Let's Talk SKMEI

No, I worked in Langang, Shenzhen about an hour an a half away. It does look Kubrik-esque

Other than seeing them on Amazon, I don’t know anything about them really. But…I suspect they’re probably about as dependable as the Casios they rip…ah, homage. While there’s something to be said for getting the real thing (I don’t own any homage watches), there’s a point at which you have to wonder if it’s worth it. Especially with cheaper digital watches, it’s hard to imagine what you’re paying for other than the name and a better chance of good quality control. I feel like the parts are probably made in the same factories. And at the prices they’re charging, you can buy several until you get a good one and still be ahead.

I ordered a Casioak Mode and a Skmei 2100 to see if it would fit. G-Shock didn't have the dial I wanted available for purchase, but I'll probably buy a G-Shock as well (the all red one) and swap parts back and forth if they are compatible.

I also ordered a twin time from them as well.

I have 5x Casio watches so I'll be able to see if the quality is okay or garbage.

A mix of Odyssee 2001 and The Shining

Don't take personal.

Wear what ever you want or love.

But I never had big emotions for copy cats. If it's a true homage by it's real definition and if it allows people to get access to a design language which they love but never could or want afford, it would be totally fine.

But everything that comes out of the backyard factories of guangdong or shenzhen is just a soulless and reckless company with no bounding into horology nore to the watch enthusiasm.

It's just a business in china to look for products which are easy to copy and sell cheap but produce even cheaper.

They copy the design 1 to 1 and basicly just change the name and some minor details. That's it.

For a 5 bucks watch you can expect production costs of 50 cents. Now imagine how the workers are payed and treated, what kind of (poisoning) materials they use and how they dump their wastes into the next river.

For me there is no excuse to buy a 5 bicks watch as long the original one is 10 bucks.

So...please. This is not against you. Just my honest opinion as an enthusiast about such "brands" when I see them:

I don't take anything personal. You're good. Your opinion is as valid as mine.

Totally agree with you 100% for copycatters. And yes there is NO honor in Intellectual Property theft.

China steals HALF A TRILLION A YEAR. That's how they went from the starvation of the commie "great leap forward" to becoming a larger manufacturer and economy than the USA since 2015 -- By cheating their way to Top 5-- so I'm 100% with ya!

Where you are wrong is in the working conditions and cheap pay. Chinese workers have become more expensive, they make more money, that your neighbors in Mexico in the south. My job in the USA is 80-100K year. In Mexico it is 12,000 A YEAR. In China about 30K a year. Not per month, but per year.

In terms of facilities and technology---Asia surpassed most countries in technology. Japan and Switzerland have a free trade agreement so that they can steal (sorry meant to say "borrow") each-other's tech. That's why it is cheaper to buy a Swiss made watch in Japan than in the USA. Rolex watches are made by Japanese Robots. Those are the facts not opinions.

When I lived in Europe - I trusted Chinese electronic manufacturing more than Italian and Italians (along with Americans and the Brits) -- developed electronics. That's the sad reality I can't change for anyone.

And I'm pretty sure SKMEI is an OEM for American Fossil Group (among MANY others) --they make stuff for more brands. If they wanted to they could match or exceed specifications and quality of Casio's older 90's models which require less tech than, say, their recent MudMaster.

The same 50 cent production costs to 50 dollar retail price you mention applies to the Swatch Group, Rolex, AP, Patek and even Casio (that's why there is profit room for SKMEI) etc.... in fact the Swiss are the BIGGEST in inflating the price of their watches based on"luxury", "prestige" and other intangible EGO-driven factors.

I worked in China and hopefully will be working there again-- but I get what you're saying.

I feel ya.

In Japan, The Casio G-shock is made in state-of-the-art facilities, solely by women. Standing - not sitting.

In SKMEI their S-Shock is made sitting down by these poor "children" working in these horrible conditions. 😜 Cheers.