u/BrianVMI

Sometimes I’ll take the Vanuatu off the engineer bracelet and put it on Helm’s SS3 bracelet. I like the look (altho’ to be honest the engineer is more comfortable for extended wear).

Vanuatu out in NYC on day three of a nor’easter. No worries about the water with this one!

Vanuatu for a Saturday out in NYC. Still one of my faves in the rotation of 20+ watches.

I’ve had this several days and have worn it most of that time. Some observations . . . Visually, it’s a nice watch. The enamel dial with applied indices is great and the sapphire glass is clear and without blemishes. Brushing on the case is fairly even and there are drilled lugs. With a sweep-second quartz movement, accuracy should be fine. The signed crown is a bit too small and could be a challenge for larger fingers. The bracelet, while jangly, has screw links and was a breeze to resize to my 6.5” wrist. Some reviews have down-voted the signed clasp with the Watchdives trident, but I think it’s a nice touch. Nevertheless, the watch is not without problems. The underside of the case is a study in sharp edges and corners. The same can be said of the bracelet and clasp. I have several watches at this price point (Militado, Keaso, Pagani, etc) that have far smoother edges and transitions. And while these edges thankfully don’t make the watch uncomfortable, they detract from the experience of handling the watch. Some will say, “What do you expect for a sub-$100 watch?” But others are doing a better job. So my review is mixed. The WD1960S is a decent homage to the Ranger. But fit and finish are disappointing for a brand that aspires to compete with the more expensive offerings out there.

I’ve had this several days and have worn it most of that time. Some observations . . . Visually, it’s a nice watch. The enamel dial with applied indices is great and the sapphire glass is clear and without blemishes. Brushing on the case is fairly even and there are drilled lugs. With a sweep-second quartz movement, accuracy should be fine. The signed crown is a bit too small and could be a challenge for larger fingers. The bracelet, while jangly, has screw links and was a breeze to resize to my 6.5” wrist. Some reviews have down-voted the signed clasp with the Watchdives trident, but I think it’s a nice touch. Nevertheless, the watch is not without problems. The underside of the case is a study in sharp edges and corners. The same can be said of the bracelet and clasp. I have several watches at this price point (Militado, Keaso, Pagani, etc) that have far smoother edges and transitions. And while these edges thankfully don’t make the watch uncomfortable, they detract from the experience of handling the watch. Some will say, “What do you expect for a sub-$100 watch?” But others are doing a better job. So my review is mixed. The WD1960S is a decent homage to the Ranger. But fit and finish are disappointing for a brand that aspires to compete with the more expensive offerings out there.

Wearing my WD007T on WD’s new mesh bracelet for smaller (6.5”) wrists. It’s not perfect, but it definitely represents an improvement in fit over the original mesh bracelet that had too much overlap and too few holes to find a good fit. Both sections of the bracelet are obviously shorter and there are more holes for sizing. My only complaint is that there are sharp edges on the underside of the clasp head. WD could have solved this with just a little more finishing.

The FIRST watch of the day, Baltany’s S2032 “Dirty Dozen” homage. Basic quartz functionality in a nice case with a decent leather strap. Definitely a strap monster, and looks better on a nato or mn elastic band (see pix 2 & 3). Doesn’t get a lot of wrist time in a 20+ rotation. Like a lot of us on here, I’ll change watches during the day, so this is just the first of two or three.

​Made in China, with an AliE bracelet. Doesn’t get enough wrist time in my rotation. Incredible quality given the price point. Why do so many of the Chinese quartz watches on here—including expensive ones—have second hands that don’t line up with the indices? This is always spot on.

Just received this yesterday. Initial impression 7/10, but I think that’s improving as I wear it today. At 38mm it’s a nice size, especially for a 6.5” wrist. The case and dial look nice with decent fit and finish for a $65 watch. However, the lume is weak, on par with a Pagani and not nearly as bright as my ML16. The weakest component is the bracelet. It’s jangly and has some sharp edges on its corners and underside. Nevertheless, it was a breeze to resize with a pin removal tool. And with five micro-adjustment holes, it’s easy to find a proper fit. I have many automatics, so the sweep-second hand quartz for that set-it-and-forget-it ease is a nice compromise. I have several VH31 watches (including my other Militados) and they have proven reliable. I’ll revise my rating to 8/10 at this point.

Out and about on a sunny summer day in Gotham. It doesn’t get enough wrist time in my rotation, but every time I put this on I’m amazed at the quality vs price. Here it’s on an AliE sub-$20 bracelet that fits nicely.

Just arrived today—seven days from order to delivery in NYC. Beautiful watch that largely lives up to the hype of reviewers. Stay tuned.

Here’s my Sinn homage lineup, with a ML16, Englemaan Citadel, and SF752. The star of the group is the Englemaan, but each has its positives and negatives. I look forward to adding more, with a grail watch goal of a Sinn 556 in the future.

This Keaso K001 (Heimdallr) is one of those “under the radar” watches that didn’t generate a lot of fanfare, but impressed those of us who bought it. Taking styling cues from a number of sources, from CWC to Monnin-cased dive watches of the 70’s, it gives off a utilitarian vintage vibe. The fit and finish are good, bezel action is crisp without backplay, and the lume is surprisingly good. Even the bracelet is decent, with screw links. Toss in a set it and forget it quartz movement and you have a great daily beater at a roughly $80 price point.

Had waited a long time for an Englemaan, with most models having been unavailable for some time. Scored this gently used Citadel from EBay. It does not disappoint: the great packaging and case, fit and finish, lume, and wrist presence place it in the top tier of Chinese watches. It will be hard to take off this “gada” watch. I look forward to adding more models.