dbane883 Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I happen to have a a Yuki 7206 and will quickly compare it to my gen 7206. For almost 1/10th of the price, you decide if it's a bargain or not. For all photos, Yuki will be on top, or on the left. Please keep in mind that my gen 7206 (circa 1967) has had 2 links removed and possible rebuffed at some point in its life. The Yuki is box fresh. First of all, initial impression was quite positive. Links are roughly the same length and the clasp coronet is not terrible: Macros of the Yuki however tell another tale. Yuki: Gen: Yuki coronet is a globular mess, whereas the gen has more distinctive spikes and balls (is there a name for the balls at the ends of the coronet?) The links of the Yuki are a fraction thicker than the gen. What makes the gen so nice to wear when coupled with the sleek lines of a big crown are the thin links. The Yuki is not chunky like a 93150, but it could shed a few pounds. As expected, the clasp stampings of the Yuki sucks donkey balls. Fonts are off and the blades are way too flat. They should have more of a curve: Side profile of the Yuki is not bad. It's about the right width, but the clasp itself is about 1mm too short. Also, it's puzzling why the micro adjustment holes are spaced the way they are. Its so me odd logarithmic scale. Anyhow, Yuki fails here on the hole placements: As far as endlinks go, the Yuki 80 EL's are acceptable. General shape and height are good. Could have a bit more definition with the two lines, but not a bad effort here: Overall sheen of the Yuki is not great. It needs a good oil bath and a proper buffing with my Bergeon 6085 buffer. The corone can/should be severely buffed to disguise its shortcomings. As for fitment on the wrist, it felt ok at first. The clasp opens and closes like the gen; in fact probably better than my 45 y.o. gen clasp, but something about the fit at the lugs felt off. Then I realized that the first link hinges a fraction higher than gen which means the first couple of links don't lie as flat on the wrist as the gen. Yuki on the wrist: Gen: So is it worth the $170? Given that there are very few alternatives out there for a nice rivet bracelet and a nice gen 7206 costs $1300+, I'd say it's adequate but needs some considerable buffing to get it to be acceptable. I may give it a try for a couple months and spare the wear/tear on my gen bracelet. All photos taken with an iPhone 6, no edits. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Nice, but some of this has been reviewed before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbane883 Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Nice, but some of this has been reviewed before. well.. I apologize for the waste of bandwidth then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogladio Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Thank you for the review! I thought especially the macro comparisons to gen were very helpful. How old is your Yuki? There have been some reportage on quality difference between older and newer batches (say last 6 months or so - in between they were sold out for like a year iirc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbane883 Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 It's about 3 hours old as the postman just delivered it today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazzle1 Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Needed this review badly as I'm seriously considering this for my 6538, this is if I can ever get one from Yuki. A little disappointed as I've see better build quality from cheaper bracelets. Although sadly there is no better quality 7206 on the market apart from Gen. Chicken and an Egg scenario!When you get bored of it however feel free to give me a shout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbane883 Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I forgot to mention that the endlinks are not removeable They are permanently attached to the first link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 Nice review. I have one of the old Yuki's and I will take a macro of my crown when I get a minute, because I do not think mine looks like that but we will see. They definitely need a lube and good brushing. I spent a few hours on mine and it improved it a bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 Excellent comparison, but also a bit depressing. I have a couple of Yuki's old 7206 bracelets and they are, indeed, much nicer than the one you got. Macros by the weekend, at the latest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironman18 Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) Great review! Thanks a lot! A bit off topic, sorry to invade OP, got this clasp lock at an old watch repair shop.. He sold it to me for $20.. Really have no idea if its gen or not.. I only based my guts on the quality of the big crown.. Anyone can shed some opinion if its gen or not? Crappy zoom loupe iphone shot Edited January 23, 2015 by ironman18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc33 Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 It's gen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww12345 Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Hmmm... Looks gen. Check the adjustment holes - if they're all funky, it's rep. Otherwise, good buy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Give ya twice what you paid for it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironman18 Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 If this is gen this is definitely a good buy for me! Side shot of clasp.. Another shot Nanuq thanks for the offer lol ) But the side shot of the clasp would confirm if its gen or not.. Fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbane883 Posted January 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Is that a 78350? Think that's 19mm compared to 20mm for the 7206 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironman18 Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 The clasp with the stamped 78350 was originally with the rivet bracelet when i got it, i think its a raffles rivet bracelet.. I swapped the "clasp lock" with the one i bought from my watch smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mapman57 Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Great review many thanks Personally feel it's over priced and quite poor by modern rep standards But it's the only option in town and therefore that drives the price point I guess Maybe upgrading it with a gen clasp is an option Sent from my iPhone using Tipitapitalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 These are "okay" bands but do feel and look very cheap straight out of the box. I give mine LOTS of short term abuse with Flitz metal polish in between all the links, and use sand paper and 3M scrubby pads to remove all the sharp edges. This makes them feel much smoother and "aged" in the hand. Then it's simple to reapply a brushed look if that's what you're after. All my old pieces are well polished from decades of rubbing against shirt sleeves etc., so I leave the band pretty shiny so it matches the overall appearance of the lugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielv2000 Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Thanks Dbane. Always on the fence with Yuki's 7206. The macro shot is a killer for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kime Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 well.. I apologize for the waste of bandwidth then! Definitely not a waste of bandwidth. I also have both and detailed set of comparison pics is a good thing to have for those who want to buy. If it were not for the bad end link connections to the bracelet these would be acceptable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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