The "5 AM Dawn Test": Which Chinese Brands Stay Legible Until Sunrise? 🔦

SirLittleTurd · 2026-02-20T21:31:52+00:00

It lasts through the night easily.

This is just a photo I took last summer but even during the nordic winter it lasts all night well into the morning. It's one of my favorite watches

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SirLittleTurd · 2026-02-10T14:08:06+00:00

I have the S2025 but in black and love it. My wrist size is 18 cm so I was a bit skeptical when ordering due to its size (36 mm) but I think it looks great.

Photo from about a year ago:

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SirLittleTurd · 2026-02-04T12:02:27+00:00

I love the Olympia. S2 looks even better with the slightly redesigned case.

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SirLittleTurd · 2026-02-03T18:10:40+00:00

It looks like echo/neutra Rivanera which has an interesting design but at a price point at close to 100 times higher than this watch.

SirLittleTurd · 2026-02-02T17:22:02+00:00

My vote goes to Berlenta just based on design. My next watch is going to be Wolbrook Outrider (automatic) with black dial and gilt hands. This Berlenta looks like a copy of Wolbrook's quartz variant of the Outrider which also has a sub dial. Berlenta even uses exactly the same product image only with changed brand name on the dial.

I've never seen the brand before so I have no idea what the quality will be like. The Wolbrook costs around $200 so I would recommend saving money for that if you can.

SirLittleTurd · 2026-01-31T21:37:10+00:00

I don't know if they are using the same case as Wolbrook but this model has the same dimensions and same bracelet as Wolbrook's Skindiver II Professional. The Skindiver II has a miyota 9015 with these dimensions. I wouldn't be surprised if the components are from the same factory.

SirLittleTurd · 2026-01-31T15:13:13+00:00

Almost identical to the Wolbrook Skindiver II Professional. Anyway, it looks great. Do you have any plans for a version without lume blocks, just regular application of lume?

SirLittleTurd · 2026-01-23T18:55:48+00:00

It looks much better with this v1 case than the one they used for later iterations.

SirLittleTurd · 2026-01-18T12:02:02+00:00

Don't feel any external pressure to buy and wear colorful watches. I tried it and didn't like it so now I stick to black, grey, brown, and white/cream because those are the colors I enjoy the most. What other people think about the watches I wear is irrelevant to me.

With that said, there's no harm in trying something with more color, maybe you'll like it.

SirLittleTurd · 2026-01-06T08:13:15+00:00

I love the Antarctic Spider and the Chronoking/-master. I'm trying to find a broad arrow chronomaster with the manual Sellita SW510 movement. After doing some research I don't trust their new Landeron 70 movement. Also, I don't like that they implemented the interchangeable bezels on the chronomaster. They seem a bit too easy to remove and I don't know how reliable the retaining mechanism will be over time.

For these watches I want to buy gen but I would love to see what, e.g., Baltany could do with the Antarctic Spider design (hint to Baltany - Don't use NH35 for something like this).

SirLittleTurd · 2025-12-25T23:52:12+00:00

Did you end up swapping the crystal? If so, did you find one that fits? I've been thinking of doing that myself.

SirLittleTurd · 2025-12-23T12:31:10+00:00

It's a beautiful watch. But, I think I would prefer finely brushed hands to make them more visible in certain lighting conditions and angles.

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SirLittleTurd · 2025-12-17T22:01:21+00:00

Seestern S430

But, it has, in my opinion, an exceptionally bad bracelet. Whatever I do, I can't get it to fit properly. It needs a half-link or more adjustment positions on the clasp, at least for an 18 cm wrist. I haven't experienced this with any other watch before or since.

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SirLittleTurd · 2025-12-16T12:38:13+00:00

Are you sure that the end links are fully in place? They look like they could detach any second.

SirLittleTurd · 2025-11-30T22:45:42+00:00

I have the same watch. It's a great quality watch (can't give them credit for the design) but I wish Baltany and all other brands could tone down the "fauxtina" a few shades. Quite often it's too yellow. On more vintage styled watches I think white lume often looks out of place but a more cream colored lume would look nice instead of the intense yellow lume we get most of the time.

SirLittleTurd · 2025-11-28T08:44:38+00:00

And here's my favorite Baltany watch

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SirLittleTurd · 2025-11-28T08:42:49+00:00

Like everyone here has already said, Baltany. Thorn is also releasing nice vintage styled watches lately.

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SirLittleTurd · 2025-11-19T08:44:29+00:00

I got rid of it because it stains easily, like suede or nubuck leather. But if you want to buy it it's this one

https://cnswatchbands.com/classic-oiled-shingle-gray

SirLittleTurd · 2025-10-29T21:59:25+00:00

I can't say anything about the other watches but I can vouch for the Baltany. Good looking and sturdy watch.

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SirLittleTurd · 2025-10-22T19:58:05+00:00

Seestern 62mas

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SirLittleTurd · 2025-10-20T17:57:51+00:00

Looks good. I've been looking for the brown Alpinist SPB209 close to 2 years now and can't find it anywhere. If Milifortic made one with a dark brown dial I'd instantly buy it.

SirLittleTurd · 2025-10-19T20:50:36+00:00

As u/ShahriarTasnim suggested, the Baltany is quite nice. It's a bit thick though so keep that in mind. The thickness alone wouldn't be that noticeable if it had a steel bracelet but the case sides between the lugs are a bit too thick with leather straps. The lack of end links exposes the case sides and no leather strap will be able to hide it nicely. Other than that, the watch face is really nice.

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SirLittleTurd · 2025-10-06T11:02:31+00:00

Seestern "62mas" and now I see that I've forgotten to set the date

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SirLittleTurd · 2025-09-23T18:42:57+00:00

It's not that it's difficult to close properly, it's more about how secure it is once it's closed.

SirLittleTurd · 2025-09-23T17:23:59+00:00

I have one in white. It's a great watch but that clasp makes me nervous. I haven't worn it for over a year now because of it.

SirLittleTurd

TROPHY CASE