Who has the best Sub? - Perhaps the definitive answer?- TC Sub

[arcadia]

Yeah raffle one, way to go Col!

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Enjoying CNY here.

 

[stev35]

Looking forward to this...

 

[tribal]

So I think the TC Case is nice for the money. The bezel
is still wrong. Sean's looks even better but cost a lot more.
If TC is able to get the cases without Rehaut engravings this will be a good base for the bugs.
After CNY we know more.

 

[Bonesey]

If it comes as a base case set you can sand off the engravings yourself as long as they are not too deep.

 

[arcadia]

So I think the TC Case is nice for the money. The bezel
is still wrong. Sean's looks even better but cost a lot more.
If TC is able to get the cases without Rehaut engravings this will be a good base for the bugs.
After CNY we know more.

If you have the dough, would you get the Sean case over TC, tribal?

 

[correctime]

If it comes as a base case set you can sand off the engravings yourself as long as they are not too deep.

+1...but to me it looks like the engraving is pretty deep. Guess tah will depend on the size of the dial.

 

[correctime]

If you have the dough, would you get the Sean case over TC, tribal?

??

 

[rsh]

Sean case is very nice, however the bracelet I had at hand was not so good, poor finish. I made a noob strap fit. This was a build for a friend here. My concern with the sean case was the lack of a factory provided movement ring for something other than the 3135.

 

[tc670207]

I'll talk to the case manufacturer about none rehaut engraving cases. But I believe it'll take some time for them to digest the request. After all, we are really not their main business revenue source. These guys are targeting their domestic market, a market of 1.5 billion people.

 

[grifter]

TC can you see about an option of no rehaut engraving AND lug holes I love lug holes

 

[ALE7575]

I'll talk to the case manufacturer about none rehaut engraving cases. But I believe it'll take some time for them to digest the request. After all, we are really not their main business revenue source. These guys are targeting their domestic market, a market of 1.5 billion people.

Thanks TC for your information
Please keep us informed
ALE

 

[ALE7575]

The new V2 bracelet for the TC Sub

Tc informs about his researchs concerning the best SS bracelet for his Tc Sub.
This is the review of his bracelet V2

I want to introduce to you one of my latest findings during my CNY visits. I call it TC 93250 Bracelet V2.

I had a dinner with TC Submariner watchcase maker and his family. A lot of alcohol was consumed, a lot of red envelops were given to the children, and I asked him to refer a good bracelet maker so my TC Submariner would look better. A bracelet maker that his product is better than TC 92350 V1 maker.


Let's first review how gen SEL looks when fitted on gen watchcase. Notice there is no gap or play between the SEL and the case lugs.


The gen SEL sits just a tiny bit lower than the lugs surface. Note these pictures are taken from macro lenses. In reality, the height difference is very, very hard to notice.



This is gen mid link curve that chefcook pointed out a very important gen feature most rep bracelet makers ignored or just can't make.


Let's take a look at gen SEL finish.



Then the gen engravings within the trench of the SEL:


I met the V2 bracelet maker the next day. I'll just call him TC 93250 V2 maker.

Let's see TC 93250 V2's end link and its engraving. The construction is right, but it looks like it is a little bit thicker than gen.

The laser engraving fonts and placing looks right, but it is like the laser output was turned too high it actually burnt the steel surface. Nonetheless V2 quality appears to be better than V1.



Let's then check polishing job on the edge of the bracelet I mentioned lack on V1: It still has very sharp edge on surface side.


Here on the reverse side, the edges is slightly polished. A good sign of a well made bracelet.


I want to check how TC 93250 V2 Bracelet fits on the watchcase. Here's the fitment on TC Sub m-series:




It looks very good! Let's check the 12 o'clock side, this is still with the m-series case:




Notice TC 93250 V2's SEL sits just a tad higher on the m-series case than gen.

Now let's take a look at how V2's SEL fits on TC Sub v-series case:






V2's SEL sits at exactly the same height as gen does on v-series, as if V2's SEL is made matched to v-series case.

The clasp has slightly better polishing than V1. Note the V1 clasp is already good enough. The edges of safety buckle and clasp are mirror polished they are brighter, smoother than my gen clasp. Pictures of TC 93250 V2 clasp are available in my TC Submariner 16610 M-Series post.

V2 clasp operates smoothly and firmly with no play at all when opening and closing it. This is a unique feature only brand new gen clasp has. Over the time I have read on forums how good the quality legendary BK/wm9/wm10/TW Sub is. The thing surprised me is that the V2 engravings on the clasp matches the legendary BK/wm9/wm10/TW clasp from coolchu's review. Same DE6 initial and SWISS MADE without space between the two words.

Did I just find the holy grail? I don't know. There are thousands of bracelet makers in GD province and I have only visited 1/10th of them.

Now back to specs, width of TC 93250 V2 SEL is 20.13 mm. Length from lug to lug of TC Submariner Watchcase is 20.17 mm. There is still 0.04 mm gap in total, that is, 0.02 mm gap on each side. Gen's tolerance is only 0.01 mm in total, that is 0.005 mm on each side.

In conclusion, TC 93250 V2 Bracelet is an upgrade rather than the final solution in my pursuit of the perfect Submariner.

In terms of cost, the V2 bracelet maker didn't take my business directly because I could not fulfill his minimum order requirement so I was directed to his sales rep in GZ market. That guy asked $60 per piece. I pointed out so many details I don't like about, some I made up though, then we close the deal at $39. That's one thing I like doing business with Chinese, they take dollars!

A side note, people are wrong about dealers in GZ market don't open for business during CNY. In fact, Jan 5 in Lunar Calendar is one of their major business day of the year they call it "Spring Gathering". Dealers from all around China, South East Asia, and Russia gathered on that day and make major trades of the year. Once deal is made, gourmet food, alcohol, girls, and unthinkable games are on the table. But it is invitation only. Sorry, no pics here, those are rated R.

Thanks for reading

TC

 

[ALE7575]

Movement and date wheel of the TC Sub

Another TC thread about news of the Tc sub

Part I of II


A member asked me if I could cost down a little bit as spending $500 plus for a rep watch is extreme. While I was at my seller's place I turned this question to him and I got an answer to this. See gen ETA 2824 is retailing for $180 nowadays and the price will only go up. Gen ETA 2678 is only retailing for $80. This is a lady's size automatic movement that functions all the same like 2824 or 2836. The power reserve is 38 hours, but it performs nothing less than its bigger brothers.

So I brought back several 2678s and the movement retaining rings that is designed dedicated to house the small movement into a gen construction TC Sub watchcase.

Here are the parts: we've got the watchcase, the case back, the bezel assembly, crystal, dial and hands set, the bezel insert, gen ETA 2678 with the movement retaining ring a.k.a movement holder, and crown/tube set.


The movement holder is of an ingenious design! It secures the 2678 movement by movement's own screws that were used to secure the clamps. The assembled movement and movement holder works like a full size watch movement that flushes into the watchcase. Then the screws fastened the whole gut to the watchcase like a gen 3135 does to a gen watchcase. Notice there's no clamps here whatsorever. This is by far the most advanced way I have seen to house a movement, only seen in a Rolex. No big brands, not even Omega or Pams have adapted such an ingenious way to house the movement in their watchcases.



A side note on observation, this movement holder is made of a chunk of solid bronze. It feels quite heavy. When assembled with the 2678 movement, the whole piece weighs very similar like holding a bare gen 3135 movement. I will ask the seller if they have made this particular movement holder out of gen 3135's weight or if the weight of the complete watch ever considered when they first designed it.

The movement holder costs $20. It comes with 2 generic Rolex style screws to mount holder to watchcase. My seller offers a collections of movement holders, for 2678, for 2000, for 2824, for 2834, for 2836, and for 2892 and etc.


Let's take a look at TC's date wheel overlay (DWO). I was told to place double sided tape on the ridge of the movement holder on dial's side. By doing so, it'll give enough room for date wheel overlay to jump through just beneath the dial. This is what I did.


I fixed the DWO to 2678's date disc also by double sided tape. At date 30, there is a printed indicator. All I have to do is to align the indicator to the stem of the 2678 movement then press down.


Let's take a closer look at the DWO. Notice how each date is finely printed the Rolex font date is raised high gloss like gen. The DWO costs $15. The maker of the DWO has a MOQ of 200. I got this DWO through my case seller's connection.



I then installed the dial. There is no cutting feet, no modding needed. I just installed the dial and made micro adjustments by gently tapping the edge of the dial so the date is positioned in the center of dial's date window.



Let me show you how good this DWO is:

































End of Part I

 

[mrs1986]

Is this project going to be at sale for us? Looks extremely good

 

[arcadia]

It is now on sale. Browse at the Parts sales section.

 

[S1000rr]

Where can I buy a midcase for a 16613 ? That looks like the real deal

Sent from the RWI mobile app

 

[thrillofhunt]

Wow you dug up a 5 year old thread, way to go.

But it also shows you used the search function unlike other newbies. Good

Maybe the rest can help you with your question

 

[nikoel]

Damn son!!! Cudos for doing research but anything over 5 years old is not going to be applicable anymore