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Batmantis
5
Dec 5, 2018
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$500 for a Chinese watch? Chinese manufacturing is well known for its legendary quality and innovation. The manufacturer is so proud of the product that Made in China is prominently featured on the face.
Oh, it isn't. Imagine the pride in the manned space flight a full 50 years after the Russians. A fool and his money are soon parted.
NewMDUser
35
Dec 6, 2018
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BatmantisLol there's always a few insecure China haters. If you don't like the idea, avoid it. Spare us your irrelevnt opinion. Those who are interested in buying a cheap mechanical chronograph can have this as an option. Let it be.
Also China uses a tiny fraction of their gpd on space related programs as opposed to soviets massive budgets that bankrupted them. Third country to send man to space. Still pretty good. Could be another hundred years before India or Japan does it for example. Doesn't mean all that much. Just different priorities. The Russians can't build a working fridge these days. So what sort of statement would that mean? That's right... Not much.
NewMDUser
35
Dec 6, 2018
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TmredopThe difference is mine is aimed at assisting others make an informed decision based on the product that I've actually bought. This guy is just spewing bs he knows nothing about and making a judgement of others based on a personal dislike of Chinese made stuff. That's fine but keep it to yourself. If he bought one and can explain why it's unworthy of purchase like the reasons I've given in my posts, then that'll be helpful and appreciated. Just saying irrelevant things like how Chinese space program was 50 years behind soviets in sending man yo space and how that must mean the watches and all Chinese products suck, it is not useful information to add or even well reasoned. The watch itself has little to do with space. That parts just marketing bs. Most buyers don't care. They probably care more that it is $350.
dkzzzz
74
Dec 6, 2018
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NewMDUserRussians are bankrupt? I think the space station built by Russia has been orbiting the Earth since before you were born, It still up there in space with humans onboard. It is Russia's version of a StarTrek show but in real space and with real kosmonauts. As to Chinese watches for sale here, they are too big and too thick (15,4mm), but aside from that I can buy German or Swiss made watch for nearly the same price what makes Chinese watch cost so much? I know it is not parts and labour, then what?
NewMDUser
35
Dec 6, 2018
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dkzzzzNo the Soviets, not the Russians, sort of bankrupted themselves competing with the USA. Anyway that's responding to an off-topic and irrelevant point since Swiss have no space station or manned space flight etc but Speedmaster is synonymous with space watch.
On the topic of this watch, I'm curious what you think is Swiss or German that can be bought at this price while being a mechanical chronograph. I have been collecting watches (terrible thing to get into if you can avoid it) for a long time and have yet to see a genuine Swiss or German watch for under $1000. I think many are fooled into buying Swiss/ German names and businesses that are based there but do 100% manufacturing in China and source ETA movements AT BEST... if they're dodgy, they use Chinese clone ETA movements (as opposed to Swiss clones like Sellita). My cheapest German watch is a Sinn 556 on bracelet and that cost me $1200 or so in 2015. That's not even a chronograph. I think people who make claims that they can get a Swiss or German watch for around $500 are either naive and have been fooled or they are just full of shit and intend to mislead everyone else. BTW this chrono starts at $350 which is a price that even mushroom brands slapping in fake ST-19 movements can barely match (those watches are built poorly and QC is hit and miss). At least with these Fiytas, one gets a more unique design and OEM product rather than say an Alpha Speedmaster/ Daytona design knock-off.
For $350 for the stainless version, its quality is considerable. The cheapest modern Japanese chronograph is a Seiko 8R series movement used in the 2015 introduced Presage line of chronos. That one came out at a price of over $2000 despite that being an entry level mechanical chrono in Seiko's modern lineup. The Grand Seikos are well over this price. Russians used to have the Strela watch based off a domesticated Swiss Venus 150 movement. That is no longer acquirable and modern Strelas have had their name rights bought by some businessmen and they manufacture the new Strelas in God knows where using a mix of ST-19 and a Valjoux based Russian assembled movement sans column wheel. And guess the price for those? Yep over $600 online. The only affordable path for mech chrono is vintage (rare find and usually needs a few hundred in servicing) and Chinese ST-19 based watches (legit ones from Sea-gull and fake ones from random factories). But then there is THIS!
Don't go in expecting $2500 German made Damasko chronograph quality if you're paying $350. Don't get angry. If one can afford the expensive stuff, just do it and live your life. If one wishes to spend little, expect dodgy QC and cost cutting. There ain't a free lunch but cheap labour does offset the price-quality ratio somewhat. To each their own means and wishes. Free market out here. Paying relatively high prices doesn't guarantee anything these days either. My Speedmaster's pusher got jammed into the engage position when it was luckily under warranty. Tag Heuer 7750 based movement gets jammed every time I use the chrono function. $600 for full overhaul and case touch up. Only guarantee is paying >$10,000 for high horology pieces from manufacturers that are guaranteed to deliver good service. But then again one pays thousands for an overhaul of those pieces. Best thing is to avoid chronos and go with 2824 based movements or similarly simple movements. But then you have a non-complication watch and maybe some are seeking exactly a chrono. I reckon the best bet is to go with a Damasko or Sinn 7750 chrono and just spend that extra cash if one is after such a thing but many of us are looking for a beater chrono and one that is relatively inexpensive and in the chrono world, downright cheap as chips.
NewMDUser
35
Dec 6, 2018
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dkzzzzDo they have a chrono and how much is it? Thought so. Also that's now a Chinese watch. Almost entirely assembled there. They have no swiss plants and production facilities anymore. Look carefully into it and call them up. Research forums. Zeno is an overpriced brand using variously sourced movements non of which they have any bit in.
NewMDUser
35
Dec 6, 2018
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dkzzzzTue last remaining real swiss watches start at omega price levels. Rolex, jlc and upwards. Then you have the purists with the seals.
NewMDUser
35
Dec 6, 2018
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NewMDUserThe swiss are dodgy bastards. Some of the dodgiest lot. Stealing gold, pretending to make stuff in Switzerland to dupe the masses, allowing international criminals a financial haven... If one wishes to get solid honest quality, get real German ( real as in prices starting $1000 from sinn damasko nomos etc) or high end Japanese like grand Seiko. Or just fork out the extra Ks and get an omega or Rolex.
confused-guy
5
Jul 25, 2019
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Batmantislol I bought a speed master in China for $60 just 2 months ago. $1k msrp seems a bit extreme.
Seriously though, this is probably using the same movements as Alpha. Automatic chronographs are fairly pricey anywhere. The Chinese chronos are extremely unreliable though. Too bad they don't use Japanese movements.
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