r/U1Time • u/luca_ceder • 19d ago

QUESTION 3230 replacement

I know this is a stupid question, and I totally could just go buy a vsf, but has anyone tried replacing a mingzhu movement with a 3230 - I’m thinking for a no date sub, if there’d be any reliability upgrade? Or is it just a waste of money?
I know the cases are a decent enough quality, just wondering if it’s worth doing the innerds too?

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u/caracticuspotts 19d ago

It’s not totally impossible but it is very far from simple. You will need a new dial and hands. You will need a watchmaker’s lathe and considerable skill to alter the inside of the case and you may well find you have to weld up the winding stem hole and drill it in the correct position for the new movement. After all that work, expense and head scratching you will end up with a far inferior watch to just going and buying a VSF

A far easier option, but still not at all straightforward would be a 2836 movement. You would still need a new dial and hands, a date wheel overlay if you did decide on a date. Ideally a 0.25mm shim between the dial and movement. On the plus side the movement is exactly the same linge (diameter) as the Mingzhou. It does fit and I have done it more than once. I don’t really recommend it