after coming out the bag ?

Thanks all.

I am very much a noob myself and had this same question, after recieving my VSF 124060. After asking around I the forum, I went with the dry lube option. I simply applied it to each joint in the bracelet and worked it in before wiping away with some kitchen roll.

Not sure if this is the 100% best way to go about it, but my bracelet felt so much smoother afterwards. I've since taken it one step further and used a burgeon 2290 file to soften the edges of the bracelet and it honestly feels amazing now.

 

[Frankieboy]

I am very much a noob myself and had this same question, after recieving my VSF 124060. After asking around I the forum, I went with the dry lube option. I simply applied it to each joint in the bracelet and worked it in before wiping away with some kitchen roll.

Not sure if this is the 100% best way to go about it, but my bracelet felt so much smoother afterwards. I've since taken it one step further and used a burgeon 2290 file to soften the edges of the bracelet and it honestly feels amazing now.

Thank you so much, it's good to know others have the same questions. I am now going to try this method. Did you use the 2290 only on the edges or also on the 'face' of the bracelet links ? does the bracelet feel smoother now ?. Once again thanks for replying.

 

[JustWatching]

Thank you so much, it's good to know others have the same questions. I am now going to try this method. Did you use the 2290 only on the edges or also on the 'face' of the bracelet links ? does the bracelet feel smoother now ?. Once again thanks for replying.

Just on the edges. I was very careful not to scratch the face or the polished edges. And yes it feels a lot smoother.

 

[JustWatching]

While I'm in this thread.I'm thinking of doing a bit of a franken of a franken using a CF 124060 case and bracelet, with some VSF parts. Does anyone know if the VSF crystal, dial and bezel would compatible with a CF case. Just wanna see if anyone has any experience with this sort of thing, before I contact any moddeds to ask the question.

 

[TimeBandit70]

While I'm in this thread.I'm thinking of doing a bit of a franken of a franken using a CF 124060 case and bracelet, with some VSF parts. Does anyone know if the VSF crystal, dial and bezel would compatible with a CF case. Just wanna see if anyone has any experience with this sort of thing, before I contact any moddeds to ask the question.

I am in the process of doing this. I sent the VSF off for servicing and have a deep crystal on order. Once the VSF comes back it will go into my CF case with the VSF clasp. And the remaining parts will go in the VSF case. Be careful with the bezel, I understand that the six digit references are much more difficult. I’m leaving the bezels with their original cases.

 

[mirror]

2r serials have been there for more than a year.

Unsure of what you meant by immediately befor q66. It sounded like an interim short lived batch so I have to just put out here so people who are unfamiliar won't get the wrong idea.

Apologies in advance, if I understood you wrongly.

Hi ,this code, vsf submariner 126610 ln : 2R8S serial wilch year and quality movement is you have information ?

 

[JustWatching]

I am in the process of doing this. I sent the VSF off for servicing and have a deep crystal on order. Once the VSF comes back it will go into my CF case with the VSF clasp. And the remaining parts will go in the VSF case. Be careful with the bezel, I understand that the six digit references are much more difficult. I’m leaving the bezels with their original cases.

Any reason for the deep crystal over the VSF?

 

[muiramas]

Any reason for the deep crystal over the VSF?

No. It’s a big downgrade actually!

 

[TimeBandit70]

No. It’s a big downgrade actually!

Why is it a downgrade?

 

[Thomas_M]

Why is it a downgrade?

Because Deep has double AR, in and out, while gen (and VSF) only has AR on the inner side. So VSF is gen spec while Deep is not.

 

[Watch_Tinkerer]

@Thomas_M what about VSF and Clark's crystal? or Clark's and ARF?

 

[TimeBandit70]

Because Deep has double AR, in and out, while gen (and VSF) only has AR on the inner side. So VSF is gen spec while Deep is not.

Understood, but I think the Deep looks better.

 

[Thomas_M]

@Thomas_M what about VSF and Clark's crystal? or Clark's and ARF?

As far as I know, Clark’s also uses double AR so not gen spec as well for 126610/124060.

ARFs crystals are similar quality to Clean’s. Clean’s crystal for 124060/126610 don’t have any AR so also not gen spec.

Your best bet is to go for gen crystal. It’s a complete game changer. The shine and glare it gives make the whole watch pop. It also improves the clarity and deepness of the dial color. Crystal is the biggest visible part of your watch so going for gen crystal is the best investment.

My superfranken 124060 has gen crystal and there’s no comparison to stock Clean or even to stock VSF crystal. Gen Crystal changes the look completely.

Cheers,
- Tom

 

[Thomas_M]

Understood, but I think the Deep looks better.

It may look better in terms of the deepness of the dial color and overall clarity thanks to double AR but I wouldn’t put a crystal that is not gen spec. It’s not that easy to change crystal on 6-digit Rolex comparing to 4 or 5 digit refs. So if I were to do this job I would definitely prefer to install the one that is gen spec.

Cheers
- Tom

 

[Watch_Tinkerer]

As far as I know, Clark’s also uses double AR so not gen spec as well for 126610/124060.

ARFs crystals are similar quality to Clean’s. Clean’s crystal for 124060/126610 don’t have any AR so also not gen spec.

Your best bet is to go for gen crystal. It’s a complete game changer. The shine and glare it gives make the whole watch pop. It also improves the clarity and deepness of the dial color. Crystal is the biggest visible part of your watch so going for gen crystal is the best investment.

My superfranken 124060 has gen crystal and there’s no comparison to stock Clean or even to stock VSF crystal. Gen Crystal changes the look completely.

Cheers,
- Tom

I got a sub 116610, and i recently changed the AR stock crystal for a Clark, and before i purchased the Clark i reached out and asked if the AR coating was applied to the underside of the crystal and they said only to the date window. I saw your reply to TimeBandit70 and you are 1000% correct haha replacing the crystal on 6-digit sub is not easy. I damaged 3 retaining rings trying to press it back down, i made a post about it. This is good feedback, perhaps for my next build i will get a gen crystal before of going through the struggle of pressing that retaining ring down.

 

[Reaps]

You will find that Deep on the VSF Submariners is pretty much unnecessary. While I love Deep, I only think it's really necessary on Daytona... and Clean models. And even Clean new watches are pretty ok despite all the hububub about how terrible their crystals are. I had a GMT and 126x Daytona crystal replaced with Deep and could barely tell the difference despite (not to humble brag) my experience with replicas and details. Maybe if you squint the cyclops is better and that's it.

 

[Karabas55]

Understood, but I think the Deep looks better.

what exactly is better on deep? the clarity? can you visually see the difference between vsf, deep and gen crystals?

 

[CycleBuyer]

I'll say this respectfully: I think everyone including me is crazy.

Yes you can tell a slight difference if you look for it.

In general though we are obsessing over minutiae. The authentic manufacturers sometimes generate inconsistencies that only people on this forum tend to notice. I'd wager nobody in the wild would be able to tell without grabbing your arm and staring whether you've got a recent rep or not, let alone which factory etc.

I wouldn't stress about this.

 

[hollabizack12]

I think there's a good difference between gen and the rest. Specifically in the cyclops. I don't have a good eye neither do I care very much. But I do have two frankens with gen crystals and the difference is easy noticable between deep, clean, VSF and gen. Now the differences between the reps, those are small imo. The new dj from clean I was surprised with how good ghe crystal is.