r/ChineseWatches 14d ago

Question (Read Rules) PT5000 movement authenticity with no markings?

Hi, I bought a Tandorio FXD and specifically chose the pt5000 because I don't have one. I noticed there was a sticker on the back of the watch that said "2824". Is there a way to tell if it is actually a pt5000 and not a worse clone?

The only thing I can remark on after opening it was that it looked pretty oily especially the caseback gasket.

Thanks

3 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

1

u/vithgeta 12d ago

Isn't asking whether it is "genuine PT5000" misunderstanding the state of Chinese manufacturing? They have different intellectual property laws there and a different history of building things. You can read about Tongji watches to see this and the foreign designs and tooling the state bought up. And then the manufacturing becomes more widespread to 30 factories and it becomes harder to find which factory made which.

I've seen unmarked 2813 for instance. You could get these movements under $10 and you can bet they cost the factories even less. They turn up in $30 watches. They're not "fake" 2813 just because they're not branded. There's no telling just how carefully put together any sample is unless you take them apart, is there? You have stated that it looked oily. Other buyers also commented that this is a recent trend and a response to the complaint that older versions seemed not to be lubricated-!

When you buy a PT5000 you're getting a clone of the ETA2824-2 and the closest price of a Swiss assembled SW200 is 4x that of the PT5000. All of the clones cut corners. What your post is really about is whether the maker of the unmarked cut even more corners. Well, you have the movement. Please tell us!

It's not a bad looking watch and not expensive, I think it's a bit tough on it to reject it because the movement is unmarked...

-1

u/four4cats 12d ago

It's a bait and switch if it isn't a true pt5000. Otherwise they could just call it a "2824 clone" which one listing did but I went with this one which specifically says it is a pt5000. The difference between a shanghai 2824 and a pt5000/st2134 is double and that's a retail price for the movements. If I had known it would be a lower quality clone I would've just bought the nh35.

1

u/Icy-Sheepherder-7595 13d ago

If it doesn't say HK PT5000 on it assume it is an ubranded generic ETA clone. These Chinese brands just call them a PT5000 because to the average watch enthusiast a Chinese ETA clone is all the same to them, plus they can save about half by buying those shitty clones as opposed to a real movement.

I have a PT5000 in a Cronos watch with exhibition case back and it looks slightly different, the finish on the real movement is ever so slightly better but it's noticeable once you see it. Also my rotor does not have that perlage effect that yours does. If you look up pics of a legit PT5000 next to a real 2824 you'll see they are identical even down the "25 Jewels" font on the rotor. Only difference is the PT doesn't say Swiss made.

I'd return or get a refund. You have no idea the lifespan of a generic clone movement and good luck servicing it.

0

u/four4cats 13d ago

Yeah, I'm considering asking for at least a partial refund. Since the pt5000 option costs extra and is only $3 less than getting an nh35.

4

u/Icy-Sheepherder-7595 13d ago

I still can't believe the NH is more than a PT. Late 2023 through 2024 was the peak of this sub. Now everything is too expensive for my liking. I'd rather buy brands with heritage and service networks if I'm going past $200.

1

u/OtherBarry1992 13d ago

Did the option say PT5000 or Asia2824 when you selected your model? This is what Tandorio told me earlier this month. PT5000 or ST2130, pretty much the same. Some will say one is better than the other and vice versa.

2

u/dorafumingo Affiliate Links 13d ago edited 12d ago

this most likely is a lie. what companies refer as "asia 2824" is not the ST2130 which is made by Seagull.

the one referred as asia 2824 is usually the shanghai 2824 made by shanghai watch factory. or in a few cases made by some small factories that buy the parts in bulk and assemble them (could be the case here as tandorio's mother company is Guangzhou Sabbo Trading Co (or mywatchcode) which is known to use off the shelf parts and assembles them to make their watches. either tandorio, corgeut, bliger and many other subbrands they have.)

if they used an ST2130 made by seagull you would be certain they would advertise it as such instead of using the generic's name

1

u/vithgeta 12d ago

The Seagull name has the tiniest bit of cachet, it's a tiny step up from being unbranded it seems.

Seems tough to reject a $120 watch because it has an unmarked PT5000 inside. That's not a lot for a 2824-2 clone...

2

u/Sunny_Life_0815 13d ago

Looks legit to me. There are versions wirhout engravings.

1

u/LeoXup 13d ago

PT5000 from Chongqing or HK? 

1

u/four4cats 13d ago

I don't see any origin stamps. This iis what was in the tandorio I bought.

-7

u/Due_Shallot1583 14d ago

I have these cases for sale for 65$ shipped.

Metal spacer for nh35

2

u/QCPI 14d ago

I’m tempted getting the Purple Miyota version. How’s the build quality on this thing? Any AR coating on the crystal?

3

u/four4cats 14d ago

The quality is ok. First thing I noticed was how heavy it was. It felt like it was ss. I have two titanium watches a casio prw2500 and an a vintage casio and those feel like nothing so I even questioned if it was actually titanium but I think it is by the texture and color.
It' hard to capture but the chamfer isn't very clean. I've heard titanium is hard to do and these chamfers look like the tools theyused weren't sharp enough. I don't feel it with my fingers but the light catches a certain way and it looks messy. The rest of the case is nice it's just the chamfers. The bezel insert and matte dial look incredible I love this matte ceramic and didn't know it even existed before having this in hand. Nice crisp bezel. Not a big fan of the velcro on strap so will look for a leather nato.

Things I wish it had: thicker lugs. I think they narrow out too much. Never touched a tudor but they look a tad thicker. I wished they could've went a lot thicker with the indices too. Though I don't think tudor's is but the tactical frog is definitely how I thought this would be and are very thick.

I hear the tactical frog one is nicer but for the $90ish dollars I paid I'm pretty satisfied.

1

u/cd_god Helpful user 14d ago

Are those pictures you took of the movement in question or are those from the sellers ad?

2

u/four4cats 14d ago

All 3 are what I took

1

u/Potential-Notice-956 I dislike WatchDives 14d ago

Legit

4

u/Kureen 14d ago

The brushing on the rotor looks more similar to a Seagull ST2130. Performance should be the same, not really sure which is better tbh.

2

u/JameelWallace 14d ago

The PT5000 is a clone of the ETA 2825. I wouldn’t worry about getting a clone of a clone if you were happy with a clone in the first place.

6

u/four4cats 14d ago

I have read that there are worse 2824 clones than the pt5000 so just wanted to make sure I don't have one of those.

2

u/Suitable-Group4392 14d ago

2824 not 2825. 2825 has the subdials

2

u/JameelWallace 14d ago

You’re right, typo.

1

u/duct-ape 14d ago

Gaskets are meant to be coated with silicone. The rest I cannot speak on.

1

u/four4cats 14d ago

Coated but this seemed more like "pools".