watch reviews

2/11/2019 0 Comments

Outsiders Watch Review - Revolution 300M Diver

Case

The Revolution is housed in a solid and well constructed 316L stainless steel case with highly polished sides and brushed tops. In terms of actual diameter we are looking at 43MM, which is slightly larger than a modern dive watch enthusiast may enjoy. However, due to the integrated bracelet design this watch definitely does wear a bit smaller and slimmer, which was a pleasant surprise. Of course this is a true dive watch so we do get 300M of water resistance along with a screw down crown and caseback. I think they did a good job on the finishing and there are no blemishes, sharp areas, or discomfort when on wrist. The crown has decent grip and is mid-sized which allows for an easy operation of your time and date funcion also. This watch certainly does not feel like a microbrand watch or a watch from a smaller company, even though Outsiders is a relatively new company. It has that refined and swiss feeling which really blew my mind when I unboxed it. If we flip the watch over, a mineral crystal gives us a look into the operations of the swiss automatic movement used in this model ( ETA-2824-2 ).

Dial

The dial is fairly symmetrical and looks in place. It is definitely going to be legible at any given angle or if diving perhaps. The black lacqeured dial gleems in the sunlight and is fitted with hand applied luminous markers filled with BGW9 lume. This lume glows a bluish hue and is pretty strong, lasting the night. If we head over to 3:00 a white bordered date aperture with a white wheel is displayed here, which is legible and I do not have any issues reading it. A nice detail is the red accented outsiders logo which gives me that “Red Submariner” sort of feel which is refreshing to see on a timepiece that looks nothing like a sub. The bezel itself is brushed ceramic with 120 Clicks around. In terms of action, it is really good with zero backplay and solid firm clicks aligning perfectly to the 12:00 position. Lastly, the crystal is a genuine sapphire with inner AR coating which is definitely normal at this pricepoint.

Movement

Inside the Revolution beats the Swiss Made automatic ETA 2824-2 movement. This movement is widely used in watches ranging from $500-$3000 depending on COSC certification and customization. It is a workhorse movement which is quite accurate, mine gaining around 10 seconds a day which is pretty normal. This caliber contains 25 jewels and has a power reserve of 38 hours while beating at 4 HZ ( 28,800 BPH ).

Bracelet

A 22MM Integrated custom bracelet comes equipped standard to this model. Now, the one negative is that well you cant just take off the bracelet and swap it for a rubber strap or NATO whenever you like. However, the. bracelet is of good quality and there really is no need to change it out. It is solid, finely brushed, and contains a divers extension as well for diving. The clasp is milled and feels secure, not like one of those cheaper chinese iterations you see on some other microbrand watches. I think all around it is comfortable and conforms nicely to the wrist due to the integration.

Conclusion

Furthermore, the Revolution has definitely a been fun piece to wear and examine. It has everything I look for in a watch at this pricepoint. Some of these things include a Swiss Automatic movement ( Preferrably Selitta or ETA ), Sapphire, and good fit and finish. They did price themselves correctly in my
honest opinion and I believe this watch is certainly worth the $500 pricepoint you would pay for one.

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2/7/2019 0 Comments

Orient Mako II Watch Review - The BEST automatic watch under $200?

Case

The Orient Mako II is comprised of solid 316L stainless steel housed in a 41.5MM case. The case thickness comes in at 13MM while the wingspan is a relatively respectable 47MM. I really like these dimensions and they do fit well on my 6.5” wrist. In terms of finishing, it is okay but nothing luxurious. The flanks are highly polished while the lug tops remain matte brushed still. It definitely has a submariner feel and style, well who wouldn’t take notes from the most popular dive watch in the world? A nice feature is the 200M of water resistance along with a polished screw down caseback and crown. I feel for the $150 pricepoint - it definitely gives $200-$300 watches a run for their money when it comes to the overall feel and fit and finish.

Dial

A typical 12-6-9 orientation is used on the Mako II, minus the 3 which is replaced by a day/date window. I feel they honestly should of cut out the daydate feature and made the watch a bit more clean and symmetric. Although useful - it kind of ruins the clean orientation something like my no date submariner exemplifies beautifully. In terms of colour, the dial is matte black covered by a Mineral crystal. Now, I am not a HUGE fan of Mineral crystals and much rather prefer a nice piece of sapphire - but at this pricepoint I honestly cannot complain. If you really want a sapphire crystal on the Mako II, they do sell aftermarket crystals which you can replace yourself. The arabic numerals and the markers are all applied and filled with some type of green luminova which definitely does the job at night - but cannot compare to the Lumibrite seiko uses on most of their sport models. Getting to the hands...they are swordlike and most definitely proportionate and legible at any given angle. As for the seconds hand , a nice red arrow tip really pops and gives the Mako II a splash of color which is definitely needed on this semi bland dial. Lastly, a dive watch enthusiasts favorite aspect is the bezel action of course. I mean, what would we play around with while working a desk job if we didn’t have a 120 click unidrectional bezel? It works, but is a bit hard to grip at some angles even with the slight cutouts on this downward sloped bezel. The insert is standard aluminum with a lumed pip, and yes I would of preferred ceramic...but cannot complain for the price!

Movement

The In-House Orient automatic calibre in this model
is none other than the F6992. It holds a 40 hour power reserve and 22 jewels. The movement does beat at a slower rate than something like a 6R15 at 21,600 BPH. In terms of accuracy, they are actually quite accurate and mine has been gaining around 5 seconds a day out of the box. ( Orient states +-15/Day ). One negative aspect would be the hand slightly gritty hand winding via the crown.

Bracelet

A rather finely brushed oyster style solid steel 22MM bracelet is standard across the Mako and Ray lines of dive watches. I actually think the bracelet is quite well constructed and does not feel cheap in hand at all. The end links are
hollow and we are using the pin system here to remove links which is pretty typical of a watch below $200. I can definitely say it IS a higher quality bracelet than the stock SKX bracelets, and even most Seiko 5 bracelets on their cheaper models.

Conclusion

Furthermore, the watch isnt 100% perfect in a few ways such as the gritty crown winding and the hollow end links. However, this is most definitely not a breaking point for me at this extremely affordable price
of $150 USD. I do believe the case build
and construction does mimic some watches in the $200/$300 price range which is really outstanding. I love the fact they use their own in-house movements and they perform excellent from my past experiences with two other Orient timepieces. Thanks for taking the time to read and please check out my YouTube channel
for the full Hands-On review.

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2/6/2019 1 Comment

Baltic Manuel Chronograph Watch Review - Vintage Inspired Goodness

Click Here for Baltic Webstore

Packaging

The Manuel arrived fairly quick via DHL in 2 days from France - in a nice Cork style box which flips open to a light velvet blue interior. It immediately reminded me of the old Rolex boxes from the 80s and 90s, which is quite warming :-).

Case

The Baltic Manuel Chronograph is comprised of solid 316L stainless steel which is entirely brushed besides the polished smooth bezel. I do love the vintage styled case which contains drilled lug holes and a very reasonable diameter of 38MM x 12.8MM. This watch truly wears like a dream, and many watch enthusiasts are demanding smaller case sizes - so it seems Baltic is paying attention to the market. In terms of the wingspan we get 47MM long which sits just perfectly across my 6.5” wrist with no hangover at all. There are also small piston head pushers for the chronograph stop/start/reset which work just fine and are grippy at pretty much any given angle. A nice detail is the signed Baltic crown which is pull/push - with the case being rated at 50M. This is most definitely not something to play in the water with though, so keep that in mind. Although, with daily hand washing and downpours I do not see an issue here. Lastly, the caseback has a beautiful exhibition window which really displays the column wheel chronograph in full, which is a delight.

Dial

My iteration uses the Cream/white dial which is a great aesthetic when going for a vintage inspired timepiece as it truly does look vintage. Some small details I found that I liked is the Blued chronograph hand which contrasts nicely with the black hour and minutes hands. Another thing to mention is the proportions here. Some brands simply fail when it comes to text to subdial ratio...but they honestly did a very good job here and everything looks in place. Lastly, the beauty of a vintage watch such as the old Speedmasters is the domed Hesalite crystal which Baltic proudly boasts on this model. I truthfully do not think the watch would have looked true to the age it mimics without this small detail.

Movement

Now, inside the Manuel is the Seagull ST1901. This movement originated from the older V175 column wheel chronograph movements created by France ebauche in the mid 1940s - later sold to China for the patent and use of creating an affordable, yet beautiful column wheel
chronograph movement. If you think about it, Baltic is a French company and does assemble their timepieces in France - so I do not see a better match. You can expect 45 hours of power reserve with this one while it beats away at 21,600 BPH.

Straps Included

My piece came standard with a 20MM french calf leather band ( tapers to 18MM ). I think the strap suits the timepiece and is indeed flexible, requiring no break in period. One thing I did notice is the signed brushed buckle - which is proportioned perfectly to the case and strap dimensions. I see so many brands using rather large oversized buckles lately, its refreshing to see it done right.

Conclusion

Furthermore, the Baltic Bicompax definitely surprised
me in a few ways. First of all, the Seagull ST1901 is a beautifully decorated and functional movement - which I happen to adore. Secondly, some great thought and effort really went into producing and assembling these chronographs - which definitely shows in the final product. I mean, what’s not to love about a well made vintage inspired chronograph? I admit, they are not suitable for everyone nor is any watch. However, if you are a true watch enthusiast and realize how classic and timeless those designs are - you will definitely appreciate slapping the Manuel on your wrist.

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1/28/2019 0 Comments

RENZO Swiss Made Chronograph Watch Review

Click Here for Renzo Swiss Made Watches

Packaging

Case

The New Renzo chronographs are housed in solid 316L stainless steel polished cases with a decent set of dimensions for your average modern man. The iteration shown here ( Royale Brown/White ) is finished in an ION plated rose gold color with a mirror like high polish - though there are numerous options of finishing and dial colors available on the Renzo website. In terms of overall dimensions we are looking at 42MM wide x 11MM thick. I really like this size as a chronograph should show a little more wrist presence considering we have a function to read off the dial, as well as normal time. Another thing I do like is the rounded piston head style pushers which function with ease for the chronograph stop/start/reset and show zero signs of wiggle room. Our crown is a pull/push and allows this watch to have a 50M water resistance rating. Now by no means take this into the water...but if you happen to get caught in a rainstorm or wash your hands you will be OK. Small details include the signed “R” crown and a nice screw down ( real screws ) caseback with a fine brushed center. Overall, I like the dimensions and how it fits on my 6.5” wrist and do not see any issues here for this simple and practical modern piece.

Dial

The white dial is quite elegant with a Matt Lacqeured finish and definitely pops compared to other colors I have seen. The applied indexes are very neat and match the case finishing as well. If we head over to the 4:00 position a nice matching date wheel is exposed , and doesn’t really get in the way of things - but is legibile. The long chronograph hand paired with bold fence style hands match the aesthetic just fine. Now some brands are horrible when it comes to matching hands and markers , but they did it very proportionately and it looks the part for sure. One thing I did not mention which is extremely important is the fact that this watch is indeed Swiss Made and Assembled in Switzerland ( Swiss Made is Marked below 6:00 ). The sub dials themselves are placed beatly and feature an off white circular pattern which looks nice and helps defer itself from the off white dial. As you can see from the photo, we do get a functional 12 Hour chronograph ( increments of 30 Minutes ) and a separate seconds subdial. Lastly, on this affordable piece at $275 they have gone ahead and placed a nice anti reflective coated Sapphire crystal for increased durability and legibility.

Movement

The Swiss Quartz Ronda 5030D is a movement I have experience with, and can stand by it. It does run on a battery and has some
nice features including elapsed time measurement, and pinpoint accuracy of a couple seconds a month. These
movements are indeed thin which allows the Royalé to stand only 11MM thin - making it extremely comfortable and allowing the end user to easily slide this under a cuff.

Leather Band Supplied

This model came equipped on a 22MM brown Full Grain Genuine Leather embossed band which also features quick-release straps. The nice part about this feature is the easy on the go “swapability” to alter the appearance of your watch by changing straps without a tool in seconds. Straight out of the box the strap really conformed nicely to my wrist and there really is no break in period needed for this one. I also think this model would look stellar on a straight black non embosssd band, if you happen to have one. The buckle is signed quite neatly as you can see in the macro shot and matches the case color just fine.

Conclusion

So, what do I think? All in all , it is a good standard everyday chronograph for a simple man. This watch can be suitable for someone who wants a well made reliable swiss watch but does not want to spend a ton of money. If this watch were to be automatic - you would be looking at a pricepoint of around $1000 USD. The movement is decent for the price as is the case cut and finish. I like the overall classic design, and feel something like this can last quite a long time in ones’ treasure chest without issues. Thanks for taking the time to read and please do check out the full hands-on YouTube video of the Renzo chronograph.

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Outsiders Watch Review - Revolution 300M Diver

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Outsiders Watch Review - Revolution 300M Diver

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Orient Mako II Watch Review - The BEST automatic watch under $200?

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Dial

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Baltic Manuel Chronograph Watch Review - Vintage Inspired Goodness

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Dial

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RENZO Swiss Made Chronograph Watch Review

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Leather Band Supplied

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