XF Black Bay Bronze v4 is out!

[The Rod]

QC pics are in. Printing looks very good but I'm not SO sure about two things.

First of all the triangle marker at 12 looks off-center (slightly shifted to the left) and second there looks to be dust on the 3 o'clock numeral.

What do you guys think?

 

[Camblin]

QC pics are in. Printing looks very good but I'm not SO sure about two things.

First of all the triangle marker at 12 looks off-center (slightly shifted to the left) and second there looks to be dust on the 3 o'clock numeral.

What do you guys think?

I don't see any dust. You're definitely right about the triangle marker. It's only a tiny, tiny misalignment and would probably never be noticeable on the wrist, but if you want to reroll the dice for another watch then fair dos.

When it comes to the dial print from comparing it to gen pictures I still think it's a little darker than gen. Definitely improved IMO but still a bit too dark. Maybe that's just my colour blindness talking though I suck at differentiating between colours.

Despite that... the watch looks absolutely gorgeous!

Oh, and that QC guy really needs to cut his nails!!!

 

[CanRep]

Oh, and that QC guy really needs to cut his nails!!!

Haha that is likely a female worker from the factory giving the pic to the TD.

Noon marker is off for sure, and the 3 totally has a dirt spec lower middle on the number. Personally, I'd shoot for a new one.

 

[The Rod]

After 3 days I'm at the third rejection...normally I'm not so picky but XF has really s***ty QC, it's either dust on the dial or crooked 12 o'clock triangles...

 

[CanRep]

After 3 days I'm at the third rejection...normally I'm not so picky but XF has really s***ty QC, it's either dust on the dial or crooked 12 o'clock triangles...

Sorry to hear that, but thank you for keeping us posted. I've been looking at picking one up and it's feedback from you first buyers that make it much safer for the rest of us. I'm in the boat with you, absolutely make sure that triangle lines up. It's the focal point of the dial on the black bays and needs to be bang on.

Please keep us posted, and thanks again for letting the community know your experience. Can't wait to see when you get a gooder!
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[The Rod]

Ok, this one looks better, triangle lines up and there appears to be no dust on the dial:

only doubt: is the bezel misaligned or just turned one click too far??

 

[CanRep]

Ok, this one looks better, triangle lines up and there appears to be no dust on the dial:

only doubt: is the bezel misaligned or just turned one click too far??

Take that one for sure. It looks great. The bezel is slightly off (remeber they only have 60 clicks). However, the BB's tend to have a bit of play so it can probably rest in line.

If it doesn't you can just use a blow dryer to warm up the bezel. Then use a fairly thick elastic as grip to help gently adjust the bezel to line up perfectly (I've done this on a number of watches with success).
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Congrats on the patience and getting a nice one!

 

[The Rod]

Take that one for sure. It looks great. The bezel is slightly off (remeber they only have 60 clicks). However, the BB's tend to have a bit of play so it can probably rest in line.

If it doesn't you can just use a blow dryer to warm up the bezel. Then use a fairly thick elastic as grip to help gently adjust the bezel to line up perfectly (I've done this on a number of watches with success).
​​​​​​
Congrats on the patience and getting a nice one!

Thanks for the advice!

 

[SuperLory]

good one indeed but i dont really see much improvement in the dial printing imho

 

[preppyr6]

+1 I remember comparing my v3 to a gen in a window in NY and immediately noticing the 3d embossed print...this doesnt look like that, and looks closer to my v3. Hard to tell from 1 pic though. We'll have to wait till Rod gets his in-hand.

 

[SuperLory]

+1 I remember comparing my v3 to a gen in a window in NY and immediately noticing the 3d embossed print...this doesnt look like that, and looks closer to my v3. Hard to tell from 1 pic though. We'll have to wait till Rod gets his in-hand.

i saw the gen the other day commuting in a bus..the text was clearly visible from 1m away

 

[nanoman]

I am still deciding between the brown and the blue (leaning towards brown). Blue has that contrast, but the brown dial is just special. Was comparing the pics. Looks like the printing is the same on both the versions.

 

[The Rod]

Finally received it today. First impression is very positive, I love it. Don't know if the printing is more 3d than the last version but I think at least they got the colour right as it has a much better contrast against the dial:

Also, I'm surprised at how smooth the manual winding feels, almost like a genuine ETA!

 

[Camblin]

Finally received it today. First impression is very positive, I love it. Don't know if the printing is more 3d than the last version but I think at least they got the colour right as it has a much better contrast against the dial:

Also, I'm surprised at how smooth the manual winding feels, almost like a genuine ETA!

Dial colour looks very good in that pic. Thank you very much for taking the time to take and share that photo!

Edit: I mean the dial text colour. Also under certain angles and lighting even the gen dial text can look a bit darker, like this:

In your 1 picture the rep text colour looks more like usual gen than that above gen! If you know what I mean. Is there any chance that you'd be able to share a few other shots from different angles / distance? I think it'd really help some people make their mind up (me included). Thanks a lot for sharing!

 

[marco130]

This is one of the next ones on the list

 

[The Rod]

Dial colour looks very good in that pic. Thank you very much for taking the time to take and share that photo!

Edit: I mean the dial text colour. Also under certain angles and lighting even the gen dial text can look a bit darker, like this:


In your 1 picture the rep text colour looks more like usual gen than that above gen! If you know what I mean. Is there any chance that you'd be able to share a few other shots from different angles / distance? I think it'd really help some people make their mind up (me included). Thanks a lot for sharing!

Here is another picture in non-direct light:

 

[CanRep]

Here is another picture in non-direct light:

Wow what a stunner. Thanks a lot man, here I was certain on the bucherer version, but yours looks so nice now I can't decide!

 

[The Rod]

Wow what a stunner. Thanks a lot man, here I was certain on the bucherer version, but yours looks so nice now I can't decide!

Honestly I think this version is far more unique given how many blue dial watches you see around, but I'm sure they will both look great! Just pay lots of attention to your QC

 

[Camblin]

Here is another picture in non-direct light:

Yes thank you very much again for sharing!

Under direct light it looks very gen like.
In less lighting it does look a little darker, but as seen in the pic I shared, so can gen, so it looks pretty spot on in my opinion. Definitely well improved & contrasting better.

I'm definitely going to buy one in the coming months. Thanks a lot for sharing the pics!

 

[Rolorin]

What is the update to the Bronze Blue/Bucherer? Is the case now closer to gen composition. My v1/v2 xf Bucherer has developed a patina that seems darker than any of the gens I've seen.