Review - Timefactors SMITHS “Baby” Willard PRS-68

[leffemonster]

I’ve long admired Timefactors SMITHS offerings but never taken the plunge. A couple of weeks ago I was browsing the website and came across their latest offerings - “baby” versions of the PRS-68 Willard, PRS-52 Dreadnought and PRS-51 Speedbird.

I spent a long time looking at the photographs, reading the specs and trying to convince myself that I didn’t want any of them. But, in the end, I succumbed and weighed in for both the PRS-68 ‘Baby’ Willard and PRS-52 ‘Baby’ Dreadnought. Both arrived today after a 2 week wait and I thought I’d share the Willard with you.

Both watches came in a very nice individual travel case, rather like a glasses case.



Opening the zipper reveals a branded polishing cloth hiding the watch beneath.





As the name suggests, it’s essentially a homage to the SEIKO 6105-8110, which Timefactors have already done - but this one is smaller. The original PRS-68 had a 44.5mm case and 20mm lug width whereas the ‘Baby’ has a 40.6mm case and 18mm lug width.







Some specs -

Sapphire crystal with AR coating, 2.5mm
Uni-directional 120 click bezel, ceramic insert with Super Luminova X1-C3
Black dial with luminous hour markers
Bevelled rectangular luminous-filled hands
316L stainless steel case
Stainless steel Jubilee bracelet, milled clasp, screwed links and solid end links
Screw-down crown and caseback







The movement in the original PRS-68 was a Miyota, latterly the 9015, whereas the Baby comes with a Seiko Instruments NE15C- so basically a 6R15C movement. Hand-winding is as smooth as you’d expect from a 6R15, and the automatic winding feels smooth with no discernible sound from the rotor.

Now, I don’t know if Eddie Platts has all movements regulated before assembling, but this one shows some pretty impressive numbers -



The signed crown has a nice smooth action, locking after about 3 turns. It’s a little tricky to turn as it gets closer to the case due to the crown guards, but manageable. The bracelet is very nice indeed - solid end-links, with screwed links which makes sizing the bracelet a doddle (assuming you have a 1.2mm screwdriver). The milled clasp is a nice touch as well and something normally not found at this price level. Also pleasing to see is plenty of micro-adjustment available on the clasp with a total of 6 positions available.



The finish on the case is superb with sharp case lines and a nice mix of polished and brushed surfaces. The bezel action is firm and I suspect would probably ease up a little with more use, but it’ll be staying put on mine. The ceramic insert looks very impressive as well. Overall height comes in at 13.65mm.





I had to remove 5 links to size it to my 6.75” wrist, so how does it wear?









The answer is - very well indeed. Nicely balanced and well proportioned given the case size and bracelet width combination. For those with thicker wrists I suppose it might wear a little small, especially at 18mm, but for me it’s just about spot-on.

Here it is compared to an SRP789 -





When you look at the pictures it’s clear there’s quite a difference in sizing, but on the wrist it doesn’t feel quite as much of a difference somehow.

Overall I’m very impressed with it, and I’m glad I pulled the trigger. Is it as good as the SPB151? I’ve no idea. Undoubtedly some people will say not, as it’s not a genuine SEIKO. I know some won’t like the SMITHS because it’s ‘just another knock-off’. From my perspective, I’m judging it based on what I know - and that’s the watch I bought. I don’t have (or ever likely to have) an original 6105 to compare it against. I haven’t got an SPB151. I don’t have any NH35-powered Chinese homage to compare it with either. I think it’s an absolutely belting watch with some impressive specs behind it, especially for the price, and for my wrist it’s pretty much a perfect fit.

I know Timefactors aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, at least reading some of the older posts on here, but I take as I find. This was my first experience of buying from them and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. I think the Baby Willard is a cracking timepiece for £335 and I’m glad it’s in my collection.



Thanks for reading folks!

[small]

I am super impressed yet again by the photos and the side by side really tells the story for others that are looking...Price looks right in line with the MSRP of the SRP's

[ohsown]

I like it. Lots of nice detailing with the lume pots, bevelled hands signed crown and ceramic insert both with super luminova. I had a 6105-8110 but never warmed to it. I think the size put me off never feeling a good fit and left me wanting a 6105-8005 instead, (never did purchase one). The wrist shot looks good. Nice scoop. 

[HiBeat]

Thank you for the detailed review Nick.  I think you have done yourself well.

This watch carries the NE15 and really fills a size void the Seiko line up does not.  Heck the SLA033 is larger than a 6105-8110 !

Kudos to their design team.  They really nailed the nuances that WIS's like us obsess over.  Seiko should take note of how paying attention and executing pays off in the marvelous package.

Happy you are happy with it wear in good health !

[nordlys]

Excellent detailed review and beautiful watch. As you said, Timefactors' watches aren't everyone's cup of tea, as a lot of people say "Eddie just steals popular vintage designs and puts the Smiths/Precista/Speedbird logos on the dial!" Of course... this is true. But as Highbeat said, he executes all of the designs extremely well down to the very last detail (modern Seiko should take note!), and I've rarely heard any complaints about the finishing or quality control of his pieces. I've lurked on his forum for a bit as well, and he seems like a genuinely kind older gentleman who just loves vintage military watch designs.

From the reviews I've seen of his pieces, TF's quality is orders of magnitude above that of the Alibaba homages (even though the design and movements are typically the same). At the price he sells his pieces for, I think they represent a great value for people who want vintage Rolex/Seiko/IWC designs but cannot afford, or do not want to spend, the kind of money required to buy a good example of said models.

[kue]

Looks like a quality piece there with top notch finishing and a nice bracelet. It's not an exact copy but it's somewhere between the homages and a SBP151.

[peterr]

excellent review, and so thorough. 

i am going to get one of these, i love so much about it, including the scale of it, and the price.

i don't think it's a copy of the 6105 at all. the sidewalls are much squarer, and the bezel is a different design. while it's clearly inspired by the 6105, i don't see it as an imitation. i think it's its own watch, and very well done.

i am wondering about finding a crystal for it that would re-create the radial optical quality of the original 6105, that visual continuity between
the minute indices and the bezel insert, for me this is such an integral part of the watch. it's 29mm x 2.5mm, would anybody know the part # for a seiko crystal that would have those diagonal chamfers, and do the trick, visually?  i'd appreciate your opinion if you know.

also, nick, curious as to how you'd rate the lume? does it approach seiko standards?

thanks again,

peter

[leffemonster]

peterr - so far as the lume is concerned, it was still more than bright enough to read the time by at 6.45am after a quick 10 second charge over a lamp just before midnight. So I’d say it’s as good as, if not better, than SEIKO. I’ve no idea on your crystal question by the way!

[peterr]

wow,nick,

that's an impressibve reference for the lume...i was considering an aftermarket dial and hands, but now, maybe not....

[SeikoSoMatic]

Apparently it isn't possible to order anything at the moment.
Putting an item in the basket doesn't work.
Any idea why?

[leffemonster]

Aug 20, 2020 12:33:37 GMT -8 SeikoSoMatic said:

Apparently it isn't possible to order anything at the moment.
Putting an item in the basket doesn't work.
Any idea why?

Yep. You need to wait until Eddie ‘opens’ the shop again, and that’s generally only for a very short window. If you subscribe to the Timefactors newsletter or whatever it’s called, you’ll get a notification as to when the site is open for orders. I suspect it’ll either be this weekend or (more likely) next weekend and then maybe for only 30 minutes or so. 

I think he works as pretty much a one man outfit. Store open for a while, multiple orders, process and dispatch, rinse and repeat. Sure, you have to wait a week or two but I think it’s worth it (at least in my experience).

[SeikoSoMatic]

Aug 20, 2020 13:08:09 GMT -8 leffemonster said:

Aug 20, 2020 12:33:37 GMT -8 SeikoSoMatic said:

Apparently it isn't possible to order anything at the moment.
Putting an item in the basket doesn't work.
Any idea why?

Yep. You need to wait until Eddie ‘opens’ the shop again, and that’s generally only for a very short window. If you subscribe to the Timefactors newsletter or whatever it’s called, you’ll get a notification as to when the site is open for orders. I suspect it’ll either be this weekend or (more likely) next weekend and then maybe for only 30 minutes or so. 

I think he works as pretty much a one man outfit. Store open for a while, multiple orders, process and dispatch, rinse and repeat. Sure, you have to wait a week or two but I think it’s worth it (at least in my experience).

Thanks for the clarification! 👍🏻

[nordlys]

Aug 20, 2020 13:25:51 GMT -8 SeikoSoMatic said:

Aug 20, 2020 13:08:09 GMT -8 leffemonster said:

Yep. You need to wait until Eddie ‘opens’ the shop again, and that’s generally only for a very short window. If you subscribe to the Timefactors newsletter or whatever it’s called, you’ll get a notification as to when the site is open for orders. I suspect it’ll either be this weekend or (more likely) next weekend and then maybe for only 30 minutes or so. 

I think he works as pretty much a one man outfit. Store open for a while, multiple orders, process and dispatch, rinse and repeat. Sure, you have to wait a week or two but I think it’s worth it (at least in my experience).

Thanks for the clarification! 👍🏻

Just to further clarify, the Timefactors shop will always "open" at 14:00 Britain time (9am East Coast Time, 3pm European time) on a Sunday. Exactly which Sunday(s)? Well, only Eddie knows that. But if you check the site at 14:00 Britain time every Sunday, you'll eventually catch it open. 

[SeikoSoMatic]

Aug 20, 2020 21:00:09 GMT -8 nordlys said:

Aug 20, 2020 13:25:51 GMT -8 SeikoSoMatic said:

Thanks for the clarification! 👍🏻

Just to further clarify, the Timefactors shop will always "open" at 14:00 Britain time (9am East Coast Time, 3pm European time) on a Sunday. Exactly which Sunday(s)? Well, only Eddie knows that. But if you check the site at 14:00 Britain time every Sunday, you'll eventually catch it open. 

[condor97]

Very nice review, thank you.  I feel he did really well in replicating the case shape while making it smaller (where as Seiko changed the case shape in their version).

[jaegodylan]

Wow.. I somehow hadn't seen these at Timefactors. 

Very interesting to see a Smiths branded Willard. Their W10 is a cool watch but I think in both cases I'd stick with the original. 

[russtmurray]

Sorry for not weighing in before and resurrecting an old thread but I have to say Nick, that was a great review. I recall when both Eddie & Jake (Dagaz) were working on their interpretations of the 6105's way back when. Each had their own take on it with Eddie going with a more like for like offering. I think the "Baby" version is absolutely spot on! Good on ya, big guy

[aapalileo]

Interesting design!