Building a Beater Collection Pt 3
Not all went smoothly in my budding Beater collection journey.
After my "Craig Bond" Pagani, I ordered the "Connery Bond" version (ish), the PD-1661.
Note: this photo is not mine - I didn't take a picture of the one I had because I wasn't on here yet and no one in my real life would care. If you are the owner of the above photo and object I will replace it with a stock image.
40mm, stainless, sapphire, NH35A, yadda yadda. Yeah, date/cyclops/crown guards, so not the "right" Connery Rolex clone, but good enough I figured.
And for about five days, it kind of was.
Over those days, I learned two things:
1) This individual watch, at least, did not hold power anywhere near the stated 40+ hours. More like 5 hours. This is in direct comparison to the other Pagani with the same movement - I would hand wind each the same amount every morning, and later in the day this 1661 would be running several minutes slow.
2) I don't like a cyclops. Good to learn. This wasn't just the Pagani, but a friend's Rolex, too. I just don't care for a cyclops.
Other than that, the watch was fine. Bezel wasn't misaligned, no issue with slack, looked and felt exactly like the quality level I was expecting. I didn't like the polished center links on the strap, but I had a Connery RAF ready for it. But nope, not this watch.
So I returned this Pagani, and will be looking for a non-date Rolex diver homage later. I'm at least honest that this is a fashion choice, but I do want the fashion built on a good foundation - the 1667 has been great.
With the return credit, after reading/watching mutiple reviews, I then chose a Seiko SNK809. How could I go wrong with that?
Stay tuned for Pt 4.
Previous:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/MrPsionic/posts/building-a-beater-collection-pt-2-28652
Next:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/MrPsionic/posts/building-a-beater-collection-pt-4-28844
I'm a musician and in the guitar amp biz. I do gear reviews on my own YT channel but I'm not here for that - this is my side hobby. That said, I know how the sausages are made both in production/manuf...
I personaly don't like homage watches at all 😕 There are Lots of great choices for the same price that are unique and beautiful. The snk you mentioned being a perfect example.
I personaly don't like homage watches at all 😕 There are Lots of great choices for the same price that are unique and beautiful. The snk you mentioned being a perfect example.
Then you’ll like the other seven watches in my collection. 😎
I really think the Chinese are producing NH35 clones as they show up on Ali for around 30 bucks. Anything coming out of China for under $300.00 is probably not regulated and stuffed together in a hurry by quota.
I really think the Chinese are producing NH35 clones as they show up on Ali for around 30 bucks. Anything coming out of China for under $300.00 is probably not regulated and stuffed together in a hurry by quota.
The NH35s in these things are Sii. Seiko Industries. I own a few. they keep really good time. Frankly my NH35 Steeldive keeps better time than my Padi Turtle.
Some of the 1661 ended up with shoddy Miyota movements in them due to a shortage in the pandemic I think.
If I was going Connery/Moore homage, I would go with the Pagani 1694 — it’s on Amazon, has a nice fauxtina version, and a lumed bezel. No date, so no cyclops, and I prefer the font even it’s different to the original.
But I can’t justify spending on a 4th or 5th diver style watch really. Especially after my wife got me my Mako II. (That and I don’t actually like Rolexes style, just the Bond thing.)
Edit: went and found the bookmark for the one I was thinking of last year
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Automatic-Business-Waterproof-Stainless-Synthetic/dp/B09KWYWZ2N/ref=sr_1_4?adgrpid=1177577891707877&hvadid=73598827788146&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=41471&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-73598783858887%3Aloc-188&hydadcr=21013_1827971&keywords=pagani%2Bpd%2B1694&qid=1678293412&sr=8-4&th=1
I think you have to wind the NH35 movement pretty well, like 60 full turns for it to get fully charged. I have the SNKK27(automatic/ not hand winding) and first it was the same for me, it lost time and never kept power for more than 20h but then I searched online about this problem and figured out the answer myself. I pretty much shook it for 20 mins straight and voila! it gave me a 52h power reserve and never lost time like that since then. The thing with entry level Seiko movement is you got to crank them up passionately to get the full charge. Now I use an Aliexpress field watch "Tandorio" with the NH35 movement and it gives me s 50h+ power reserve.
I really think the Chinese are producing NH35 clones as they show up on Ali for around 30 bucks. Anything coming out of China for under $300.00 is probably not regulated and stuffed together in a hurry by quota.
I think you are right. Even if they have SII markings can you really trust they are genuine? That said, as someone who has bought several of these from AE, I can tell you they outperform the real deal so far. My AE procured movements run about 10-20 sec per day and hold their power reserve for at least a day after wearing. My original Seiko's run about 20-40 sec per day and also last about a day after wearing. The true test will be over time, we'll see which one needs service first. In terms of their look and feel, they look identical. Maybe they are real, maybe not, but they look and fit the exact same so far.