Which is the best midcase/bracelet combo for an ultrafranken 116610?

[sfgerl]

(Other than a Rolex, of course!) I'm really not inclined to break up watches for parts, but... out of curiosity -

If you had on hand a Rolex 3135 movement & many other gen parts, what are the top 3 combinations would you rank in terms of closest to gen?

Midcase choices: V7 Noob vs. V6S vs. TC vs. VSF (pre-raid S19)

Bracelet choices: ARF vs. V6S vs. TC vs. VSF (pre-raid with 7GJ clasp)

 

[Stas Roblev]

VSF S19 rehaut is trash. Most VSF rehauts the submariner batches are trash. If anything, Clean has the best rehaut (engraving depth, font, and alignment). The problem is that the Clean 116610 mid case is 0.3mm shorter L2L than the gen (see Steve’s comparison on his website) and the CGs don’t have the best angle. VSF is the complete opposite of Clean. Very rarely, you can find a VSF 116610 with a good rehaut. That’s really the only problem.

 

[Adam_Smith]

VSF S19 rehaut is trash. Most VSF rehauts the submariner batches are trash. If anything, Clean has the best rehaut (engraving depth, font, and alignment). The problem is that the Clean 116610 mid case is 0.3mm shorter L2L than the gen (see Steve’s comparison on his website) and the CGs don’t have the best angle. VSF is the complete opposite of Clean. Very rarely, you can find a VSF 116610 with a good rehaut. That’s really the only problem.

I think the best VSF rehaut is batch 802B. Precisely the one that, in theory, uses the inner ring of V7F. But it looks great, and the alignment is impeccable.

 

[sfgerl]

Very rarely, you can find a VSF 116610 with a good rehaut. That’s really the only problem.

I hear what you are saying about the rehaut, but for me, that is not as important as the overall case shape and dimensions. Forgetting Ruby or Phong or other VN suppliers, which of the cases below would you say is the most 1:1 with gen? (I have all of them) In other words, which case would require the least (external) modding to make it gen-like?

V7 Noob?
V6S?
TC?
VSF ?

 

[pompompurin]

I think the best VSF rehaut is batch 802B. Precisely the one that, in theory, uses the inner ring of V7F. But it looks great, and the alignment is impeccable.

Speaking of 802b serial, I just saw this thread which might interest everyone. Not sure if this is still relevant since this was from 2021, and I don't know much about 116610.

https://forum.replica-watch.info/th...ubmariner-case-kit-and-serial-number.9743626/

Some of you might have received QC pics from your dealers of your Hulk Submariner with serial starting with 802B on the rehaut. It is not from VSF.

VSF has already stepped forward to confirm this and have asked me to let everyone know about this.

VSF will like to clarify that they only have S18, S19 and S29 serials for the 40mm Submariners at the moment, with S29 as the latest one.

 

[sfgerl]

It was about 2 or 3 years ago - can't recall - when I got my VSF with the S19 SN. It still has the protective stickers on the back!

Apart from the rehaut, how does the outer case shape/dimensions compare to the others I have mentioned?

 

[DC109]

@sfgerl if you are only interested in the modern era ceramic bezel subs, then you do not want TC, Ruby, or the other Viet case resellers like Phong and MQ. None of them do modern cases. All older four digit and five digit models (like 1680 and 16610). Good luck!

 

[Reaps]

TC case doesn't fit gen bracelet I think, this was mentioned somewhere, and it has no engravings between lugs, so it isn't necessarily the best case.

 

[Winni1611]

I would suggest italien bracelet. The best quality you can get beside gen.