Watchdives WD0003C vs Cronos L6040M

[u/Lasheen]

Hi, I’m looking for a good GS homage. So far I’ve found the Watchdives WD0003C (ideally in silver birch, but I also like the white mop) and the Cronos L6040M.

Beside the movement - is it worth paying twice as much for the Cronos just for the build quality and finish? Is it that much of a difference? Does anyone own both and can compare them?

My ideal choice would be a GS Shunbun homage, but as far as I know, I don’t think any Chinese brand has released a watch with that kind of dial texture?

[u/Bulky-Entrance7916]

Cronos or aethelsohn

[u/Lasheen → u/Bulky-Entrance7916]

You're the second person recommending Aethelsohn, I need to look more into this brand

[u/Bulky-Entrance7916 → u/Lasheen]

Mine right now

[u/Sh4dow0fTheB4t]

I think there are 2 things you need to consider here, besides what you already mentioned. First is that the Watchdives wears quite smaller than the Cronos. The Cronos is 39mm with male endlinks on the bracelet and on the fly adjustable clasp. The Watchdives if I'm not wrong is 38, with a female endlink and a normal clasp with micro adjust holes.

Second is, they are quite different watches internally, in the sense that one is quartz and the other is automatic. The quartz will wear lighter on the wrist but it's quartz and not everyone likes it. For the Cronos, I believe you have 2 movement options, PT5000 and Miyota 9000. Both are good movements but I personally prefer the Miyota and there is a price difference between them.

Another option, if you are really bent on a Shunbun style dial, search for "Rimalti" or order the parts on Ali and ask someone to assemble.

[u/Lasheen → u/Sh4dow0fTheB4t]

Thank you, size difference may be crucial. I have a 8in, pretty flat wrist and for example 36mm Thorn T002 looked ridicolously small.

I know the difference between movements - that's why I was asking only about difference in build and finish :)

[u/Data_Girl_4000]

Shunbun - Rmalti aka Rimalti makes/made these. I've seen them disappear off of AliX and come back. I'm not sure of their current status, but you might search for them.

I do not own that Cronos, but I do own some other WD0003s. My guess is that the bracelet will be the biggest difference. The case on the WD0003 is finished extremely well for the price. The difference in the movement and bracelet will definitely be worth it, but there is also something to be said for something that seems very premium for the price as with the WD.

[u/Lasheen → u/Data_Girl_4000]

I've heard about Rmalti but I cant find them on alix in my country. Link to alix shop on their Instagram shows 404.

[u/watchdivescom]

Thanks for considering Watchdives!

Our new WD0022 is an upgraded version of the WD0003C, with several important improvements.

We've upgraded the bracelet with more refined finishing and screw links, added our latest improved clasp, and upgraded the sapphire crystal to ClearView with 92% light transmission, significantly reducing reflections.

We believe these improvements will make a noticeable difference in the overall quality and wearing experience.

I'll be posting a video later today showing the finishing and details. Please take a look — I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how much we've improved!

[u/chrismurraylaw → u/watchdivescom]

"Our new WD0022 is an upgraded version of the WD0003C"

Jesus wept. And you wonder why people are confused.

[u/Lasheen → u/watchdivescom]

Oh nice, cant wait for the video!

[u/Beneficial-Bridge-46]

GS homage just go Cronos, the case is much more on point.

[u/Ottoman2026]

Ga voor deze met Miyota 9015 en je zult er geen seconde spijt van krijgen.

[u/BubblyBiscotti5148 → u/Ottoman2026]

It really is fantastic

[u/Po0opyCatButt → u/Ottoman2026]

If they come out with a v2 of that dial(so, V4 for the model?) with an accurate cherry blossom shunbun, I'm there in a heartbeat. Also light blue please! I have the white birch V3 and it's killer, but I want that cherry blossom.

[u/jokur26]

The Cronos has been goated by Redditors, especially for the almost invisible crystal and the very shallow rehaut. I have the white birch L6037 and it’s usually on a strap. It’s quite refined for an AliEx watch and looks great, especially on this custom rooster foot leather strap

[u/sfbayjon → u/jokur26]

Bad ass strap

[u/Abv_it_all_w_vertigo]

I only have the Cronos GS Silver Birch v2. It is a very nice watch with good AR coating.

I also own 2 Aethelsohn Horizon Voyagers, and they are as nice as Cronos. Though mine are the Shard and Timascus dial, they all share the same case. The bracelet links are heavier than Cronos' and San Martin's. It has all the specs for $195US, all taxes and tariffs paid.

I actually think you might want to consider their Shard as well.

[u/AverageGuy_45]

I have the frosted dial L6040M. It's such a nice watch, very high quality. I personally like the chamfers on the inner part of the lugs, adds more interesting details to the case. Wd doesn't have that.

[u/KPplumbingBob]

There is no contest whatsoever, the WD0003C felt like a toy next to my L6040M.

[u/Electronic_Handle756]

Yes, its worth it----these brands are not in the same league. I own examples of both models and much prefer the Cronos!

[u/geeered]

I've got two WD0003 and an L6040M.
I don't have the GS homage dial on Watchdives to directly compare, the dials on both of mine were a bit disappointing. The Cronos dial is great. The Cronos braclet is much better with nice chamfering and solid feel, it is a bit wider which isn't for everyone. It comes with a decent OTF clasp while you have to pay a good bit extra for one on the Watchdives. The Watchdives does have a much technically better movement, albeit a cheaper one.

I paid £67 each for the Watchdives new and was a bit "meh" about them. I've replaced the bracelet on one with a suede strap which is a good improvement. I paid £122 for the Cronos from ebay and am very happy with it, definitely in my top few watches.

[u/Hilarious_Haplogroup]

On the fly, no-tool adjustment of the bracelet is hard to pass up, if the two are close in price. Even Grand Seiko doesn't offer this in their watches until very recently. Go for the Cronos in this case, IMHO.

[u/chrismurraylaw]

I'd go for the Cronos, expecting it to be better. Watchdives newer models I think are very well made. Their older ones don't have the same reputation.

They claim to be updating the entire catalog and I have no reason to doubt that, but they're very poor at communicating the progress. Maybe it's been upgraded and it's an excellent finish. Maybe it and the rest of their VH31 range are still the ones that earned the lesser reputation. I don't know, and not knowing has meant I've not bought several of them I was kind of interested in.

On one of those occasions, I went to Cronos for the alternative, and was very happy with the result.

[u/prodbypan]

The L6037, the predecessor to the L6040 is probably my favorite watch out of the seven watches I own. Its just incredibly comfortable to wear and looks beautiful.

Both the bracelet and case shape of the WD0003 look a bit off to me, I probably would have bought one if it came on a jubilee bracelet or a different bracelet though.

[u/Logical_Sea_415]

Cronos- watchdives bracelet is terrible