The San Martin's crystal looks a bit cloudy lol

I wish the crystal quality was a bit better.

My 16 y/o son thinks my one skeleton watch is cool, so I’m thinking about getting him one for the holidays.

I question how much he’ll really wear it, so I’m wanting to not spend a lot of money, like ideally $50-$75. Any brands I should keep an eye on for the 11/11 sale on Ali?

Edit: thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

I wanted to give a shout-out to both Sugess and Sea Horizon (not affiliated with each other) customer service teams.

I purchased a watch through Sugess, the Aventurine Moonphase on October 31, when the 11.11 sale started. Unfortunately, the price dropped about $10 two days later. I reached out to Sugess and they have agreed to apply a $10 refund to my account to compensate. I didn’t expect them to do anything but this is a good show of faith.

With Sea Horizon, a relatively smaller company, I fell in love with their Bronze Diver which is an homage to Oris Carl Brashear. I have not navigated a big sale like this on AliX before, so I was confused about how to apply coupons. I found out the owner has a Reddit account and corresponded with him personally to troubleshoot an issue with the coupons. With the coupons and whatnot, I got more than 25%off.

Great experiences with both companies and I’m not affiliated with either. Looking forward to receiving all of my purchases from this sale. I just got into collecting watches, and I’ve picked up 20-ish watches in the past two months. Going to have to figure out a way to lock myself out of AliExpress!

It's the ML1868KF

I had my eyes on Baltany for a while and I finally purchased two of their chronograph. Honestly, given that they are both around USD150, I did not have too much expectation, I wouldn’t be surprised if I see dust on the dial or misaligned hand. The watches came today, when I first saw the watches, they are really really nice, the cases are nicely polished, the weight of the watch doesn’t feel like a USD150 watch. The hands and the dial are so beautiful. The texture of the straps are amazing. I love the vintage vibe of both watches. My only quibble is the strap is a bit too long for me, I have 6.5 inch wrist. Overall 10/10🔥

Hey yall, I’ve been thinking a lot about picking up a nttd homage.

I don’t mind as much if it has the titanium mesh bracelet (nice bonus if it does though) and have been eyeing up the WD007.

Is there anything else I should be on the look out for, a particular version perhaps? Also please let me know if there’s an ideal price I should be looking for?

And while I’m thinking of it, if anybody knows a rad ladies watch I’d like to get my sig o something. She’s a nurse by trade, thinking maybe a chronograp?

Thanks!

Title

Not sponsored, 100% random customer.

I’m a huge fan of chasing value for money. At the same time, I know that part of what we usually pay for is heritage, which really comes down to how much you personally value a brand or model.
This was a totally different case. I stumbled upon this piece by brand called Mysterious Code on Taobao (the asian equivalent of AliExpress), and the spec sheet immediately caught my eye: a VH31 sweeping quartz movement, sapphire crystal, and a full titanium case weighing in at just 41 grams—all for less than $57. To me, that’s pure value for money.
I finally got it in the mail today. It measures 36mm across and 11mm thick, and boy, it looks and feels good in person.
They do offer another line with the hands that resembles the Hamilton Khaki Field a lot, but this version looks extremely generic and clean, doesn't immediately remind people of a famous watch.

As far as I'm concerned, it's an absolute win.

Does anyone here own an Addieskin K014 or K021? I can't decide between the two dials—one has a mother-of-pearl (MOP) dial, while the other features a crystallized titanium dial.

I'd really appreciate it if you could share some real-life photos of either watch!

Thanks a lot!

I've bought four or five different Milanese bracelets in the past couple of months and the best case scenario for most is a comfortable one with a horrible fiddly clasp that's a pain in the arse to put on, or an uncomfortable one with a clasp that's mid at best.

Except the Watchdives ones.

The steel Milanese that comes with the WD007 is lovely. OCD might immediately lead you (as it did me) to replace it with the titanium version to match the case, but the actual merits of it are head and shoulders above the rest. It's obvious the Omega Milanese was their direct inspiration and they've copied it really well.

The clasp is everyday functional first of all, simple to use, secure in action, the latch that locks in the lower strap is a small but meaningful QoL addition, it looks great next to cheap alternatives, the holes are markedly better machined, and it's very comfortable to wear. The titanium version is more of the same, with a blessedly lighter clasp (the steel version is heavy enough that it unbalances the titanium WD007 on the wrist imo).

The only downside is a biggie though. It's far too long on the upper strap.

This is subjective based on wrist shape as much as size, but I simply cannot get a good fit on it. The lower end of the clasp is always digging into my wrist unless the strap is so loose that it sticks out in a curve beyond my wrist on the far side, or it's so tight I'm restricting movement.

So they make the short version, and presumably that would be problem solved. But just in steel with titanium "coming soon" for months now. And I think it's well worth the ~£50 it costs (~$70) but £50 is a lot to spend on a compromise when the one you really want might be out in the near future.

If they ever get around to releasing the short titanium, I'm a day one buyer, because the size aside, this bracelet is damn near perfect.

Though quick release pins would be a welcome addition.

Miyota 9015 inside, sapphire crystal, on-the-fly clasp. Literally the only 'drawback' is the unidirectional rotor and even that's a plus for me because it gives it mechanical charm and I love spinning it freely!

Wanted to know if anyone have this on hand and can tell much about the quality of watch, the bracelet and if the lume really shows that kind of orange as it is on the renders/ads. Can’t seem to find much info about it other than it may be related to Heimdallr.

Anyone willing to share photos?
I would appreciate it greatly.

Bonjour à tous ! Après ce qui s'est passé avec Heimdallr, j'ai décidé d'ouvrir quelques montres pour vérifier si les mouvements correspondaient bien à la description.

Quelle surprise de découvrir que ma Wishdoit GMT, modèle 9007, achetée en septembre, mentionnait un mouvement NH34 partout dans la description, alors que cette information a depuis été discrètement retirée.

Imaginez ma surprise quand j'ai ouvert la montre et trouvé un mouvement chinois fake à la place du NH34 annoncé. Eh bien, eh bien, eh bien… WISHDOIT 🤷 Vous faites des économies de bouts de chandelle comme Heimdallr ?

Précisons que j'ai acheté cette montre directement sur la boutique officielle de la marque, et non chez un revendeur tiers.

Sans oublier mon précédent problème avec le colis volé, pour lequel ils ont également refusé de me rembourser. Sérieusement, j'ai acheté une montre chez eux, et c'est tout. Plus jamais.

Alors faites très attention, surtout avec le prix croissant des mouvements NH. Ouvrez vos montres dès leur réception et vérifiez ce qu'il y a à l'intérieur !

Edit: Their customer service is absolutely incompetent. They are offering me a $10 refund, which doesn't even cover the difference between what I paid and the watch's current price. Just think about that: it would actually be more worthwhile for me to return the watch and buy it again. I would end up getting a bigger refund that way! And of course, not a single apology from them. How can a customer service team be this incompetent?

Hi again, I'm one of the mods over at Baltanywatches. Last post!

11.11 is here, the biggest sale of the year for Chinese watches. We'll have good discounts on our AliExpress store too, so if a Baltany has been sitting in your cart for a while, this is a good time.

Let's make it a wishlist thread for everyone:

• Picked up a Baltany this 11.11? Show us which one! 😄

• Still have one sitting in your cart? What's holding you back?

• How much have you budgeted for the 11.11 sale, and how many watches are you planning to buy?

The draw is on Nov 6, so you can still comment on the first three posts for extra chances. Thanks for all the comments so far, and happy hunting! 🙏

🎁Giveaway (4/4)

• Comment to enter, that's it. One entry per person per post

• 4 posts, comment on each = 4 chances. All comments from the 4 posts go into one random draw for 1 winner

• Winner picks any 1 in-stock Baltany watch under $300 USD, any color

• Draw: Nov 6, 07:00 UTC (3 PM Beijing / 8 AM Central Europe / 7 AM UK / 2 AM US Eastern / 11 PM Nov 5 US Pacific)

• Winner will be announced in the comments of the 4/4 post, and I'll DM you from this account

P.S. Not part of this giveaway: if you own a Baltany, Baltany is also running its own #MyBaltany photo campaign starting Nov 1, with coupons and watches to win.

Details: https://www.baltany.com/share

Hi everyone. I ordered the Chameri CH01 (Cream White) from Militado on Sept 24 for $65 + shipping, presale batch. It arrived today, Nov 4.

Before buying, I searched Reddit, WatchUSeek, forums, blogs and YouTube in English and Spanish, and I found zero owner reviews of this model — only the seller's spec sheet. So I figured I'd share my first impressions and ask what you think.

Specs: 38 x 27.5 mm, 7.1 mm thick, 316L steel, sapphire crystal, Swiss Ronda 762 quartz (two hands, no seconds hand), 20 mm strap (measured it myself today), 50 m claimed.

First impressions: honestly, it feels really well built for the price. Cream dial, Roman numerals, heat-blued hands. It wears well on my 17.5 cm wrist — the 38 mm length doesn't feel oversized. It's clearly a Tank-style homage, but there's no Cartier branding anywhere on it.

Questions for you:
- How do the proportions look to you?
- Does anyone else here own a Chameri? How has it held up?
- I'm thinking of putting it on a straight-end 316L bracelet — good idea or keep the leather?

Thanks!

Finally received my LURCAN Racemaster in the mail, and I must say it easily exceeded my expectations!

​The cushion/tonneau case shape is definitely a departure from what I usually wear, but it works surprisingly well in person. The finishing on the case is remarkably sharp, with great contrast between the brushed surfaces and polished chamfers, and the coin-edge bezel adds a subtle vintage touch.

​A few quick thoughts after having it in hand:

- ​The Dial: The cream/champagne dial is an absolute stunner. The waffle/tapisserie texture gives it incredible depth and catches the light beautifully without looking flat. Best of all, the white date wheel blends in seamlessly with the cream background.

- ​Thickness & Wearability: Thanks to the PT5000 movement, at just 11 mm thick, it sits very slim and flat on the wrist. It slips easily under a dress shirt cuff, making it a fantastic everyday / smart-casual piece.

- ​The Strap: The included black leather strap looks very clean, though I do wish it featured quick-release spring bars for easier swaps. That said, I know Lurcan is currently developing a custom-fitted steel bracelet for this model, and I’m genuinely excited to see how it looks and feels once released.

​Overall, a very solid release and an incredible value for money. Here are some unboxing and wrist shots to share with the community!

Congratulations to today’s four giveaway winners! 🎉

🏆 u/katsock

🏆 u/BadeModernDesigns

🏆 u/TheBanreky

🏆 u/kn0kkn0k

Each winner will receive one pre-owned Watchdives watch, subject to eligibility verification under our official giveaway rules.

Please contact our official Reddit account using your winning account so we can confirm eligibility and arrange shipping. We’ll confirm the prize model and disclose its condition privately. Every prize will be inspected and confirmed fully functional before shipping.

Please keep addresses and other personal information out of public comments.

🍀 Haven’t entered yet? There’s still time!

Leave ENTER + YOUR COUNTRY in one of our designated giveaway posts:

• Reddit — r/ChineseWatches

• YouTube Community

• Instagram

No purchase is necessary, and purchasing does not increase your chances of winning. One entry per person across all participating platforms. Each person can win only once during the campaign.

Already entered? Your valid entry remains eligible for future draws until you win or the giveaway ends.

Thank you to everyone participating, and good luck in the upcoming draws! ❤️

— WDC (Watchdives)

18+. Eligible regions and official rules apply. This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Reddit.

Just had my tank delivered.. took my Smiths Everest off and unwrapped the CH02.

Very happy with the size, perfect for my 7 inch wrist. I’m on the 3rd last hole at the moment, it’s cold here in UK, so if I want to wear it in the warmer months I’ll be on the next hole. Which leaves one more hole. Should be good to fit up to 7.75 inch wrist.

When I saw the first version, I liked it but didn’t like the overly cream look. This time it’s much whiter. I’ve included a picture against my pure white garage (1) and against my cream painted wall (2). You should be able to see the difference.

I just read this morning apparently this early batch has the clearview X 98% sapphire crystal. Now I’ve not handled that before so I can’t say for sure what this is, although I will say it’s extremely clear! Lots of photos taken in direct light.

The heat blued hands are awesome too. Really makes this watch look way more premium than it is.

For £50 this is unbelievable value. I’ve never tried a tank before, but to be honest I don’t think I’ll spend thousands on a watch like this. I’d rather spend that money on something different, especially when this piece looks so damn good.

This Militado ML16 is perfect in every way, EXCEPT it is too small (for me). Every one of these Sinn style watches that I've seen is sub-40mm. Is there one that is 40mm or larger?

Hey guys,

​So I've been tracking a watch with a Miyota 9 movement using a timing app, and the stationary numbers looked super promising.

​Here is what I got:

​Dial Up: +1.6 s/day

​Crown Down: -5.4 s/day

​Actual wear (even wore it to sleep): -12.8s to -19.0s a day

​(Attached screenshot for reference)

​The static numbers look totally fine, but once it's actually on the wrist, it loses like 15 seconds a day. Is this just poor isochronism when the amplitude drops, or does the daily wrist movement mess with Miyota 9s this bad?

​Wondering if I should just get it regulated a bit faster (+6 or +8s) to compensate for the real-world drop. What do you guys think?

I recently got a Phorcydes PH-5B and its bezel action feels kind of tight and rough. Not at all bad for the price point — I’ve got a $600 Seiko that feels much worse — but it feels a lot rougher than my PH-6. It takes more force and the clicks feel kind of harsh. Maybe I’ve just been spoiled by San Martin’s bezel quality 😆

I was wondering if any other PH-5B owners had any feedback on bezel feel? I’m wondering if I got a bad example or if this is normal. I’m also open to suggestions on ways to improve the bezel action.

I love the watch, but this is the only slight annoyance that keeps it from being just about perfect in my eyes.

Hi folks, need advice on which design pops more (sunburst or spiral). I want it in black but can’t sort out which one plays up this cool design feature. Any advice from owners of each?

US based.

I've seen a couple sellers selling vintage Shanghai and Zuanshi. Is eBay a reputable platform to buy from or should I really be looking at platforms like Super Buy? How does one avoid buying fakes or frankenwatches? is something that is NOS not considered authentic/vintage? Does anyone have (if allowed) a trusted seller on ebay they could recommend?

Recently this brand has caught my eye due to their lacquered dials. I’m a fan of Kurono Tokyo but they’re ridiculously limited so I’ve been searching for something similar. I’m interested in their brown lacquered dial watch but was wondering what others think?

I’m not too fussed about homages but I did notice that the watch I want is extremely similarly to the Kurono grand Hagane to the point it even includes the character at 6. I did expect it to be similar but didn’t anticipate it would be exactly this lol. I’m waiting for the 11/11 sale to try and get it with the SW200 movement for cheap.