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Making a Skyland hybrid -Pics


Rolexman

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Well I was the one who ordered the Skyland the day it came out... only to find out that 2 days later an improved version was released :(. To make a long story short I have a Skyland V1 and V2. It's actually a no brainer as the V2 is much better and more acurate than the V1.......

But, not everything is better on the V2

Sure,

The pearl has improved.

The Breitling Logo on the dial is somewhat bolder.

The 'b' on the bezel is stamped

No half a lume dot @ 3

But IMO the case back on the V1 is much more accurate in regards to engraving (deepness thickness, logo etc). Also the chrono second hand on the V2 is blood red whilst the gen is somewhat more organge. The V1 has the correct colour so I will change the hand out. Also the V1 has the nicely engraved rotor which will be swapped. With the result of making a Skyland hybrid which is very accurate :D

Here are some quick and dirty pics during the overall check of the seals and movement, waterproofing etc. Before I forget, both watches came from Andrew. During the disassembly of the V2 I noticed ALL THE SEALS WERE GREASED!. Even the one in the crown...... go figure.

-Click to enlarge-

V1 on the left

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Greased case back seal

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Greased tube seal

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Double seal on the pusher's stem

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Greased crown seal

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V1 on the left: V1 is engraved, V2 is etched. Perlage is nicer on the V2 though.

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V1 left: Notice the difference in engravements? Especially the typpe#. Also the logo looks much more accurate on the V1, the V2 is too bold and bulky.

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V1 on the left. Notice the crispness of the bezel engravement on the V1?

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Somewhat larger engraved date of production between the lugs on the V2 (left) but the date is science fiction: week 49 in 2016 [thanks Alecjs]

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Crown & pushers comparison: hard to say but I think the V2 is more accurate (V2 on the right)

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AR shot: pretty much the same colour and absorption but the V2 collects much more dust and finger prints, Like my UBCE (V2 on the right)

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Thanks for looking!

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HI,

Actually, between lugs number is not a serial number but the date of the production. Your V2 has a correct one :1408 B5 means 14th week of 2008, V1 has a date 49th week of 2016 or 49th week of 1916( the dates engr. has been since 2002) so it is pure SF date. On funny side you got a timetravel watch.

Cheers

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Guest carlsbadrolex
HI,

Actually, between lugs number is not a serial number but the date of the production. Your V2 has a correct one :1408 B5 means 14th week of 2008, V1 has a date 49th week of 2016 or 49th week of 1916( the dates engr. has been since 2002) so it is pure SF date. On funny side you got a timetravel watch.

Cheers

Now that is what I call a NICE first post!!! Thank you for the info, I also always thought that was an odd serial number...

Its rare that someones first post is as informative as this, they usually ask who has the best sub!

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HI,

Actually, between lugs number is not a serial number but the date of the production. Your V2 has a correct one :1408 B5 means 14th week of 2008, V1 has a date 49th week of 2016 or 49th week of 1916( the dates engr. has been since 2002) so it is pure SF date. On funny side you got a timetravel watch.

Cheers

Great post! But it's actually the V1 that has the correct number. The V2 is on the left.

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Guest carlsbadrolex

OK, I was going to create a new thread to ask this question... But since it was mentioned here... Why do people keep saying that the V2 dial has a better lume dot at the 3 oclock position? YES, it is slightly larger than the one on the V1. But it is still about 30% smaller than it should be. In my humble opinion, the V2 looks worse because at least the 1/2 dot looked like it belonged, now the 2/3 dot looks out of place completely. Looks like they tried to cram it in there and ran out of space.

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OK, I was going to create a new thread to ask this question... But since it was mentioned here... Why do people keep saying that the V2 dial has a better lume dot at the 3 oclock position? YES, it is slightly larger than the one on the V1. But it is still about 30% smaller than it should be. In my humble opinion, the V2 looks worse because at least the 1/2 dot looked like it belonged, now the 2/3 dot looks out of place completely. Looks like they tried to cram it in there and ran out of space.

True, still not perfect but I prefer the V2 dot.... 1/4th closer to a whole dot LOL.

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Thx Rolexman, this helps a lot. I got a question. Does this mean that the V1 is more accurate than the V2? One thing that pisses me off about the V2 is how the movement isn't engraved.

If you make the V2 to correct problems on the V1, why do you create problems where there wasnt any in the first batch? I pray for a V3 because Id hate to buy 2 watches just to make a more gen looking one. Thanks.

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Thanks Rolexman....your pictorial has convinced me to buy the V1 from Josh on rubber strap. The half lume dot a 3 looks better to me than the full one on the V2 and the lume just looks better overall on the V1 pictures I've seen so far.

I just ordered the blue dial V1 and have a gen blue divers strap...its going to look great.

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First,its not a V1 and V2.....V2 sounding like its an improved version from the same maker.

V1 is one maker,came out with his first,V2 is just another maker,came out second.

The maker that came out first F'ed up that lume dot at 3,but imo,makes a better Skyland,the numbers on the tabs,and the bezel seem more like the gen to me then the second makers version,but he did not screw up the lume dot like the first guy.

It is also noted here that the caseback is done better by the first maker,nice to know.

The build quality of the first makers version is very good,i have 2,a very 'gen' feel,even the crown stem is thick and solid,no play,the winding is smooth like the gen,no heavy 'grinding' like other A7750 chrono watches,dunno about the second makers version....would like to hear about that.

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First,its not a V1 and V2.....V2 sounding like its an improved version from the same maker.

V1 is one maker,came out with his first,V2 is just another maker,came out second.

Understood, but we have to distinguish the two versions somehow. Since we will never know the name of the factories,V1 an V2 have to suffice.

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Thx Rolexman, this helps a lot. I got a question. Does this mean that the V1 is more accurate than the V2? One thing that pisses me off about the V2 is how the movement isn't engraved.

If you make the V2 to correct problems on the V1, why do you create problems where there wasnt any in the first batch? I pray for a V3 because Id hate to buy 2 watches just to make a more gen looking one. Thanks.

I don't think there will ever be a V3. It's only the rotor that's engraved, you can easily swap it. Overal I think both are very accurate. Each has his own flaws. I find a correct pearl and stamped 'b' on the side of the bezel more important than the correct colour chrono second hand and case back so if I have to opt for one it would be the V2. But some find the right case back and engraved rotor more important....... who cares, I have both versions LOL

Thanks Rolexman....your pictorial has convinced me to buy the V1 from Josh on rubber strap. The half lume dot a 3 looks better to me than the full one on the V2 and the lume just looks better overall on the V1 pictures I've seen so far.

I just ordered the blue dial V1 and have a gen blue divers strap...its going to look great.

The V1 is very nice. Enjoy it!

First,its not a V1 and V2.....V2 sounding like its an improved version from the same maker.

V1 is one maker,came out with his first,V2 is just another maker,came out second.

The maker that came out first F'ed up that lume dot at 3,but imo,makes a better Skyland,the numbers on the tabs,and the bezel seem more like the gen to me then the second makers version,but he did not screw up the lume dot like the first guy.

It is also noted here that the caseback is done better by the first maker,nice to know.

The build quality of the first makers version is very good,i have 2,a very 'gen' feel,even the crown stem is thick and solid,no play,the winding is smooth like the gen,no heavy 'grinding' like other A7750 chrono watches,dunno about the second makers version....would like to hear about that.

True, It's simply used to distinguish them both. Version 1 and Version 2.... it has nothing to do with accuracy. In regards to build quality of the crown and tube I would rate them both the same. Sturdy and without slack. In regards to pushers I would rate the V2 better as it uses scew's to hold down the pusher and not c-clips like the V1. But that's not really significant difference....

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I'm getting one, and based on your excellent comments here, the decision is, should I save $50 bucks and go for V1?

I'm thinking so, since the only difference wouldn't be recognizable by anyone (other than the Wis's on the boards).

V1 Pro's (vs V2)

More accurate case back

More accurate colour chrono second hand

Better positioned lume dots

Breitling signed rotor

Engraved 'BREITLING' writing on the inside of the case back (instead of etched)

Existing production date between the lugs

V2 Pro's (vs V1)

'B' on the side of the bezel is stamped (instead of echted on the V1)

Slightly better pearl

No half-lume dot issue @ 3

Somewhat bolder Breitling logo on the dial (hardly noticeable though)

Nicer applied perlage on the inside of the case back

Besided the points mentioned above they are the same IMO. Crown and pusher construction are both solid with enough seals to guarantee a 100% water proof watch.

Take your pick ;)

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Guest carlsbadrolex

Today I picked up my brand new V2 with bracelet from a SoCal brother and we were able to put the two side by side. The first thing I noticed was that the lume on the V2 dial seemed very poor. It appeared dull and not even. We noticed all the other differences mentioned above. But I had never heard anyone mention the lume.

I just got home and put them under the brightest light I could find, and just as I thought, the lume on the V2 is horrible compared the the V1 dial. It is very uneven on both the markers, the hands. The white paint on the numbers on the V2 are also not nearly as clean...

I am going to do a little hybrid job also, but I think I am going to keep the V1 dial.

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