New updated 4813 DSSD with gen-like pearl!

[gioarmani]

Here is a piece I received over the weekend that, quite frankly, I've been way too swamped to shoot, or review. And now that I'm coming down with the flu and am too busy with sales at work (with the end of the year and all) to take a single f*cking day off of work, so hopefully this will suffice.

This is the newest offering from Eurotimez.com--I opted to go with the cheaper 4813 movement (as this will be a gift), seeing as how I've never had one and normally only buy ETA. So far, this is the nicest looking DSSD I can find to date. Sorry for the mediocre pictures--normally I like to shoot outside, but I'm simply too busy when there's actual daylight here in FL (I'll add more detailed pics soon, as soon as I have the opportunity). I'll just jump in with the pictures & describe as I go.

The fit & finish over-all are very nice, just like the previous versions. The sheen on this is very well-done, and I'm not sure if it's the new 316F that everyone's talking about, but I don't see a need for a polish on this one yet. The "10" is also properly spaced on the bezel, as you will see.

The first thing that struck me about this piece is a much-improved dial (including the print) and correctly sized and shaped hour-markers--nice finish on the lume, bright & white, and thin edges on the markers, as they should be:

The pearl is 1,000% improved over any other model I've seen from V1 to V5, and looks amazingly close to gen. It heats up aqua but turns it's true-blue color in only a matter of seconds. The rest of the lume is surprisingly bright for a rep, and is the correct color blue, from start to finish.

The pearl, to me, was the main selling point for buying this piece at all. I certainly hope they have a good stock saved up for these inserts, because I will be buying plenty more to update some older versions! The lume dot is rounded off, as it should be, and recessed properly, and has a domed, acrylic clear-coat that is so nicely done it's easily noticeable beyond arm's length:

The date window is properly beveled, as was anticipated:

Upon cracking the case open, it was nice to find that the cheaper version does have not only a two-piece case-back, but more importantly the proper shaped inner case-back:

And the shiny new 4813 high-beat movement:

Of course, I sealed the HEV, and greased all the O-rings and gaskets:

The rehaut appears to also be the correct depth, and not too deep as it was on the V3 & V4. The crystal still has a bit of distortion to it from side-angles, but not nearly as refracted as it was on their V5. The case construction is also very nice; sharp corners, good SEL-to-lug fit, recessed HEV, perfectly angled cuts on the bezel teeth, well-shaped CGs that are nice & tight--not spaced too far apart and not too thin--and a gen-like weight and feel, as usual:

I also like the fact that the crown sits perfectly on it's side (like most of the gens), and not at an angle.

Bracelet, markings, and clasp look good as well:

As mentioned earlier, the lume is nice & bright when fully charged (I hit mine with an LED flashlight for about 5-10 seconds) and glows for quite a long time. It's peak brightness wasn't quite as brilliant as the V5 that I had relumed myself, but it's pretty damn close, to say the least. It was still quite readable to accurately tell time more than four hours later in complete darkness:

All in all, a very nice buy for the money. What you're seeing here is the way the piece came--I have not modified the pearl, or polished the band, and even the insert's numbering was much brighter than the older versions were. I hope it will make someone very happy this Christmas!

Thanks for looking!

[Guest techlogik]

Bezel insert looks good, 10 spacing and pearl, they do have the best insert out there now. No idea why other factories can't get this right...Hope my insert looks that good whenever ETZ ships it to me..heck, even a photo would be nice from them of the insert I ordered.

I can't tell, is the print straight on the dial? I am trying to turn my head sideways to look at it...maybe?

Caseback is stepped or smooth like Gen?

Lume does look good for a rep. Give the factories credit for that one.

Is the Rehaut insert alinged with the E and 12 marker? Can't see in the photos.

Dial markers do look better also, the silver around the white/lume is not as great as previously, more Gen like too.

The print does look a bit sharper than what I have seen with their's before.

Thanks for the photos and taking the time.

[PeteM]

Gio, Thanks for the pics.

Insert does look good,

Techlogik, I heard from Neo saying he has been having trouble sourcing the inserts but will hopefully have some very soon.

[gioarmani]

The print is straight on the dial--I'll post more pictures in natural light later.

The case-back pieces are flush on the top, but the photograph does expose a little difference in size that's much less visible with the naked eye.

[Guest techlogik]

Gio, Thanks for the pics.

Insert does look good,

Techlogik, I heard from Neo saying he has been having trouble sourcing the inserts but will hopefully have some very soon.

Good to know. There are several of us waiting for inserts, but have heard nothing from ETZ.

No hurry, as long as I eventually get it and it looks good/QC properly and they send me photos first.

[mikellem]

Great review Gio..

This seems to be a beauty for the money!

MM

[panerai153]

Beautiful watch.

I just checked my tracking number and mine should be out for delivery today. From what i'vwe seem, this is the best thus far. Now if Eurotimez could get a handle on their QC and all of them were like yours..... That would be great.

Arthur

[MasterOfPuppets]

Great review Gio

Thanks for sharing

[bertieng]

This DSSD is really a killer now if Euro can keep up with their QC promises for all the pieces to be shipped like this one Gio received.

Yes, Euro's hour markers are the only one on the market that got it correctly shaped with thin edges. No other else got it right, wonder why. If Euro can do the same good dial for the LV, it will be great too.

Now this really got me thinking seriously to pull the trigger despite there is the 316F version just released, but the dial completely puts me off.

[gioarmani]

This one was actually quite shinny--more so than my V5 was, originally. I'd actually like to see a supposed 316F in person, to see how it looks exactly next to the regular version that I've hand polished per the tutorial I did on scratch-removal. I'm not doubting it, I'd just like to see in person the difference, if any, in color & sheen. So anyone who has a 316F, please send it my way for a couple of days.

[gioarmani]

I know I should have mentioned this so I wouldn't get swamped with so many PMs!

There wasn't an exact link when I found it two or three weeks ago. On that XML flash thing that loads in the middle of their site, they had a bunch of pictures posted of the new case construction, new insert & pearl, etc. I emailed them and asked them to send me that one (which I believe is what's shipping for all their DSSD's now, but you might want to confirm this). I also asked for the cheaper 4813, not the ETA this time.