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WHO HAS THE BEST SUB: Review of ZZF New Sub 116610 LN and Comparison vs. Gen, ARF, Noob and Nail (PART I)

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jtimewatch

Hello again RWG members,

 

I have posted a topic told everyone that a new rep Submariner 116610LN from ZZF is going to release soon 2 days ago, and we were preparing a deep review about it, comparison vs. Gen, ARF, Noob and Nail as well.

Here is the post link:

 

According to our knowledges, ZZF only made the Roger Dubuis Knights of Round Table reps before this new 116610LN Submariner, so it is not very familiar to the crowd.

 

But as I told in last post that we already have the real piece ZZF new Sub, and after we did some comparison with other factories version ourselves, I suppose ZZF new Sub also did a good job on many details.

 

Well, there are some other factories such as VRF, V9F also make some good submariners. We did the comparison among ARF, Noob and Nail, because they might be the most popular and best versions at the moment.

 

We will keep objective on doing this comparison, but please correct us if something we say is not right. Discussion will be always welcomed, and we wish our members can have a better rep Sub to choose and have some fun here as well.

 

So, let's get down to the review now.

 

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General Front View of 5 Watches

 

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Insert Markers Close View

 

ZZF says that it is the only rep factory using real platinum plated on the insert markers at the moment. From the factory explanation, we know that the adhesive force of platinum is extremely strong after the plating procedure, which means that it will be very hard to deal with the details shaping after the platinum plating.

This might be the reason why other factories didn’t make platinum plating on their insert markers.

 

We can tell from the pictures that the gen insert markers color is kind of grey-white by the front view and will be dark-silver by the lateral view. 

 

Because of using real platinum plating, ZZF insert markers color is like gen effect, grey-white by the front view and dark-silver by the lateral view. But to be honest, its color is really some darker than the gen as we can see from the pictures.

But under the natural daylight, ZZF insert markers color will have a better performance as I see it myself. So, I will try another comparison under the natural daylight in the PART II review, let us look forward to the PART II.

 

ARF insert markers color is also good I suppose, only a little bit whiter than the gen. The plating seems a little bit rougher than the gen and ZZF.

 

Noob and Nail versions are both not very good at this part, and according to former experiences Noob color is going to fade eventually, don’t know how Nail is going yet.

 

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Shape of the Insert Markers

 

ZZF says that it is using a mould to build the ceramic insert directly instead of laser engraving markers on insert, then 3D effect will be much better than laser engraving as a result. As the picture shows, the bottom and side edge of the marker is very smooth and it is a perfect right-angle between the bottom and side edge, closer effect to the gen as well as the depth.

 

ARF is also using a mould to build the ceramic I suppose, shape and depth are also close to the gen as well as ZZF, not bad but just a little bit rougher. 

 

Noob and Nail, are both using laser engraving markers and I think you all already know what is the result.

 

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Pearl Triangle Close View

 

ZZF pearl is very close to the gen at its shape, color and “jade-like” effect and it is fitted in a 0.43mm small hole on the ceramic insert, will be the only one can replace perfectly with a gen pearl.

 

ARF pearl is also a very good built at its shape and color as well as ZZF pearl.

 

Noob pearl seems not very good, no matter on which details.

 

Nail pearl is likely good at its shape, but the color is bit whiter than others.

 

And about the triangle, we can see the edge of the triangle is very near the insert edge on the gen.

But seems all the factories made the same mistake, only Nail did it a little bit better on this part. It is a pretty shame I suppose.

 

Tips: ZZF is using Clean Factory upgraded V2 bezel and inset set, all friction fitted as same as gen. ARF bezel and insert set is friction fitted as well and Noob version is glue fitted. We are not sure how Nail version fit now, but I think we may find out later and tell everyone in the PART II review and comparison.

 

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Crystal Side View

 

ZZF crystal assembly is very good I suppose, very close to the gen with a rounded edge from the side view,

 

ARF crystal assembly might be worst one among all the 5 watches, the crystal seems too thick so that too much higher than others.

 

Noob crystal assembly is good as well, but only a little bit thicker and higher.

 

Nail crystal assembly is very good as well as ZZF, also very close to the gen.

 

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Cyclops Lateral View

 

ZZF says that it is using the new tech to plate very light blue AR coating around the edge of the bubble crystal as same as genuine, as a result so there will not be too much light reflection cause unclear seeing the date as other factories versions. And the side of the bubble crystal is dealt with sanding tech in order to create a little frosted effect closer to the genuine.

 

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Cyclops Front View

 

ZZF bubble crystal is very clear with less light reflection and we can see a thin “white line” around the edge of the bubble as well because of the sanding tech.

 

ARF bubble crystal seems be with more light reflection, and as many people said its date wheel font seems too fat.

 

Noob bubble crystal has the same issue as ARF I suppose, with a thinner font.

 

Nail did a good job on this part. It is very clear and reflection is good as well as the whole effect.

 

Tip: Want to see more date wheel font? Please just keep reading, you will find some more details about it later on this review.

 

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Dial Cambered Edge

 

As we can see that the center hole and date window on ZZF dial are built with cambered edge very close to the genuine, and it will be the only one doing it at the moment.

 

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Date Display Window Lateral View

 

ZZF window edge is cambered very close to the gen, and making a cambered edge on an enamel dial is extremely hard.

 

ARF window edge is also cambered close to the gen, and this is a good job as well.

 

Noob and Nail are both wrong at this detail with a sharp trapezoid window edge.

 

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Dial Marker Close View

 

ZZF triangle marker, rectangle marker and dot marker are all with rounded edge.

 

ARF triangle marker and dot marker are with rounded edge, but the rectangle marker rounded edge is not very obvious and seems a bit sharp.

 

Noob all markers are with sharp edge, seems not very good.

 

Nail triangle marker, rectangle marker and dot marker are all with rounded edge, but it seems that rectangle and dot markers are not very obviously rounded.

 

I suppose ARF is the best one at dot markers, and ZZF is the best one at triangle marker and rectangle markers.

 

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Superlume Filling Front View

 

ZZF says that it is using the same blue color Luminova material which is well-proportioned filling as the gen, and the granular effect of Luminova material is stronger than other swiss lume materials. There is very small 0.15mm height between the lume material and the top edge of the marker, and it is also very hard to do.

 

It looks like that there is a little transparent effect when you look close enough at the genuine lume material, and I think all the factories did this effect right except Noob. But I suppose ZZF is the best one regarding to the granular effect.

 

Another thing I want to tell is that one of our teammates owns a 2014 version gen sub, and the lume material on his sub is already getting a little bit darker than before. I’d like to say I think the gen Luminova material is just kind of ordinary to be honest, even though it is the bluest lume I’ve ever seen when it’s shining. Maybe sometimes genuine sub can make some upgrading as well, hahahaha.

 

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Dial Font Printing View

 

As we all can see, the font printing on the gen dial is different between the first line “SUBMARINER” and the second to forth line.

 

I suppose ZZF is the best one at this part with obvious different fonts. ARF is not right as well as Noob, and I think Noob V7 did such different fonts for a while but now all gone if I remember it right.

 

Nail did a closer trial but the font on second to forth line is too thin as we can see, especially “1000ft = 300m” part.

 

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Hand Stack Close View

 

Well, ZZF is obviously the only factory making a solid hand hole at the moment, it might save you some time and some money to upgrade this part I suppose lol.

 

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SEL and Lug Close View

 

ZZF made the lug radian and SEL radian to be the same, and also a small height between lug and SEL. But the height between lug and SEL on ZZF is obviously smaller than the gen.

 

ARF also made a height between lug and SEL, but it is a little bit bigger than gen. And the lug radian and SEL radian is not same as we can see from the picture.

 

Noob is obviously wrong again at this part I suppose, barely no height.

 

Nail did a good job on this part, small height between lug and SEL close to the gen, only problem is that radian is likely not same.

 

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Date Font Close View (1-31)

 

Many members pay a lot of attention on the rep Sub date wheel, so I believe these pictures above will help you all to see it all clearly from Date 1 to Date 31.

 

 

Here are some more pictures below to some details, I’d prefer to say nothing and let you guys spot it by yourselves lol.

 

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Markers at 6 O’clock Position

 

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Crown Side View

 

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Side View

 

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Case Back View

 

 

 

Ok guys, due to our time schedule, I think it will be the end of our PART I review and comparison now.

Thank you all for your reading!

Like I said at the beginning of this topic, we are trying our best to be objective, but please correct us if we are not right on something, and everyone will be welcomed to leave comment and discussion here as always.

 

And yeah, I know some details that people want to see were not shown in this topic yet. 

But don’t worry. As I mentioned in this topic title that this is a PART I review, so there will be a PART II coming soon as well.

Actually, we are planning to tear the watches apart (maybe not the new GEN lol) and do a deeper comparison on some other parts such as hands, dial, bracelet, case, crown and etc.

Please keep on attention to it, I think you will see more interesting things in our PART II review.

 

 

OK, see you guys soon and cheers.

Here is the PART II review link below:

 

 

 

All the best

Li

 

  • Like 5

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Eadesy

WOW! Definitely work a read!!

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Ferax

Dear Lord, what a stunning comparison! Love this thread. Thank you for your input! I was thinking about buying Noob submariner, but I Just bought the Seamaster 300. But I still need to buy a sub.... 

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Moondustesp

Great thread! Thanks for all the effort you have taken! I want another sub now

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Jibuti

nice. I know shit bout Rollies... surprised how ARF looks sloppy compared to ZZF...

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FoxWilde

Holy hell! Awesome read. Someone sticky this for the next newbie asking for a sub review!

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NFleischer

Excellent review, thank you!  Never saw Nail Sub before.

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Mkiv

Now that's what I call a review!  Kudos for putting together such a comprehensive comparison; I'll be looking forward to part 2.

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k3rm87

Never noticed how far off the bezel teeth are on the Noob! 

 

Awesome review!! 

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jsmm

amazing read.. ZZF looks good to me

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als86

Great work, a lot of effort gone into this. Well done ! 

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Thommo82

Fantastic post!

Instant Sticky IMO, not that mine counts much.

ZZF is a clear winner from what I see

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BadApple

There was me thinking ARF and Noob steal the show. 

ZZF lead the way now.

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CollieWobbles

Excellent post, thanks for sharing.

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RussP

Well put together review.

I've only read it on my mobile phone and purely from that perspective, it appears as though ARF have done their homework with their product.

I'll revisit this comparison on my laptop tomorrow and see if that changes my perspective.

Thanks Li for your contribution to what is a delightful thread.

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P7ast1k

Thank you for the review :)

Some good refinemets to the dial, the print and indices. Glad to see the correct magnification on the cyclops and a pretty decent date wheel.

Nobody except R-factory seems to be able to get the rehaut correct.

Surprised how well the Nail factory does overall and how high the crown sits too. Is the Nail watch using a 3135 movement?

ARF still look like they have the best hands by far.

Wonder how ARF sels would work on ZZF? Hands too.

Edited by P7ast1k

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jtimewatch

Many thanks to our admins for sticky this thread, I really appreciate it.

And I am also very glad that many of our members like this thread.

My team and I will share some more interesting stuffs here later on.

Thank you all.

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Glaude

That's a fantastic work ! 

This just goes to show how clueless on sub and Rolex I am, I couldn't tell them appart from the first side by side pic, on closer inspection you can obviously see the difference, but truly, at arms length and even the nose on the dial, those are minor details !

Thanks for the review !

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Hupiukko

Great fucking work :D

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Bigwhale

Great review

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Ramonessnl

and the winner is ZZF?

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MAJ75

Firstly @jtimewatch Superb job on putting this review together, well worthy of pinning & satisfies the needs of the masses looking for the best Sub.

As someone who has been in this hobby for a few years whilst I completely understand the commercial aspects of the seemingly endless repetition of more Subs, each attempt getting closer than the last I must admit I do wish that some of these factories energies could be put into pursuing some other brands timepieces giving the collector more of a varied range of high-class reps.

As has been stated in this thread ultimately we have at least 4 factories now making extremely close renditions of the same watch.

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GenTLe
22 hours ago, jtimewatch said:

Hello again RWG members,

 

I have posted a topic told everyone that a new rep Submariner 116610LN from ZZF is going to release soon 2 days ago, and we were preparing a deep review about it, comparison vs. Gen, ARF, Noob and Nail as well.

If they price it fairly, and by fairly I mean around 300$, they will kill the concurrent ones. And I hope they will.

Good job Li!

Edited by GenTLe

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FudgyDocker

Excellent review. Just as well I've got a free spinning mouse wheel to scroll through and read all the comments, lol !!

Unfortunately, I can see this being another $450-$500 Sub. It's a shame. Because, as @GenTLe said, pricing it lower @ $300-$350 would wipe the floor with all the opposition, and they wouldn't be able to make enough to satisfy demand. Prices on subs are getting so out of control, now.

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Saxa

Awesome review, thanks for sharing looking forward to part 2

good job..

 

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