AP Diver V2 vs V3 pictorial review (pic heavy)

[Serge D 0]

Didnt find anyone else post this, so after getting a v3 head w/swiss mvmt at a steal price i decided to make a side by side review, comparison. The following are the only improvements i know of. Be kind and let me know if there is more.

 

First, date window, date font, cyclops, oscillating rings. All in one shot:

V3

V2

Cyclops has got the annoying blue AR, other than that, everything improved verry well.

 

Next caseback texture. Also improved, more defined/rough.

V2

V3

 

Serial font is more gen-like

V2

V3

 

Numbers font on bezel is smaller and sits closer to the dial.

V2

V3

 

Bezel triangle mark at 12 smaller as per gen:

V2

V3

 

Lume is way better, but still not superlume as promised:

V2

V3

 

rubber gasket on v3 protrudes more than on v2 (not sure whats closer to gen)

V2

V3

 

"SWISS MADE" font is corrected, not as thick and heavy as V2

V2

V3

 

Cutouts in case for crown are rounded

V3 on the left, V2 on the right.

 

Crystal sits higher on V3

V2 on the left, V3 on the right:

 

Caseback profile is changed v3 on the right, has a smaller bevelled edge but thicker look, compare to V2 on the left.

 

Crownguards are thinner on V3 on the left, than on the V2 on the right.

 

Bezel screws are sunken in:

V3

V2

 

This sums it up so far. I am still waiting on the strap with buckle and links from Toro.

Here is a few more side by side shots.

 

Hope some of you find it usefull/interesting.

Serge.

 

*Edit*

Also found this great writeup of V3 vs Gen diver, so you can compare/judge it furthermore.

http://www.rwg.bz/board/index.php?showtopic=29910

[Cyril_Clunge 1]

Excellent comparison Serge, thank you.

[jeffw69 0]

Thanks Serge! Now I really want a V3!!!!

[Serge D 0]

And what version do you have now Jeff? :wink:

[jeffw69 0]

V2

[Del 4,962]

Very good comparison! Finally, I now understand the differences between the v2 and v3!

 

Although, I'm still not trading up from my modded v2......

[Dendo 93]

Seems H factory is coming out in a few months with a v4 but N factory made v1 v2 and v3, so this is H factory's v1. From all reports this V3 is so close to the rep it is almost indistinguishable.

[Serge D 0]

Thanks Serge! Now I really want a V3!!!!

Thought you had a v3. My V2 is unmodded, so its worth to upgrade now imo. Or just wait when v4 comes out and there will be a sweet spot in time when a few V3s will pop up at a very reasonable price, it is so close im just going to mod/service it and keep it. Doubt you can ever be called out with a superlumed and ared cyclops V3.

[seclark007 11]

Great Job! I too will stick with my modded V2.

[gB. 0]

Great info. Thanks for the write up.

 

[baxter 6]

Thanks Serge! Now I really want a V3!!!!

yep you've fucked it up for me as well !! Great review - thank you Serge.

[baxter 6]

question guys - who is the best person to send my V2 to for modding ? or is it better to sell it and get a V3 ?

[Serge D 0]

In my case i have an unmodded V2 with sellita mvmt, an i picked up the swiss sellita V3 head and strap at a beyond reasonable price totalling in 308 alltogether.

About to put my unmodded V2 on sale.

So for me its better to invest in mods and have a modded v3 than v2 :-D

[Serge D 0]

Thanks Serge! Now I really want a V3!!!!

yep you've fucked it up for me as well !! Great review - thank you Serge.

Dont we all sometimes look for an excuse/reason to get a certain watch?

Youre welcome :wink:

[Dendo 93]

question guys - who is the best person to send my V2 to for modding ? or is it better to sell it and get a V3 ?

It would be cheaper and quicker to do the latter.

 

 

 

I would predict that the V4 might not be an improvement on the V3, it is probably one step forward and a couple backward - it is coming from a different factory after all - so it should really be X1 or something like that.

[baxter 6]

Thanks Serge! Now I really want a V3!!!!

yep you've fucked it up for me as well !! Great review - thank you Serge.

Dont we all sometimes look for an excuse/reason to get a certain watch?

Youre welcome :wink:

 

Lol yes indeed Serge

question guys - who is the best person to send my V2 to for modding ? or is it better to sell it and get a V3 ?

It would be cheaper and quicker to do the latter.

 

 

 

I would predict that the V4 might not be an improvement on the V3, it is probably one step forward and a couple backward - it is coming from a different factory after all - so it should really be X1 or something like that.

 

cheers Dendo - My thoughts confirmed. Any idea when the V4 is due, i hadn't even heard there was one on it's way.

[jeffw69 0]

It's not really a V4.

[Serge D 0]

A V1 from H. But V4 is already godfathered...

[Dendo 93]

It's not really a V4.

I agree

 

It is crazy for one factory to be claiming an incremented version of another factory's watch.

 

@baxter - they say in a few months (Josh says August - it supposedly has better lume and inner bezel (rehaut?)).

 

But to reiterate - the V3 is probably going to be better and this new one is a marketing ploy by another factory.

[mianos 0]

Somewhat like the Hublot Diver. V3 is not better than V2, just different. In some details it is better in some worse. There are still good reasons to choose V2 over V3 and some not to.

[UmpaHimself 223]

Very nice comparison. So informative. What's weird to me is seeing older version reps of any brand/model selling for $20-$30 less than the latest versions. Do our older reps really hold value like that?

[alex.cpa 1]

I want to provide serge with my vacuumed Swiss V2 and ask him to update the thread with V2 vs V2 Mod vs V3 shots.

 

this would end the "what diver i should get" debate for many but surely will reignite the current one for others.

 

[Kaiser 4]

Somewhat like the Hublot Diver. V3 is not better than V2, just different. In some details it is better in some worse. There are still good reasons to choose V2 over V3 and some not to.

 

 

In what details is the V3 worse than the V2? All the differences shown by Serge are details showing the V3 being closer to gen than the V2. Even the blue cyclops AR on the V3 is arguably closer to gen than no cyclops AR on the V2. What good reasons would there be to choose a V2 over a V3 apart from price?

 

BTW, great review Serge

[KeNnY 61]

Love the V3 one day I will get that super rep thanks for the review

[GreenHornet 0]

There's a lengthy thread over on RepGeek debating the V4 diver. Worth a read.