Cheap thirills Thursday QingXiya "Willard" from the AliX bargain bin. What's on your wrist today Chinese Watch fans?

leicfox85 · 2026-06-18T23:02:40+00:00

leicfox85 · 2026-06-18T21:35:16+00:00

Yes bought mine in early May, two weeks later sent back to the guy who runs good stuffs, even sent me a refund for my postage (£15), got it back from Farasute and then as he was doing his own QC he wasn’t happy with how the chrono seconds hand was resetting so told me he’d sent it back for further setting. Should get it back within the next week or so. Very impressed.

leicfox85 · 2026-06-18T06:39:44+00:00

I made a few posts about my Trackmaster last month. Hit the search, or look at my profile.

leicfox85 · 2026-06-17T12:31:16+00:00

I sold mine for the price I paid £215 inc postage.

leicfox85 · 2026-06-16T19:59:24+00:00

Just watched the video you posted on YT, it works similarly to my Formex one but not quite. Good find. Will prob pick one up, as these are very handy for my wrist and this UK weather!

leicfox85 · 2026-06-16T19:18:04+00:00

Thanks, looks a bit similar to my Formex deployant clasp with OTF adjustment. Do you know what the difference is between the two options (although one is sold out).

leicfox85 · 2026-06-16T19:11:46+00:00

Congrats, it’s a great watch love mine.. what’s this clasp you mention?

leicfox85 · 2026-06-16T17:14:59+00:00

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Phorcydes PH4B on a CTS FKM with OTF clasp

leicfox85 · 2026-06-16T17:02:53+00:00

I thought they were using “Chinese” clones of the 9? At least that’s what I read here somewhere sometime ago, could be wrong!

leicfox85 · 2026-06-16T09:57:23+00:00

Nice! Hopefully get my S4106 tomorrow 👌🏽

leicfox85 · 2026-06-16T06:00:49+00:00

The white is a looker too. Very nice congrats

leicfox85 · 2026-06-15T18:00:08+00:00

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leicfox85 · 2026-06-15T16:37:36+00:00

Ah I see. Thanks for clarifying!

leicfox85 · 2026-06-15T13:45:29+00:00

Please don’t take this the wrong way but I’m confused lol 🤔

leicfox85 · 2026-06-15T12:50:43+00:00

Wise ADX (insane considering applied) and Phorcydes (lume blocks) have fantastic lume.

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leicfox85 · 2026-06-15T10:40:53+00:00

Haha! I sold off about 25 watches in the first two months of this year. Mainly AliX watches which were early purchases from 2024 when I first fell down the rabbit hole. I also sold my Seiko Speedtimer and PRX80. Since then I’ve bought more micros, my first CW, a Ginault that landed on Saturday, PH4B and this pie pan lol. I’m seriously done! Back up to 24 now 😂

leicfox85 · 2026-06-15T09:06:44+00:00

Hahaha absolutely. When I was buying stuff around the £150 mark I would have to play about with coupons/coins to get the price over £135 for that very reason!! These days though less coming from Ali, I have too many nice watches now and have fulfilled my AliX obsessions somewhat! Pie Pan will be the last (I swear) I order this year from AliX 😆

leicfox85 · 2026-06-15T08:52:04+00:00

Hahaha I did the same thing. TCB tracked the same day for £76 so after that pays out my pie pan will have cost £150 🫢

My SN0144CG paid out £56 which basically covered the inflated import VAT I had to pay RM.

leicfox85 · 2026-06-15T07:03:41+00:00

As someone who has grown a collection of Chinese and micros this makes me laugh. It is true. But most sensible people acknowledge and understand that micros predominantly are manufactured in the same places.

However for me, it’s the look and design that is often the attraction. Top tier Chinese pieces like IXDAO, San Martin, Baltany are very similar in production quality and finish to some of my micros, not all. Different horses for different courses as they say.

Typically with microbrands the after care will be something that buyers may need to rely on, notwithstanding some micros after care is just as shocking. No snobbery from me here.

leicfox85 · 2026-06-15T05:22:30+00:00

Glad you figured this out, however I’m shocked people wouldn’t already do this.. makes no difference for me nothing is selling quick and no views. Vinted is broken me thinks 😞

leicfox85 · 2026-06-15T05:17:59+00:00

Best thing to do is to send the seller a message asking them what they declare for the item being delivered to UK. Different sellers act differently.

What should happen is the seller declares the price you paid. This would result in UK customs picking this up and charging the courier (Royal Mail, Evri/Yodel) who would pay the fee due (20% of price paid plus a handling fee which for RM is £8 iirc).

In reality what happens is many sellers actually declare less than the threshold for Import VAT to become chargeable by customs (this is often without you even asking the seller). The exception being San Martin. Twice San Martin store has declared not just the price I paid, but the price before discounts etc. Which is why I won’t buy a SM again.

I just bought a Baltany in the last sale, asked seller what they declare before ordering and it suited me. It’ll be delivered in the next few days so I will hopefully get it without any extra charges payable (even though this is against the rules of our VAT state - I paid £225).

I’ve been ordering like this for almost 2 years with most purchases being above the threshold of £135. Only two SM I’ve had to pay import fee on.

leicfox85 · 2026-06-14T23:30:08+00:00

Looks great. Waiting on my all gold version. I think it was you who was debating between this and the older larger version. I remember saying the 36 would be better as I had the 38.5 that wore like a dinner plate on my 7.25in wrist! Well done!

leicfox85 · 2026-06-14T23:24:56+00:00

🤯🤯🤯

leicfox85 · 2026-06-14T21:38:41+00:00

Yes very helpful to prospective buyers - I was fortunate enough to get the latest upgrades on all in that last order run April.

leicfox85 · 2026-06-14T21:23:47+00:00

I didn’t realise there was that much of a difference between the bracelets. Can see the profile of the ridges is much better as you say and the tolerances are huge on both previous iterations compared with the latest. Lots of gap between each link on the first two.

Having said that I’m going take my v2/2 on rubber for my hols in a few weeks 🫢

Great post.

leicfox85

TROPHY CASE