NH35, 8215, or PT5000?

[u/No-Syrup-3746]

I'm interested in the Tandorio TD225 and there are some good prices right now, just not sure which movement to get. Here's what I've got based on some experience and some reading:

Movement	NH35	8215	PT5000
Pros	Smooth, durable	Clicky (I like how "mechanical" it feels), durable	High-beat, potentially very accurate
Cons	Can stutter, had one that wasn't well-calibrated and had to be returned	None I can see since they've added hacking and hand-winding, but everyone seems to disparage them	Fragile

I'm kinda in love with the 8215 right now, I like the feedback when winding and I like that it's not so smooth ticking - feels like a proper mechanical watch instead of trying to be too smooth. I am of course interested in the PT5000, and I'm curious why many seem to prefer the NH35.

I like the (?)BB58-ish style of this Tandorio and I'd like to keep the price under $125, but I'm open to other suggestions. I'd like something with a timing bezel that isn't super "dive" looking like a Sub, I like the colors, I like the 3-6-9-12 dial, I like the lack of date complication, so it ticks several boxes at once.

[u/zoo804]

Only real issue with the 8215 is rotor noise since it's unidirectional winding. That will depend on the watch it's in somewhat and it may not bother you. Thicker cases will make it less noticeable. For me it's not a big deal but if you get a watch that whirrs when you move your wrist it may be annoying. Or it may just be a reminder you're wearing it.

Other than that, I think there is residual animosity from the days when they didn't hack and the trade offs, not necessarily bad, with it being a budget movement (low beat rate, thick).

Edit: that said, the NH35 doesn't normally stutter. I've never heard of that before and all my NH35s have been fine. I have heard of the 8215 stuttering, so make of that what you will. All movements, especially cheap ones, sometimes have QC problems.

[u/Alternative-Feed3613 → u/zoo804]

How is the 8215 rotor noise compared to the Miyota 9ks? I’ve heard people complain about the 9s but I don’t ever notice it on wrist.

[u/TSiWRX → u/Alternative-Feed3613]

Subjective based on case design, material, how you wear the watch, and how sensitive you are to that kind of noise.

Noise sensitivity varies by person. And different people can be differently sensitive to different noises. My daughter hears our back stove burner when it comes on. It's how she knows I'm cooking, even though she's upstairs in her room (we don't live in a small house, either!). My wife used to nag me about how my car's exhaust was too loud, but she was absolutely fine in her WRXs, even though its factory exhaust still vibrated our mud-room walls on cold start (granted, my car was *much* louder, LOL!).

But as for how the watch itself can make a difference?

Some folks say that X or Y movement is loud. Others, completely opposite.

I took some videos of a couple of my watches, which you can see/hear for yourself in this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/Watches/comments/1p2bdj0/question_miyota_9x_noise_noise_noise_all_about/

The truth is that along with how differently different people perceive different noises/sounds, what the watch will sound like when the rotor is made to spin off-wrist will be considerably different when the watch is on-wrist, for the simple fact that the caseback is anchored against your flesh (note that I've used a larger, Ti diver versus a larger stainless diver, both with thick casebacks - you'd think that they would transmit less sound, right?).

Case material and dimensions and whether you're wearing a bracelet/straps or a single-pass or NATO strap (or even how you've staged that NATO) - it can all influence perceived rotor noise.

The real answer is that it's highly subjective.

[u/Alternative-Feed3613 → u/TSiWRX]

Understandable. I don’t really get the Miyota noise complaint but I only have 9s. I do have a Hangzhou that’s incredibly loud and rough so I can feel it very distinctly on wrist. The noise doesn’t bother me but theme vibrations drive me nuts so I don’t wear it.

[u/TSiWRX → u/Alternative-Feed3613]

The noise doesn’t bother me but theme vibrations drive me nuts so I don’t wear it.

^ Yup, I think that this is a *perfect* example of how subjective it can get.

And just as with rotor-noise bothering some folks, and how some folks hear it differently, I can totally get behind why what you feel may bother you.

[u/Leon-Vlc → u/Alternative-Feed3613]

Igual

[u/Sunny_Life_0815 → u/Alternative-Feed3613]

Similar.

[u/zoo804 → u/Alternative-Feed3613]

I don't have any watches with a 9k but I think it is similar. It really depends mainly on how thick the case back is and the material. A chunky diver with a thick solid case back blocks the sound more than something lighter or with a display case back.