One watch collection competition. All under 400. Episode 11. Sweet 16. 6/8.
The time is flying. We have only 3 pairs left in the sweet 16 stage of the one watch collection under 400$ competition. For now every WildCard group winner managed to stay on top in their battles. Let’s see if that is a trend or random luck. Our next pair seems quite interesting and I really don’t know what watch to choose. In the red corner there is a solar powered slim sport/dress styled watch by Citizen – Corso BM7490-52e. Conceptual octagonal design, rechargeable battery, sapphire crystal, all for ~270$.
1. Citizen Corso BM7490-52e
Sizes: 40,5mm case diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, 9,7mm thick, 22mm lug width
Movement: E111 (quartz, solar, hacks, power reserve with full charge – 6 month, date)
Materials: 316L steel polished and brushed
Crystal: Flat sapphire crystal
Lume: Citizen lume on hands and indices
Band: Metal bracelet, solid links, solid endlinks, pressed deployant clasp, no micro-adjustment, 4 half links
WR: 100m
Price: 270$
What to love: Interesting design, a sweet spot between sporty and dressy, solar movement with cheap replacement, good price, reputable brand, 5 years warranty.
Grain of salt: no AR coating under the glass, stamped clasp.
The opponent is no less serious and intimidating. Swiss universal soldier — Certina DS4 Small Seconds. Automatic ETA movement, great finishing, sapphire crystal with AR coating, great dial work for a bit more money and some time to find the watch for the price of 400$
2. Certina DS4 Small Seconds
Sizes: 40mm case diameter, 48mm lug-to-lug, 12,8mm thick, 21mm lug width.
Movement: ETA 2825-2 (automatic, hacks, handwinds, date, small seconds, 28800 bph, 42 hour power reserve).
Materials: 316L steel polished and satined.
Crystal: Sapphire with underside AR coating
Lume: SuperLuminova
Band: Calf leather band or Metal bracelet with solid links and end-links. Butterfly clasp
WR: 100m
Price: 400$ (grey market)
What to love: Good movement. Super cool dial texture. Solid Swiss brand.
Grain of salt: Grey market finding only. No producer guarantee. Maybe slightly too much on a dressier side. 21mm lug width
Ooouh. That’s a tough choice, but it has to be made. You are the ones who decide which one will get on top of another. Let’s vote.
22 comments
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Aleksandr
Relatively inexperienced and humble watch wearer. Not much of a collector. Enjoy the design, engineering and history. 6.7 inch (17 cm) wrist. Love to look for hidden gems, especially in affordable pri...
Kaliningrad, Russia
Member since
Last active: 1 year ago
Haven't seen that Citizen before, that's a nice find! But I'm such a Certina fanboy... 😉
Haven't seen that Citizen before, that's a nice find! But I'm such a Certina fanboy... 😉
I tried to surprise you. 😉
Certina - the best kept secret
Haven't seen that Citizen before, that's a nice find! But I'm such a Certina fanboy... 😉
Certina is such an unknown entity in the US, but I’m glad that I picked one up at a Qatari mall.
Certina is such an unknown entity in the US, but I’m glad that I picked one up at a Qatari mall.
It is the Certina underground fan club right here in the thread?
Certina all day. I'm not a big fan on solar anything but calculators. I have had too many bad experiences with solar. The Certina is an automatic. It looks nicer and is made of some pretty good quality. I also tend to lean towards brands that hardly anyone has heard of.
I tried to surprise you. 😉
I love this competition, there are total surprises but also well known watches where I think "which round will [...] be in?"
I love this competition, there are total surprises but also well known watches where I think "which round will [...] be in?"
There are only 2 watches left unrevealed. I'm interested in what watches do you have in mind and if I could miss something?
Certina all day. I'm not a big fan on solar anything but calculators. I have had too many bad experiences with solar. The Certina is an automatic. It looks nicer and is made of some pretty good quality. I also tend to lean towards brands that hardly anyone has heard of.
Well, Certina is certainly not one of those brands. Or is it?
I have to say that Certina I like a lot more because I like the leather strap than the metal one.
It is the Certina underground fan club right here in the thread?
Maybe so, but they deserve one. Very underrated brand!
I have to say that Certina I like a lot more because I like the leather strap than the metal one.
You can change those things and out a nice leather strap to Citizen as well. There are lots of strap options for 22mm lug width. Much less for Certina's 21mm.
There are only 2 watches left unrevealed. I'm interested in what watches do you have in mind and if I could miss something?
The ones I expected are already though. When you started the competition I made a list of the usual suspects in my mind - DressKX, PRX, 1050, KFA. Maybe also an Orient star.
There are others I see as options in that price range, but they're from the same brands - that would make the whole thing boring. I guess you could make a whole sweet sixteen round with just Tissot, Certina, Hamilton, Seiko, Citizen, there are so many versatile models sub 400 on the grey market.
That's why I like your mix of fan favourites and wildcards, I'm excited to see which one will win it all :D
The ones I expected are already though. When you started the competition I made a list of the usual suspects in my mind - DressKX, PRX, 1050, KFA. Maybe also an Orient star.
There are others I see as options in that price range, but they're from the same brands - that would make the whole thing boring. I guess you could make a whole sweet sixteen round with just Tissot, Certina, Hamilton, Seiko, Citizen, there are so many versatile models sub 400 on the grey market.
That's why I like your mix of fan favourites and wildcards, I'm excited to see which one will win it all :D
It turned out that microbrands are less liked than well-known brands, so not many of micros got through. The latest two watches are not from new brands ((. I though about orient star, I love the watches, but think the only one that would fit is too dressy.
It turned out that microbrands are less liked than well-known brands, so not many of micros got through. The latest two watches are not from new brands ((. I though about orient star, I love the watches, but think the only one that would fit is too dressy.
I think many of the microbrand models I think as nice everyday pieces are just over 400 though - and there is no grey market with cheaper prices.
I think of Lorier Neptune, Traska Summiteer or Commuter, Nodus Sector, Smiths Everest, Balic HMS, RZE Resolute, ... they are all are around 500.
I agree, the Orient Star seems to dressy and old fashioned to be the one watch to do it all.
I think many of the microbrand models I think as nice everyday pieces are just over 400 though - and there is no grey market with cheaper prices.
I think of Lorier Neptune, Traska Summiteer or Commuter, Nodus Sector, Smiths Everest, Balic HMS, RZE Resolute, ... they are all are around 500.
I agree, the Orient Star seems to dressy and old fashioned to be the one watch to do it all.
Yes, made a personal research for the best watch for me under 500$ a year ago and had Lorier, Traska, Nodus and RZE there. Lorier Neptune came on top that time. Now the prices changed and the market changed a little bit. I'm also not getting younger. So maybe this time I would have different result
Certina all day. I'm not a big fan on solar anything but calculators. I have had too many bad experiences with solar. The Certina is an automatic. It looks nicer and is made of some pretty good quality. I also tend to lean towards brands that hardly anyone has heard of.
Did you had bad luck with those or you didn't follow the manufacturer's instructions? (user fault can be caused by not properly reading the instructions)
Certina. Certina wins this one by a country or a city mile, easy.
You can change those things and out a nice leather strap to Citizen as well. There are lots of strap options for 22mm lug width. Much less for Certina's 21mm.
Thats all good to know but the Certina just that elegant look you just can't pass by like that.
Thats all good to know but the Certina just that elegant look you just can't pass by like that.
I cannot disagree. This Certina is a looker
The voting is fixed. Certina advances!