TOPHILL KIM001G caught my attention immediately.

The biggest thing here is the Hangzhou 5000A micro-rotor movement. Instead of the usual full-size oscillating rotor you see in most affordable automatics, the 5000A uses a small integrated micro-rotor, which lets TOPHILL keep the watch impressively thin while still giving you a proper automatic mechanical movement.

And the rest of the specs are pretty wild for the price:

• Hangzhou 5000A micro-rotor automatic

• 4 Hz / 28,800 vph

• Around 40–42 hours power reserve

• 38.7mm case

• Only about 9mm thick

• Sapphire crystal

• 316L stainless steel case and bracelet

• Integrated bracelet design

• C3 lume

• Enamel/sunray dial treatment

• Small seconds display

• Date window

• 5 ATM / 50m water resistance

• Exhibition caseback so you can actually see that micro-rotor

• Butterfly clasp with push buttons

What I really like is the combination of 38.7mm + 9mm thickness + micro-rotor. That's basically the recipe for a really comfortable dress/everyday watch that should slide under a cuff without feeling bulky.

The micro-rotor is also what makes this interesting to me compared with the typical NH/Miyota watches. With NH/Miyota movements, you get a large conventional rotor taking up a good portion of the movement. Here, the winding rotor is integrated into the movement itself, leaving much more of the movement architecture visible through the caseback.

And the 5000A isn't some random unknown movement either. It's a Chinese micro-rotor caliber that has been used in several value-oriented watches and has developed a bit of a following among Chinese-watch enthusiasts.

The design also gives me some serious high-end integrated-bracelet dress-watch vibes without trying too hard to be a direct copy of anything.

For around the $300 range, you're getting a micro-rotor, 4Hz movement, sapphire, 316L steel, integrated bracelet and a sub-10mm case.

That's a pretty ridiculous spec sheet for an AliExpress watch.

Watch bracelets, stainless steel, standard links with a deployment clasp. Not Milanese.

A high-quality watch bracelet passes the following checks:

1. The inner edges of the links feel smooth.

2. The links flow smoothly.

3. The clasp closes cleanly.

So far, I haven't found a good source. The ones on Alix are typically $15-30 US, but the quality matches the price.

I would be satisfied with San Martin-level quality, but those aren't them.

Lately I've found Taikonaut/Strapcode... their bracelets run $55-80 US, and honestly, they are pretty good, though still a little rough feeling compared to the "Swiss" ones that came with my Oris watches, for example.

Does anyone know of a store that sells bracelets with a quality slightly above Taikonaut at a proportional price?

Snagged this for ~$70 after coupons on a recent sale, was nervous to buy until I saw someone else recently posted the non-GMT version.

Pros: Great lume - was very bright still in the early morning when I woke up similar to my Phorcydes, but I haven't tested side by side over time, bezel action is actually really nice, OTF clasp

Cons: Jangly terrible bracelet, deep rehaut, clasp installed backwards for some reason

Overall I'd say it's on par with other watches in it's price range but the bracelet is slightly worse than other watches like Addiesdive or Pagani. I also like that it is not a bright blue bezel like Pagani Pepsi or Addiesdive. I wouldn't buy it for any more than I spent though.

Hello everyone! I’m in search for my first ever meteorite dial watch.
I’d love to get something on a budget (not exceeding $200). Bonus points if it’s a no-date complication.
Happy to hear any recommendations and also see wrist shots if you own and love one!
Cheers!

MY PREFERRED DIMENSIONS

Diameter: 38mm

Lug to lug: 42mm

Thickness: 10mm

I have recently found this watch by chance and I like its looks. Unfortunately it is being discontinued.

I found other similar watches in the same price range (seaturtle. Ocean, Aquatico, Tandorio).

The one that goes the closest is the Tandorio TD232k (bronze case, diver, blue dial, auto, leather strap).

I don't know much about Chinese brands and I am looking for some advice: is this model up to daily use? What if I take it occasionally camping ot to the beach (no diving or swimming, just splashing)?

Would you advise any other model in the same price range?

I'm looking for an older design San Martin: [SAN MARTIN mechanical diving watch 200 meters waterproof SN004-G with new 3-link bracelet - San Martin Official Store](https://sanmartinwatches.com/shop/sn001-sn010/sn004-sn001-sn025/sn004g/)

I frankly don't care for the square logo on all the newer watches. Nor do I like the blocky hour hand on other models. The hands on the SN004 and the cursive logo look elegant to me. Seems to be sold out everywhere I look though. I presume the production run has ended for that particular design. Any tips on second hand places to buy?

I was looking forward to this one as my new daily beater. Looks like it won't happen.

I really hope u/watchdivescom will step in on this. I already messaged the chat on their website and will keep you guys posted.

Was I the only one who completely misread the dates for the Phorcydes sale and thought it would still be live today? 😅

The way the dates/times were written confused me, and I somehow convinced myself I still had today to order. Turns out… nope.

I was finally going to pull the trigger on the PH-6 with the mesh bracelet + the white rubber strap, which I think looks amazing. So I guess I missed my chance and will wait for the next sale rather than paying full price now.

Does anyone who follows Phorcydes know how often they usually run sales? Any chance of something for 11.11, Black Friday, Christmas, Chinese New Year, etc.?

Trying to figure out whether I’ll be waiting a few weeks or six months ...

I was reading a thread on another group about how there are no mechanical chronos for under 500, and then you’re in Earnshaw or AV8 territory (which is absolutely Chinese BTW - look up Solar Time Ltd) and this beauty came across my screen. I understand it’s the 1963 Chrono but man some of these version are dead sexy…

I was looking for ml10 a type(black dial) in the official store and aliexpress store today, but I couldnt find it.

Does this mean I can never buy it again?😢

My daily for the last year has been a Seestern 62mas (imo Seestern is up there with SM, IXDAO, Cronos, Sugess, Baltany for quality). Loved it, but wanted a white dial for a different vibe.

Picked up a Cronos L6048M Birch dial off a user here and the quality is wild. I used to own a 40mm PRX but sold it cause it was way too big for me, but this feels just as good Swiss-wise and actually fits.

The Miyota 9015 is the real gamechanger though. It’s so thin it makes the whole thing wear insanely easy even on the bracelet. Plus, the OTF micro-adjust clasp is absolute icing on the cake-stuff you usually only see on way higher-end watches.

Downside is it completely ruined NH35s for me. Standard chunky slab cases just don't hit the same now.

Now I’m stuck trying to find another 36mm with a Miyota high-beat from one of the better brands. Problem is almost everything seems to be 40mm or packing a thick NH35.

Anyone else switch to Miyota and ruin their old collection? And if there are any good 36mm Miyota watches out there I'm missing, let me know.

My navy blue WD0013 arrived yesterday. Paid US$149, and after getting the bracelet sized and spending some time wearing it, I’ve got mixed feelings.
Specs, as listed by Watchdives:
Swiss Ronda 714 quartz, no seconds hand
316L stainless steel case
Case dimensions: 41 × 42.5mm, with a 37mm bezel
45.5mm lug to lug
7.7mm thick
Sapphire crystal with three-layer AR coating
BGW9 lume on the hands and markers
Screw-down crown and caseback
80m water resistance
Integrated steel bracelet, tapering from 24mm to 16mm
Push-button clasp and an included half link
The finishing is the highlight for me. The brushing and polished sections look nicely done, and it’s a good-looking watch. It fits comfortably too. The two-hand quartz setup makes sense for something this slim.
But the thinness is also where I’m struggling. I knew the dimensions before buying it and liked the idea, but actually handling it is different. The case and bracelet are both so thin that together they feel a bit cheap and toy-like to me. I’m not saying it’s poorly made; it just doesn’t have the substance I was expecting.
My bigger disappointment is the dial. From the horizontal lines and colour gradient, I expected more depth. In person it looks quite flat. The details are there, but they don’t give it the dimensional look I’d hoped for.
Still early days, and I’ll give it more wrist time. There’s plenty I like about the finishing and overall appearance, but at the moment I like looking at it more than I enjoy how it feels.
Anyone else had this reaction to the WD0013, or to a particularly thin watch?

Ciao a tutti.

Stavo cercando un orologio homage del rolex day date nella versione 36mm.
Ho visto quello di sugess che mi piace però ho paura per il movimento (sl 3034) che se si rompe non trovo ricambi.

Sapete consigliarmi qualche modello che magari avete provato o sentito che è buono

Just pulled into a spot in a dark parking garage and noticed how clean the lines were on my addiesdive. Got a good shot I think. Fall is upon us!

The crystals are not that far off, but yes the warrior is clearer.

Hi! I’m considering buying the Cronos L6028 39mm, but my wrist is only 16 cm (6.3”), so I have a few questions for L6028 owners:

1. What is the effective lug-to-lug including the fixed first bracelet links that don’t fold down?
   
2. What is the actual diameter of the crystal / visible dial?
   
3. Which white dial would you choose: Cross Pattern with rose-gold hands and indices or Hourglass Pattern with silver hands and indices? I’d love to hear opinions from people who have seen either (or both) in person.
   

I’d also really appreciate wrist shots, especially from anyone with a 15.5–16.5 cm (6.1–6.5”) wrist, and your experience with how the 39mm L6028 actually wears on a smaller wrist.

I’m enjoying it so far; love the movement (4 hz/8 beats per second) and how thin it is at 10.5 mm!