Chinese Watches Don’t Suck

Many of the Chinese watches are using very good Japanese designed movements. They often put their effort into the attention to detail. Good looking watch!

I think the problem most of us have with Chinese watches isn't particularly the mechanics, it's the lack of original designs, but thankfully that's improving - there's parallels with the Japanese motorcycle industry in the early days, & they seem to be doing ok for themselves now...

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Proper servicing in the manufacturing process is what brings the Chinese quality down. Their manufactured parts are excellent but the lack of care and oil in the assembly is what kills them as they cut corners there. Originality aside is they put the amount of care in oiling and regulating them then they would make a fine product.

A fair critique, though with a flieger there really is original design other than from the Lüftwaffe in the 1930s. They are also putting out more and more original designs which is great.

I couldn’t agree more, though I have found that San Martin and Chronos to have good QC and I have seen them get a lot better since my first one in 2019.

Agree 👍🏻👍🏻

It all hinges on price point and you get what you pay for and demand. You have to pay more than a hundred bucks for it if you want real oil.

The pt5000 is made by many companies and if the watch is under 100 bucks and you get a good one consider yourself lucky because at that price point they didn't put a lot of labour into it. One tell is to wind it up a lot and if it stops they forgot braking grease in the barrel as the spring should slip at full wind. Wild variations on the time grapher in different positions is another tell.

China is where Japan was in the 60's. A lot of the manufacturing has just moved out of China and some of their factory cities are ghost towns now. The prices on Ali are also coming down as they are suffering deflation now economically. Toyota was crap in the 60's and they are some of the most reliable cars on the road today.

The Chinese are using mostly Malaysian Seiko movements in their watches and that is what is propelling them in the watch market. Seiko demands quality out of their movements where China falls short at the same price point.

Agreed. I feel as though we're seeing these previously only homage manufacturers producing more original designs using better quality out-of-country movements, and focusing on where they do a good job. That being the rest of the watch. San Martin being one example.

That being said, Seagull has been producing movements that are well received and used in many well regarded watches. China's movements are a definite mixed bag, I think.

https://calibercorner.com/eta-2824-clones/

these are the ones that are above board. Don't forget China is the place that makes the most fake watches and they do not advertise their trade.

That movement does not come in 100 buck watches. That Chronos is well over 200 bucks.

Not only Seagull movements, but also Beijing watches and Peacock watches are very good. Their watches are not only of good quality, but also reasonably priced.