One watch collection competition. All under 400. Episode 15. ELITE 8. 2/4.
Does the size matter? Size of the company I mean. We are about to choose the second watch to advance into the final four of One Watch Collection under 400 competition. Small versus big, quartz versus automatic, American versus Swiss. Vaer C3 Atlas Black vs. Tissot PR100 Powermatic.
1. Vaer C3 Atlas Black
Sizes: 36mm case diameter, 42mm lug-to-lug, 8,4mm thick, 20mm lug width.
Movement: Ronda 715 (quartz, date, 40 month battery reserve).
Materials: 316L stainless steel polished and brushed
Crystal: Single Domed Sapphire w/ internal AR coating
Lume: 15 Layer C1 Super-LumiNova
Band: Metal bracelet. Solid links, solid end-links, dive clasp, 4 micro adjustments
WR: 100m
Price: 299$
What to love: Very thin case, versatile look. Checks a lot of boxes.
Grain of salt: might be too small (?), Ronda 715 quartz for 300$.
Is Tsuyosa worth the hype or it is just a spark in the watch world that is going to be outshined by Vaer. Let’s see. I have started to close the votings of sweet 16. This one is here for one week sharp. Don’t be shy – choose your favourite.
2. Tissot PR100 Powermatic
Sizes: 39mm case diameter, 44mm lug-to-lug (49 with male endlink), 10,4mm thick, 20mm lug width.
Movement: Powermatic 80 (automatic, hacks, handwinds, 21600 bph, bidirectional ball bearing rotor, 80 hour power reserve)
Materials: 316L steel brushed and polished
Crystal: Flat sapphire crystal with inner AR coating
Lume: No info
Band: Metal bracelet, solid links, solid endlinks, pressed clasp, 4 micro adjustment holes
WR: 100m
Price: 400$ (grey market with discounts)
What to love: Powermatic movement, great size, straps compatibility, reputable Swiss brand
Grain of salt: Boring design, mediocre bracelet, weak lume
Time to choose the winner.
19 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
I have a soft spot for the no nonsense blandness of the PR100. I hate to vote against the underdog, but I clicked Tissot. 😕
I have a soft spot for the no nonsense blandness of the PR100. I hate to vote against the underdog, but I clicked Tissot. 😕
I would also vote for Tissot if not the seconds hand counterweight. Devil 👿 in the details
That T seconds hand counterweight annoys me so. That Tissot looks so bulbous. Maybe it would help if it were smaller?
That T seconds hand counterweight annoys me so. That Tissot looks so bulbous. Maybe it would help if it were smaller?
39 by 44 is not really very big. Or are you about the T counterweight?
I would also vote for Tissot if not the seconds hand counterweight. Devil 👿 in the details
I have one Tissot and got used to the counterweight over the years, it doesn't bother me anymore...
That T seconds hand counterweight annoys me so. That Tissot looks so bulbous. Maybe it would help if it were smaller?
From my experience, the PR100 doesn't seem big. Nor small. To me everything about this watch is the absence of noticeable properties. Medium size, medium weight, medium shiny, medium brushed ...
I find Tissot to really to be dull, and uninteresting. I also believe 100% that they are intentionally made that way to appeal to the broadest possible audience.
A bit off topic but I was just checking out the C3 in the Vaer page, the white or navy dial C3 classic is rrrrright up my alley 😍
I voted for the Vaer and they have the new red orange dial version as well, that one is my favorite.
Here's the link if you want to see it: https://www.vaerwatches.com/collections/c3-36mm-usa-quartz/products/c3-atlas-orange-36mm-usa-quartz?variant=39999511265414
Going for the Tissot. It's the perfect new watch to avoid angry women at man spending money.
"Look, honey/ma! It's just a cheap watch. Honest! I bought it at a steep discount. $125, can you believe my luck?"
Also don't forget to pray to your entity of choice she buys that excuse
I voted for the Vaer and they have the new red orange dial version as well, that one is my favorite.
Here's the link if you want to see it: https://www.vaerwatches.com/collections/c3-36mm-usa-quartz/products/c3-atlas-orange-36mm-usa-quartz?variant=39999511265414
That orange dial is great, but too flashy for a one watch collection as the competition implies. :)
The Vaer looks too much like a Rolex, and I know that would annoy me.
It has to be the Tissot, even if it looks like every other low end Swatch Group design.
Vaer got me on the looks but I would still go for the Tissot because there is an „guarantee“ of quality and a well known brand. Keep me up to date which watch won
This one was a tough call
In the end, the Vaer is my vote, the Tissot is just a little too plain, and the lume on low end Tissots are usually pretty weak.
Though the Powermatic 80 would be nicer for the price. I think if one more thing was better about the Tissot, I would have a different vote.
Vaer got me on the looks but I would still go for the Tissot because there is an „guarantee“ of quality and a well known brand. Keep me up to date which watch won
It seems that Tissot has it covered. 25 votes difference is a lot. In the beginning Vaer had a chance, but now it is clear, that PR100 will proceed.
It’s hard to tell from the promo pics, but are the dials matte or gloss? Not voting until I know! 😄
It’s hard to tell from the promo pics, but are the dials matte or gloss? Not voting until I know! 😄
No first hand experience, just from googling reviews: Vaer matte, Tissot sunburst
It’s hard to tell from the promo pics, but are the dials matte or gloss? Not voting until I know! 😄
Vaer is matte, but not super matte, Tissot has semi-matte and sunburst options. The one in the picture is semi-matte.
A week has passed and I'm closing the voting and crown Tissot PR100 as a winner and a second finalist of GADA sub 400 challenge.