3185 Vs. 3186 Let's start this again...

[Tek]

So my V series EII has parachrom blue hair spring?

[Andad]

Hi Mike,

Going by s/n's that have been listed by owners there was a 'batch' of old model 3186 GMT's around M3***** and an earlied 'batch' in the late Z's - Z7*****?
I read that someone had a much earlier 3186 model but I am not sure if that was confirmed.
Mine is an M305***.

[Art 1]

99.99% of wearers will not notice a difference.

[Andad]

I don't notice the difference but I know the difference.

[InVision]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Hi Mike,

Going by s/n's that have been listed by owners there was a 'batch' of old model 3186 GMT's around M3***** and an earlied 'batch' in the late Z's - Z7*****?
I read that someone had a much earlier 3186 model but I am not sure if that was confirmed.
Mine is an M305***.

Thx that Helps

[TheVTCGuy]

Ok, to be honest, I've decided on the Coke with a 3186... Thanks for all your inputs. The issue now is... PRICE! I was looking at regular Coke's as low as in the 4K range, but the 3186s are ridiculously MORE!. There is one for sale in here, very nice, but it's 7K. So NOW, I have to convince myself to pay that much.

Great, just great!

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Ok, to be honest, I've decided on the Coke with a 3186... Thanks for all your inputs. The issue now is... PRICE! I was looking at regular Coke's as low as in the 4K range, but the 3186s are ridiculously MORE!. There is one for sale in here, very nice, but it's 7K. So NOW, I have to convince myself to pay that much.

Great, just great!

You still here Paul?

Buy yourself a Prarchromeblue car too, I'm pretty sure it runs than the red car you drive around your $ 20 vase.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by RFCS

3185 today, 3186 yesterday. No difference I can tell. I did have a 3185 that ran +5 a week but that was after 10 years without service. It's fine now. You cannot go wrong with a 3185 for the money and nabob will know without taking a look at the serial number.

Would have to agree accuracy mainly comes from how any watch is regulated whether it has Nivarox or parachrom hairspring 3185 or 3186.Now I have a very old 1922 Rolex unicorn that still runs to around todays COSC spec.But for any movement to run within a few seconds a day is a marvel,some get a bit too anal about time whats in a second or two either way out of 86400 in a day.Myself would never pay a premium for a 3186 over 3185 its a bit like the Internet myth with the stick or so called mistake dial GMT being more valuable.Just a rumour started just to extract as much cash from the less knowledgeable buyer.

[Casey VP-26]

Originally Posted by padi56

Would have to agree accuracy mainly comes from how any watch is regulated whether it has Nivarox or parachrom hairspring.But I have a very old 1922 Rolex unicorn that still runs to around todays COSC spec.But for any movement to run within a few seconds a day is a marvel.Some get a bit too anal about time whats in a second or two either way out of 86400 in a day.

86400 seconds in a day. One million seconds is 11 1/2 days One billion seconds is 32 years One Trillion seconds is 32,000 Years. But who's counting? (I know its not the U.S. Government).

[ayres]

Originally Posted by wehttaM

The 3185 doesn't have the Parachrom-Bleu Hairspring thats the only difference.- Both have the same amount of power reserve (50 hours), pretty much the same stats (same amount of jewels, same type of escapement, hacking seconds etc). One was introduced in 1988 and the other in 2005. The Parachom-Bleu has a better accuracy and less effects to shocks.Welcome to the GMT Club! Better to be safe than sorry!

not true... the hairspring is NOT the only difference...

the hour-jumping mechanism is different in the two movements. while this does not affect time keeping, it is still a HUGE advancement, and alone accounts for much of the upgrade made to the movement

[Andad]

Originally Posted by ayres

not true... the hairspring is NOT the only difference...

the hour-jumping mechanism is different in the two movements. while this does not affect time keeping, it is still a HUGE advancement, and alone accounts for much of the upgrade made to the movement

You are kidding me Ayres.

Right?

[Watch Fan]

I have 2 3186s and agree that they are very accurate. I don't know that I would pay much extra for one though, vs the 3185. Not a "deal breaker" either way. Nice if you get one, but no big deal if you don't.

[hennabav]

Originally Posted by bodybump

Time to Choose Paul!!!

Nice Pic Oscar!!...is the N model the one David has?

[ayres]

Originally Posted by directioneng

You are kidding me Ayres.

Right?

of course not! it was enough for rolex to reconfigure the gears. i think that's more notable than a mere change of alloy.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by bodybump

Time to Choose Paul!!!

Oscar--help a homeboy out!!!

[dteravan]

The only problem, based on Mark Sirani’s write up, has to do with the 3186’s click spring. It’s unreliable. TLDR: he enjoys repairing the 3185 a lot more over the 3186, and this is someone who has easily done over 1000 repairs. Just something to consider with the 3186 movement. Not sure if repairing a 3186 versus 3185 is generally more expensive at a watch repair store, but if it is, then this is starting to make more sense.

Google “watch doctor 3185 vs 3186” for reference. There is one easily found blog out there which contains photos of both movements and repair insights.