My Chinese Watch Experiment
So, I am in the market for a few new watches this year to add to my growing collection. I am specifically looking for each of the following:
1. Dive Watch
2. Cocktail Watch
3. Sport Watch / PRX
I know for certain at least one of these watches will be a Seiko as I don’t own one yet. All will be at minimum Citizen/Bulova/Seiko quality. All that being said, I do LOVE microbrands. Especially those who take a watch style and make it their own rather than just copying someone else’s work. However, much has been said of the Chinese market. And this got me thinking. We know that Chinese watchmakers are capable of making quality products. Heck, they manufacture for many of the popular brands already. And brands like Sea-Gull for example make many well-built and designed watches that can come at a premium price. If I am going to get Seiko quality watch, I will just get a Seiko. I wanted to know if the “lower” Chinese brands can produce anything of quality in comparison. So, I ordered this: Watchdives WD1980 (day/date Ronda 517). My plan is to take this with me on my wrist when I shop for a dive watch this year. I want to use it both to compare to popular brands, but also to rate the WD1980 itself.
I am genuinely looking forward to doing this. I know we tend look down on Chinese watches as China is often the source of many poor-quality fakes and copies. This experiment will be of great interest to me as my OCD dictates what I find attractive and largely pushes me towards what I end up buying and wearing. And don't worry, if I don't end up keeping the Watchdives it will go to my son's growing collection. Thanks for reading!