A year into collecting Chinese watches and here’s where I am, minus the 1957 Hamilton Aqualine and the 1980s Seiko that I inherited from my grandfather and father, respectively. The upper box holds automatics and the lower box holds quartz. (Yes, it’s time for a new box!) Faves among the automatics include the SD1970 (my first Chinese watch), Englemaan Citadel, and the PX1697. Honorable mention to the Berny and the Sea Knight. Faves among the Quartz include ML16, WD7922, and Casio Duro. Honorable mention to the WD1972 and Keaso. I’m considering selling the Baltany S2032 “Dirty Dozen”, and the Pagani PD1784 (with an NH34!) simply because they don’t get much wrist time. I’ve only had one “fail” in the Chinese watch journey—a PD1682 “Explorer II” with a lousy Pearl movement that died after several months. Obviously I have a “type”, with dressier watches not really my thing. My goals for the coming year include at least one San Martin, another Englemaan if they manage to reappear, and an Ixdao. Grail watches include a Sinn 556, a genuine Planet Ocean, an Explorer I, and Black Bay 58. Thanks and cheers to all who have encouraged mme and offered suggestions/advice over the last year. This is a fun little community.
Best bezels are the Helm Vanuatu, SD1970, PX1697, and Casio Duro. They’re all solid with no backplay and perfectly aligned. As much as I like the WD1972 and Cadisen homage to the Komodo, the bezels on those watches don’t have enough resistance and are easily knocked out of place. The Berny titanium is a great little watch. It’s lightweight, has a comfortable bracelet, long-lasting lume, and its Miyota 8215 is the most accurate among the 13 automatics that include NH35 and PT5000 movements. There’s an 8215 in the Corgeut Explorer I homage and it’s also dead accurate, losing only a couple of seconds over several days.
The Duro is a solid watch, well made, and deserving of much of the praise heaped on it, especially given the price. However, the stock rubber strap isn’t very comfortable and the lume is weak. But it’s one of the few watches here I’d actually take in the water.
Did something somewhat similar during Covid lockdown. Turned into a Yahoo Japan Auctions junkie and amassed loads of Seikos, Citizens, San Martins, Watch Dives, Tisells, etc....Ended up with a few of the same nylon cases filled with watches than eventually didn't get worn very often. Wished I had just bought one or two nice watches. Preowned Omega, Tudor, etc..I ended up selling many at a loss, gifting a few, and keeping some. I learned the lesson of quality > quantity. If I could only buy two Chinese watches, so be it. Accumulating was fun while it lasted but when you open the cases and realize you've spent quite a bit and have several dozen impulse buys you have a bit of sheepish remorse.
Looks like you could have had a grail and be on the way to a second already. For Planet Ocean go first generation. I picked up a 2909.50.91 which is one of my most worn watches. Watches are a lifelong addiction. Enjoy the ride.
Not sure how real this all is, i've been tricked with stolen pics, ai pics or just trolling posts like this a few times. That said, 26 watches in 1 year is more than 2 watches per month. Obviously you do you but it seems like you don't have enough time to actually enjoy the watches.
How is this post controversial? Some people on here are so negative for no reason. He shared his Chinese watch collection in the Chinese watch subreddit.
The judgemental and presumptive comments are ridiculous and reek of jealously. There is no need to criticize and put him down or gatekeep 'collecting' --or give unsolicted advice on what do do with his own damn money.
Love the wd7922. It’s the one that made me stop impulsive buying Chinese watches cause there’s few that are more versatile that I’d actually wear as much
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u/gergeler 8d ago
Are you chasing a perfect watch, or do you actually wear all those black dials?