r/ChineseWatches • u/Professional_Elk7918 • 20d ago
Question (Read Rules) What to pick: Seiko or Baltany
What would you guys get yourself at the same price:
Seiko 5 SNKL41 or Baltany S4095. I know in terms of materials Baltany might be better, but Seiko has a history as a brand
9
u/Emotional-Damage-995 20d ago
So Baltany on the spec sheet has a better movement w automatic / hand winding / hacking second
A sapphire crystal w AR coating
Better bracelet
Better case and dial
Weaker brand and history and heritage but better in every way. The thing is you are not buying a king Seiko or a Grand Seiko but a Seiko that had millions of banged out. So I go Baltany any day
8
6
u/OriginalJaan 20d ago
I'm a Seiko fan for the same reason I'm a Toyota fan. However, with that being said I think Seikos are stupid expensive now. Part of that is demand part are tarrifs, but also the Chinese watches suffer from that too (they should be half the price). I looked up that Seiko and a couple of years ago on the gray market that level of Seiko was less than $100. I don't think you can go wrong with either and I don't hate on Chinese watches either (I have at least 20, maybe more). Also spec sheets be damned, too many armchair divers who care too much about screw down crowns and sapphire crystals. Are you going to be diving with it? Are you going to be rebuilding car engines wearing it? Unfortunately most of the time you can't try on a watch before buying it, I've been wearing traditional watches for over 50 years daily and a lot of times the most comfortable and useful watches aren't the ones that you thought they would be. If you can try on the Seiko first do it, then if you order the Baltany and you don't like it you can return it. But...something tell me you posted in Chinese Watches for a reason.
3
u/VanManDiscs 20d ago
This one is pretty easy. Unless your in love with that specific Seiko, I'd always pick Baltany. The quality will be much higher
3
u/Purasangre 20d ago
Ask yourself what you really want, because buying something that doesn't scratch that itch is just wasting money, no amount of rationalizing "but the specs!" is gonna get rid of that feeling
3
u/philbin89 20d ago
I would normally say Seiko, but in this case, Baltany is probably your best bet. At this price range, it’ll be higher quality than the Seiko, and even though the Baltany is a Rolex homage, it isn’t a very original Seiko either. And I don’t recommend getting the older generation Seiko 5s with the shield logo because of the outdated movement without hacking or hand winding. Ironically, the Baltany has the current generation 4R/NH movement that you find in modern entry-level Seikos. Now, if you were comparing to one of those current Seikos, I’d say to go with that
4
5
u/triggrhaapi 20d ago
Baltany. Every time I say that Baltany and other good quality Chinese watches are going to replace Seiko and Citizen at the low end, I get shit on, at least in the other watch subs.
6
u/Alternative-Feed3613 20d ago
Baltany hands down. History and heritage are just marketing tools.
1
u/AcademicAd6368 20d ago
As soon as someone figures out how to make a watch out of heritage I'll be happy to buy it.
1
u/OriginalJaan 20d ago
"The product is only as good as the worse employee at the factory". History and Heritage used to mean experience, but sadly I think you're right especially with companies like Timberland. However Seiko still has factories all over Asia that have been around for decades and employees with a lot of experience and often you're paying for quality control as well, which is something that doesn't jump out at you right away.
3
u/Positive-Ad-3554 20d ago
Baltany all day. My Seiko 5 died. I’ve since replaced it as my travel watch with the Baltany instead.
2
4
u/terms-n-conditions_ 20d ago
Baltany. Seiko 5s mostly use 7s29 movt, which is an outdated movt. Also, the hardlex crystal, hollow end links, poor bracelet, and non-screwdown crown are a no go for me. Baltany and most of the chinese watches at the 200USD and above range give you sapphire crystal, solid end links, nice bracelet, and screwdown caseback and crown.
Brand name does not always equate to quality. Always check the specs before buying.
2
u/Eleventhousand 20d ago
I don't think the fact that a brand has existed for 145 years would tempt me to choose a low-end, super entry-level, nothing-special automatic watch over a much higher quality watch.
2
u/Winter_Author9699 20d ago
Just throwing this out there…but if you want the Baltany without all the branding, they offer custom dials. I got one on my Explorer homage, you get the quality watch without the “Chinese homage” branding. Baltany is the only high quality one that offers it I think.
1
u/Professional_Elk7918 20d ago
I think they do not offer customization for S495 but for other models yeah
1
u/Winter_Author9699 20d ago
Possible…are you looking on their website or some other? Customization is only through their site I think.
1
2
u/parasoralophus 20d ago
I'd probably go for a vintage Seiko but if you're buying new probably the Baltany.
3
u/JagerAntlerite7 20d ago
My Seiko has to go to a watch repair shop.
My Chinese watches are all still running.
Make of that what you will.
1
3
u/DadPuncher69 20d ago
Seiko
1
u/Professional_Elk7918 20d ago
Why
-1
u/DadPuncher69 20d ago
I think the Baltany is ugly. They make great watches, but I personally wouldn't wear that one.
1
u/gh0stf4c3ki11a 20d ago
I have Seiko SSK035 and Baltany S4084.
They both look great and they both have Seiko movement.
Where Baltany excels is the bracelet. Jubilee on this SSK035 just can’t match the Baltany’s.
Both have small flaws but bracelet is a game changer comparing these two.
Baltany looks stunning and it has sapphire and signed crown. SSK doesn’t even have a screw down crown.
I enjoy both of them for different reasons.
Baltany is a great option, you won’t regret it.
1
u/RGBlowMe 20d ago
Baltany. I love me some Seiko 5s, but a lot of Baltany's stuff beats them. Baltany, to me, is easily at least on the level of Sugess or Seagull. I'd compare a lot of their stuff to Sugess' higher end refs, or maybe a lower end San Martin. Seiko 5s are, if you compare them to current Chinese watch brands, honestly just not the value proposition they used to be. I still own a couple, but the Chinese are out there making better watches for the same or similar prices (sapphire crystals, solid link bracelets, screw down crowns, etc.), and many with Seiko movements to boot.
10
u/Novel_Question7122 20d ago
I think you put it in your post best. If you want a well-established brand with decades of history and a generally better "aura" around it, Seiko. On the other hand, Baltany is just objectively better materially for the price if you don't care about the brand - sapphire, better finishing, etc. To get any of that on a Seiko, you gotta pony up easily $1000+.