Where is the *POWERPLANT* (movement) made? Swiss?UK? Russia?
Discussion
I recently stumbled into *SEKONDAs*....I'm not very familiar with the brand but their price points, design, and functionality make it a very attractive purchase. I heard they're very popular in the UK and other EU countries.
I am curious if they're using a SWISS/JAPANESE/Miyota/RUSSIAN (Vostok)movement....or are Sekondas assembled in China? There are good watches and bad watches regardless of country-of-origin. However, my main concern is *QC/QA* issues.....just wondering if anyone who currently owns these watches have had quality control and reliability problems.
Before pulling the trigger, I'd like to know if it's a crapshoot so I can look at other affordable watches such as *Tauchmeister*, *Aeromatic* , or *Riedenfield*. Would appreciate any comments/opinions on these watches as well.
Your thoughts???
I am curious if they're using a SWISS/JAPANESE/Miyota/RUSSIAN (Vostok)movement....or are Sekondas assembled in China? There are good watches and bad watches regardless of country-of-origin. However, my main concern is *QC/QA* issues.....just wondering if anyone who currently owns these watches have had quality control and reliability problems.
Before pulling the trigger, I'd like to know if it's a crapshoot so I can look at other affordable watches such as *Tauchmeister*, *Aeromatic* , or *Riedenfield*. Would appreciate any comments/opinions on these watches as well.
Your thoughts???
My thought is that this thread is a subtle spam.
ETA: Sekonda used to be cheap Russian tat, now it's just cheap generic tat, made in China, most probably.
Pretending for a moment that you're serious, you'd do better with a Seiko 5. Wide range of styles, better quality.
ETA: Sekonda used to be cheap Russian tat, now it's just cheap generic tat, made in China, most probably.
Pretending for a moment that you're serious, you'd do better with a Seiko 5. Wide range of styles, better quality.
Edited by CommanderJameson on Tuesday 10th August 22:40
Thanks for the input Commander !
Just to clarify...I'm just a regular consumer/buyer/collector of inexpensive watches. I am NOT a seller, nor do I participate in a commercial enterprise of buying-and-selling watches. Now, that's out of the way, I was merely inquiring if any of the forum members have had any experience (good or bad) regarding these watches. I am still a newbie in this forum so please enlighten me if I am inquisitive and asking specific questions about certain brands that I am interested in purchasing. I try not to rely on the product advertisements...everyone seems to have the same central theme - - "New & Improved"...or "Leading-Edge design & Reliability" etc. etc. etc.
To me the best guage of a watch's performance, value, reliability, etc. is listening to other end-users or actual owners who purchased and have had the experience of either enjoying owning the watch...or, having the unfortunate experience of dealing with quality control issues.
Just my two cents....and I'm still hoping that there will be others out there who can comment on this brand...or share his/her experience of owning the watch.
Just to clarify...I'm just a regular consumer/buyer/collector of inexpensive watches. I am NOT a seller, nor do I participate in a commercial enterprise of buying-and-selling watches. Now, that's out of the way, I was merely inquiring if any of the forum members have had any experience (good or bad) regarding these watches. I am still a newbie in this forum so please enlighten me if I am inquisitive and asking specific questions about certain brands that I am interested in purchasing. I try not to rely on the product advertisements...everyone seems to have the same central theme - - "New & Improved"...or "Leading-Edge design & Reliability" etc. etc. etc.
To me the best guage of a watch's performance, value, reliability, etc. is listening to other end-users or actual owners who purchased and have had the experience of either enjoying owning the watch...or, having the unfortunate experience of dealing with quality control issues.
Just my two cents....and I'm still hoping that there will be others out there who can comment on this brand...or share his/her experience of owning the watch.
They're perfectly ordinary cheap quartz watches with Chinese quartz movements. By comparison with something like a Seiko, build quality is meh, bracelets are meh, but they're reasonable value for the very low price, assuming you like the design.
Sorry for reading you as a spammer, but new members who rattle off a long list of brands often end up with "...and you can get all these at my cheapo online watch shop! http://cheapasswatches.com"
Sorry for reading you as a spammer, but new members who rattle off a long list of brands often end up with "...and you can get all these at my cheapo online watch shop! http://cheapasswatches.com"
Appreciate your comments...I actually have several timepieces and one of which is a Seiko...have had it for over 15 years...darn good watch!
Like I said, I am just starting a very modest collection (nothing fancy or ostentatious) I just want to add to what I currently have and alternately wear my watches as part of my daily rotation. Therefore, I am not quite in the big leagues of owning the high-profile name brands.
I am in the market for buying a couple of watches for weekend-use and/or daily beater...hence, I am sticking with the inexpensive affordables without hurting my pocketbook. With your comments about the Sekondas, I'll probably stay away and look someplace else.
(((NOTE: The following brands I will be mentioning is NOT an endorsement nor a marketing ploy of touting them in this thread.))) I want to be clear and just to put it out there so there will be NO confusion or misinterpretation of any kind about my inquiry or questions about these brands.
I don't know much about these watches that's the reason why I am welcoming any comments/opinions about these watches before I pull the trigger on any one of them. Here are some of the watches on my "Buy-List"
>>> AEROMATIC aviator/pilot watch
>>> RIEDENFIELD aviator or sportswatch
>>> RUSSIAN VOSTOK Amphibia or partner series
They all seem to fit my pricing guidelines of anywhere between $75 to $150 USD. Any suggestions or comments or a good website where I can purchase these types of watches?
Best regards
-- Al--
Like I said, I am just starting a very modest collection (nothing fancy or ostentatious) I just want to add to what I currently have and alternately wear my watches as part of my daily rotation. Therefore, I am not quite in the big leagues of owning the high-profile name brands.
I am in the market for buying a couple of watches for weekend-use and/or daily beater...hence, I am sticking with the inexpensive affordables without hurting my pocketbook. With your comments about the Sekondas, I'll probably stay away and look someplace else.
(((NOTE: The following brands I will be mentioning is NOT an endorsement nor a marketing ploy of touting them in this thread.))) I want to be clear and just to put it out there so there will be NO confusion or misinterpretation of any kind about my inquiry or questions about these brands.
I don't know much about these watches that's the reason why I am welcoming any comments/opinions about these watches before I pull the trigger on any one of them. Here are some of the watches on my "Buy-List"
>>> AEROMATIC aviator/pilot watch
>>> RIEDENFIELD aviator or sportswatch
>>> RUSSIAN VOSTOK Amphibia or partner series
They all seem to fit my pricing guidelines of anywhere between $75 to $150 USD. Any suggestions or comments or a good website where I can purchase these types of watches?
Best regards
-- Al--
Pistonheads is mainly a UK site, so many of the recommendations won't be that helpful to you in the USA.
But have a look at these threads:
watch for £50
werners flying watches
and watchuseek is I think reasonable
But have a look at these threads:
watch for £50
werners flying watches
and watchuseek is I think reasonable
Yes I know that *PistonHeads* (PH) is a UK website...that's the reason why I joined recently. I am also a member of *WatchUSeek* (WUS) and the Military Watch Resource forums. I enjoy going through each website...and joining PH is quite refreshing and insightful. The forum members, for the most part, talk about different watch brands that are popular in the UK and other parts of Europe. I've read enough about Seikos, Citizens, Pulsars, Casios, etc...and I know some folks over here have gone up-market by purchasing the Breitlings, TAG-Hauers, Omegas, Rolex, etc....and everyone seem to be gunning for the same brands.
I really want something unique, albeit an affordable inexpensive watch...not cheap-looking, blingey, tacky shiny (UGH!) watch. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry seem to have a Seiko, Casio, Pulsar, etc,,,boring !! Now, if I'm wearing a Smith or a Dent-London (I know I can't afford one)conceivably I'll be the only one on my block wearing one...plus they are excellent conversation piece and outstanding timepieces with a long tradition of quality, durability, and functionality.
And what I am really hoping for is that forum members who are reading this thread can point and direct me to the right source (websites) that sell these watches in the 75-150 GBP (or in the $100-$250USD range).
Like I said, I have read and have heard enough accolades and rave reviews for Seikos, Citizen, Croton watches....I am looking for something different or unique as long as it meets my modest price guidelines mentioned above.
By the way, I am very familiar with *WERNERS* Flying watches - - excellent website and they feature some affordable watches (mostly aviator/pilot/diver) watches with German heritage...I realize, most if not all of them are not actually "Made-in-Germany"...but they have the look-and-feel of solid reliable watches as well.
So, please for the purpose of this thread, I really would like to hear and see more comments, suggestions on watch brands that are popular in the UK and other EU countries. Incidentally, I'm also intrigued with some of the Vostoks/Poljot watches...they have that solid military style that I am very interested in and their price points seem to be affordable.
THANK YOU, in advance for all your comments and suggestions.
(((NOT ENDORSING any of the watches I mentioned in this thread...I'm just an interested and potential buyer that would like to learn more about these watches before I make an actual purchase...better be safe-than-sorry.)))
P.S. Here's something about *Smiths* that I came across yesterday...
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
SMITHS MILITARY
Although only issued for 4 years between 1967 and 1970, the Smiths is probably the best known of all British military watches and until quite recently, one of the more affordable for collectors.
This reintroduction is a completely new watch, built from scratch and incorporating improvements over the original. It is available in both 36mm and 39mm diameter, the 36mm retaining the acrylic crystal and fixed bars for the purists and the 39mm being fitted with a hi-dome (double dome) sapphire crystal and shoulderless springbars with drilled lugs. Both models have a soft iron dial and anti-magnetic cage, giving an anti-magnetic rating of 50,000 A/m (628 Oe). Both versions have also been allocated a NATO Stock Number (NSN).
I really want something unique, albeit an affordable inexpensive watch...not cheap-looking, blingey, tacky shiny (UGH!) watch. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry seem to have a Seiko, Casio, Pulsar, etc,,,boring !! Now, if I'm wearing a Smith or a Dent-London (I know I can't afford one)conceivably I'll be the only one on my block wearing one...plus they are excellent conversation piece and outstanding timepieces with a long tradition of quality, durability, and functionality.
And what I am really hoping for is that forum members who are reading this thread can point and direct me to the right source (websites) that sell these watches in the 75-150 GBP (or in the $100-$250USD range).
Like I said, I have read and have heard enough accolades and rave reviews for Seikos, Citizen, Croton watches....I am looking for something different or unique as long as it meets my modest price guidelines mentioned above.
By the way, I am very familiar with *WERNERS* Flying watches - - excellent website and they feature some affordable watches (mostly aviator/pilot/diver) watches with German heritage...I realize, most if not all of them are not actually "Made-in-Germany"...but they have the look-and-feel of solid reliable watches as well.
So, please for the purpose of this thread, I really would like to hear and see more comments, suggestions on watch brands that are popular in the UK and other EU countries. Incidentally, I'm also intrigued with some of the Vostoks/Poljot watches...they have that solid military style that I am very interested in and their price points seem to be affordable.
THANK YOU, in advance for all your comments and suggestions.
(((NOT ENDORSING any of the watches I mentioned in this thread...I'm just an interested and potential buyer that would like to learn more about these watches before I make an actual purchase...better be safe-than-sorry.)))
P.S. Here's something about *Smiths* that I came across yesterday...
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
SMITHS MILITARY
Although only issued for 4 years between 1967 and 1970, the Smiths is probably the best known of all British military watches and until quite recently, one of the more affordable for collectors.
This reintroduction is a completely new watch, built from scratch and incorporating improvements over the original. It is available in both 36mm and 39mm diameter, the 36mm retaining the acrylic crystal and fixed bars for the purists and the 39mm being fitted with a hi-dome (double dome) sapphire crystal and shoulderless springbars with drilled lugs. Both models have a soft iron dial and anti-magnetic cage, giving an anti-magnetic rating of 50,000 A/m (628 Oe). Both versions have also been allocated a NATO Stock Number (NSN).
Actually if you're looking for *inexpensive* interesting watches to begin a collection, then IMO you *are* best looking towards the Chinese for movements. They make a range of complications for cheap money.
The best *quality* in the price bracket will be Seiko, and I consider Seiko in the same rank as Rolex when it comes to their 'status' as a manufacture, but I'm a watch geek. Social status (if that matters) doesn't favour Seiko but their watchmaking manufacture reputation is without question IMO. Look at Grand Seiko, and Spring Drive, and the price of said watches. Look at their list of *mechanical* innovations. The Seiko 5 movement may be ubiquitous and boring but it works… find a model that the cognoscenti have picked up on and wear one of those (i.e. buy a Monster and wear that for a while).
After that, the 'brands' you list (Tauchmeister, Aeromatic, etc.) are all using Chinese movements because they're inexpensive. Mostly from Sea-Gull and Liaoning. They're not bad quality.
If you want to be *honest* to the movement manufacturers, try Sea-Gull's own line of watches. China have stepped up a gear, and if you want to pay $100 and get something *interesting* then it'll be from China. Anything claiming to be anything else will be a fake… maybe go 'honest' and buy a real Chinese watch?
I'm still looking for a genuine Sea-Gull Chinese Air Force chrono, for example. There are nice ones out there
The best *quality* in the price bracket will be Seiko, and I consider Seiko in the same rank as Rolex when it comes to their 'status' as a manufacture, but I'm a watch geek. Social status (if that matters) doesn't favour Seiko but their watchmaking manufacture reputation is without question IMO. Look at Grand Seiko, and Spring Drive, and the price of said watches. Look at their list of *mechanical* innovations. The Seiko 5 movement may be ubiquitous and boring but it works… find a model that the cognoscenti have picked up on and wear one of those (i.e. buy a Monster and wear that for a while).
After that, the 'brands' you list (Tauchmeister, Aeromatic, etc.) are all using Chinese movements because they're inexpensive. Mostly from Sea-Gull and Liaoning. They're not bad quality.
If you want to be *honest* to the movement manufacturers, try Sea-Gull's own line of watches. China have stepped up a gear, and if you want to pay $100 and get something *interesting* then it'll be from China. Anything claiming to be anything else will be a fake… maybe go 'honest' and buy a real Chinese watch?
I'm still looking for a genuine Sea-Gull Chinese Air Force chrono, for example. There are nice ones out there
Hi Bluelux
Here are a few Sekondas/Raketa/Vostok/poljot etc that i've colleceted over the years, all are jewelled mechanical movements and were bought cheaply at carboot sales/ flea markets etc..
The ones above are ridiculously cheap at the bootsales, typically 50p to £3.00 (don't think i've ever paid more!)
these ones are usually more sought after (but not much
)
John
Here are a few Sekondas/Raketa/Vostok/poljot etc that i've colleceted over the years, all are jewelled mechanical movements and were bought cheaply at carboot sales/ flea markets etc..
The ones above are ridiculously cheap at the bootsales, typically 50p to £3.00 (don't think i've ever paid more!)
these ones are usually more sought after (but not much
)John
The two in the middle of the third row of johnbaz's post (Sekonda hand-wind mechanical) - I had one which I dismantled and attempted to completely reassemble as my first 'basic' movement service job Sadly I lost the 'click' spring that holds the ratchet on the mainspring barrel but everything else worked fine. Doh. 
Sadly I lost the 'click' spring that holds the ratchet on the mainspring barrel but everything else worked fine. Doh. Here's a couple of cheap Chinese watches that are very well made and keep accurate time- a world away from the stuff that used to come out of China
Explorer type cases wityh triple date layout..
the subdial is day/night indicator and the 24hour mode.
The rotor is decorated (sort of!) and there's shock protection of the balance staff..
I think from memory i paid around £25 each for these..
John
Explorer type cases wityh triple date layout..
the subdial is day/night indicator and the 24hour mode.
The rotor is decorated (sort of!) and there's shock protection of the balance staff..
I think from memory i paid around £25 each for these..
John
^^ a variant of the *very* popular Sea-Gull ST16 movement, by the looks of it. Probably the 1671 variant.
Incidentally, there's a dodgy Swiss firm called Claro-Semag which imports entire finished ST16 base movements from Sea-Gull, puts a different rotor on the back, does a bit of polishing and sells the movements as 'Swiss Made' (which, legally, they are - because the percentage *by value* of the finished product that is Swiss is above the percentage required by Swiss Law. Not hard, since the Sea-Gull movement itself costs about a fiver, so just the hourly pay of a Swiss worker polishing a new auto rotor for the movement is likely to be double the cost of the Chinese movement). They don't take a kit of parts and build the movement to Swiss quality control standards (which I'd accept - the Swiss have part manufacture outsourced to China, the important thing is assembly, attention to detail and quality control, which the Chinese aren't great at).
Makes the 'Swiss Made' tag somewhat meaningless, IMO.
And it makes Seiko even *more* of a high-rank manufacture, with *every* part in their watches made in-house, by them - even the *oils*.
Incidentally, there's a dodgy Swiss firm called Claro-Semag which imports entire finished ST16 base movements from Sea-Gull, puts a different rotor on the back, does a bit of polishing and sells the movements as 'Swiss Made' (which, legally, they are - because the percentage *by value* of the finished product that is Swiss is above the percentage required by Swiss Law. Not hard, since the Sea-Gull movement itself costs about a fiver, so just the hourly pay of a Swiss worker polishing a new auto rotor for the movement is likely to be double the cost of the Chinese movement). They don't take a kit of parts and build the movement to Swiss quality control standards (which I'd accept - the Swiss have part manufacture outsourced to China, the important thing is assembly, attention to detail and quality control, which the Chinese aren't great at).
Makes the 'Swiss Made' tag somewhat meaningless, IMO.
And it makes Seiko even *more* of a high-rank manufacture, with *every* part in their watches made in-house, by them - even the *oils*.
TODAY (Thanks to you gentlemen) I HAD A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE...learned something new...the world of watches is really fascinating. Couple of months ago, I only had two watches - - a Luminox Navy Seals Series 8000 and a Wenger black dial military watch. As of last week, I've added four more on my daily rotation and this thing keeps on growing and growing. The missus already bopped me on the head for looking at (you guess right, not Julia Roberts) but looking at watches until the wee hours of the morning.
@CYBERFACE: I should call you "Guru" - - the Grand Master of Horology. You know your watches inside-and-out. Really enjoy your commentary and opinions. Thanks for the tips !!!
@JOHN BAZ: What an awesome collection !!! Thanks for sharing the pictures. I've been looking at the photos...even the Alphas are lookin' sharp!
@TOO-LATE-FOR-A-NAME: There's got to be a name behind the moniker...how about "Cappy" - - the famous commander of the RAF.
Next time I 'm in your neck-of-the-woods, I will spring for a round of drinks at your favorite brew-pub and we can all share & enjoy your favorite ale...or better still, a bottle of Glen Morangie. Cheers !!!
@CYBERFACE: I should call you "Guru" - - the Grand Master of Horology. You know your watches inside-and-out. Really enjoy your commentary and opinions. Thanks for the tips !!!
@JOHN BAZ: What an awesome collection !!! Thanks for sharing the pictures. I've been looking at the photos...even the Alphas are lookin' sharp!
@TOO-LATE-FOR-A-NAME: There's got to be a name behind the moniker...how about "Cappy" - - the famous commander of the RAF.
Next time I 'm in your neck-of-the-woods, I will spring for a round of drinks at your favorite brew-pub and we can all share & enjoy your favorite ale...or better still, a bottle of Glen Morangie. Cheers !!!
bluelux777 said:
@CYBERFACE: I should call you "Guru" - - the Grand Master of Horology. You know your watches inside-and-out. Really enjoy your commentary and opinions. Thanks for the tips !!!
/blushCheeers, but I'm not, not by a LONG shot. Double check *everything* I say before relying on it. I'm enthusiastic but by no means expert
Just because I've got a two-stroke keyboard and type very fast doesn't mean I know what I'm talking about, there are proper professionals here and people with *real* expertise!It's all good fun though
Check out the Chinese tourbillons - the tourbillon itself is a marvel of horological engineering but actually owning one has always been out of reach of the vast majority (the cheapest Swiss tourbillon was, IIRC, JLC's Master Tourbillon because they sell their top complications in steel cases if you want - the rest of the top three (or four, or five) only offer the trickiest complications in precious-metal cases, driving the price much higher - but even this, the cheapest, is £27,000). However, out of all the 'high complications', it's the one chosen by the Chinese watch industry as the 'ultimate' in its internal competition to be the highest class 'homegrown' watch. As a result, the Chinese watch factories focused on this beyond all others, and at least four of the best Chinese watchmakers now offer a tourbillon as part of their range, in limited quantities (as many involve a lot of manual work).They're not 'cheap' by most people's standards - the cheapest of the lot is Liaoning's, which is available in a nice steel case from OEMs like Million Smart Enterprises for around £500-£600, whereas Sea-Gull's is around a grand and the best of them all, the Beijing Watch Factory tourbillons, are many thousands.
Even the Liaoning movement is bloody nice though, it's even got a screwed balance and it keeps superb time. I've got one and it's lovely
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