One watch collection competition. All under 400. Episode 18. FINAL 4. 1/2.
We are down to final 4 contestants in our one watch collection challenge under 400$. We have only big brands left with 3 Swiss contenders and only one Japanese. I will post both pairs of final four today and give it 3 days before the grand final. The first pair of the final four is international )) Here is a mod king – Seiko DressKX and Tissot PR100 Powermatic 80. Seiko is cheaper and on paper has weaker specs, but it has its own design language and modding opportunities that attract a lot of fans. Tissot is also quite unique in its design language and can boast a great movement on top of that. What would you choose?
1. Seiko SPRE55 (DressKX)
Sizes: 40mm case diameter, 44,6mm lug-to-lug, 11,5mm thick, 20mm lug width.
Movement: 4R36 (automatic, hacks, handwinds, day-date, 21600 bph, bi-directional rotor, 41 hour power reserve).
Materials: 316L steel brushed and polished
Crystal: Hardlex mineral crystal
Lume: Lumibrite
Band: Metal bracelet, solid links, hollow endlinks, stamped deployant clasp
WR: 100m
Price: 220$
What to love: Iconic design, sweet size and fit, big brand.
Grain of salt: Hardlex crystal, seiko bracelet.
1. 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 decide the first grand finalist of the competition for GADA watch for under 400$
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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
Well, I meant to vote for the Tissot, but when I clicked to expand the post, it put me voting for the Seiko, and I can't change it for some reason. Specs are much better for the Tissot, and the Powermatic 80 is a killer movement.
I would choose tissot. I this tissot pr100 also called tissot gentleman? But srpe is a good watch too, i always think tudor bb 36 dial is pretty close to the srpe
Well, I meant to vote for the Tissot, but when I clicked to expand the post, it put me voting for the Seiko, and I can't change it for some reason. Specs are much better for the Tissot, and the Powermatic 80 is a killer movement.
Don't worry. I will manually count +1 to Tissot and -1 to Seiko.
I would choose tissot. I this tissot pr100 also called tissot gentleman? But srpe is a good watch too, i always think tudor bb 36 dial is pretty close to the srpe
Tissot Gentleman is a different watch. Powermatic version is about 550$ so it couldn't make the cut and a quartz version is worse in a lot of little details like case shape, case and dial finishing and wearability.
For me, neither. 😎
For me, neither. 😎
It's the thing with collective choices. 2 of my personal favourites were eliminated earlier (
Tissot Gentleman is a different watch. Powermatic version is about 550$ so it couldn't make the cut and a quartz version is worse in a lot of little details like case shape, case and dial finishing and wearability.
thx for the insight, it seems i cannot find any automatic pr100 in my country. just the quartz version avaible
The chosen watches is from absolutely different price ranges dresskx is not competitive with pr100
I own the dress kx and it's one of my favourites. That said I do admire the Tissot and its movement. Despite this the Tissot is a bit conservative by comparison and the Seiko gets my vote..
I would vote for the SRPE, and this is mainly because of how the watch wears. If you have smaller wrists the Gentleman will most likely not even be a consideration. It's not only the greater lug-to-lug distance of the Gentleman, it feels even larger than it should. (That was the automatic Gentleman and not the quartz, so the slimmer case of the quartz may be better. )
But then again, this comparison only works if you use the quartz version of the Gentleman, and I would prefer an automatic movement for this type of watch.
P.S.: And this is also the reason why I own a 35mm Tissot PRX.
I like both of these watches, but the clean lines of the Tissot give it the slight edge in my eyes.
I voted Seiko just based on preference. It looks less dressy.
The chosen watches is from absolutely different price ranges dresskx is not competitive with pr100
The prices differ. That is a fact. But both of them can be found under 400 so that is fair. And DressKX has managed to eliminate Citizen 1050 that is similarly priced with Tissot PR100 and before that it also had defeated Unimatic Modelo Due. So, not always the price is the guarantee of winning in these matchups. Mostly people vote for brands they are more familiar with or for models they heard the most about. Mechanical movements also seem to be a big factor in comparison with quartz.
I would vote for the SRPE, and this is mainly because of how the watch wears. If you have smaller wrists the Gentleman will most likely not even be a consideration. It's not only the greater lug-to-lug distance of the Gentleman, it feels even larger than it should. (That was the automatic Gentleman and not the quartz, so the slimmer case of the quartz may be better. )
But then again, this comparison only works if you use the quartz version of the Gentleman, and I would prefer an automatic movement for this type of watch.
P.S.: And this is also the reason why I own a 35mm Tissot PRX.
This Tissot is not a Gentleman. Though I've heard several people complaining about quartz Tissot Gentleman to be thin and flat, that makes it wear worse than the automatic version. This PR100 is rather small 44 lug-to-lug only, especially if worn in a strap and not a bracelet. Male bracelet endlinks make it wear larger, of course.
I voted Seiko just based on preference. It looks less dressy.
It's all about personal preference. No objectivity whatsoever.
I voted for Seiko. Reason being it’s not too dressy and you can dress it up and down as you please IMO. Reliable movement and nice case size too. It’s more affordable as well.
I have hands on experience and it does really go well with any occasion. I love the power reserve of Tissot but it doesn’t speak to me in terms of the design.
I feel like this is the most discussed round yet - now that only the safe bets from big brands survived.
I voted PR100 because it seems really versatile, also because I have yet to handle a Tissot that isn't well made, if a bit plain.
TBH, I'm a bit surprised at how well PR100 is doing in the competition. Didn't expect it to go that far, but it keeps proving me wrong.
I chose Seiko for
All of these for 75% less price so 🤷🤷🤷
If you are into modding that difference in price really gives you room to upgrade your Seiko within the budget.
TBH, I'm a bit surprised at how well PR100 is doing in the competition. Didn't expect it to go that far, but it keeps proving me wrong.
I would have bet on a clear Seiko win as well, I mean it's Seiko... Seems that the PR100s specs are really valued
looks at the results
Ah...not a lot of modders here, I guess. I know that's why I voted for Tissot. Too lazy to mod my Seiko.
Although the Tissot provides better build and some specs, I chose the Seiko. The overall design of the Seiko is, to me, more versatile. For a 1 watch collection, I think versatility prioritizes specs like power reserve, etc. . Lume is also a plus for the Seiko on a one watch.
James Stacey said something on a podcast recently "just one unit of ___".
The specs are fine, but the Tissot is just one unit of analog watch. It's so boring.
James Stacey said something on a podcast recently "just one unit of ___".
The specs are fine, but the Tissot is just one unit of analog watch. It's so boring.
In a way universal watches are boring. If you fit everywhere you never truly fit anywhere.
Closing the poll. Tissot is advancing to the Grand Final. What a surprise.
Unbelievable! Seiko's out against the vanilla Tissot. Biggest surprise yet
Unbelievable! Seiko's out against the vanilla Tissot. Biggest surprise yet
I will be shocked if it wins all the thing.
The two tone PR100 with Powermatic 80 on bracelet is $ 213 at Jomashop 🤯
The two tone PR100 with Powermatic 80 on bracelet is $ 213 at Jomashop 🤯
Yep-yep. A women version for Asian Games is even less. But I found stainless steel with a black dial for 399 on Amazon (not sure if it is still there).
I actually bought rhe PR100. Returned it instantly. To me the watch has no personality, weak lume, and an ugly bracelet with no taper. I bought the SRPE55 and, understanding the PR100 is a "better" watch, I would take the Seiko everytime.
I’m clearly flabbergasted 😮 I thought it would be a clean 🧼 win 🏆 for the Seiko?! (My bet) BUT it is the tissot. I never worn one and never touched one either. - I’m a big Seiko fan but fair is fair: Tissot congrats, next time when I’m at a shop I will check it.