One watch collection competition. All under 400. Episode 5. WildCard Group D.
The final group of wildcard for the best GADA watch under 400 is here. after we choose 2 of 4 in this group we will be able to get to the heads-to-heads starting from sweet-16 stage. Again, I repeat that the information is taken from producers and not my personal experience with the watches. Final 4 of the wildcard are:
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 endlinks, dive clasp, 4 micro adjustments
WR: 100m
Price: 299$
What to love: thin case, versatile look. Checks a lot of boxes.
Grain of salt: might be too small (?), Ronda 715 quartz for 300$.
Islander Brookville ISL-36
Sizes: 38mm case diameter, 44.5mm lug-to-lug, 11mm thick, 20mm lug width.
Movement: Miyota 9015 (automatic, hacks, handwinds, 28800 bph, unidirectional rotor, 42 hour power reserve).
Materials: 316L stainless steel polished and brushed
Crystal: Flat Sapphire w/ internal AR coating
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Band: Metal 5-link bracelet. Solid links, solid endlinks, **push-button deployant clasp**, 3 micro adjustments
WR: 100m
Price: 349$
What to love: Hi-Beat movement, great size, solid bracelet.
Grain of salt: Big logo and automatic text on the dial lacks unique character
Seiko 5 SRPG27
Sizes: 40mm case diameter, 48mm lug-to-lug, 13.5mm thick, 20mm lug width.
Movement: Seiko 4R36 (automatic, hacks, handwinds, day-date, 21600 bph, bidirectional rotor, 41 hour power reserve).
Materials: 316L stainless steel brushed and polished
Crystal: Hardlex mineral
Lume: Lumibrite
Band: Metal 5-link bracelet. Solid links, hollow endlinks, pressed clasp, 2 micro adjustments
WR: 100m
Price: 220$
What to love: Great price, Seiko brand, day-date complication, strap monster.
Grain of salt: Mediocre bracelet and clasp, hardlex crystal, 13,5mm thick.
VanBanner VBAO172
Sizes: 38mm case diameter, 46mm lug-to-lug, 11.2mm thick, 20mm lug width.
Movement: Miyota 9039 (automatic, hacks, handwinds, 28800 bph, unidirectional rotor, 42 hour power reserve).
Materials: 316L stainless steel brushed and polished
Crystal: Dual-curved sapphire crystal with inside AR coating
Lume: BGW9 Swiss Super-LumiNova
Band: Metal bracelet. Solid links, solid endlinks, double security clasp, 6 micro adjustments + free thick mesh
WR: 100m
Price: 305$
What to love: Great value for money, good size and shape, high-beat movement, .
Grain of salt: 2 coloured lume, available only with green or blue sunburst dial.
Choose your winner. First two advance, last two will be eliminated. Let the battle begin
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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 VanBanner crown can't seriously protrude that much, can it?
The VanBanner crown can't seriously protrude that much, can it?
Sorry for not being able to answer that for sure. I noticed that it seems unscrewed in the other photos.
Yeah, they are nice. C5 has tactical field that I like (really neat looking field watch) and design series (reminds me of Nomos or Farer) but not a copy or direct homage. So really, really nice. I just feel that Atlas hits bulls eye in terms of GADA watches visually.
I own the SRPG27. It's a strange watch with a dial that's very much in your face, and a crystal with a lot of distortion. It doesn't fall straight into the field watch category, but I've never considered it a GADA watch, either. In typical Seiko fashion, it's all about the dial. It's a compromise at the office.
If you are truly looking for an everyday watch, a 36mm quartz is hard to beat. I would go with the Vaer.
I own the SRPG27. It's a strange watch with a dial that's very much in your face, and a crystal with a lot of distortion. It doesn't fall straight into the field watch category, but I've never considered it a GADA watch, either. In typical Seiko fashion, it's all about the dial. It's a compromise at the office.
If you are truly looking for an everyday watch, a 36mm quartz is hard to beat. I would go with the Vaer.
As this is the wildcard category we are shrinking the 24 watch list to 16 to initiate head-to-heads. So even if Seiko SRPG27 gets eliminated in the next round, then this is the way. Have a look at the previous poll. There is a tie between Geckota and Casio Edifice there.