Just One More Watch - Youtube reviewer

Cyclingtourist wrote: »

Interesting video on the Seagull 1963 from Just One More Watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFLqBdcbhkc

His info on this particular watch isn't really correct - unless he stated in the video that the 1963 isn't a Sea-Gull watch at all.

The Sea-Gull version of the watch is called the D304:
https://www.google.com/search?q=seagull+d304&client=firefox-b-d&sxsrf=ALeKk03IlYWVJ-Z39qzEqiIHU6Y2QJz__Q:1589139411777&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZu4zRharpAhUxonEKHUj_DYkQ_AUoAXoECAwQAw&biw=1920&bih=966

In terms of the 1963 variants (and it's something I followed closely on the Chinese mech forum) - none of them are "Sea-Gull 1963s" - some were made by Tslinen Sea-Gull in HK in the original batch.

You might notice that none of them have Sea-Gull logos or Sea-Gull wording. On the dial it states 21 jewels, Tianjin Watch Factory (that term isn't TM'd by Sea-Gull to my understanding hence it's more "homage"/inspiration than fake). They use ST1901 movements but you can buy these to install in anything you want.

He is right that HKED makes pretty good 1963s right now - but they aren't Sea-Gull watches (banie01 likes the bund version I recommended him too that HKED made for people who liked the column wheel chrono movement but not necessarily the 1963 vintage throwback).

So in short - none of the 1963s are Sea-Gull 1963s - so none of them could possibly be "fake".

You can go ahead and ask any guangzhou factory to make you a 1963 if you like - exactly what the 1963s currently look like and there would be no issue with anyone suing you for trademark infringement. If you made a D304 though Sea-Gull could pursue you for making a fake.

It's not helped by some sellers using the term "re-issue" which may suggest to some people that this was somehow officially sanctioned/released by Sea-Gull but instead it is like buying a Parnis or Alpha - not something directly from Sea-Gull themselves. Anything goes wrong you'll need to contact your seller and Sea-Gull won't be servicing this watch.

Speaking from personal experience - I don't think there is anything bad per se about Tags at all. Most don't speak to me however - in the past when they were using ETA and Valjoux movements it seemed like they were trading on previous Heuer prestige without trying something different (but then again watchmaking can be a pretty conservative industry - no-one complains about Calatravas not "pushing the envelope" - but TG weren't positioning themselves in that arena - but doing the F1 tie in - young/dynamic positioning).

TG's positioning can be seen in the very large depreciation they take on the 2nd hand market - you don't get the same with Rolex, Omega or even say a Seiko. Sadly they might be more like a Zenith (which is a brand I quite like for their one movement though) - as in unless you were happy to spend retail prices because you can afford anything you want and just wanted that Tag then you'll be in for a bad time if you ever want to sell your Tag.

Put it this way - when I got burgled they took my Speedmaster and Aquaracer - I immediately started search for a replacement Speedmaster - never did replace that Aquaracer because (to me) the design didn't speak out differently compared to the other chronographs I had already and it just didn't feel "special" to me.

@Fitzgeme - where do microbrands fit in on that graph?

I agree that you'll find that if in time you have 10 affordable watches you might have been able to get that Omega/Rolex etc. - but going through the process of the affordables and discovering what you like/don't like is valuable too. I keep a spreadsheet on my watches - incoming/outgoings - I have seen that yeah - with all the watches that I've owned - if I just saved all that I can buy into the Patek level etc. - but would I be truly happy not having experienced all those watches - rotating in and out? Maybe for some - if they knew from the beginning that they would be 100% satisfied with that Nautilus and save up for it - but...how would they even know about a Nautilus without having experienced a Seiko Turtle, Hamtun H2, Longines Hydroconquest etc. beforehand?

Would Wibbs be at 5, 6 or 7 I wonder?


@red - I think the graph is a little outdated now - Tag actually has become that cutting edge brand they kinda aspired to be back in the 00s - their mikrograph movement, mikrogirder, super accurate movement (that LVMH forced them to give to Zenith) all point to them actually producing some really innovative stuff - if I had a mikrogirder watch I wouldn't be selling that I think - it'd occupy an interesting niche in any watch collection.
https://www.calibre11.com/tag-heuer-mikrogirder-2000/
https://www.professionalwatches.com/whatever-happened-to-the-zenith-defy-lab/ (this movement was researched by Tag)

a "poopy Swiss" would be something more like Invicta I would have thought - and even they seem to have improved from their 00s pseudo-marketing BS of "RRP of 5 billion dollars so 99.999% off and available at only $900!!!"

I almost missed the edit you put in there Fitz - I guess I'd be the "helicopter" then - warning NSFW dictionary entry:
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=helicopter&utm_source=search-action

Pretty niche tastes.

I think another potential benefit from microbrands is that you might be able to communicate directly with the owner and 1) well it could go terribly if the brand is something that's a fly by night (and that might not even be the intention of the owner either) and no trace is there in 2-3 years' time or 2) you might be able to get in touch on a 1 to 1 basis and influence the design of watches directly at source (try writing in to Omega with your ideas, or even to Sea-Gull ha).

The graph probably needs to be updated though what with Seiko pushing their prices up - go get a respectable $50 Chinese (non-fake!) watch to get started into the world of automatic mechanicals - Seiko/Citizens might be 2nd stage now.

I'd also put in a Vostok phase - when you realise that the world isn't just Swiss and a $50 watch can be "cool" too

893bet wrote: »

I think you skipped 5 Fitz.......

I see Paul Thorpe is hanging up his watch. And the urban gentry. Can’t say I will miss either.

The one channels I watch every V iuideo of these days is watchfinder, timeless and bark and jack.

I don't think Urban Gentry is going away, it will probably just be in a slightly different format and with less regularity. I wonder do watch box actually own the rights to it now that his contract is up. Even though he's full of crap and apparently plagiarised a lot of material, the actual content is alright I think. I haven't really looked at it much recently but really enjoyed it when I first got into watches.

Timeless is the best channel around at the moment in my opinion. If you look past his massive ego, the quality of his videos are superb. He must put massive work into filming and editing them and obviously has the artistic streak. His Breitling in Sienna video is TV quality. Obviously the channel is mostly rolex but that's where his collection is at at the moment (Fitzgemes stage 4 I believe). He's the best salesman Rolex never had. I am not generally a big fan of Rolex designs but now all I can think of is the yachtmaster 40 in dark rhodium.

I find Bark and Jack to be a bit of a bluffer. His video on changing his mind on Bremont is vomit inducing. Archie (we won't even go there) did a hilarious response video https://youtu.be/TdQqW7TFxDg

So many of the channels are just the same old lazy reviews of the same watches though. Even at that, hardly any will actually give a proper analysis of the watch like watchfinder or timeless will.

One channel I can suggest (and not because he accepted a review of my watch ) is Relative-time - he goes the extra mile in filming the watches (putting different straps on them etc.) - but of course he is operating in the affordables arena and not looking at Pateks/Rolexs etc.

I can confirm that his reviews are honest too (i.e. no payment is necessary) and if a company decides to gift him a watch he apparently then auctions it off for charity later on too (and declares straight off that it was given to him).

Not afraid to point out flaws too and calls it as he sees it (he did a review on a Boldr watch where the 12 o'clock index was clearly misaligned - and said so).

He's covered a few Seiko watches etc. too so it's not just micro-brands.

Put it this way - a reviewer that writes back asking exactly how to pronounce Sólás - is taking his work seriously

Addilynn Rapid Sleepwear wrote: »

Then there is the pontiff...Archie Luxery aka Paul Pluta....say what you want but the entertainment value is something else, once you get into it and learn his shtick you soone realise this guy is a legend.

.

sometimes I actually have tears running down my cheeks I find him so funny.

unkel wrote: »

He says as much himself in the video I watched last night, mentions he had several Omegas before. Last minute or two:




I think I've just landed myself at stage 4 too, if you would have told me this would happen a few years ago, I would have laughed in your face

I think I'm at stage 4 mentally ..... eh except without having a Rolex

One other channel I watch is the TheWatches.tv - https://www.youtube.com/user/thewatchestv/videos

They only look at the really high end stuff mostly - and they're pretty much positive about all the pieces they handle (I guess you won't get much access to high end pieces if you trash their watches) but having that kind of access is pretty cool.

How many watch channels can get invited to tour through the ALS factory?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGAsib-4mCk

So I think it's useful and they don't overegg how wondrously marvellous each 250,000 piece is - and anyway if you were spending 250k on a watch you wouldn't really care two hoots what Joe Public thinks

I love that reef tiger. Might have to investigate that more, very nice watch

I do like a Flieger and I wouldn't be able to justify the Stowa over the Dekla even with Stowa having prominence.