Urban Gentry X Islander Watch…
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I'd give it the same review I gave the Tudor Ranger. It's 100% adequate.
Not a nicely designed watch in my opinion. I expect better from 2 watch experts.
I have yet to pull the trigger on a no-date watch. It’s what lines up with your style/taste. I need my watches to be more tools than anything. I have two homage watches myself. They were much less expensive alternatives that gave me a chance to try something I wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
It looks nice though. Very simple design and clean. I like the TGV logo.
It's sold out and going for almost double it's original price of $369 on ebay. I think it's a great watch, and I am glad I got #220.
Quick look it seems fine, on close up, it seems the minute track and the hour marks don‘t match as well as I’d like. I do like the most of the UG channel so maybe I’m biased toward it.
I’m not a fan. I know it’s supposed to be a Ranger/field watch homage, but I much prefer the cleaner look of the Ranger. This one feels less simple. I think my preference is for a simple, clean aesthetic.
would like slight smaller bezel, and one new logo (combined with urban gentry and long island element.
Not for me. This is a great example of a certain design being executed perfectly on one watch and very poorly on another. The Tudor Ranger is simple, but is executed perfectly for what it's supposed to be; a subdued tool/field watch. It does that to perfection in my opinion. The Islander took a minimalist design and mucked it up. Made it too "wacky" with the numeral font and indices. It's trying to be that Tudor Ranger design, but in its own "unique" and somewhat "wacky" way and I don't think it works. That being said, these things are super subjective. If you dig it, I say go for it! Especially as it costs so much less than the Ranger.
I like what they were going for but the design feels incomplete. It feels like a prototype
Meh.
Looks like a cheap Explorer homage. San Martin makes much nicer and clean looking homages if that’s what you really want.
Pure passion is not complicated. Perhaps that’s why its design is simple…coming from two very passionate people immersed in the watch world we choose to inhabit.
As I have said before elsewhere, I think that the new Lorier Falcon III does this better. I am also not a hater of the Tudor Ranger that seems to have inspired this trend. I want to like the Islander more than I do. Maybe it will grow on me.
It's not for me but it could be a good match for someone looking for an Explorer or Ranger alternative that is larger than 36mm
Not for me either. I want nothing associated with TGV and honestly that relationship sours the whole brand. That aside, it is a decent looking homage, but there are better alternatives out there.
The San Martin version is $258.30 and looks better IMHO. There's a "coupon" you can apply at checkout bringing the price down to $216.30. 40% cheaper. Trust me, the workmanship/quality of San Martin is every bit as good as Islander. The only downgrade is you're giving up the Miyota movement on the Islander for an NH35 on the San Martin. Neither watch is "heirloom" quality, and there's nothing wrong with the workhorse Seiko movement. Tudor to Islander is comparing apples to oranges. Islander and San Martin are both oranges and that's where the price difference is notable.
I've bought three watches from Ali Express; a San Martin, a generic flieger, and a 1963 chronograph. All arrived in good time (though not as quickly as an Islander) and all were better than anticipated, especially the San Martin. It's a quality built watch.
ok cool... I just liked the look of this watch, so I ordered it.
It was with me within a week, can’t fault Islander, had follow emails making sure it had arrived and if I was happy. Which I am.
It’s not ground breaking, I did not expect it to be and perhaps you are paying an extra $100 for something limited to only 500 units. People talk a lot about cost and value, which is irrelevant if, like me, you have no plans to sell the watch.
I will take a look at San Martin tho..
I think part of the issue is TVG himself. It's seems like it's a hate him or love him thing lol. Personally, I enjoy his videos but also don't take him too seriously.
That is so true! Sometimes I find him totally insufferable and really annoying. Other times his opinions are interesting and I’ve certainly discovered things I did not know from watching his videos.
I enjoy his video with Marc, as he bring a less pompous, much more technical aspect to the conversation.
Mostly… I like that a simple watch can cause such division and discussion.
I’m loving those hands
As a piece of memorabilia it’s fine. For fans of the channel(s) I’m super glad it exists.
As a piece of design it looks like my four year old emptied her toy basket in the floor, they took a photocopy of how all the different shapes landed, whacked it in a circle and called it done.
That logo is too close to the 12 o'clock marker...
I like the Range Master, I like the Tudor and the Explorer too. Never going to own either, I don't think. But I managed to get one of these and like it's Quirk's and difference's.
I have a couple of other Islanders and like the brand alot. I won't buy anything from AliExpress or China directly if I can help it and prefer to spend money with an American company than a Chinese one.
Anyway I am looking forward to seeing mine when it lands on my doorstep.
Ok…thanks for that.
From a deaign perspective, I kinda wish they used islander script instead of the logo and place the logo on the crown.
Frankenwatch? Parts bin + 2 non designers designing a watch with cues lifted from a few of their favorite watches = ??
I believe TGV is a designer. He references working with watch companies in some of his videos. I don't understand what the problem is with him. I enjoy his videos and learn a lot from. Plus he's a gentleman which is refreshing.
Not for me either. I want nothing associated with TGV and honestly that relationship sours the whole brand. That aside, it is a decent looking homage, but there are better alternatives out there.
Hi, why don't you like TGV. I have seen the animosity here and I don't get it. I love his videos and Hugo is hilarious. To me anyway.
I believe TGV is a designer. He references working with watch companies in some of his videos. I don't understand what the problem is with him. I enjoy his videos and learn a lot from. Plus he's a gentleman which is refreshing.
Full disclosure, haven’t watched one of his videos in 3+ years. It is great that you like his content. He may very well be the nicest person for all I know, I have not met him. My issues stem from IP theft (and how he handled it) and when he was outed for non disclosed sponsored content. Many don’t care about that kind of stuff, but with so many channels, it is a differentiator for me when determining who’s views I can trust.
Full disclosure, haven’t watched one of his videos in 3+ years. It is great that you like his content. He may very well be the nicest person for all I know, I have not met him. My issues stem from IP theft (and how he handled it) and when he was outed for non disclosed sponsored content. Many don’t care about that kind of stuff, but with so many channels, it is a differentiator for me when determining who’s views I can trust.
I was unaware of the issues. Understandable. I've only been watching his vids for a couple years and he's infotaining. I assume all the channels exist to promote product but they shouldn't pretend they're not when they are . Thanks for the info.
I was unaware of the issues. Understandable. I've only been watching his vids for a couple years and he's infotaining. I assume all the channels exist to promote product but they shouldn't pretend they're not when they are . Thanks for the info.
Again, that likely changed for all I know. Generally when called out, most will change, especially around sponsored content as Google has cracked down on that since.
Can’t wait for mine to come in! 😍
Did it arrive yet?
Yes it did 😍😍. I’m not a fan of bracelets on any watch so I changed the strap but keeping the bracelets I might start to like them in the future haha