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fredownsu

Tudor Black Bay Bronze KW Edition new alloy

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fredownsu

Hi! I am new here, and after a lot of reading the boards I made my third rep purchase.

Previously I bought a couple of Rolex Milgauss reps (one black face one white face) from a guy called RepAAA on the dw but never got the chance to research before ordering.

This time I went for a Tudor Black Bay Bronze from the TD 'KuvarsitWatch'. I believe this is the most recent 'version from the 'KW' factory. 

It cost me USD$328 including shipping and arrived in my letterbox in the UK 7 days after dispatch. I have had the watch for 1 week now and it has only left my wrist for work. 

The main concern I had prior to receiving it (other than customs where it stayed according to tracking for 4 long days!) was the construction alloy. I know from previous posts here that the initial reps were made with an alloy with a higher percentage of copper than the gen (see:  http://www.rwg.bz/board/index.php?/topic/124348-rep-vs-gen-tudor-heritage-black-bay-bronze-nato-strap/&tab=comments#comment-1912414 ). I was also hoping to receive one of the newer distressed leather straps which are a closer color and more 'cracked' in appearance similar to the gen, and the newer, better quality nato strap made with the upgraded alloy and a finer weave.  I didn't mention this to the dealer as I didn't find out until after I had ordered the watch but luckily I was not dissapointed.

 

First thoughts 

Wow! What a beautifully designed and solidly constructed piece of kit. There is something about the tactile experience of holding the watch and seeing it up close which you can never get from looking at photos. Very weighty and hefty. The quality appears extremely good, the leather strap looks fantastic quality (but time will tell if this is actually the case). I was pleased to see that the alloy was the correct color, and the nato style strap was the newer better quality version made from the same alloy as the case. The new nato strap has a nice thin line the same width as the original running down the length of it, which is slightly off white/beige the same as the gen. The original nato strap is more coarsely woven, the line running down it is too bright in colour and wider than the genuine. I was also pleased with the colour of the bezel insert, initially I thought the 'too red' appearance in the QC was just lighting. Having now reviewed a few pics of the gen I do think it is a slightly redder shade but despite being different to the gen I still quite like it. Would be interesting to compare them side by side. When I first put the watch on it didn't sit quite right on my wrist but this was just due to the very thick leather straps which were not accustomed to being bent around my wrist - they soon softened up. 

First photos I took that evening:

https://s14.postimg.org/45iuerlqp/IMG-20180119-_WA0019.jpg [/IMG]

https://s14.postimg.org/j1hdmd4v5/IMG-20180119-_WA0020.jpg{/IMG]

Straps

I alternated in the first few days between the nato and leather strap. It very easy to change the straps as long as you have something thin enough to fit into the lug holes - you just poke it through and it disengages the pin on that side. I usually use the edge of a credit card to help engage the pin of the new strap into the lug. I am currently wearing it on the leather strap, which I have oiled with beard oil I had lying around as the leather was looking a little dry... not sure if this was a good idea I just sort of fancied doing it and after letting it soak in and bending the strap around a bit it looked a lot better - more leathery and less shiny. The nato strap is great and a bit more sporty - once I have confirmed the watch is waterproof it's the strap I will use when I swim with it. Also a quick side note - make sure you always rinse bronze watches with fresh water after swimming in the sea or this  happens: https://storage.googleapis.com/pubzapuscentral/watchprosite/rolex/410/raw/rolex_5314501.jpg (yes, they are both gens) .  I hope the leather strap will age well and seems to be promising so far - the edges of the strap are coated in a black plasticy coating (what is it?) which seems robust but has worn away a tiny bit at the border edge on the portions where the buckle rubs. I use the 3rd tightest setting of 7 and my wrists are 6 3/4 inch - the settings are around 1/4 inch apart so I guess the largest wrist the leather strap would fit out of the box would be 7 3/4 inches. The buckle on the strap is made from the same alloy as the case and the engraving is neat.

https://s14.postimg.org/cnsaj22j5/20180127_000908.jpg [/IMG]

https://s14.postimg.org/escnk7or5/20180127_001105.jpg [/IMG]

https://s14.postimg.org/opnod9gxd/20180127_001311.jpg [/IMG]

https://s14.postimg.org/6zlzs6lc1/20180127_001334.jpg [/IMG]

Hour markers

These are great quality and they really look fantastically detailed in real life. The '6' numeral is very slightly off angle on my watch, something I picked up on in the QC photos but it didn't bother me then and doesn't now. Something only a perfectionist would see really.  Also I wonder if they ever get the 6's and 9' mixed up when they make it...? Probably!

 https://s14.postimg.org/f541qchap/20180127_001556.jpg [/IMG]

Lume

This was the biggest negative of the watch for me. I noticed a couple of days after receiving it that the lume on the hands is a much yellower shade than the hour markers. I didn't notice in the QC photos, and even in hindsight it's hard to see in them due to the lighting, but in real life it is often very noticeable. Seems worse on cloudy days, and also with certain types of indoor lighting. Here's a couple of pictures to demonstrate:

 https://s14.postimg.org/t6kmppn41/20180124_154453.jpg [/IMG]

 https://s14.postimg.org/6hvfq5dfz/20180127_005523.jpg  [/IMG]

 

I was considering either mentioning this to the vendor - perhaps he might send me a new pair of hands? How hard would it be to fit them? I have also dropped a message to a guy from the forums called 'Kenny' who has a good reputation on these forums for upgrading lume to ask for a quote, but unfortunately he doesn't offer the service any more. If I could get this sorted the watch really would be close to perfect. Does anyone have any advice on this?

Case and Alloy

The KW version of the bronze bay I received is indeed made from the new bronze alloy which has a higher percentage of aluminium. As far as I can tell from pictures this is pretty identical in quality, workmanship and finish to the gen. On arrival it was a beautiful light goldish hue, but over the last week has developed a darker, almost satin patina which looks fantastic. The caseback is made (I think?) from SS which has been plated to look a similar colour to the bronze - it doesn't patina in the same way but this means it doesn't leave any nasty green residue on the skin. So far so good! Nice to know you can return it the original finish relatively easily as well, apparently by using a ketchup bath and a polishing cloth or something. The watch weighs in at 105.4g with the leather strap. Having not worn a diver for while you can really initially feel the weight on the wrist - but my after week I barely notice it. I like the size of the case on my wrist, a bit on the large side but that's the whole point ;) . Bronze is such a great material for a watch of this style and is something of a 'future classic' in my opinion. 

 https://s14.postimg.org/bli40kwld/20180127_001127.jpg [/IMG]

 https://s14.postimg.org/kgiyb4g8x/20180127_004832.jpg [/IMG]

 https://s14.postimg.org/iopzg5rq9/20180127_000942.jpg [/IMG]

 

Waterproofing

The watch was advertised as '50m water resistant' which I understand has to be tested before it is trusted in the rep watch world. I intend to buy some silicone grease and lubricate the O-ring on the inside of the caseback and the inside of the crown (using a toothpick to apply from the outside to avoid having to take the watch apart) and then get it tested at a local 'Timpsons' before I swim with it. I hope it passes!

 https://s14.postimg.org/f541qcwq9/20180127_001044.jpg [/IMG]

Movement

The watch contains an Asian ETA-2826 clone. I have previously had a bit of trouble with this movement in previous watches - one broke when I knocked it from my sink to my bathroom floor (the rotor weight detached), and the second watch I had with one in unfortunately leaked (due to me not taking the above precautions) and the movement never kept time or adjusted via the crown properly after that. Hopefully if I am careful this movement will be safe inside the weighty bronze case, and will keep good time for many years. These movements generally have a good reputation on the forums from what I gather, and so far it has run on average +6s per day over the six days I have been measuring it. 

Bezel

The bezel rotates with a satisfying, albeit slightly scratchy click. I am not sure how much play to expect when rotating it but I can wiggle it +-2 degrees without clicking to the next ratchet hold  - is this normal.? There is very little up/down play so no need for the dental floss trick. Overall a solid and functional bezel. The pearl/marker at 12 'o' clock looks great.

Overall

I love it! A fantastic replica of a beautiful watch.  I intend to wear it every day for the next year. The only real drawback for me is the lume on the hands being a bit yellowish but  I hope I will be  able to get that sorted out in time. 

Next I am going to save up for a Titanium Pelagos but I might buy that for my brother if he's lucky!

 https://s14.postimg.org/4v1mr5wkx/20180127_003337.jpg [/IMG]

 

 

 

Edited by fredownsu

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cansler1846

So i'm guessing the "Solid Bronze Case" on the Trusty time website is plated as well ?

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GenTLe
So i'm guessing the "Solid Bronze Case" on the Trusty time website is plated as well ?
What you didn't understand of
The KW version of the bronze bay I received is indeed made from the new bronze alloy which has a higher percentage of aluminium.

?

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cansler1846
5 minutes ago, GenTLe said:

What you didn't understand of

?

 

The caseback is made (I think?) from SS which has been plated to look a similar colour to the bronze ?? read it through..

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fredownsu

Yeah the cazeback is (because this part touches your wrist) but the case is made from solid bronze. The same is true of the gen

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fredownsu

Its all bronze baby20180226_223909.jpg

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Wriggles
13 minutes ago, cansler1846 said:

 

The caseback is made (I think?) from SS which has been plated to look a similar colour to the bronze ?? read it through..

You said "case" not "caseback" 

Write what you mean and then people may not take your meaning differently than you intend

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Glaude

Nice review, but you should fix your embeded pictures !

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GingerApple

Yeah, good review, thanks for taking the time op.

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Joyjoyk

Tis a beaut. Thanks for the review.. if only it had a date!!!!!!

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nuk

Nice review OP! Congrats, it's a very nice looking watch! I mostly agree with you, but not regarding the quality of the leather. I may give a try to the beard oil option you mention. Would you please care to explain how you exactly apply it to the strap?  

BTW, mine says hello :)

AWKvapjh.jpg

 

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cansler1846
On 2/26/2018 at 17:42, Wriggles said:

You said "case" not "caseback" 

Write what you mean and then people may not take your meaning differently than you intend

No i meant "Case" i didn't realize the caseback was what was plated, i thought the whole case was plated. Actually reassured that it isn't and i appreciate your condescending remark. but it didn't really land very well, it just kind of made you sound like a douche.

On 2/26/2018 at 17:38, fredownsu said:

Yeah the cazeback is (because this part touches your wrist) but the case is made from solid bronze. The same is true of the gen

Thank you sir, thats what i was wondering

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Wriggles
1 hour ago, cansler1846 said:

No i meant "Case" i didn't realize the caseback was what was plated, i thought the whole case was plated. Actually reassured that it isn't and i appreciate your condescending remark. but it didn't really land very well, it just kind of made you sound like a douche.

Really? Your first post was questioning if the advertised solid bronze CASE was plated. The response you got from GenTle pointed out that the review clearly said it was solid bronze.

Your response then talked about CASEBACK and condescendingly and obnoxiously told him to "read through..."

So the condescension was yours from the outset. I only pointed out the inconsistency in your posts which caused the misunderstanding. Nothing condescending about it. 

Taking that and calling me a douche for something only you actually engaged in is quite simply a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

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GenTLe

By the way: case is full bronze. Case back in my version is copper (I think). I burnished the watch and the case back didn't react at all with the burnishing liquid.
Again, mine was an early version and the bronze was like the Pam 382 one, the bronze of the gen Tudor is much more on the yellow side. They corrected it in the series like the one in the op reply.

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Xpletiv

Well, I "read through" and it's perfectly clear. 

Derp.

 

And, it would be nice to see the pics.....

 

 

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