One watch collection competition. All under 400. Episode 14. ELITE 8. 1/4.
It’s time to move on with our competition. We are at ELITE 8 stage. There are only 8 watches left in the tournament. All of them are loved by some, chosen by a majority in their sweet 16 pairs. Let’s have a look at the first pair of ELITE 8. First of them is Seiko SPRE55 or DressKX. It is probably the first watch that comes to mind when a watch enthusiast is asked about the best GADA watch under 400 or even 300$. Really universal and unique look, wonderful strap compatibility, solid lume and workhorse movement. All for 220$. What can be better?
1. Seiko SPRE55 (DressKX)
Sizes: 40mm case diameter, 44,6mm lug-to-lug, 11,5mm thick, 20mm lug width.
Movement: 4R36 (automatic, hacks, handwinds, day-date, 21600 bph, bi-directional rotor, 41 hour power reserve).
Materials: 316L steel brushed and polished
Crystal: Hardlex mineral crystal
Lume: Lumibrite
Band: Metal bracelet, solid links, hollow endlinks, stamped deployant clasp
WR: 100m
Price: 220$
What to love: Iconic design, sweet size and fit, big brand.
Grain of salt: Hardlex crystal, seiko bracelet.
Is the opponent better. A dark horse of the competition. Citizen NB 1050-59E JDM. Really strong case with 9000 series miyota movement, wonderful size, crystal and great finishing. Will it beat the DressKX. Let’s see.
2. Citizen Mechanical NB 1050-59E JDM
Sizes: 38mm case diameter, 46,5mm lug-to-lug, 10,5mm thick, 19mm lug width.
Movement: Citizen 9011 or Miyota 9015 (automatic, hacks, handwinds, 28800 bph, unidirectional rotor, 42 hour power reserve).
Materials: 316L steel brushed and polished.
Crystal: Sapphire with underside AR coating
Lume: No info
Band: Metal bracelet with solid links and end-links, milled clasp, 2 micro-adjustment holes
WR: 100m
Price: 370$
What to love: Real GADA watch, good finishing (at first sight) and size, big brand.
Grain of salt: 19mm lug width =(, 2 micro-adjustment holes at the clasp
Which on is worthy advancing to final 4? Anyway the one of the watches will be a big loss for the competition. But that is what the life is. There are winners and losers. Let’s vote.
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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
The citizen is a good watch (19mm lug widths not withstanding). It has everything I think a watch should have.
The DressKX has design and soul, as wl the ability to be whatever you want it to be.
I guess this comes down to....are specs everything?
DressKX 4 LYFE
If it's your only watch, the Dress KX will have more modding opportunities if the mood strikes.
Everything bends toward Citizen, but I would give my point to Dress KX for their better dial design and after market viability
I'm going for Seiko on this. More strap options, easier modding options (cheap-ish parts too). Also more lume on the dial. All hail lume!
My point goes to Citizen. I have both and both are great watches. But I do like my Citizen a bit more for its simplicity and its accuracy. My Citizen ran within COSC right out of its box. If I can have only one, Citizen would be the one.
You've sold me this Citizen before. I'm a huge fan now and it goes high in my wishlist
If it's your only watch, the Dress KX will have more modding opportunities if the mood strikes.
That is true. But if it is your only watch and you are not into heavy modding (only changing straps) then there are still options 19mm, that you can get. However the choice is much less than 20mm for Seiko.
Yeah the quarter finals! Seiko vs. Citizen, what a match up to start! 😀
Yeah the quarter finals! Seiko vs. Citizen, what a match up to start! 😀
There are no weak contenders left.
There are no weak contenders left.
Yeah that's right, but I'd say the Seikos and the PRX should cruise into to next round and I'd expect the DressKX to get a big boost this afternoon (our time).
Yeah that's right, but I'd say the Seikos and the PRX should cruise into to next round and I'd expect the DressKX to get a big boost this afternoon (our time).
Let's see. It's close now
Oh that came out wrong, I meant the Seiko will win, not that I think the Seiko is the better choice.
My condolences to @MegaBob but I have to close the voting and Seiko has got just a tiny bit more votes. That is very close. Seiko SRPE55 is the first participant in the final four.
Anyway. Thanks a lot for opening my eyes on this Citizen. I really want it to my collection now.