VSF 116610LV - For $600, how would you mod it?

[pyr0watch]

Hi all, new member asking my first noob question:

I just pulled the trigger on a VSF Hulk and I'm wondering how to best mod it to look a bit closer to gen and improve both feel and reliability with out going beyond doubling my purchase price.

I've lurked and read for a bit but, a lot of the answers seem to be buried in 200+ page threads that seem a bit daunting. My goal is to take a watch that looks ~95% like gen to me and get it to ~97%, feel slightly more gen-like (particularly winding/setting), and run reliably within (or near) COSC chronometer standard.

Based on my reading, I'm thinking something like:

Clean dial and bezel insert
Deep crystal
Gen crown, crown tube, and canon pinion (first two for feel, last to address what seems to be a "weak point" of the clone movement)
Movement service including new gaskets with pressure test for WR.

I haven't priced every piece yet but, I'm guessing this is in the ballpark. Am I being realistic? What would you do differently?

 

[Reaps]

Do you have the watch in hand?

VSF Base

Clean dial or gen dial

Insert is optional, very expensive for what you'll get back in return - invest it towards a gen dial if you can find one. I would prefer gen hands for the white gold sheen.

Deep crystal unnecessary on VSF, gen only worthwhile upgrade

Crown/tube sure, I don't think it's that necessary but it's your flavor/preference

VS3135 is a tank, just get it serviced, although rep movement is rep movement, you can get it into COSC range but no promises it'll stay that way with daily wear.

 

[asusundevils1971]

I just pulled the trigger on a VSF Hulk and I'm wondering how to best mod it to look a bit closer to gen and improve both feel and reliability with out going beyond doubling my purchase price.

Reaps already gave you some great ideas but you have to realise that replacing rep parts with gen parts is going to be very expensive and you mentioned you don't want to double the price of your watch. If you get the movement fully serviced you are already looking at $250 - $300 US, then add another $50 for pressure test and that will include greasing your gaskets.

VSF Subs OOTB are so close to gen you really don't need to mess with them and I would wait till you receive the watch and wear it for five or six months.

 

[Rx4Time]

I have a VSF sub from before the first raid, so it's what, about 4 years old now, and never been serviced, all stock. It looks and functions as good as the day I got it keeps time phenomenally well, within a couple of seconds per day. Save your money, enjoy it as is because the visual improvement vs cost isn't worthwhile with VSF. If the movement has issue, service it otherwise enjoy it as is and put the funds towards another replica. General rule is if it's going to have movement issues, usually they happen in the first month or two, otherwise most high end clone movements will run for many years without issue. Things can happen at any point, yes, but most will be fine.

 

[pyr0watch]

Do you have the watch in hand?

VSF Base

Clean dial or gen dial

Insert is optional, very expensive for what you'll get back in return - invest it towards a gen dial if you can find one. I would prefer gen hands for the white gold sheen.

Deep crystal unnecessary on VSF, gen only worthwhile upgrade

Crown/tube sure, I don't think it's that necessary but it's your flavor/preference

VS3135 is a tank, just get it serviced, although rep movement is rep movement, you can get it into COSC range but no promises it'll stay that way with daily wear.

Not yet. Just approved QC. I'm brainstorming now as it seems l may have to wait a while before a trusted shop can get to it. I'd love a gen dial but, aren't they several thousand for the hulk? It seems the hulk dial is impossible to match convincingly but, clean looks close enough for me.

Is the clean bezel insert that expensive or just not that different? From most pics I've seen, the markings look noticeably brighter and closer to gen.

It seems like the only approaches that make sense are either just tweak with gen crystal + clean dial and the service to stay near budget or up the budget and start to really franken it up.

Like @asusundevils1971 suggested, I might just wear it a while and then decide how much (if anything) I really want to put into it.

Thank you both.

 

[Rx4Time]

You should read this comparison. VSF uses clean inserts unless something changed in not aware of.

The "Who Has the Best Hulk" Review

Sorry for the late review, I postponed the public blind vote for another week because there were too few votes, but the extra week didn’t give us more votes. I got emails and PMs every day asking when this review is going to reveal since they are waiting for the review to make the decision of...

forum.replica-watch.info

 

[Reaps]

Not yet. Just approved QC. I'm brainstorming now as it seems l may have to wait a while before a trusted shop can get to it. I'd love a gen dial but, aren't they several thousand for the hulk? It seems the hulk dial is impossible to match convincingly but, clean looks close enough for me.

Is the clean bezel insert that expensive or just not that different? From most pics I've seen, the markings look noticeably brighter and closer to gen.

It seems like the only approaches that make sense are either just tweak with gen crystal + clean dial and the service to stay near budget or up the budget and start to really franken it up.

Like @asusundevils1971 suggested, I might just wear it a while and then decide how much (if anything) I really want to put into it.

Thank you both.

The platinum plating on the gen insert is superior to reps, but is it worth the extra money to you? Not familiar with the Hulk insert prices off the top of my head but probably at least 2k? They're not easily found.

Rolex Submariner "HULK" Ceramic Bezel Insert for 116610LV FCD20229 | eBay

100% Authentic Rolex. Feel Free to ask if this will fit your Rolex.

www.ebay.com

That's 7-8 VSF replicas. Is the shinier platnium insert really worth it?

Here's some base line examples. $5000-6000 for your dial, hands, and insert....

[FOR SALE] - 116610LV HULK Set – Bezel, Dial, Hands

What is this all about ? 116610LV HULK Set – Bezel, Dial, Hands Location : EU Will ship to : Worldwide Accepted payment methods : TranferWise, Revolut, PayPal Gift (prefer TranferWise & Revolut). Piece origin : Other What warranty will you provide ? : Guaranteed 1OO% Genuine What kind...

forum.replica-watch.info

 

[pyr0watch]

The platinum plating on the gen insert is superior to reps, but is it worth the extra money to you? Not familiar with the Hulk insert prices off the top of my head but probably at least 2k? They're not easily found.

Rolex Submariner "HULK" Ceramic Bezel Insert for 116610LV FCD20229 | eBay

100% Authentic Rolex. Feel Free to ask if this will fit your Rolex.

www.ebay.com

That's 7-8 VSF replicas. Is the shinier platnium insert really worth it?

Here's some base line examples. $5000-6000 for your dial, hands, and insert....

[FOR SALE] - 116610LV HULK Set – Bezel, Dial, Hands

What is this all about ? 116610LV HULK Set – Bezel, Dial, Hands Location : EU Will ship to : Worldwide Accepted payment methods : TranferWise, Revolut, PayPal Gift (prefer TranferWise & Revolut). Piece origin : Other What warranty will you provide ? : Guaranteed 1OO% Genuine What kind...

forum.replica-watch.info

Thanks. I was thinking more about clean's insert as earlier pics I saw made it look closer to gen but, @Rx4Time noted that VSF apparently uses clean's insert now. I guess I should just wait and see how it looks to me in person. Maybe I'll like VSF's dial more as well once I see it in the metal.

If that's the case, it seems like the only question is whether I feel like getting gen crystal + hands thrown on when I have it serviced.

 

[heska]

It's all about personnal taste but IMHO the first part I would change on a 6 digits submariner would be the hands. None exept ARF maybe have this very subtle chamfer on edges that will make them shine. Not eay to spot on pictures but IRL it's really pop a lot more.

 

[heska]

And yes, canon pinion. But you can wait that the rep part fail before changing it

 

[derjenigewelcher]

people are thinking way to much. 600 usd? for 700 usd i get 2x. new VSF Hulks from wechatdealer.
visual improvement on a VS, i think dial and hands. but not for 600.
technical, i would add a CLEAN bracelet and gen click springs, thats it. Period. (For any sub)

 

[pompompurin]

i would blow the 600 usd on a gen crystal and gen date disc. Maybe a VR3135 movement or just the calendar plate as well, if the dates aren't aligned well on the VS3135 movement. Everything else on the watch is fine to me