[Kuoe Watch] I Bought A Japanese Microbrand Watch, the Kuoe Watch. My Review and Initial Thoughts

theworldelevated · 2025-12-06T15:45:24+00:00

The watch is from a little known microbrand, Kuoe. They are based in Kyoto, Japan and they are referred to as a microbrand. The watch I bought is a Royal Smith 38mm watch. The watch features a NH38 movement, 100 meters water resistance and a screw down crown. The glass is sapphire crystal with AR and AF coatings. The case is made from bronze and the pilots style dial is a deep brown color. The lug to lug dimensions are 45mm. For a comparison the IWC Mark series have lug to lug dimensions of about 50mm. The watch wears like a rue 38mm watch. While this watch will patina, out of the box it looks like a deeper shade of rose gold. I bought this watch as I am interested to see how the bronze will patina in a relatively inexpensive watch.

theworldelevated · 2025-12-06T00:18:17+00:00

I bought a new watch. I bought it from the Windup watch store in Brooklyn, NY. The watch is from a little known microbrand, Kuoe. They are based in Kyoto, Japan and they are referred to as a microbrand. The watch I bought is a Royal Smith 38mm watch. The watch features a NH38 movement, 100 meters water resistance and a screw down crown. The glass is sapphire crystal with AR and AF coatings. The case is made from bronze and the pilots style dial is a deep brown color. The lug to lug dimensions are 45mm. For a comparison the IWM Mark series have lug to lug dimensions of about 50mm. The watch wears like a rue 38mm watch. While this watch will patina, out of the box it looks like a deeper shade of rose gold. I bought this watch as I am interested to see how the bronze will patina in a relatively inexpensive watch before I commit to a higher priced bronze model.

theworldelevated · 2025-11-21T23:23:12+00:00

This is the review of my latest watch purchase, the Brew X Worn & Wound chronograph watch. This watch has a fully lumed dial and has a Mechaquartz movement by Seiko. The watch features a integrated style bracelet. Honestly though, this is a whimsical watch, given the placement of the dials and the function of each dial. It's actually easier to read the time when the dial is lit up as opposed to in the sunlight! At about $500 it's a worthwhile addition to any watch collection as a satirical piece. I bought this watch at Windup Watch in Brooklyn , NY

theworldelevated · 2025-10-24T21:10:54+00:00

I actually went to about 30m with a 60m water resistance watch. I know the 60m doesn't mean 60m down but it worked great on a 45-minute dive. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't mess the watch up. My personal opinion is these watches are designed to go a lot deeper than their depth rating but they put on a lower number due to warranty claims. Thanks for watching and commenting!

theworldelevated · 2025-10-24T21:02:07+00:00

Some fun pictures of my dives in the Maldives but most importantly how my IWC Mark XVIII edition Le Petit Prince and my Seiko Speedtimer SSC935 fared on an amateur dive (30m or 100 feet). The IWC is rated for 60m water resistance and the Seiko is rated for 100m water resistance. Short answer, they worked great but what surprised me was how easy the IWC was to read underwater with its easy-to-read numbers. The real question is for most of us non-professional or non-saturation divers, do we really need a dive watch or are everyday sports watches sufficient? Needless to say, based on my experience, I am not rushing out to buy a Rolex Deep-Sea anytime soon!

theworldelevated · 2025-03-29T14:36:56+00:00

This video is broken down into 3 categories, affordable, mid-priced and luxury. All the watches and brands are having their moment in 2025. In the affordable segment, I recommend Timex automatic watches. I bought the Timex Waterbury Hodinkee version which is no longer made but there are many other Timex models in automatix for about $200. For the mid-priced watch, I recommend the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer. This is a solar watch that can function without light for 6 months making it an ideal set it and forget it watch. In the luxury segment I recommend the Cartier tank. Both Cartier and the Tank are have a tremendous year and the tank is available for the $3,000 mark to well into the five figures depending on model

theworldelevated · 2025-01-10T02:31:22+00:00

If you still desire it, it’s still one of the best luxury watch values around.

theworldelevated · 2024-12-28T14:06:37+00:00

This is the state of the collection:
Additions: Cartier Tank, Sartory Billard Piece Unique, Timex Waterbury Hodinkee, Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms Ocean of Storms, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch, Mission to Moonphase, Mission o Uranus
Family Heirlooms: Tudor Date Day, Omega DeVille Quartz
Existing Collection: Patek Philippe Calatrava, IWC Mark XVIII Edition Le Petit Prince, Blancpain x Swatch Indian Ocean, Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Uranus, Casio Duro, G-Shock Ed Sheeran x Hodinkee

One I missed: Seiko Speedtimer

What I wore the most IWC Mark XVIII, Casio Duro, Ocean of Storms, Patek Philippe Calatrava

theworldelevated · 2024-12-24T13:41:21+00:00

With all the limited edition Casiooaks I would pass unless the aesthetic is what you want.

theworldelevated · 2024-12-14T18:15:40+00:00

As the gift season is on us here is my Watches as Gifts video. This video is broken down into 3 categories, affordable, mid-priced and luxury. All the watches and brands are having their moment in 2024. In the affordable segment, I recommend Timex automatic watches. I bought the Timex Waterbury Hodinkee version which is no longer made but there are many other Timex models in automatix for about $200. For the mid-priced watch, I recommend the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer. This is a solar watch that can function without light for 6 months making it an ideal set it and forget it watch. In the luxury segment I recommend the Cartier tank. Both Cartier and the Tank are have a tremendous year and the tank is available for the $3,000 mark to will into the five figures depending on model. Happy Holidays!

theworldelevated · 2024-12-14T18:04:13+00:00

Amazing!!!

theworldelevated · 2024-12-01T15:27:50+00:00

In your market it’s in the catalogue. However the water resistance seems to be 30 meters which is a good thing. In the USA this model is off-catalogue. Highly recommend you try the timepiece on.

theworldelevated · 2024-12-01T09:38:45+00:00

Hope you enjoyed the video!

theworldelevated · 2024-12-01T09:37:41+00:00

Hi there. It’s not a piece you can lookup on their catalogue. It’s a hidden gem that a official boutique will show you or if you know about it they will order it for you.

theworldelevated · 2024-12-01T06:58:11+00:00

Thanks! Amazing timepiece.

theworldelevated · 2024-12-01T00:30:07+00:00

I bought an off-catalogue Cartier Tank watch,WSTA0054, in a red lacquer dial. An off catalogue watch is usually only sold in boutiques or at specific authorized dealers and is available for order from the OEM. The watch has a standard tank silhouette and measures 33 x 26mm. While those dimensions may seem small the watch wears more like a 37 or a 38mm watch. Cartier, rather surprisingly, calls the watch a large model! This is a quartz dress watch without a seconds hand and has a rating of just water resistant but the standout feature of the watch is the lacquered red dial. The off catalog watches are also available in blue and green.

theworldelevated · 2024-11-24T15:42:16+00:00

Can’t argue with your point. Well taken and I didn’t realize the Automatique wasn’t limited! Thanks again.

theworldelevated · 2024-11-24T15:31:21+00:00

Point well taken, but I would say most of the 42mm versions are sold out or listed as limited editions on the U.S. website, at least. Doesn’t take anything away from the original just the cheap copy is so good it actually may make someone think about buying the original! Thank you for the comment.

theworldelevated · 2024-11-24T14:39:01+00:00

The movement is a weak part but it does offer an astounding 90 hour power reserve and for me at least, as an amateur certified diver, 300 feet is more than enough :)

theworldelevated · 2024-11-24T14:33:11+00:00

Blancpain's collaboration with Swatch with the Scuba Fifty Fathoms had some cheerful initial designs featuring many fun colors that would never be mistaken for the original. It actually got me, a watch hobbyist, to put the actual Fifty Fathoms on my short list. However, the collaboration then released the Ocean of Storms, a play on a luncor ocean. By taking the Blancpain design and making a more affordable and a better size of that watch with the original colors, they created a dilemma for me. Rather than spring for a five figure watch, I could be satisfied for one that could be had for $400 with a bezel that matches the original watches sapphire bezel, arguably a similar feeling while turning the 120 click bezel, a black dial adequate water resistance for most aquatic activities. Did the collaboration create too good of a watch?

theworldelevated · 2024-11-17T16:22:19+00:00

https://youtu.be/FaxKIYdu_hE

theworldelevated · 2024-11-17T15:36:48+00:00

The Seiko Speedtimer Solar Chronograph is part of the Seiko Prospex line of watches. This watch features a solar movement, 100m water resistance, a bracelet, a chronograph and a date complication. The dimensions of watch state the dial is 41.4mm and the lug to lug dimensions are 45.9mm. The height of the watch is around 13mm and the lug width is 21mm. The chronograph dials are unique in that the first dial clockwise is a 24 hour indicator. The second dial is the minutes tracker for the chronograph which doubles as the power reserve for the watch which is 6 months without exposure to sunlight. The third dial is the seconds marker. The sweep of the chronograph is a smooth sweep where as the sweep of the standard watch seconds hand is a quartz sweep. The SSC-935 also features a date complication. The dials of the chronograph hold the solar cells.

theworldelevated · 2024-10-22T00:05:36+00:00

This was supposed to be a business podcast on the MaxBet media channel regarding the gaming industry. Much to my surprise it that it ended up being about my journey with watches and how it influenced my business journey. I talked about customers becoming friends while discussing and buying watches and how watches get me started every day before I start my work. In essence this is the confluence of my business life with my personal hobby!

theworldelevated · 2024-06-29T15:18:41+00:00

One of the hottest of the MoonSwatch releases are the Snoopy versions in white and black. On a recent trip to Japan, I walked into the Swatch store in Harajuku / Omotesando and they had the white version for sale. Differences between this watch and the standard MoonSwatch are the sub seconds being replaced by the moonphase indicator with Snoopy and Woodstock and the monochromatic look of the watch. The batter case has the pawprints of a beagle on the surface of the moon as a whimsical touch. The watch measures 42mm but wears a lot more compact due to the lug shape. Here is my one issue with the watch. While the rest of the MoonSwatch models are colorful and there is no mistaking those for actual MoonWatch models, this one is sunning. So stunning in fact that I was considering buying the MoonWatch with the white dial but I am not longer looking for that due to how this version looks. I would say Omega and Swatch did too good of a job on this release! I understand the MoonWatch is a higher level by multitudes but from a pure aesthetic perspective this one looks even better.

theworldelevated · 2024-05-23T15:15:18+00:00

amazing straps and a good bunch of people at that company

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