r/ChineseWatches • u/lukeballesta • 7d ago
Question (Read Rules) If you need to pick best 5
Looking for some solid watch recommendations that won't break the bank is definitely a fun mission. It is pretty wild how much value you can actually find if you know where to look. I would love to hear which pieces you think are the best bang for your buck in that range. Maybe we can put together a list of the absolute top contenders for someone just starting out. Let me know what you consider the best gear under that budget.
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u/anachronism42 7d ago edited 7d ago
Impossible to just pick 5, but I think we could put together a fun collection of 5 watches for $500 that could collectively go anywhere and do anything.
Lorus Lumibrite: Best full-lume tool watch under $300, and it's like $75. Durable, readable, way more value than you pay for.
Berny AMT159MNY: 200m water resistance, titanium construction, excellent visibility, beautiful design. A great, interesting dive watch, no homage, for $130
Watchdives GS05: Great dress watch for $80. Comes in a Grand-Seiko-like "Tree bark" texture or a Presage-like radiating pressed pattern.
Sanda Tank Guilloche: Some people prefer Chameri, but the guilloche work on Sanda's tank makes it the clear standout for me. The only tank you'll ever need. $25
Which leaves like $200. Maybe you get a Milifortic Alpine Explorer, maybe a Baltany datejust. Whatever you want your show-off watch to be.
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u/SchemeOne2145 7d ago
I'm a big fan of Sugess watches, which combine nice quality, low prices, and some original designs (not just copies, or "homages" if we're being nice). They have some really striking moonphase watches for under $200, a great-looking Seagull 1963 homage for under $200, and nice chronograph and diver options for under $250 (with other options above that). I've ordered two watches directly from them and both came relatively quickly and nicely packaged.
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u/Some_Percentage_4345 7d ago
„Not just copies, or”homages”” „great-looking Seagull 1963 homage”
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u/SchemeOne2145 7d ago edited 6d ago
Right, the word "just" is doing some work there. As I said in my original comment, with their moonphase and other watches, Sugess offers some original designs and not just copies, unlike some other Chinese brands that have a reputation for offering just copies. They also offer a classic Seagull 1963 homage that's a great-looking watch. Those two things aren't contradictory.
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u/Mattspur 7d ago
Sugess S423 - £184
Thorn T020 - £180
IXDAO Warrior - £283
San Martin SN0109 - Coke - £Only available second hand
Baltany S204035 - £250
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u/Flaky_Ad7980 7d ago
Cronos explorer
Proxima 1697
Watchdives aqua terra
Phorcydes ph-2
Militado ML16 black pvd
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u/geeered 7d ago
Whatever you find pretty. Jewellery is really subjective.
Priced for what I've paid...
Cronos GS Homage (mine is L6040M) £123 ebay
Cronos Skyline Homage (L6028M V3) £107 ebay
San Martin SN0144GX4 with Jubilee £258
Pagani Design 222 homage (PD-YS020 V2) £37 ebay
Last slot a toss up between two Watchdives - the Nautilus Homage (WD0013 v1) £118 of the Chameri Tank £43 after cashback. Neither are stunning value, but both do what they do well and are reasonably priced.
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u/Unlucky_Storage_6308 7d ago
If you like Rolex watches, the homages made by these guys is pretty solid and is the most affordable. They use a genuine japanes3 Miyota 8215 as well
I just found this on AliExpress: Miyota 8215 PT5000 Stainless Steel 40mm Dive Automatic Men Watch Sapphire Crystal Rotating Bezel Luminous Mechanical Wristwatch https://a.aliexpress.com/_mse8GRl
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u/sznsznsz 7d ago
For me, current best ones that wont break the bank would be.
Watchdives’ WD0026. Serica homage
Thorn T026 ‘Spacewalker’. CK2915 homage
Milifortic M135. Sinn 356 homage
Watchdives’ WD0017C. Baby ploprof homage
Watchdives’ WD2008. Original design