What is the difference between a BCE V2 and V3?

[vanatic99]

Can anyone explain what the difference between a Breitling Chrono Evolution V 2 and V 3 is? Thank you.
Troy

 

[tohami1966]

V2 is more accurate and of higher price accordingly

1. the dial colors is more close to the genuine especially in the white and blue watch dials
(for example the white color of version 3 is a little bit off-white)

2. the gold plating of the TT models is much more correct regarding its tone in V2

i think there are other differences but these 2 mentioned above can be easily spotted comparing my watch V2 to my friend watch V3

so I think u should go for V2
regards

 

[rooster133]

The V3 is the one you should get. The key difference is that it comes with the correct datewheel. The V2 had a datewheel upgrade but it wasn't correct yet, so it's an immediate tell.

 

[tohami1966]

Rooster is right regarding this particular issue, the date wheel font is more correct in V3
YOU WILL NOT GET ALL U NEED IN A SINGLE REPLICA WATCH
now the comparison list is increasing, so you will know what exactly u prefer, remember u r not buy a gen.
regards

 

[jvd45]

yes it depends on your dial preference.. i got a v3 graphite..it is accurate colour. quality of the dial finish while awesome is still below that of a gen... but then you already knew that.

 

[sconehead]

I always thought the V3 was just a V2 with an updated DW...

 

[rooster133]

The problem is that different users and dealers call the different versions different names... It's very confusing. I have a BCE V2 with Lello datewheel and a V3 (or 4 depending on who you listen to). I do consider the V2 plus Lello the ultimate BCE. But without the correct DW to me the V2 is a monstruosity.

I have copied below a post by yodap on RG, which provides his perspective on all the different versions. You may find it useful (not sure if it's somewhere on RWI already):

V1 BCE:
+Correct length minute markers at 14,16,29,31,44 ...
-Dark hands
-Wrong datefont
-No AR
-No tick after 10 @ min counter
-Constant serial numbers
-Visible crown tube

V2 BCE:
+Correct silver hands
+AR
+Tick after 10 @ min counter
+Better datefont (still not good enough)
+Running serials
+BEST BRACELET OF ALL REP BCEs
+MOST 'CRISP' DIAL OF ALL REP BCEs
+Invisible crown tube
-Incorrect length minute markers at 14,16,29,31,44 ...

V3 BCE:
+Correct silver hands
+AR
+Tick after 10 @ min counter
+Correct datefont
+Running serials
+Invisible crown tube
-Crooked logo on dial
-Worse bracelet than V2
-Incorrect length minute markers at 14,16,29,31,44 ...

V4 BCE:
+Correct length minute markers at 14,16,29,31,44 ...
+Correct datefont
+Correct silver hands
+AR on TT models
+Tick after 10 @ min counter
-Yellowish AR reported on non TT models (CONFIRMED)
-Constant serial numbers
-Visible crown tube

 

[iphreak]

Thanks for that Rooster, I have not seen that before

 

[sconehead]

I've seen this before. Notice on the 'V4' the 1 second marker is too long, also I have a V2 bracelet and it's exactly the same as a V3 imho...

As a side note, the original V2 graphite dial I owned never had the concentric rings etched into the dial whereas the V3 does, albeit in a scruffy manner when viewed through a loupe...

 

[tommy_boy]

Thanks for that Rooster, I have not seen that before

+1

 

[vanatic99]

Why would the V2 be more expensive than the V3 on every site I have looked at? I am soooooooooo confused!!! I just ordered the BCE TT with white face from Hont, but I didn't specify a "V" version, so I don't really know what I am getting.

 

[rooster133]

As a side note, the original V2 graphite dial I owned never had the concentric rings etched into the dial whereas the V3 does, albeit in a scruffy manner when viewed through a loupe...

And to make things even messier, I have owned two BCE V2s, one with concentric rings, and one without! :swoon: Go figure!

Why would the V2 be more expensive than the V3 on every site I have looked at? I am soooooooooo confused!!! I just ordered the BCE TT with white face from Hont, but I didn't specify a "V" version, so I don't really know what I am getting.

It shouldn't be IMO. Maybe it's because some dealers have the old price still up from when the rep was newer and hence dearer? If you look at any BCE with an older datewheel in the second-hand rep market, you'll see what they're really worth... which is very little. And careful with your order. I would insist in your order that he ships out the rep with the latest datewheel (ask him to check before positing). Hont is still sending out BCEs with the V1 datewheel.

 

[vanatic99]

Is it a V2, V3, V4 or V5???

This is what Hont is getting ready to send me. Is it a V2, V3, V4 or V5???

 

[jvd45]

I've seen this before. Notice on the 'V4' the 1 second marker is too long, also I have a V2 bracelet and it's exactly the same as a V3 imho...

As a side note, the original V2 graphite dial I owned never had the concentric rings etched into the dial whereas the V3 does, albeit in a scruffy manner when viewed through a loupe...

thank you rooster very informative. not seen that before as I only belong to one rep forum.

hows the PO sconehead? (smiling but secretly envious)
+1 on the scruffy dial concentric rings. dont need loupe to see breaks in mine. otherwise good to know that bracelet is identical. and good spot on the 1 second marker... im sniffing planned obsolescence here,.... why bother doing the rest right then not the 1? v5?

planning to franken mine ~(3 things- one of which is optional- )- review to follow shortly

 

[vanatic99]

Yodap, who wrote the V1, V2, V3 and V4 review referenced earleir in the thread responded and sayes "Its a nice V4. There is no such thing as a V5." Does anyone disagree with that?

 

[jvd45]

This is what Hont is getting ready to send me. Is it a V2, V3, V4 or V5???

v4- 1 sec length
read roosters post...

Hont is still sending out BCEs with the V1 datewheel even when asked for the latest version, and he's acting like he doesn't know the difference. Maybe he doesn't, but it does come across as rather odd.

my v3 from Hont has correct datewheel. he must know the diff. surely. maybe you have to insist on it rather than say latest or best version to eliminate any ignorance feigned or otherwise. By most accounts he is a gentleman with integrity so I'd have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[sconehead]

Just noticed on your pic from Hont the 1sec+46 sec marks are too long, this, along with the updated DW, means jvd is correct in telling you it's a V4...

 

[jvd45]

woohoo,.. got it right did I?? it was a wild guess ...lol j/k

apologies for the minor thread jack here but did you get a lot of lowball pms for the PO sconehead? I was gonna offer 65 rupees hehehe

p.s. see you've got a pic of my ex as an avatar! How is she these days?

 

[hk45ca]

v4 and v5? who thought that up? my v1 has a better (smoother) case and bracelet, pushers and crown that the v2 or v3. better date font than a v2, the same ar, it doesn't have dark hands but it does have lighter concentric rings on the dial.

i will keep my v1 over a v2 any day. the only thing about a v3 that is better is the date font and concentric rings. the older white dial bce is white with gold pearl over it as per the model of gen it was repped from. the newer ones are white with silver pearl over it as per the newer gens. the dial colors are correct on both of them.

 

[jvd45]

v4 and v5? who thought that up? my v1 has a better (smoother) case and bracelet, pushers and crown that the v2 or v3. better date font than a v2, the same ar, it doesn't have dark hands but it does have lighter concentric rings on the dial.

good info HK! Im learining more day by day. from roosters pics , you could call a correct datefont , correct minute marker (except fothe i minute marker flaw?- also seen in the v1) v1 a v4?

Im sure the v1 is an amazing rep. I dont see a 10 tick on the v1 tho. Whereas on the OP's post it has the characteristics (although not the build of the v1). Was it a v3 with a v1 dial? or a v1 with a v3 dw correct font? neither IMHO because it is correct datefont as per v3 , correct minute markers as v1, buuutt it has 10tick....hence v4

i will keep my v1 over a v2 any day. the only thing about a v3 that is better is the date font and concentric rings. the older white dial bce is white with gold pearl over it as per the model of gen it was repped from.

concentric rings on my v3 is not good but there are there at least. overall a lovely watch,.... for what i paid for it.. an absolute steal. I've heard that the v3 was repped from a graphite dial, is this hogwash HK?