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People complain about the NH35 but then also shirk at paying $200-300 for a M9015 or $250+ for a SW200 in a AliX homage
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Chinese brands that scratch the "itch"
- Thread starter Got20Mate
- Start date
I love the Tudor FXD, especially the blue M.N. Price is around $4,000.
The replica, exclusively made by M+ factory, costs $400 ($398 to $428 plus shipping). It is powered by an entry level 8-series Miyota.
Then there's the Tactical Frog FX. I got mine at the 11.11. sale on Ali for $155.89. It is powered by a Seiko NH35.
As it's been discussed on Watchuseek in deep length, this is a 98% replica of the Tudor, all titanium, saphire bezel, the works.
I've been wearing mine non-stop for the past 3 days, and it's been atomic-time accurate, didn't lose a single second yet. I love it so much, that I could get a blue one, a black one, a bunch of different straps, and be done in the daily department. (However, we all know that's never going to happen).
I have only 2 Chinese watches, my sterile dial Rdunae (Tornek-Rayville replica), currently in Italy for a vintage makeover, and this Tactical Frog. Both my watches have a Seiko SH35, which I like because it's bullet-proof and super easy to fix if it needs servicing, usually after 15+ years, and at a price point of $156 to $179 for a new watch, shipping included, these watches present an incredible bang for the buck!
The replica, exclusively made by M+ factory, costs $400 ($398 to $428 plus shipping). It is powered by an entry level 8-series Miyota.
Then there's the Tactical Frog FX. I got mine at the 11.11. sale on Ali for $155.89. It is powered by a Seiko NH35.
As it's been discussed on Watchuseek in deep length, this is a 98% replica of the Tudor, all titanium, saphire bezel, the works.
I've been wearing mine non-stop for the past 3 days, and it's been atomic-time accurate, didn't lose a single second yet. I love it so much, that I could get a blue one, a black one, a bunch of different straps, and be done in the daily department. (However, we all know that's never going to happen).
I have only 2 Chinese watches, my sterile dial Rdunae (Tornek-Rayville replica), currently in Italy for a vintage makeover, and this Tactical Frog. Both my watches have a Seiko SH35, which I like because it's bullet-proof and super easy to fix if it needs servicing, usually after 15+ years, and at a price point of $156 to $179 for a new watch, shipping included, these watches present an incredible bang for the buck!
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NH35s are reliable, sure, but the PT5000 'issues' are far over exaggerated.
Cost difference is like $25 vs $40 for movements, so $15 in scheme of things is a non issue.
As cases are not compatible, pt5000 not usually an option for vast majority
NH35s are also uglier, thicker, much harder to regulate, low beat vs the pt5k. but even all those things just pale in the fact that variety is spice of life, so 90% of watches coming with NH35s is just.. boring. Well that and the resulting thicker case needed is aesthetically less pleasing.
I'm guessing the cost difference is not because of movement costs, but surely by quantities of scale.. commodity cases/hands/etc are cheaper for NH35 because they make so darn many of em, but still leads to often a boring platform (though a mildly more moddable platform, but less gen part swap opportunities)
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I like the Power Reserve. It makes the watch quirky. Not for everyone for sure.
I've been begging for a Tudor chrono with a ST19 and this seems to fit the bill. Yes I know SM has one but I'm not paying 300+ for that lol.
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Here is a killer watch deal. 41 dollars shipped for a VK64 Blancpain homage. It's from Mysterious Code but without their shitty branding. No lume, K1 mineral crystal. But 41 dollars! I paid more for 3 hours parking last week downtown!! 
Not bad for the price, but I still prefer my Sugess. Sapphire crystal, good lume, decent branding (I don't mind the name at all), and crisper dial. Between 11.11 sale and coupon code 180€ shipped. I'm good with that.Here is a killer watch deal. 41 dollars shipped for a VK64 Blancpain homage. It's from Mysterious Code but without their shitty branding. No lume, K1 mineral crystal. But 41 dollars! I paid more for 3 hours parking last week downtown!!
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On that topic, sapphire crystals are a major pain point for these chinese watches.Here is a killer watch deal. 41 dollars shipped for a VK64 Blancpain homage. It's from Mysterious Code but without their shitty branding. No lume, K1 mineral crystal. But 41 dollars! I paid more for 3 hours parking last week downtown!!
On one hand, sure, you get some extra scratch resistance, and folks tend to equate it with 'quality'.
On the other hand, without good AR, it looks markedly cheap. Those sugess top times are a good example. cool movement, kinda meh finishing on case (its their budget line, im sure their more expensive watches have better finishing, but its a 1963 case with longer lugs), but no AR leaves it kinda sad (and their yellowish dial one is a pretty bad color in hand, otheres are a bit better). Add to that really poor lume (kinda forgivable in a more dressy watch, but a low grade was used as well). Anyway, back to crystals.
for cn watches that have arrived sapphire, but no AR, i've just been swapping them out to decent AR mineral. mineral is less reflective, so even a mild AR on them amplifies further the difference, its striking how much difference it makes. I'd rather have it look good and just swap a crystal if i scratch it (pretty rare), as theyre like litereally $5, than have a overly reflective harder to read bare sapphire.
I cant figure out why the pricing is so off though? mineral crystal, like $4.. mineral crystal with ok AR, like $5. sapphire crystal $10, sapphire crystal with decent AR: like $40+? doesnt make sense?
Might have to pick this up, looks fantastic
I like the Power Reserve. It makes the watch quirky. Not for everyone for sure.
I've been begging for a Tudor chrono with a ST19 and this seems to fit the bill. Yes I know SM has one but I'm not paying 300+ for that lol.
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I'm waiting for it to come onto Aliexpress. Right now they only have it on their website and I think they're just waiting for the sale to end lol.
Yeah I was thinking the same thing, never bought direct from any of these brands..don't know why, just haven't.
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I just found this on AliExpress:
$578.00 | Sugess Chronograph Men Watch Original ST1907 Swanneck Pilot Mechanical Wristwatches Domed Sapphire Crystal Dopamine S457 2025new
The sapphire crystal looks excellent but to be honest the clasp looks mediocre haha. But that discount is NICE!
Man that's a good price - Been waiting to pull the trigger on some one this, the pink might push me over. Wild dial but looks the part
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don't forget all the aliexpress games, coupons, credits, etc. $289 - $30 coupon - $20 store coupon - 11% coins = $207
Struggling to decide between the green and the pink, but I think the pink edges it
bit less even before taxes
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