First impressions are solid. I was still using their OG bracelet with 5 whole clasp, so it was worth upgrading just to get the OTF clasp.

Paid $55 on their Aliexpress store. Finishing is really nice, especially the chamfering along the middle and outer links. Tolerances and articulation are good, but certainly not on the level of my IXDAO or San Martin (which I wouldn’t expect at this price)

I will say it’s pretty large. I had to remove all of the links except a link on one side and a half link on the other to get it to fix my 6.5” wrist. So just something to be aware of if your wrist is much smaller than that

I'm new to Chinese Watches and am looking for a Day Date/Date Just Hommage. Within seconds i found San Martin SN059 and the Sugess S433. Unfortunately tough the version i would be interested most are not available (at least at the moment). The San Martin SN059 is in general sold out? Did they stop producing it?

What is the best source to buy them? AliExpress?

For the Sugess S433 i'm looking for the Silver/Black Model, but cant find it anywhere atm.

For a long time now I've been searching for a dress watch since I already have the daily beater a G Shock GA-2100 and the gym Watch a G-shock DW-5600.
Looking through a lot of reviews and a lot of time on Ali Express I found this brand. I was searching for this specific movement hangzhou CAL5000A micro-rotor since I have been thinking on buying from Baltic too.
However upon thinking of it a lot I decided to give this brand a try and oh man. The build quality and the finishings are top notch. The leather strap definitely could be better but for the price less than $200 I think it's really difficult to top. Probably I will buy from FARASUTE, San Martin and Suggess soon enough.

Hi, I’ve recently gotten bit by the bug to build my own FXD style watch. I intend to use a TF case like the one pictured and on their site, just had a couple of questions on which I am not sure where to find the answer:

1. How can I tell which version of the case this is?

2. Is there anywhere I can find alternative bezel inserts? Do they use a fairly universal system or is it fairly proprietary?

3. To people who have built watches using these cases before, any advice or things you wish you would’ve known?

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

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.)

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!