iwc IWC Pilot watch 3777-04 - GEN vs V6 vs ZF Comparison

[thermalboyz]

IWC Pilot watch 3777-04 - GEN vs V6 vs ZF Comparison

 

Following comparison are credited to author from Lingmuwatch . IWC Pilot 3777-04 need no introduction as a popular pilot watch among pilot enthusiast. Also with famous ETA 7750 movement in place is a bonus too if anyone wanted to swap to an ETA.

 

Lets get start for the comparison between GEN vs V6 vs ZF

 

 

Dimension                      43 mm

Thickness                       15 mm

Bezel                             Polished 316L stainless steel

Watchcase                     1:1 Solid 316L stainless steel case with anti-magnetic soft-iron inner case

Dial                               Superlumed dial and hands (lumed with genuine Super-LumiNova C1)

Strap                             High Quality 316L Stainless Steel bracelet

Crystal                          Sapphire Crystal Glass with Double AR Coated (Swiss Standard)

Back Case                     Solid Caseback with Detail Engraving

Movement                     Swiss ETA 7750 automatic chronograph movement at 28800 vph with working regulator

Function                        Hours, Minutes, Sub-Seconds, Day & Date Display

Other Feature                Water Resistance 10ATM (SEE GUIDANCE BELOW)

 

 

General Impression

In general both factory did a great job on this 3777-04 model. It looks very similar in terms of Case, Dial, AR, print, sub-dial etc.

 

 

 

Dial :

As you can see the blue tint on the crystal is an AR coating which same as GEN. The dial and sub-dial is in black colour.

 

 

 

Sub-dial :

Concentric circle present on V6 and ZF, number on sub-dial in GEN looks thinner than the REP. Number and Index printed are quite good in general.

 

 

 

Hands :

Sec and Min hands on V6 and ZF has bent inwards like the GEN. V6 triangle @ 12 looks stands out more than the GEN. otherwise both factory did a great job on Hands.

 

 

 

Date :

From the Font point of view, it's really spot on of the Days and Date. However, in picture below the Number "1" especially is NOT the same to GEN. Date frame window V6 looks closer to GEN as it has a deeper cut than ZF.

 

 

 

LOGO/Fonts & Sub-dial :

Sec @ 9 colour is the same but Font on both factory looks a bit bolder than the GEN. In general the GEN sub-dial print is more fine and details.

 

 

 

Case :

Case thickness on both V6 and ZF are slightly thicker than the GEN. Brushing on GEN is finer and and better looking.

 

 

 

Crown / Pushers :

Ignore the blue sticker on both REP as they are for protection purposes for scratches and can be taken off. In general pushers looks very similar to GEN. Crown wise V6 looks closer to GEN but still not as fine as GEN in details. ZF crown looks very poorly engraved as some of the logo/ words not stand out like the GEN.

 

 

Back Case :

GEN engraving on back case as always very fine and deep. V6 is Deep but not fine enough and ZF is not deep and too fine in fonts (especially spacing between words). Inside of the casing V6 has 3 screw fixer to the mid-case but ZF only has one, which means V6 is better holding the movement to the case than ZF. Inner case details for the GEN is not available and risky to scratches. Movement pretty much same as both factory uses A7750 and GEN used ETA / VX 7750 so no need to compare.

 

 

Bracelet :

Bracelet brush of both factory are quite nicely made and very similar to GEN. The only tell on bracelet is the "IWC" on clasp, GEN is deep and fine and both factory are not to that standard.

 

 

TIPS:

Little tips of how to remove the bracelet.

 

TIPs on using 7750.

1) Between 8pm - 3am, do not adjust Date and Day.

2) Don't often use the Chrono function (If not an ETA) and use it properly. Start > Stop > Reset.

3) When adjusting Day/ Date or Hour / min, pull crown to the correct position gently.

 

 

SUMMARY :

As summary, I think both factory has it plus and minus. Both factory did a great job on this Pilot model 3777 and it's an 7750 movement so it is easy replaceable / swap to ETA. Well, swapping still not that simple as need a watchsmith to fit the sec hand which is 0.05mm difference.

Edited July 14, 2016 by thermalboyz

[Peashooter]

Great details, thanks for sharing

[thermalboyz]

welcome, my pleasure.  

[thermalboyz]

Note : I've checked online about the no "1" and seems like in this comparison picture the Gen is flawed. It should be the same like the rep version and I do not know why the "1" is like that in this picture.

Sent from my pigeon

[mule play]

excellent work and very much appreciated. cheers from my 3777-06 lpp model with bracelet removed for summer.