The brand has been on my radar for a while. What was the qc issue?

Man, sorry to hear about the issues. I still wish this fit my wrist. I only have one watch of theirs, but luckily no issues so far.

Piccard has the dial off-centre by a degree or two, bezel doesn’t line up over 120 clicks. Indices and minute track also not lined up well. Date dial and window not aligned - numerals too far to the right.

Hass x MCS Turtle has alignment issues with the minute track and the inner ring, the notching/relief is not clean, and bracelet screws are f*cked. This is my favourite dial, but not without issues.

Wreck V2 is the best of the bunch, but the bracelet screws are equally shot. I won’t sugar coat it - you can tell this are just spat out of a factory in volume.

I defended this brand a lot this year, but you know, it just got worse with every watch. I could suck up the Wreck V2, the Hass was annoying, the Piccard is just amateur-hour.

Happy New Year 🍾 🥂 🎊!

And to you!

You certainly have. I recently listened to an interview with the folks from Nodus, which is a similar company (I also tend to lump them together with Zelos and other players in that $500ish price range) and they had some interesting insight.

We all know where they are getting parts and likely being made, but they mentioned their QC rates on parts and assembly were such, that they took the building in house to eliminate many of the issues the other two brands mentioned seem to have. As we know, the further we get removed from the job, the greater the chance of QC issues, so I applaud them for that.

I have no issues with Chinese made or assembled watches, heck I am almost certain my recent Nivada Grenchen is 100% Chinese, but it is interesting how many in the the hobby have become okay accepting these QC rates in watches in the $300-$600 range, as if comparing them to homage brands from AliExpress.

Small rant: There is a watch that I really enjoy the aesthetics of and the folks from the company were very nice when I met them, let’s say it’s from an English brand that supports emergency responders. The watch is $1200 with an unregulated NH35 of questionable origins. Reviews across the board are cut and paste “It is powered by the workhorse/tried and tested (other bullshit cliches) NH35. Accuracy is 20-40 seconds a day, which we come to expect.” When did that become okay? I do not care about that on a $400 watch like Spinnaker or Nodus (okay, I kind of do), but on an $1200 watch?

End rant. Hope you are having a good NYE Chris and thanks for your continued friendship this year.

No worries.

Regarding the NH35 small rant - I think you are perfectly justified in that. I think the very worst example of this is the Ressence Type 3, which is €40k of watch powered by an ETA. I’ve taken sooooo much flack for this, because regardless of what engineering it has (which is impressive) you have the main gubbins worth less than 1% of the price. Absolute nonsense. The Piccard is ~£550 RRP for an NH35A powered slab… it’s too much. I wouldn’t be too sure it would survive at 200 fathoms (let alone 300 as advertised), I don’t trust it, and just as well I don’t plan to take it to the deep, I would use something much more practical.

Paulin had the Neo series that were ~£450, and I thought that might be too much, but the dial was done by anOrdain (who acquired Paulin this year) - only then do you really need to assess what acquired value can be attributed to said watch. Orion Hellcat, Miyota powered, $700? Sorry, no. To import I’m looking at $900 with the VAT, it’s not economical. I even struggle to try and get something like the Vero Open Water or the Smokey Bear, but I think the 10-year warranty is probably going to be the deal-maker.

I think we need more people challenging, or at least more dissenting voices. I play the pantomime villain, but it’s just because sometimes someone just has to say… why? Plus, I provide a free fact-checking service. Remember, Longines are not the next Tudor, and are not trying to be, and Audemars Piguet are still relevant because they shift a ton of units and make a lot of cash. Hublot have a design language they’ve been pushing for 40 years, despite whatever a shouty-bearded man will tell you.

Sending love… have a good NYE.

Sorry to hear about your QC issues but your 28mm Aero Atlanta sounds amazing. Have a healthy and prosperous 2024 🍾🥂

Could not agree more on all points. I tend to just bite my tongue and scroll by those posts. Then again, I just paid $850 for a fancier Seiko 5 GMT with an internal compass. Some choices remain irrational.

I own a Corum Bubble and a Rolex Milgauss, I might as well be the AntiChrist.

Would have loved a Milguass, except my guy kept offering me every variation but the one I wanted and I am on record for liking the bubble. I cannot count how many times I tried to justify purchasing the 42mm version of this when it was routinely $800 new. Does not fit any of my normal criteria, other than I love red and black and the Harley Quinn artwork is on point.

That is the one Bubble I want - honestly I would trade so much for one of those. I love Harley Quinn. My Lucifer is an absolute delight, but I really want one of these.

Can report that I own 2 Spinnakers for a year now and no issues, very happy. That of course does not mean you didn't have your issues

It was right before COVID hit, probably a good year or two before. That is how long I went back and forth on it.

Yeah.. that looks great. I think, I'm definitely going smaller in 24

I had a vintage guide, which is now on TER, if you wanted a quick crash course on vintage small diameter watches, depending on how far into the rabbit hole you want to fall.

I feel particularly stupid now. What was I doing around COVID? I think I was trying to leave a really terrible job so I was pretty preoccupied… should have treated myself.

😂 I just got the Spinnaker badge - I don’t want it…

Happy New Year to you and your family Chris!

And to you… have a good one

Definitely.. I've got my eye on a 36 and a 32 at the moment. I just can't decide which way to go.. Erm! What's TER?

TER

That's fantastic, Chris. I'll look forward to reading through it.

Many thanks 🤓

It’s where jaded WC creators go to pasture

Jaded creators and newbies looking to soak up knowledge from the old and wise.. I've already started reading 👍

Sorry to hear, no issues with my #spinnaker

Thanks for rubbing it in…