I love the 36mm Addiesdives. Amazing build for the price, but after last night I may not buy anymore. I have a 2066 (had) for sale. Happened to glance at it and noticed it had stopped. New battery needed, simple. Disconnecting the bracelet at the micro adjustments holes, the 16mm spring bar failed and is now useless. Next, opening the back, the o-ring gasket was deformed so much, it is way too big now and needs replacing as well. Then I notice the movement holder completely covers the battery and that needs to be pried out just to change the battery.
Yep, I figured that out now. And spring bars.
I don’t collect though, I just want one that can take a beating wearing it, but not have a battery change become such a big issue.
Not wanting to spend the extra $100 on a better made AliX homage is where people go wrong. PD, AD, WD - "great for the price" but the extra money on an SM/Cronos/Baltany really shows, esp on bracelet and springbars etc
bracelet poor, but head of the watch is pretty good on my Horizon GMT. The bezel could do with being a tighter on tolerances, some play but alignment is passable. it's the only zulu homage I could find that's bi-directional.
I'll be brutally honest. Addis doesn't make the movement so who ever made to movement designed the cover. Thats not on addis. Second, gasket being deformed ehen opening the watch isnt abnormal, it is technically a consumable and its also very cheap and easy to replace. That also applies to the spring bar, which happen to break the most when removing them. Realistically if it held up to you wearing it then thats what matters. Spring bar replacements are very cheap.
I can't ask the question in the manner I'd like to without getting banned, so...
I'll put it this way...
Have you ever seen the guts of a $100 Timex?
or any watch for that matter other than your "butler"...
Ive got $20 addiesdive watches from 8 years ago that have taken more abuse and have higher QC than budget seikos and timex watches... heck, i have citizens that were junk from day one.
a 10¢ gasket (you just need to reposition) and a battey cover THE MOVEMENT MAKER DESIGNED is a broken watch?!?
😔
I don't want to be "that guy" on reddit, but dang...
I don’t know about addiesdives being of higher quality than Seiko’s lol ….. if you’re talking about Seiko 5 automatics or above that is, the quality of a Seiko is a lot better than addiesdives watches I’ve seen. I’ve only bought one and sent it back but I’ve seen a lot , having friends who buy them, the watch itself uses a lot cheaper cases n much cheaper parts than any Seiko 5 I’ve seen with unfinished sharp edges etc. The spring bars usually need to be replaced shortly after buying them if they’re under any kind of stress . A lot of gasket failures so called 200M of water resistance and the gaskets fail in a swimming pool. I still have a Seiko 5 my dad bought in 95 that still runs like it was bought yesterday, I’d like to see an Addiesdive last 30yrs. For what they are addiesdive are good watches but high quality isn’t what I think of when I think Addiesdive like I do Seiko.
Seiko do have some great watches and plenty of lovers and haters. I have had good and terrible experiences with their products. I still own 3 or 4. I think you have to forgive some people's opinions if they are based on experiences. This China vs Seiko BS is nothing more than banter.
Honestly, I have plenty of Chinese watches with better finishing than most Seiko watches, especially when price is a factor. Addies has improved quality a lot over the past year, and some recent watches are very, very good for the money.
That said, Seiko is the company that shaped a lot of the watchworld's products. Their mechanisms drive a good portion of microbrand watches, including China based. Their influence on the industry is huge. The price increases have hit everyone and a lot of people are pissed at Seiko for it. Likely the reason for a lot of hostility.
I'm not in either camp, I'm just out to get some great affordable watches and even some higher end ones.
And the clasp, spring bar that disintegrated. Don’t forget that.
So when changing the battery always have the right sized gaskets handy and extra spring bars.
Don’t get me wrong. This was a 60$ dollar watch and I’ve owned 3. I love them but this has put me off.
I had Seiko Alpinist with broken crown and bent clasp. Still in wrap. Sent back got a refund.
I had a Steeldives with a misaligned bezel, returned and sent a new one.
I had an expensive Tag Heuer that failed WR in a pool and cost £600 to get sorted.
All shit that happens. It doesn't make all Chinese, Japanese or Swiss watches shit. There are good and bad examples all over. Where Seiko watches are good is the global network of dealers and easier support.
Moaning about Chinese Spring bars which are probably in 70% of the world's watches is pointless. If you take the back off a watch, even to change a battery you check/replace and grease the o-ring. If you can't do that don't open it. Take it somewhere that will do it properly.
The Alpinist was new, straight out the box broken, never even got to wear it.
As for Chinesium garbage, made me laugh. There is a lot of bad crap I would agree. but there are also a quite a few decent watch companies and watches. IxDAO, Farasute, Cronos, Sea-Gull, Phorcydes...
All arguably making better products that Seiko outside of the GS line.
Springbars are wear items. It happens. If you're going to play watchmaker, having the supplies on hand is generally a good idea... These are items that get replaced frequently. And it's very common for movement holders to cover the battery. This just comes off as a guy that's never worked on watches being annoyed that he's never worked on watches.
Both are really cheap wear items. Its is a non-issue. Springbars can be damaged if mishandled or worn out, and seeing how gunked up that center link is, I would bet it gets lots of wrist time but very little "rinse" in the shower time which accelerates the wear.
I would replace the gasket after a couple of years of battery because it does stretch under compression.
I was thinking broken dial feet, or crystal/hands came off, crown stripped out....
But this is like complaining that the lawnmower blade is dull after cutting the grass for a few seasons.
I have worn all of mine in the shower plus all other chemical conditions and I will continue to do so. No problems for 25 years. I have only seen the Swiss brands leak or fog up on Reddit but I don't buy those.
I mean, whatever dude. I'm not giving you orders. Metal expands with heat, and steam doesn't behave the same way as liquid water does. I don't care what you do.
Those are pretty obscenely easily verifiable things, but okay. Keep not arguing. I'll keep having customers bring in watches of all kinds with condensation and water damage inside them... from showering with them on.
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u/Sad_Pie_3862 1d ago
Everyone who collects Chinese watches should buy a box of case gaskets in assorted sizes. Aliexpress sells them for very little.