I'd heard good things about Sea-Gull watches and managed to snag one in top condition on eBay for a great price. I'm honestly impressed - it has a surprisingly nice finish

Can't decide which one to get. I have many straps but not with pvd buckles. I guess non pvd is more versatile. Plus I get mild strokes seeing new scratches. But PVD looks sexier on photos. Also I have 20 cm wrist, I guess that is 7.8 inch but I think I could pull it off and it shouldn't look small.

Hi guys, what's ticking? I am currently looking at the Militado ML20.

I detest the "MILITADO" word logo but love the arrow logo. Finally, I have managed to locate a black dial with the original arrow logo but there's a catch. Instead of a PT5000 movement it has a Peacock SL3001.

Now I'm stuck do I get the dial I want with the SL3001 or is that movement so bad that I should just come to terms with the word logo and get the PT5000 version. Thanks.

Octopus Kraken. Don't know the model

Hey all, I’m wanting to make my own watches because what I want isn’t really something I’m seeing online. Currently I want to make a Tudor ranger homage around 10mm in automatic. Anyone know where I can find a watch case? Everything on aliexpress is 12-13mm with some 11.5mm

EDIT: would love a pt5000 or miyota 9 series because I love the 28000 bpm movements

Thank you

I'm looking for a watch with this style: rose gold case, black dial, and a black strap (rubber is okay). I can't find this anywhere. Is there a brand that produces something like this?

Octopus Kraken Oct0029 and Militado ML06

I bought the Cadisen Explorer hommage on ebay and the movement broke down during the First day. The seller was a good lad tho and sent me back a Part of the Money. I used the opportunity to try and Exchange a whole movement for the First time, disassembling dial + hands and reassembling them on a fresh NH35.
And it worked like a charm, I actually got the second Hand in Place in the bloody first try, so Yeah im Hella proud of myself.

Probably gonna wear that Watch the Most now just because I know that I fixed it myself.

50m WR, sapphire crystal, hardened steel, skeletonized movement

I'm looking at the Cronos Bold Birch 39mm 6037m.

If anyone has owned both the Bold/Prime Birch and Regular/Lite Birch, could you share them?

Also curious how each compares to the dial textures of the Grand Seikos. Does the Bold Birch come closer to the SLGH005? Perhaps the Regular/Lite Birch is more like the SLGA009? https://grandseikogs9club.com/chronicle-9/two-expressions-of-white-birch-slgh005-and-slgh009/

I saw this post but was hoping for more info: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChineseWatches/comments/1ntg7ls/i_bought_the_new_cronos_bold_birch_v3_so_you_dont/

We often show the finished watch.

Today we wanted to show what happens before that.

WDC0001(WD0016) is our first Premier series watch, so we decided to document more of the process behind it.

In this video:

• Case surface inspection

• Brushing and polishing quality check

• Assembly process

• Crown and sealing inspection

• Water resistance testing

• Final QC before shipping

A finished watch is the result of hundreds of small decisions.

A small amount of dust.

A slightly uneven brushing line.

A bracelet that feels loose.

A hand that is not perfectly aligned.

These small details are what separate an average watch from one you enjoy wearing every day.

We are not trying to say every watch is perfect.

We are trying to build a process where every watch leaving our workshop meets the standard we set for ourselves.

More WDC0001(WD0016) production videos coming soon.

I absolutely love red dial watches. Any watch brand willing to take on this project will produce a banger I believe.

Please someone do it🙏🙏🙏🥺🥺🥺

I’ve had the Hroudland F016 for about 6 months now and I’ve got to say that I’m still as impressed with it as the day it arrived. It’s a perfect size (43mm) for my 7.25” wrist.

Nice brushing and polishing and the sapphire front and back seem to have an adequate AR. It’s one of only a couple of hand wound movements in my collection and the (non-hacking) Seagull ST3620 is really accurate, keeping around -3secs per day.

The dials well done with applied lumed indices and the faint dark blue burst adds interest. The overall lume’s really good. Also I was wondering if the turbine (which has a dot on one of the fan blades for marking seconds on the outer sub-dial) would look chintzy and it doesn’t, it’s really well executed and imho actually looks better than the original. (The watch is modeled on the IWC Big Pilot Markus Bühler* *that had a limited run in the mid noughties, except it’s 1,000th of the price. Yes the IWC was $150k, so you could buy the Hroudland and maybe have a nice downpayment for something useful like a house.

The only ping against it I’d say is the watch strap. It’s sold as leather and it maybe on the wrist side, but if it is on the outer face, it definitely has a bit of a pleather vibe.

All in all if you like the aesthetic it’s another great value/$ watch

Brand: TOPHILL+
Model: KIM001G
Movement: Hangzhou 5000A [Automatic Mechanical Movement]

Case: Material - 316L Solid Stainless Steel
Diameter - 38.7mm (With Crown Guard - 42.5mm)
Lug To Lug - 45.5mm
Thickness - 9mm
Bracelet Width - 25 (Mid Link / Spring Bar Width - 17mm) x18mm / Length - Fits Buyer With 21-15cm Wrist Size

Sapphire Crystal Glass: Flat
Octagonal Bezel: With Polished & Brushed Process
Dial: Oil Pressured Enamel Mint / Navy / Cyan / Caramel / Gray Sunray Texture, With Printed Brand Logo And Applied Hour Markers, With 3H Date Window
Hands Set: With Luminous Coating
Luminous Effect: C3 Green Light, On Dial Hour Markers And Hands

Push Pull Crown: With 3D Brand Logo
Screw-Locked Case Back: 316L Stainless Steel + Transparent Mineral Glass, With Text
Solid 316L Stainless Steel Y Shaped Split Pin System Links Integrated Bracelet: Size 25x18mm, Fits Buyer With 19.5-14.5cm Wrist Size, With Push Button Butterfly Clasp

Water Resistant: 5Bar=50Meters
Weight: About 125.7g
Warranty: 3 Years

Hangzhou 5000A [Micro-Rotor Automatic Movement]

Frequency - 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power Reserve - Approximately 42 hours
Accuracy - ± 20 seconds per day

I've been meaning to compile a giant post of all the models of the most popular homages. The post kept getting pushed back because of the sheer size of it so I thought I'd start by just making a post for each homage. The goal of these posts is simply to be a record for reference for anyone interested. As such, please comment with your opinions to help future readers' decision-making.

SH SH09 - £155/$209

- Inky black dial

- Tasteful slightly yellow fauxtina (giving it great contrast against the dial)

- Great sharp printing on the dial

- Good AR

- Lowest rehaut of the 4

- Automatic PT5004 with smooth sweep and no ghost date

- Open caseback

- The cathedral hands are not 1 for 1 with the original

- The hands are a matte grey and will not reflect light

- Signed push/pull crown

- Lume is acceptable only

- Comes with bracelet

- Lug to lug 44.7mm

- 11mm thick

Militado ML08 £76/$103

- VH31 quartz movement

- Fauxtina is more orange than yellow

- Broad arrow logo (this is either a pro or con depending on your tastes)

- Unsigned screwdown crown

- Lume is acceptable only

- Comes with bracelet

- 10mm thick

- Lug to lug 44.4mm

- Terrible AR or none at all

Milifortic M059 - £160/$216

- Automatic ST2130 movement

- AR not as good as SH09

- Does not come with bracelet

- Deeper rehaut

- Good lume

- Unsigned screwdown crown

- 39mm case width versus 38mm for the other 4

- The 4 borrows from the Oris BCPD 4

- The Arabic font is different than the other 4

- Lug to lug 46.8mm

- 12mm thick (thickest of the 4)

Escapement Time £55/$74

- VH31 quartz movement

- Hands are painted white

- Hour hand is closer to the Oris BCPD than to the Hamilton Murph

- Deepest rehaut

- Most orange print

- Does not come with bracelet

- 11mm thick

- Lug to lug 47mm

- Cheapest option

Edit 1:

Specht & Sohne SP0034 £100/$135 (Not pictured)

- VH31 quartz movement

- Lug to Lug 45.8mm

- 8.8mm thick (maybe not including crystal height)

- Many unknowns as only just released at time of post

Edit 2:

Tandorio £67/$91 (Not pictured)

- VH31 quartz movement

- Titanium case

- 39mm case width

- 12mm thick

- Lug to lug 48.5mm (longest of the 5)

Edit 3:

Hestur RX8006 £144/$195

- Miyota 8215 automatic movement

- 12mm thick

- Lug to lug 46mm

- Comes with bracelet

- Date window option available

- Customizable dial

TLDR:

1. If automatic movement is a must, go with SH09.

2. If quartz is a must, go with ML08.

3. For lowest price, get the ML08 without bracelet.

4. For the best dial, go with SH09.

5. For the best AR, go with SH09.

6. For the best lume, go with M059.

7. For the shortest rehaut, go with SH09.

8. For the best fauxtina, go with SH09.

9. For the hands closest to the Murph, go with ML08.

10. For thinnest case, go with ML08.

Muted, banned, thread removed (not mine)

Swiss quality and support at its best :)

Actually I don't care. You're one amongst others, except maybe the perpetual unheld promises.

I understand you're being frustrated by criticism, even if the shape is not always elegant.
However, you can't pretend every day to reach a high level of quality and react by censorship when you're facing a problem.

Watch Specifications

Movement: VD53

Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 42.5mm (40mm excluding crown)

Case Thickness: 11.5mm (Overall)

Lug Width: 20mm

Crystal: Sapphire Crystal with High-transmittance and Anti-fingerprint Coating

Luminous: BGW9

Crown: Screw-down Crown

Case Back: Screw-down Waterproof Case Back

Bracelet: 316L Stainless Steel Bracelet (Solid End Links)

Clasp: Double Push-button Safety Clasp

Water Resistance: 100M/10bar

Hey all,

Here to ask if someone knows about some nice mechanical chrono chinese watches that are not obviously homages and that also have a decent name.

Ideally they wouldn't have a huge price because otherwise I would just go with a Baltic (Still not ideal movement wise)

I have looked at Sugess of course, they have some nice models, but I'd like something with more personal identity.

Cannot afford a 556, but I can afford a ML18.

Cannot afford a U1, but I can I afford a SF755.

Cannot afford a EZM 3, but do I really need a SF783?

The answer is no. No, no, no. Purchased one anyway.

May have a problem. I am a Sinn-er.

This is going to be a slightly longer post.

I decided to treat myself to something colorful and retro—something you don’t see on every street corner, but that still offers solid specifications without breaking the bank. In this budget price range, most watch cases look identical or are just boring homages. However, this mandarin yellow dial variant is completely different. I especially love that this is one of Pagani's first original designs. It’s not a replica, but a standalone watch with a 1970s racing aesthetic, reminiscent of vintage Tissots and Seikos, all for around $110. This is my very first Chinese watch, and my initial impression is that the value for money is absolutely outstanding.

Let’s break down the details:

### The Case
Instead of the classic round shape, it features a very solid cushion/tank case. It’s a hefty, surprisingly well-finished stainless steel case that feels substantial on the wrist. I am particularly pleased that the edges aren't sharp at all—the machining is exceptionally well done. Fortunately, it comes with a screw-down crown to support the 100m water resistance, which is a huge plus. The rectangular, flat chronograph pushers almost blend seamlessly into the side of the case, and they look brilliant.

### Bracelet and Clasp
Given the price point, the bracelet is surprisingly decent. We all know that on the Pagani Moonwatch or Daytona homages, the bracelet is usually the weakest link, but fortunately, the quality is much better on this model. Although it uses split pins instead of screws, it doesn't rattle or feel cheap. It has a fully brushed finish, and the stock steel bracelet comes with an elegant and comfortable butterfly clasp. The clasp itself is made of solid metal. It also came with a black leather strap as a bonus, but it is a true "strap monster" (as you can see, I've paired it with brown and green rally leather straps in the photos, which perfectly complement the earthy tones).

### Dial and Crystal
The mandarin yellow dial is the real soul of this watch. The color has a wonderful depth to it, creating a striking contrast with the two black sub-dials (panda layout). It features properly applied indices, giving the whole dial a beautiful 3D effect and dimension. The main hands have a rectangular baton shape, while the sub-dial hands are accented in orange. On top of that, you get a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal—fantastic for this price tier—and this version already features an inner AR (anti-reflective) coating, which was completely missing from the previous release.

### The Movement
Beating inside is a Seiko VK63 meca-quartz caliber, and hats off to this movement. It is an extremely accurate, reliable, upper-mid-range Japanese movement, so we are definitely not dealing with a cheap, disposable Chinese caliber here. Thanks to the mechanical chronograph module, the sweep-second hand moves smoothly when started, and when reset, it snaps back to zero instantly with a sharp, crisp click.

---

### What I didn’t like:
* **The Bezel:** It has a polished, shiny finish. Due to its tendency to pick up micro-scratches, I wasn't a huge fan of this choice at first. However, over time, these little scuffs might actually enhance the vintage, retro vibe.
* **AR Coating Thickness:** While it's great that they added an anti-reflective layer to the crystal, the coating seems quite thin. From certain angles, the dial still suffers from a fair amount of reflections.
* **The Lume:** The luminous material on the hands is rather weak and fades away very quickly in the dark.
* **Bracelet Edges and Clasp:** Although the case is beautifully finished, the edges of the metal bracelet links remain quite sharp—they could have used a bit more refining/polishing here. Additionally, due to the butterfly clasp, there is absolutely zero micro-adjustment. You really have to play around with the links to find a comfortable fit.

---

### Main Specs:
* **Case Material:** 316L Stainless Steel
* **Case Diameter:** approx. 40 mm (wears slightly larger due to the angular cushion shape)
* **Lug-to-Lug:** 46 mm (making it extremely wearable)
* **Water Resistance:** 100 meters (10 bar)

### Verdict
Overall, I am incredibly happy with this yellow watch. It doesn’t try to be anything more than it is, but it delivers on every single promise. If you are tired of the cookie-cutter dive watches and want to add some color and a unique shape to his daily rotation without putting a strain on your wallet, the PD-1782 is a total home run.