Aliexpress

I have several Pagani Design watches, and am happy with them. My advice is to skip Aliexpress and buy directly from their web site. Doing so will insure that you get the latest version of the watch. Also, I would only buy watches at this price point that have Seiko movements. The NH35 and NH39 automatics have been great for me, as has been the VK63 Mechaquartz.

I’ve had great luck with PD, keeping expectations in line with price point. If you have a rotating bezel, understand it’ll likely be a little loose. They don’t have the best bracelets. Sometimes there can be the occasional sharp edge to stone. But at this price they are definitely a bargain.

I’ll add a picture of my PDs for you:

Sometimes the ali express specials can be found on Amazon for a small premium but it means it will arrive in a decent time and is easier to return if there is a problem. San Martin is the best ali express brand and consistently puts Seiko to shame I have their 39mm Explorer and I can't stop wearing it. If you want the San Martin buy from their website, if you want the other two either ali express or Amazon? I don't know as I only really buy San Martins.

It's hard not to fall down the rabbit hole of Ali Express. I try to wait for the 3 big sales throughout the year. Jody on "Just One More Watch" usually does a really good video when the sales roll around. I haven't gone for the Paganis yet, but I really like the San Martin, Seagull and Baltany offerings.

I got 2 Pagani’s. One with NH34A other with the VK64. Not going for them anymore. After a set of Casio’s it’s time now for a Hamilton, Marathon and Seiko.

In the last six months I've been collecting I've got a luminox sqaule matric certina ds action diver Seiko king samurai Seiko alpinist orient trident and a boldr oddyessy

I m skint 😁

I have bought a few watches off AliExpress (Sea-Gull, San Martin, Steeldive and Pagani Design) but have stopped now. The buying experience isn’t great and the two that pretty much ended my interest in AliExpress are the following:

Pagani Design - from their official store I bought a watch that looked really good in the photos but when it arrived it was subtly and significantly different from the photos. For example, the date window was significantly smaller and was placed close to the center of the watch than shown in the pictures. Overall it was a big disappointment and I think the pictures were possibly pictures of the actual watch they were homaging with the logo photoshopped. Anyway the lack of integrity in misrepresenting what they were selling put me off.

Mod kit - I bought an inexpensive mod kit for a Casioak which took about three months to arrive and it then turned out that they had chosen to send me the black PVD version rather than the stainless steel version that I ordered.

In both cases the returns/refund process was so painful that I gave up given the amounts involved. But it has pretty much put paid to my AliExpress participation. And those advising you to try to buy from elsewhere where your recourse options are better are giving you sound advice.

In fairness I have had pretty positive experiences with some AliExpress sellers (e.g. Sea-Gull, Steeldive and San Martin official stores) but with already owning a few of their excellent watches now I’m not hurrying to buy more.

In the total of my AliExpress watch purchases (including bracelets, natos, clasps, etc.) I would say the ratio is 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 between pleased, meh and disappointed.