Chinese Micro Brands??

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I blame mikeyt for posting the Sharkey Monster. Did a google search and found HEIMDALLR WATCH CO. They proceeded to explain who they were and who they weren't on their site. The who they weren't led me down a rabbit hole finding several other Chinese micro Brands. A couple caught my eye.

I don't know how you guys feel, if these are considered "Knock Off's" "Fakes" "Counterfeit" watches but they bare a striking resemblance to some more popular Seiko's. 

Anyone out there with a Fifty Four Watch company watch?  They have a Homage 6105 under $300 with a Seiko movement? As does Merkur. and San Martin. Yet it looks like Heimdallr currently is running a sale on the Capt. Willard. If these guys are nice, I may just have to give one a try... 

So what's the general consensus?  

[Slant]

I have a Merkur Tuna v1. Finishing is good and on par with the big Japanese brands. For the amount of money they asked for I'd say it's very good value.

I'm trying really hard to NOT pull the trigger on this Rdunae:

[pip]

I’m in with a bunch of lads elsewhere where they all seem to be buying steeldive watches and the quality is incredible for the money. I have a couple of Sharkey’s and again, the bang for the buck is insane. Missed Mike’s post though and didn’t know there was a monster, will have to investigate that!
Heimdellar and San Martin are also held by the gang and they speak very highly of them too.

[bklake]

Jan 13, 2021 17:54:52 GMT -8 Slant said:

I have a Merkur Tuna v1. Finishing is good and on par with the big Japanese brands. For the amount of money they asked for I'd say it's very good value.

I'm trying really hard to NOT pull the trigger on this Rdunae:

To further muddy the water for you.  I just got a Seizenn version of this watch.  Similar size but 20mm lugs.  It was $79+$20 shipping on eBay.  The bracelet on the Seizenn looked really nice in the pictures but is crap in real life.  Seizenn came in a Merkur box and can be found at the Merkur website so I would say that Merkur makes it.  There was a timegrapher printout in the box.  Clearly, somebody spent a few minutes tweaking the timing.  It is keeping time about as well as an NH35 can.  -3sec a day on my wrist. 

I have a San Martin version, a Retangula and a Seizenn.  MOP dial, grey dial, and black dial respectively.  SM is 42mm, other 2 are a fat 40mm.  Retangula has 19mm lugs but came with a 20mm Tropic mushed in there. 

Fun homage to a watch that Seiko dropped way too quickly. 

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Thanks guys I have the browser open to the Cpt. Willard homage minimized. Thinking real hard about it...Not sure if the "sale" is real enough though...now I found a Oceanica reef homage to the 6105 now too... Not sure if I like the logo better than the sharky?

[russtmurray]

Quite frankly I'm surprised how well these have been received by the WIS community. It didn't seem all that long ago when Noah & Jake put out their rendition of a 6309 and then Eddie Platt and Jake offered their interpretation of the 6105. Back then these offerings were a great alternative to buying top grade vintage pieces. Fast forward to now and these Chinese microbrands are pumping out all kinds of "interpretations" of Seiko divers with Seiko movements no less. Coupled with increased prices and some quality issues associated with Seiko, perhaps I shouldn't be surprised after all.

[bklake]

Seems to me that the case shape of the cheaper 6105-8110s has changed and is more angular.  The smooth curves of the underside on the original is what made it work so well. 

Maybe when I retire and can treat a vintage watch properly, I will seek out an original.  Maybe not.  Once retired, I probably won't care a bit what time it is other than 5:00.  Then again, it's always 5:00 somewhere.  For now, these homages work for me.  The price range is what I remember the originals being.  Upgraded seals, materials and modern movements with reliable time keeping.  I know they are not the same as the real thing but I can enjoy a classic design without worrying about loosing a $1000 watch surfing or boating.  I would rather spend $150 on a watch and $850 on gas for the boat or new surf board.  Priorities. 

At one point, I tried to get only Sharkey versions.  I ended up with San Martin, LTM, Sharkey, Retangula, Seizenn and Steeldive.  SM being the best, LTM pretty good, last 4 good with + and - that make them about even. 

[bklake]

Jan 14, 2021 16:47:34 GMT -8 russtmurray said:

Quite frankly I'm surprised how well these have been received by the WIS community. It didn't seem all that long ago when Noah & Jake put out their rendition of a 6309 and then Eddie Platt and Jake offered their interpretation of the 6105. Back then these offerings were a great alternative to buying top grade vintage pieces. Fast forward to now and these Chinese microbrands are pumping out all kinds of "interpretations" of Seiko divers with Seiko movements no less. Coupled with increased prices and some quality issues associated with Seiko, perhaps I shouldn't be surprised after all.

My 6309 cost $90 in 1982.  About $180 in 2020 dollars.  My SKX collection averages $190.  I got a deal on my new Turtles.  $180 used on eBay and free via a work rewards program.  Pretty shocked when I saw it available there.  A Save the Whales version, no less.

It was and is enough money to get you good materials and a strong watch but not so costly that you worry too much if it gets lost or damaged.  Seiko jacked up the prices without upping the quality.  My $400 retail Turtle has the same quality control issues as my $160 SKX from Japan.  Double the price and I got nothing more in the quality department.  The Chinese micro brands are delivering good quality at a fair price. 

[Slant]

Jan 14, 2021 6:39:59 GMT -8 bklake said:

To further muddy the water for you.  I just got a Seizenn version of this watch.  Similar size but 20mm lugs.  It was $79+$20 shipping on eBay.  The bracelet on the Seizenn looked really nice in the pictures but is crap in real life.  Seizenn came in a Merkur box and can be found at the Merkur website so I would say that Merkur makes it.  There was a timegrapher printout in the box.  Clearly, somebody spent a few minutes tweaking the timing.  It is keeping time about as well as an NH35 can.  -3sec a day on my wrist. 

I have a San Martin version, a Retangula and a Seizenn.  MOP dial, grey dial, and black dial respectively.  SM is 42mm, other 2 are a fat 40mm.  Retangula has 19mm lugs but came with a 20mm Tropic mushed in there. 

Fun homage to a watch that Seiko dropped way too quickly. 

Bklake, based on current pricing, would you say the Retangula Rdunae is worth $80 USD more than the Seizenn?

[bklake]

The specs between them are about the same except lug width.  Short answer, they are about equal quality.  Long answer:

Retangula has 19mm lugs.  I got the sandblasted finish one because I wanted the silver bezel. Out of the box, it was running 20 seconds/day slow.  The beat error was pushing 1ms.  Corrected now.  I've gotten worse timing from a much more expensive Seiko SRP Turtle.  It has 19mm lugs but a 20mm Tropic strap was stuffed in there.  For me, I got it make a homage to a 6106.  My brother got a 7548 around 1979-80.  He tossed his old waterlogged Seiko in my lap and said good luck.  As a 16 year old dumb ass, I used needle nose pliers to open it and WD-40 to lube it.  Didn't work.  I kept that watch through college hoping I could fix it one day.  It disappeared when my parents sold their house.  Last year, someone gave me a picture of my brother from the early 70's with that watch on.  That sparked a desire to recreate one except with better water resistance.  Working on the parts to make it happen. 

The Seizenn has 20mm lugs.  In the box was a timegrapher printout showing it was -3 seconds/day and 0 BE.  It spent some time on a bench getting tuned up.  The bracelet looked really nice in the pictures but is pretty cheap in real life.  One of the links blew apart when I resized it.  I got it back together but the tiny link part disappeared later that day and the watch fell in my lap.  I just grabbed a nice President bracelet from my stash and moved on.  I saw the Seizenn at the Merkur store for $180ish, about par.  Merkur has a better than average reputation.  I think all the brands come from the same factory except maybe a little more attention to detail on some.  I found my Seizenn on eBay for $79 + $20 shipping, they are $99 now+shipping.  I would consider it a screaming deal.  It was a little slow, 4-5 days, out of the starting gate but got here via FedEx 4 days after they got it.  Way better than the 2 things I got during the Aliexpress 11/11 sale that still are not here. 

I have no idea why Seizenn is so inexpensive right now but I would jump on one before they figure out the forgot a 1 at the front of the price. 

[mwbuss8]

I have a BB homage a built with a generic case from happysushi and love it. I just ordered a green Cronos 62mas bronze and will see what it's like when it arrives, but all reviews are very good. I was originally looking for a bronze case to use the green BB dial from yobokies, but I found a seller that will ship with a sterile dial, and I'm leaning toward leaving it as is.

[thianwong]

I had opted to try the Merkur tuna and was amazed at value per price. Then I bought 2Parnis homages...they are as accurate as the MM or SINN! I still have them. Now, the Chinese watches are quite good and fill the gap which Seiko once had with low end SKXs etc....

Recently dumped all my SKXs and found newer used turtles which I grabbed, here in Osaka. Still, if I get more funds, I want to try the others.

When I saw a nice 6306 going for $1500 in a used store here, I shook my head and that these once affordables were now so inflated.