Any Aliexpress purchases - people want to confess to

I thought about buying something like a San Martin Flieger, but I'll prolly just wait for Black Friday and buy a Namoki mod kit plus a Flieger dial instead.

I bought a cheap omega style deployant clasp, nothing crazy.  I thought about a Pagani design nh34 worldtimer, but that was more out of curiosity than it was out of any particular desire.

Unfortunately, I've had to place myself on a watch buying embargo for a few months. I've been a naughty boy. 18 watches, a new watch box, some tools and over a dozen straps; all in 9 months does that to a (married) guy. 

I thought about getting a Steeldive Capitain Willard homage for 70$ but stopped myself, looked through all the watches that I considered from Ali and banned all of them. I have one homage watch (clomage even) and that's great and I love it. But I think that there are so many original watches for any price so finishing quality cannot beat originality for the same price. Decided to stick to my plans without explosive purchases. Will buy some straps though. The ones I tested and some new.

That's the watch I bought and I'm hoping that I can switch out the dial and turn it into something a little more fun...wish me luck.

All the luck in the world. 

Yep, the 11-11 sale period also tempts me every year but I have never pulled the trigger. Not that there is anything wrong with AliExpress watches but I have so many other watches on my list at almost every price point that I want to save my watch purchases for something very purposeful (and not an 11-11 impulse).

That being said, I have a new Sugess Montblanc Air Command homage in and out of my cart now too. Maybe I should just buy it so I can fill the "AliExpress" homage slot in my collection (and get back to work). 

Ordered 5 (I think) and some straps adding up to CHF500 - just some cheap homage from Pagani Design but they seem to get good reviews and are just there to fill in some gaps that would never pay full price for.  Looking at a Hamilton field watch soon.  Off on intercontinental trip at weekend so will see if any available

I know exactly what you mean.  I've been trying to convince myself to get a San Martin homage as "practice" for the "real" watch I'll get someday.  Seems logical right..get used to the size of the watch and see how you like it on your wrist.  I've wondered if I want the homage with the "San Martin" logo or without.   Would that make me more "comfortable"?  It is not as easy as one might think to listen to yourself and see what you're comfortable with.  

I try to follow the advice of many of you veterans and get a watch that excites me and not just something to move me as "practice" or because it makes sense, or to possibly "flex".  If I can't feel good about explaining why I'm buying the watch then don't buy it.  

With that being said, the Steel Dive "Willard" homage is supposedly a great value and I'm excited to swap out the dial and personalize the watch..so..I pulled the trigger..

There's a 55mm flieger I kind of want to get apart from that I might get some modding parts.

I buy tons of watch parts and tools. Several times I bought watches that I intended to mod right after they arrived. (It was just cheaper to buy the parts individually.) One was good enough that I kept it, and that is an Addiesdive mixture of a dive and field watch.

So far I have experienced very few surprises. 

Well there was this deal on AliX where they offered this inflatable doll that....wait a sec, wrong forum. Ah, here is the correct post:

I bought a 17mm white silicone rubber strap for the GF Swatch. It was not a bad purchase to be honest. The fit is good and the buckle, although made of plastic, is  decent enough.

Last year I also bought an absolutely not Explorer San Martin SN-021G with a PT5000 movement, which is surprisingly decent.

Ha, brilliant. I'd take a punt on some Lobinni's. Otherwise though you are much better off going direct to the supplier websites for Seagull/ Sugess etc.

I have a "Berny" on the way that looks very interesting, compressor style diver. 

Also a Cadisen Seamaster 300 homage, mostly because I wanted to get a 38/37mm diver to see how I like the size. The 300 was most unlike watches I already have. 

Considering the SteelDive Tuna as I have have some phenomenal quality from them in the past. 

I'm wearing SteelDive 1970  right now and I like it.  I now there are many strong opinions about homages/copies/replicas/fakes and I'm not looking to touch any of those topics.  For a beginner (which I am), aliExpress is a good way to learn about watches.  Before I got this SteelDive, I had no experience on how comfortable a big watch could sit on my wrist (it's very comfortable). I also never played around with a screw down crown (now I have).  

This watch got me interested in learning about Seiko Tunas - the Emperor and the Golden.  It is quite the watch for $70.  I'm not trying to fool anyone, in fact, I'm wearing the watch (un modded) to work this week.  I have no problem wearing a Steel Dive or a San Martin, because I think of it as I'm wearing an NH35, in a Willard style case with a sapphire glass.   I'm not trying to flex and pretend I have a vintage Seiko.  This is just for me and I hope I can swap out the dial and personalize this watch in the future.

Every watch post, I read and I learn about other watches and watch history.  People throw out the reference number of their favorite Seikos (and I have to open up five different browsing windows as I educate myself on vintage Seikos - thank you @SurferJohn ).  

I don't have a thousand dollar watch yet.  I'm trying to be patient and learn what I like before I spend real money.  I still really think hard over every watch purchase - where does this fit and will I actually wear it?  I went from 1 watch to 7 watches in two months (that's progress). 

I'm very grateful for this community that welcomes newcomers ...

First 2 purchases arrived already. Delivered on Thursday and I'm very happy with both so far. Had a few people compliment the Berny specifically aha

Just ordered this San Martin