Micro Tournament Round 2 Day 2: Serica Vs. Kuoe Kyoto
Rules:
• Voting is based on the overall brand, not the individual model or sample photo.
• There are no rules on how you should choose, but you are welcome to civilly debate quality, value, heritage, etc.
• Voters are encouraged to look at the hashtags for threads on individual brands or visit their sites.
• Poll closes apx 11PM ET 3/23.
• Be respectful of all the brands and members, even if the vote does not go your way. This is meant to be lighthearted fun to raise awareness of 64 microbrands.
•Ties will go to the brand with the most unique user-owned photos of their watch on this thread.
Good luck and have fun! All posts and results will be tracked under #microtournament
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Watch enthusiast who insists on the next watch being the last.
Northeast, US
Member since
Last active: 1 min ago
6.50” / 16.51 cm
Check Out The Lineups Here:
Kuoe Kyoto
Serica
Get daily updates and see the updated bracket here.
Serica for no other reason is I like the look of them better.
I’m actually surprised kuoe is leading here. I love the Serica Cali dial but Kuoe’s price point is strong leverage for them and its made in japan as well. Even though Kuoe is more an homage to some old Smiths models and can come off generic at times, its clean and strong execution helps. I’ve also seen Jody’s (JOMW) video on Serica too so it kinda turned me off from them.
Serica.
Serica 🥰
I'd be interested to hear why people chose Kuoe Kyoto over Serica. To me there's really no doubt Serica is the better brand, in terms of design language, quality and vision, although I like Kuoe and I've considered buying one of their watches in the past.
I'd be interested to hear why people chose Kuoe Kyoto over Serica. To me there's really no doubt Serica is the better brand, in terms of design language, quality and vision, although I like Kuoe and I've considered buying one of their watches in the past.
As cool as the field variant is, there has been quite a lot of blowback over the company gas-lighting some over QC issues of a movement used in their Gen I diver. Believe at one point it was even said to be a feature or something.
Still have to say the field looks good. Liked it better has a hand wind actually.
As cool as the field variant is, there has been quite a lot of blowback over the company gas-lighting some over QC issues of a movement used in their Gen I diver. Believe at one point it was even said to be a feature or something.
Still have to say the field looks good. Liked it better has a hand wind actually.
Yes they did not handle the situation well, but it has been utterly exaggerated.
I plan to buy a Kuoe and not a Serica yet, but still I recognise that Serica is above in terms of finishing, design, vision and sturdiness.
Had a closer look to Kuoe over the last time, looks like a quite decent catalog.
I’m actually surprised kuoe is leading here. I love the Serica Cali dial but Kuoe’s price point is strong leverage for them and its made in japan as well. Even though Kuoe is more an homage to some old Smiths models and can come off generic at times, its clean and strong execution helps. I’ve also seen Jody’s (JOMW) video on Serica too so it kinda turned me off from them.
Same as you I was really surpise for me there is no doubt Serica is better.
Had a closer look to Kuoe over the last time, looks like a quite decent catalog.
Nice catalog but it seems there are making more and more models, almost every week.
Less convinced by the strategy now: they are too many now, which is starting to dilute their identity.
Some design variants are questionable and I have read statements from the designer saying some like "I could not choose between three dials, so I make both of them".
As a result, they have all kind of watch types, dials, colors, materials, sizes... So what's a Kuoe watch really
Very questionable I think. To me, designing is making clear decisions and having a vision.
I am afraid they are trying to read the mass market with a cheap watch for everyone.
On the other side, Serica takes time to offer something unique and has a clear visual identity, you can recognise it at a glance.
Who is not voting for Serica??? This is why this bracket makes no sense. It’s just people with no real knowledge voting on what they think looks nice. Next year throw in Invicta and see how far they make it. I bet you they make the top eight.
Nice catalog but it seems there are making more and more models, almost every week.
Less convinced by the strategy now: they are too many now, which is starting to dilute their identity.
Some design variants are questionable and I have read statements from the designer saying some like "I could not choose between three dials, so I make both of them".
As a result, they have all kind of watch types, dials, colors, materials, sizes... So what's a Kuoe watch really
Very questionable I think. To me, designing is making clear decisions and having a vision.
I am afraid they are trying to read the mass market with a cheap watch for everyone.
On the other side, Serica takes time to offer something unique and has a clear visual identity, you can recognise it at a glance.
Understand your points. To be honest, none of the two would really be on a short list for me anyway.
Who is not voting for Serica??? This is why this bracket makes no sense. It’s just people with no real knowledge voting on what they think looks nice. Next year throw in Invicta and see how far they make it. I bet you they make the top eight.
I have no preference or knowledge of either of these, but Kuoe winning looks just like why Spinnaker is going to go far (which I’ve owned multiple when I stated this hobby).
Cheap and a large catalog 🤷
Yes they did not handle the situation well, but it has been utterly exaggerated.
I plan to buy a Kuoe and not a Serica yet, but still I recognise that Serica is above in terms of finishing, design, vision and sturdiness.
Same. Between the two I would likely go KUOE first but I really am gunning for the Serica california field watch with the bonklip hehe
Yes they did not handle the situation well, but it has been utterly exaggerated.
I plan to buy a Kuoe and not a Serica yet, but still I recognise that Serica is above in terms of finishing, design, vision and sturdiness.
Exaggerated? People are only highlighting the way they handled the 5303 Newton saga was appalling. They told everyone that they stand by the Newton despite it not being up to snuff, and that the failings of the movement were a feature. You do realise the newly released 5303 rev 3 swapped to a M100A, so they obviously didn’t believe in it that much to swap it out pretty much at the next revision. I’ve seen politicians with more integrity than this. You want to pay over €1000 on a micro, I think there are better ones out there who wouldn’t gaslight you if they delivered a watch that was faulty at its core. Most people have short memories, forgive others for reminding them of previous indiscretions, especially if you want to spend a fair chunk of cash.
Serica watches look nice, but some of us wouldn’t furnish them with any cash because they are not a brand we trust.
Exaggerated? People are only highlighting the way they handled the 5303 Newton saga was appalling. They told everyone that they stand by the Newton despite it not being up to snuff, and that the failings of the movement were a feature. You do realise the newly released 5303 rev 3 swapped to a M100A, so they obviously didn’t believe in it that much to swap it out pretty much at the next revision. I’ve seen politicians with more integrity than this. You want to pay over €1000 on a micro, I think there are better ones out there who wouldn’t gaslight you if they delivered a watch that was faulty at its core. Most people have short memories, forgive others for reminding them of previous indiscretions, especially if you want to spend a fair chunk of cash.
Serica watches look nice, but some of us wouldn’t furnish them with any cash because they are not a brand we trust.
I know the story but it’s not so terrible, especially when they offered to get the watch back. It was : we won’t fix it, if you are unhappy we take the watch back.
Also I believe it has been fixed since then (and some people claimed they never had the issue), they are doing great watches, so at some point it’s time to turn the page.
I believe the brand would have bankrupted if they had done differently, so I kind of understand their position, even if I don’t excuse it. Such things are also part of the risk associated with any new micro-brand releasing their first product, with little financial support (or any company).
I know the story but it’s not so terrible, especially when they offered to get the watch back. It was : we won’t fix it, if you are unhappy we take the watch back.
Also I believe it has been fixed since then (and some people claimed they never had the issue), they are doing great watches, so at some point it’s time to turn the page.
I believe the brand would have bankrupted if they had done differently, so I kind of understand their position, even if I don’t excuse it. Such things are also part of the risk associated with any new micro-brand releasing their first product, with little financial support (or any company).
But there are many others who say they were not sorted, and lost on postage, servicing, and customs fees. The claim it was a “feature” was gaslighting, especially since they also seemed to know the Newton was not without its problems. Would you sell a watch with that failure rate? Some people don’t want to throw >1k at a company with that attitude, it’s not worth the risk regardless of how the watch looks.
The brand are lucky that people have a short memory, and that they are small enough it flew far enough under the radar. JOMW is the highest level of notoriety it reached - but the video is still up, which means…
It’s fixed now - yes, the rev 3 uses a M100A. This from a brand who said they stood behind the Newton. Clearly enough to not avoid swapping it out at the next revision.
The 5303 was not their first watch, that was the 4512 in 2019, they’d been in business for over 2 years when they had this issue.
Who is not voting for Serica??? This is why this bracket makes no sense. It’s just people with no real knowledge voting on what they think looks nice. Next year throw in Invicta and see how far they make it. I bet you they make the top eight.
The tournament isn't about who makes the best watch, it's about what people perceive to be the best watch based on their own criteria and factors.
Now this is a match! Saw Serica at WindUp and followed their missteps when they launched. Sadly, the story of them being tone deaf on their rollout seems like an oxymoron in the micro space. Kuoe recent models are solid and price point is "on point" for their offerings. I'm open to buy a Serica 2nd hand market to give them a chance, but I'd pay Kuoe outright for their models. This voting by wallet is the same here... Kuoe takes my vote, but I leave the door open for Serica, we all have our missteps, hope they repair their image. Kuoe just seems to be bringing a lot to the table, they have some design"growing" to do, and I get some of their models may come across as bland or from other dress watch manufacturers of the past. However, I feel Serica is digging itself out and Kuoe is building. But BOTH these companies are hungry and not to be underestimated, both are coming in with a sense of passion too forceful to be ignored.
My hands are frozen!! I love both of these brands and what they are doing! 😊
But there are many others who say they were not sorted, and lost on postage, servicing, and customs fees. The claim it was a “feature” was gaslighting, especially since they also seemed to know the Newton was not without its problems. Would you sell a watch with that failure rate? Some people don’t want to throw >1k at a company with that attitude, it’s not worth the risk regardless of how the watch looks.
The brand are lucky that people have a short memory, and that they are small enough it flew far enough under the radar. JOMW is the highest level of notoriety it reached - but the video is still up, which means…
It’s fixed now - yes, the rev 3 uses a M100A. This from a brand who said they stood behind the Newton. Clearly enough to not avoid swapping it out at the next revision.
The 5303 was not their first watch, that was the 4512 in 2019, they’d been in business for over 2 years when they had this issue.
Ok, I get it. You are more informed than me, that’s a lot of mess indeed.
That’s sad because I follow the Youtube channel of the creator and he seems to be a good guy, and passionate.
Who is not voting for Serica??? This is why this bracket makes no sense. It’s just people with no real knowledge voting on what they think looks nice. Next year throw in Invicta and see how far they make it. I bet you they make the top eight.
I am not really picking on you, but you asked:
Well. me for one. Track @Porthole's comments for the original sin that Serica committed. In commerce you don't always get a second chance. You are not owed one. I remember when Kuoe had just one watch. It wasn't especially original, but it was exactly what they wanted they first offering to be. They have not been dogged with customer service issues.
The other reason is aesthetic. Serica moved the numerals inside the indices and kept them fairly large on many of their offerings. This has the effect of crowding the dial. I don't like it when Longines does it either. It just doesn't work for me. I would spend my money elsewhere, even if not necessarily on a Kuoe.
I think I love both of these brands - tough call
Bit of a toughy here, especially since I don't think either of them will get past the next bracket. I voted for Serica because I like their designs better than Kuoe. I did chase down the 5303 Saga as mentioned by @Porthole and although it didn't change my vote, it has mad me a more informed consumer.
So… as you seem keen to dismiss people as devoid of knowledge:
Microbrand (which Invicta is not)
Serica 5303 Newton saga (which you need to Google)
Subjectivity (which you need to consider, this is a bit of fun)
F*cks (which you need to give less of)
Regardless of arena, I'm afraid my F's ran out somewhere over Kazakhstan in 2012 bwahahahaha 😈😝...
If you have any recommendations for a refill I'm all ears. 👀🤔😉😬
Poll closed for this matchup. Congratulations to Kuoe Kyoto!
Poll closed for this matchup. Congratulations to Kuoe Kyoto!
Kyoto - just clocked this 😂
Kyoto - just clocked this 😂
Ha ha ha! Darn it. Thats that I get for doing these before bed and two similar names. Will edit. :-)
Ha ha ha! Darn it. Thats that I get for doing these before bed and two similar names. Will edit. :-)
I wondered where some people were getting Koue Tokyo from - fake news!