Chinese watches?
Discussion
Just surfing web reviews, particularly in the USA , and I know Sea-Gull movements have been getting into Euro watches for some time and individual parts are used by some German and Swiss manufacturers but has anybody here in the UK experience of a Sea-Gull or Parnis as an everyday watch?
Sea-Gulls are supposed to be decent quality. Parnis are at the same level with Alpha, so acceptable (I've got a couple, keep meaning to do a long-term test but never wear them for more than a couple of days, no complaints about them, though). There's a whole level below them eg Goer for which you'd not have any reasonable expectations at all, one of those expectations is being on time to meetings. 
I've got a Panerai look-alike (sometimes branded as a Parnis, although mine's plain) and, for a £50 delivered watch (including customs and VAT charges) it keeps good time (I've never bothered to time any of my watches to seconds per day, but it's right to the minute after 2 or 3, the most I've ever worn it).
The screws holding the crown guard, though, fell out within a few days and I had to source some replacement from eBay, but once I did it's been fine since.
M.
The screws holding the crown guard, though, fell out within a few days and I had to source some replacement from eBay, but once I did it's been fine since.
M.
GC8 said:
3-4 minutes a day = almost junk!
Yes I can see why it might be viewed as such. Doesn't really bother me as it's looks are way more than the £70 I paid and it's a correction that takes seconds.The 1971 Omega Mark 3 I bought last year is the best timekeeper of all the Automatic watches I have. Couple of my TAGS are pish!
yeti said:
marcosgt said:
But possibly easily fixed with a little regulation.
M.
Costing more than the watch... M.
If you buy crap, it'll likely be inaccurate and actually 3 mins a day, who cares as I doubt anyone buys a snide Panerai like this for their accuracy...
I've got a few Chinese watches fitted with ETA clone pocket watch movements. Some were perfectly acceptable, some needed a bit of TLC to get them running within 30 seconds a day. Main problems seem to be poor regulation, and complete lack of any lubrication.
I remember reading somewhere that the bare movements leave the factory unlubricated, and it's left to the assembler to do this. Seems like some don't bother.
No idea if this is true, but the ones that didn't perform well did a lot better after I oiled them.
I remember reading somewhere that the bare movements leave the factory unlubricated, and it's left to the assembler to do this. Seems like some don't bother.
No idea if this is true, but the ones that didn't perform well did a lot better after I oiled them.
yeti said:
marcosgt said:
But possibly easily fixed with a little regulation.
M.
Costing more than the watch... M.
If you buy crap, it'll likely be inaccurate and actually 3 mins a day, who cares as I doubt anyone buys a snide Panerai like this for their accuracy...
Lots of people buy 'snide Panerai's to try out the look (not everyone has 5 grand kicking around the sock drawer).
As I said mine (I didn't like the look enough) keeps excellent time.
M
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