Z Fac 382 Bronzo appears (NOT) to have plated parts.... Updated

[Jake48]

I wanted to get this up right away to provide people with information that may be considering buying this watch or may already have it. Let me say this right up front - I HAVE NOT 100% confirmed my crown guard is plated, buy I have been buying Reps for over 15 years now and having seen and owned every imaginable plated watch, I feel pretty confident I know plating when I see it. To 100% confirm the CG is plated I would have to take it off and drill a hole in the underside, but I will wait to see what Angus has to say before going that route.

So the first day I wore the watch, I wore it with a jacket on that rubbed the crown guard. I had to wear the watch on my right wrist because I broke my left wrist last week racing motocross.... Anyway, because the crown guard faced in towards the sleeve, the sleeve rubbed the crown guard. When I took the watch off I saw silver coming up through the crown guard. I looked at it under a loupe and sure enough, it appears that the VERY thin layer of bronze color wore completely off.

Here is what it looks like. I had to bump the saturation and play with the contrast to make it visible, but in real life it is extremely noticeable.

For what it is worth the rest of the watch is near perfect. I have contacted Angus and I will see what he says. Angus has ALWAYS taken care of me and I am sure this time will be no exception, but I think this is important information that people should have when the are dropping almost $500.00 on a watch they believe is SOLID bronze. I do not know for a fact, but upon close examination of the crown itself, I would bet it is plated too. Starting to wonder how many parts are solid bronze and how many parts are plated bronze color.....

 

[domoarigato]

seems like there is a lot of upset going on with this watch...

without having to drill a hole you could calculate the volume of the piece, reference it with the density of bronze... and you will know 100% if its a legit bronze piece or not.

 

[COLDI]

Easiest way to tell is take fine sand paper to the feet of the cg where no one will see. Few swipes will show if it is or not. But I wouldn't on my watch

 

[thefever]

Uh oh. This could get interesting.

 

[eshow3907]

Between the Zfactory QC challenges and the KW Delay, this spring has turned into quite the Bronzo Soap Opera

Looks like a full stadium... first shoe down... lets see if the other shoe drops.

opcorn2:opcorn2:opcorn2:opcorn2:opcorn2:opcorn2:

 

[COLDI]

Can plating patina? I'm not doubting you. I'm just curious because the patina is evident. (not my nails lol)

 

[bradj]

Plating can patina... but not at the same rate as solid bronze.

Our good buddy Atespo pulled his crown guard and scratched it..

 

[COLDI]

Looks bronze to me!

 

[TESLA760]

This doesn't look good for the tin foil, or should I say , plated foil cap crowd ! :lol:

 

[Jake48]

Plating can patina... but not at the same rate as solid bronze.

Our good buddy Atespo pulled his crown guard and scratched it..

Exactly my concern. Even a good plated part will not age or discolor at the same rate as it's sold conterpart.

I wil remove my crown and check it by scratching the bottom. We will see....

 

[bradj]

He also posted this... I think he broke it..

 

[TESLA760]

Sure looks like Bronze

 

[mysterio]

Exactly my concern. Even a good plated part will not age or discolor at the same rate as it's sold conterpart.

I wil remove my crown and check it by scratching the bottom. We will see....

Just remove the crown guard, no need to remove the crown. And while you're at it, can you try cleaning the CG only in ketchup and see whether the "silver" will remain or it will be gone, indicating that what you saw was only some type of patina (silvery in color) forming early due to repeated contact with your shirt sleeve.

 

[rolexwatchfan]

Just remove the crown guard, no need to remove the crown. And while you're at it, can you try cleaning the CG only in ketchup and see whether the "silver" will remain or it will be gone, indicating that what you saw was only some type of patina (silvery in color) forming early due to repeated contact with your shirt sleeve.

+1. My thought exactly.

 

[bradj]

OP just posted this on RG..

OK - I pulled my CG off....

Happy to report it looks solid. I scratched it deep enough that bronze shavings came off. I then took some lemon juice and wiped the CG lighlty over the silver area. The siver came off.

I will keep an eye on it to see what happens....

 

[Jake48]

OK - I pulled my CG off....

Happy to report it looks solid. I scratched it deep enough that bronze shavings came off. I then took some lemon juice and wiped the CG lighlty over the silver area. The siver came off.

I will keep an eye on it to see what happens. The jacket was fleece orange and white (KTM jacket) so it wasn't the jacket. I spent the day in the Marina over the ocean and I know salt air accelerates the patina process, but I can't imagine it happens that fast.


Anyway, that is why I said it APPEARS plated. Glad it looks like I was wrong.


The least I can do now is post a pic of the watch from early today at the Marina...

 

[TESLA760]

I guess it would've been a better idea to do some research first before making this type of post. Many would read this and start heading for the hills.

 

[mysterio]

OK - I pulled my CG off....

Happy to report it looks solid. I scratched it deep enough that bronze shavings came off. I then took some lemon juice and wiped the CG lighlty over the silver area. The siver came off.

I will keep an eye on it to see what happens. The jacket was fleece orange and white (KTM jacket) so it wasn't the jacket. I spent the day in the Marina over the ocean and I know salt air accelerates the patina process, but I can't imagine it happens that fast.


Anyway, that is why I said it APPEARS plated. Glad it looks like I was wrong.


The least I can do now is post a pic of the watch from early today at the Marina...

I did not say the silver came off the jacket (or what I termed as your shirt sleeve). If you were in an environment where sea water could be present in the air like in the Marina for example, your jacket sleeve could very well may have absorbed the moisture in the air and coming into contact with the crown guard, it might have accelerated the reaction compared to the areas exposed to salt water in the air.

And you did very much conclude that it was plated, which is why people were reacting.

I guess it would've been a better idea to do some research first before making this type of post. Many would read this and start heading for the hills.

Yeah, I think I see some in the distance. :lol: OP meant well, just not going about the verification correctly before posting. Now some members who may have cancelled their orders as a result of the knee jerk reaction to this thread may have to go back and sheepishly take back the cancellation or worse, be put at the end of the waiting line as their watches have been re-allocated to those next in the order queue.

 

[Hyjynx]

The topic of this thread needs to be edited, accordingly.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[d4m.test]

OK - I pulled my CG off....

Happy to report it looks solid. I scratched it deep enough that bronze shavings came off. I then took some lemon juice and wiped the CG lighlty over the silver area. The siver came off.

I will keep an eye on it to see what happens. The jacket was fleece orange and white (KTM jacket) so it wasn't the jacket. I spent the day in the Marina over the ocean and I know salt air accelerates the patina process, but I can't imagine it happens that fast.


Anyway, that is why I said it APPEARS plated. Glad it looks like I was wrong.


The least I can do now is post a pic of the watch from early today at the Marina...

This pic is phenomenal. Shows this Gonzo in all its shiny beauty, simply wonderful