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#1 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Real Name: Marc
Location: NJ
Watch: AP,LV,SD43,PAMs
Posts: 756
|
AP Caliber 3126/3840 vs. 4401
More of a technical/reliability question here.
I was wondering what the consensus is on the newer fully in-house chronograph AP 4401 caliper. I asked a watchmaker and he said the older sandwich 3126/3840 is a better movement. Seems odd to me. I have heard the older 44mm offshores that get sent in for service to AP get a new 3126/3840 movement. Does anyone know how much and how long that service takes? And if the replacement is more reliable/better? In terms of specs, the new AP 4401 has 40 jewels, 70hr reserve, and 28,800 frequency and totally in-house vs. the older 3126/3840 with 59 jewels, 50 hour reserve and 21,600 frequency (less accurate) with half not in-house. any replies or thoughts are appreciated. thanks, Marc |
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#2 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 1,212
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4401 is better but not by leaps and bounds.
The older modular chrono is more delicate and has a hard time with being worn hard for a ROO. New movement is better to look at, very accurate but takes ages to wind and known issue of sub dial hand slippage in a stopped position Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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#3 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: SNA
Posts: 3,646
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I had a forged carbon 44mm as a daily driver and I used the chronograph frequently with no problems. Loved the overall esthetics of that watch.
But I would have preferred an integrated chronograph with a column wheel, and that's one of the reasons I let it go. A 43mm with the new movement, a ceramic bezel, FC case, and all-black dial would be awesome! ![]() |
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#4 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Houston
Watch: AP 26240st,26420ce
Posts: 255
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I’ve been really enjoying my ROC with the 4401; the flyback mechanism is very useful when I’m timing things, and it’s been extremely accurate (+1 to 1.5 sec/day). As mentioned above, some people have reported an issue with the minute counter subdial hand slipping, but I personally haven’t seen that yet.
Power reserve of 70hrs is also fantastic, even without being super active and switching between different watches, I haven’t had it stop yet. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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#5 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: London
Posts: 94
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I‘ve struggled without same issue when I registered my interest with AP for the 38mm ROC. User pjm1289 shared some interesting thoughts here, https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=869407
(This discussed the differences vs. the FP 2385, but hopefully can still serve as a data point) Hope this helps. Ultimately, in my case, my small wrist size also played a huge role in gunning for the old caliber, the new movement is very chunky. |
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#6 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Real Name: Marc
Location: NJ
Watch: AP,LV,SD43,PAMs
Posts: 756
|
Thank you for the replies. I called AP service today. Here is what I found out. Sending in the older 44mm ROO you have 2 options, service or replace movement. They only replace the 3126 part and it is now a 3126.2. I imagine they service the 3840 part. Cost is $1800. If you choose to replace or service the 3126, cost is the same, but wait time is different. Replace is about 3weeks, service is 6weeks.
Differences: I was told the new 3126.2 has a larger balance wheel, a bigger barrel, and a 70hour reserve vs 50. The date window is slightly closer also I am told, and the movement looks different on the clear case back. This is what I was just told. Hope it helps. |
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#7 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: NY
Posts: 80
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Thank you for the information, Marc.
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#8 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 302
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Quote:
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#9 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Houston
Watch: AP 26240st,26420ce
Posts: 255
|
I don’t personally have enough of a sample size to say definitively, but my chrono with the 4401 has been extremely accurate. I just reset it this morning, it gained 10 seconds over the past 7 days.. +1.5s per day is pretty good in my books Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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#10 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Real Name: Marc
Location: NJ
Watch: AP,LV,SD43,PAMs
Posts: 756
|
Quote:
![]() Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk |
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#11 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Real Name: Marc
Location: NJ
Watch: AP,LV,SD43,PAMs
Posts: 756
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Notice the date on this ROO that was serviced. Looks way larger and closer.
![]() Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk |
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#12 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Real Name: Marc
Location: NJ
Watch: AP,LV,SD43,PAMs
Posts: 756
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And....
![]() Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk |
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#13 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 326
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I sent 2 of my 3126 in for service and had movements updated to new version. I can see zero visual difference when comparing side by side and front/back to other 3126 Offshores I own that are not updated.
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#14 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 326
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The visual you are seeing above is just the angle the photo was taken
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#15 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Real Name: Marc
Location: NJ
Watch: AP,LV,SD43,PAMs
Posts: 756
|
Ok thank you. That helps....I will wait.
Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk |
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