Lige 6801: A Budget-Friendly Automatic Watch with a Rolex Submariner Look - Review
If you are looking for a cheap but reliable automatic watch that resembles the iconic Rolex Submariner, you might want to check out the Lige 6801. This watch features a 4 Hz movement that appears to be a clone of the ETA 2824-2, a popular Swiss-made caliber that powers many high-end watches (the 2824 is no longer protected by its patent and there are several replicas/clones made in China and elsewhere). The movement has a stop-second device / hacking, and according to sources online a one-way automatic winding mechanism, though the watch can also be hand wound. The case has a screw-down crown, a hardlex crystal, and a hardlex exhibition case back that lets you see the movement in action. The Lige 6801 has a 40 mm case diameter, a 13 mm case thickness, and a 20 mm lug width. The case is claimed to be made of stainless steel on some online stores, but it is more likely to be an alloy given the low price point, I’m not going to scratch it to find out. The watch has a black dial with luminous hands and markers, and a black bezel with white Numerals every ten minutes, with minute markers up to 15 minutes and then every 5 minutes after the numerals. The bezel is counter-clockwise rotatable, but it is not very well aligned with the dial. However, it has enough play that you can adjust it manually to make it look straight. it has 10 ATM water resistance, so I'm not sure I'd go diving with it... But I suck at swimming and never go in deep waters so I'm not to worried about this at all. The watch comes with a stainless steel bracelet that is frankly garbage. It is flimsy, noisy, and uncomfortable to wear since it doesn’t have a micro-adjustable clasp. I swapped it out for a NATO Strap, which improved the look and feel of the watch significantly. You can also use other bracelets if you prefer, but they might cost more than the watch itself. The Lige 6801 is a great value for money, as it costs less than 30 € on some online stores. The movement alone is worth more than that, as similar ETA 2824-2 clones sell for around 40-50 €. I bought a second one to use as a donor for parts for a new watch project, but I am not sure which movement it is exactly, so it might be a challenge to find compatible components, since there are several different versions of these replicas/clones, i.e. Sellita SW200-1, SwissTP STP1-11, Seagull ST2130, Hangzhou 6301, Valanvron VAL-24, H.K. Precision Technology PT5000, Liaoning Peacock Sl-3000, Ginault 7275, Landeron Landeron24 (L24), Soprod P024 (list is provided by calibercorner.com/eta-2824-clones/) The Lige 6801 is not a perfect watch, but it is a decent one for the price. It has a nice design, a solid movement, and a good lume. It feels better than some other budget-friendly automatic watches and it could easily sell for more than 5x it's price. However, I have not measured the accuracy of the watch, as I do not have a timegrapher, but I will order one soon and hopefully update this review. I can highly recommend this watch if you are looking for a 4 Hz baby for your collection, or if you just want a Rolex Submariner homage that won't break the bank.
Lige 6801: A Budget-Friendly Automatic Watch with a Rolex Submariner Look - Review
Yes
No
- Great design
- Unbelievably affordable.
- A 4hz movement based on an excellent design
- Surprisingly good feel and look for the incredibly low price.
- The build quality is not the best.
- The bracelet is useless if you need microadjust.
- Unoriginal in almost everyway.
Google me and you will find all you need to know....
Looking at the back of the movement, it doesn't look like an ETA 2824 clone to me. I would expect a rotor with visible ball bearings. And also that circular cut-out in the winding bridge next to the balance well looks quite different.
Nicely done! Great thorough review of the watch.
Congrats!
Nicely done! Great thorough review of the watch.
Congrats!
Thank you sir!
Looking at the back of the movement, it doesn't look like an ETA 2824 clone to me. I would expect a rotor with visible ball bearings. And also that circular cut-out in the winding bridge next to the balance well looks quite different.
I just checked several photos. And I believe you might be correct. It definitely is 4 Hz, I can here it beating quickly with the ear, but also, I used an app and the phones mic to check the beat.
Here are a few more photos of the dial, perhaps you might be able to lead us to which movement this might be?
Looking at the back of the movement, it doesn't look like an ETA 2824 clone to me. I would expect a rotor with visible ball bearings. And also that circular cut-out in the winding bridge next to the balance well looks quite different.
Sorry that some photos are blurry, I don't have a better light at home right now.
From the looks it seems something like a TY2806 . Maybe they are now making a 4Hz version of it? Or, looking at your timegrapher output, are you sure it is 4 Hz?
From the looks it seems something like a TY2806 . Maybe they are now making a 4Hz version of it? Or, looking at your timegrapher output, are you sure it is 4 Hz?
It's definitely 4 Hz, since the timegrapher is showing it beating at 28.800 VPH. I'm not using a proper timegrapher, but a phone app with the mic placed on the rear of the movement while the watch is on a holder, and that's showing my NH-35 in my custom watch at 3 Hz. And I rechecked it and the Lige while it was in the watch holder and it is definitely at 4 Hz (before I checked it with out a holder and also a snow plow drove by the house so it may have janked up the measurements).
Okay the -22 rate of the first measurement had me wondering, but the 2nd reading of the 6801 looks better. Very interesting, indeed. 😉
From the looks it seems something like a TY2806 . Maybe they are now making a 4Hz version of it? Or, looking at your timegrapher output, are you sure it is 4 Hz?
That does make sense since the power reserve is noted to be only 36 hours and it does look a lot more like the TY2806. Thank you for your help!
Also, as soon as I get the donar watch in, I'll do a proper tear down and hopefully by then I'll also have my timegrapher.
I own two Lige quartz watches that I picked up brand new for almost nothing thinking if they sucked I could always use the cases, dials for other projects. So far they working well, keeping time within an acceptable range +- 30 sec over 30 days.
Hello, my son got a Lige6801 from me, used it twice and broke the crown the third time, so I'm looking for a new crown including a shaft. Can anyone help me? I am looking at Ali Express they have many Typs ? Thanks
Hello, my son got a Lige6801 from me, used it twice and broke the crown the third time, so I'm looking for a new crown including a shaft. Can anyone help me? I am looking at Ali Express they have many Typs ? Thanks