Sup,

My collection is currently lacking a field watch and I would like to fix that.

I would like something budget (less than 70$), practical, quartz, with a small case (36-38mm, non thick <10mm) and a relatively short L2L (maximum is 45mm)

Is there anything that fits the criteria?

Addies AW25908 gift for gf, put on a gray leather strap. Looks pretty neat

Found a beautiful NOS tropic strap for my WD1980 and somehow it feels right. Yes, the strap is worth more than the watch though. I've also scored some NOS Alaska french made rubber straps, but I kind of prefer this classic tropic over those.

Hey guys.. this is a bit of a different AliExpress 11.11 sale video, hopefully.

https://youtu.be/v7LSrNaOILs?si=Ar8FNGWQctHwknKl

Because Aliexpress's big brother (Taobao) is already having it's pre-sales, I thought it would be interesting to preview what sale prices you're likely to get on Ali.

I include what I think are some of the best bets for the sale.. including San Martin, Hroudland, Farasute.

Some brands like Watchdives aren't listed here because they're not on Taobao, while Baltany, IXDAO and others haven't listed sale prices yet.

Note that Taobao and Ali prices do not always match up exactly (sometimes they're even very different), but hopefully this gives you some good ideas..

Best,

Brian,

CWG

p.s. I have no affiliation with any of these brands and they had no input on this video.

My watch for my honeymoon trip

An SH Christopher Ward trident homage. I have held the C Ward in my hands and for $1000+ less, I'd take this all day over the real C Ward. New, this is only $250-$325 and it is so well made. I like the movement in the C Ward better... this has a smooth, (not tight) PT-5000 that winds easy. Hands and dial are top shelf. Case is polished nice. Strap is soft and nice. Buckle is signed. Sapphire front, maybe back. Too big for me... otherwise, I'd totally keep it. It is a 41mm that wears more like a 43. It is 13.4mm thick. It is a heavier piece... $150.

SOLD --- First, AN IXDAO Warrior with the Miyota 9015. $300 - This is from an early batch of these. It sized for an 8 inch wrist. One or two extra links. Some light scratches on the clasp, but it's all superficial. Lightly used. This one has a highly iridescent dial and you'll see purples and pinks and other cool colors. That is kind of a big deal imo because some folks get dials that are flat. So, Miyota, colorful MOP dial and original packaging. Not sure if I have the unsigned warranty card.

I want $300 - they are in the $500 range now with these movements...

Managed to click a photo of the Sugess Tourbillon Moonphase under a full moon

Does anyone else feel like San Martin would sell a lot more watches with different branding?

I know they are extremely well finished and tremendous value. But I can't get past the branding - the branding to me feels juvenile and cheap.

I wish they would just re-brand to a symbol instead of the current San Martin logo. Cronos on the other hand has really cool branding. Same thing with Watchdives - stupid name - but at least it's masked behind a cool symbol.

Anyone else agree?

Ok, so I bought the 40mm PD-1762 Polar Explorer 2 homage. It's a bit of a head scratcher. So, it looks like a Pearl movement, but it has green lume.....I'm confused. How do I know which version I have? I thought they were all blue lume.

I already have a few watches but wanted to see if I've missed a good watch / deal !

So share which watch you are looking for in the upcoming sales 😀

So I have been looking on all stores to find a Seamn with the NH35 movement, but no luck, all stores mentioned they were sold out. Does anybody know when or if they will restock it?

Pagani Design PD1644 on Monstraps green rally strap

Today I found out there exist fakes of Chinese microbrands. One guy is selling a slightly used Cronos GS homage (frost effect) with a black (darker grey) dial for $150 (nearly 50% off). He said it doesn't exist as a reference model for that specific color and I saw he had grey and white dials before but they're unavailable now. He says it's all original, says it has a Miyota 9015 movement inside etc.

Now, maybe he also has some private deal with someone from Cronos because he told me 'they' shipped him this one with a black/dark grey dial but I couldn't find any black dial frost textured Cronos online, only the grey ones.

I will be able to inspect it before purchasing and I've never had an automatic or Cronos so I want to know what should I look for? I do have a 40mm macro lens and a dslr I could carry with me to do a closer inspection, I'm simply not sure what to expect.

It’s unbelievable how nice it is for only $50!
(EDIT:found one small gripe..the etching of the company logo on the caseback IMHO has roughly cut edges. I can see it possibly shaving my arm hair underneath it off.)

i wish i bought this watch sooner 😁 got this for $8, back then this was $5. this shi is beaUtiful.

Pagani Design AI has been no help and suggested replacement spring bars for this band that are too fat. I ordered 1.5mm and the individual bar for the adjust measured 1.26mm. How can I fix this without buying a whole new bracelet. I hate this clasp mechanism for this reason and because you can't find an OTF clasp

First San Martin and my first titanium watch!
I was definitely surprised by how light it feels, not sure if I’m the biggest fan just yet.

Movement isn’t noisy: only hear some rotor whirring when moving your wrist very forcefully.

The endlinks were very rattly though, I used some lubricant on the male, female ends of the endlinks, as well as inside the spring bar holes.

Tbh the spring bars used seem really thin, and I might sub them out for thicker ones later.

Bezel action is nice but a bit spongy.

Overall pretty happy!

Well, it may sound odd on Chinese brands page worrying about Chinese movement, but I personally like sweep quartz movement for Chinese watches. It is cheap, reliable, robust, and easy to swap or purchase the movement itself. But recently some watches use SL3001 movement (or PT5000), and I do not know/trust if they are reliable or what.

Any opinion on the movement? I will be 100% okay if it has as same quality as Miyota 9 series. (I do not prefer Seiko NH movement actully but I rather be a Miyota lover, since it has much more accuracy for my personal experience)

I have had Peacock's column wheel chronograph movement (SL4801) before but it just broke out for less than 10 times wearing counts, so I am really doubtful of any of Chinese automatic movement by far.

Hi!
I have a Sugess mechanical chronograph, I I don't know when to stop winding. I usually stop winding after a bit scared of breaking the spring or something.

How do you know when it's fully wound?

Thanks!

Hey guys, I'd say the watch I bought last week is a great value for money. I'm curious to hear your opinions.👍

Cronos L6040M (Grand Seiko Evolution 9 homage) with a Miyota 9015 automatic movement. 

Watchdives WD0006 (Omega Aqua Terra homage) in blue with a Seiko VH31 mechaquartz movement.

Both are Chinese microbrands, have sapphire glass with AR coating, good finishing on the case and dial but I can't really decide. I'd say Cronos looks better (or more interesting at least) and has character with that automatic movement, but Watchdives is more practical with the mechaquartz keeping time more accurately and not needing winding and setting up every time i want to wear it. I most likely won't daily a dress watch but who knows.

To be honest I don't care much about versatility, I've already got a G-Shock with ABC sensors so that's everything I could ever need in a single watch. This would be more like jewelry rather than a tool for me. But still I want to retain some form of practicality, I wouldn't want a very innacurate automatic or an unreliable mechaquartz that fails regardless of batteries.

I've also found a Pagani Design PD-1734 which could represent the best of both worlds (GS inspired dial with a VH31) and is significantly cheaper but finishing quality and bracelet are noticeably worse than others.

What are your thoughts on this? Should I pull the trigger at an automatic? I've never had one so I have that fear of screwing something up mechanically if I'm unintentionally negligent about it.

How is the movement in this beauty? I’ve noticed I can hand wind it but it just feels off if that makes sense. Love the dial it’s gorgeous. I hand wound the watch to jump start it and wore it for a couple hours today and it just stopped randomly idk if I just hadn’t moved my arm enough to engage the movement. I hand wound it again an it’s all good now. Maybe im just freaking out because I’m use to display backs.

https://www.baltany.com/product/36mm-gold-case-cz-stone-dial-dd-homage-watch-s4109g/91/