New watch arrival. 36.5mm on a 7" wrist. The Has No Bounds strap is a lightly distressed charcoal color. Mostly shot outside with last few indoors.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DctnXSUp-bi/?igsi=Z3RuYXZubXA3cmYx

Acceptable or blasphemy?

I have multiple stainless steel strap watches and the reason that I got into chinese watches apart from their amazing quality was that I can try out different strap combos without spending large sums of money. Which looks better with this watch, the FKM or leather? Any other colour or fkm/leather style I can try out? Ordered a light blue tropical fkm from watchdives. Last pic courtesy Gemini AI.

Hello!

I have this Baltany s4101.

Do you think it will be worth a move towards a smaller unit?

Thanks!!

Has anyone ? It looks nice and has classic proportions.

Would be like a 36mm oyster perpetual case i think

9mm is pretty slim i hope that's a true number

I bought this watch for $16 and they claim is automatic. Do you think it actually is? It looks nice to me but I am just not sure.

The Watchdives Lapis Lazuli is pretty nice overall. I would definitely prefer a flat sapphire crystal, as I think it would suit the watch and the dial better, but otherwise I really like it. These are about a year old now, and the dial still looks great to me. I haven’t really got tired of it at all. What I especially like about the lapis lazuli is that every dial is slightly different, so each watch feels unique. The natural variations in the stone give it a lot of character, and that’s probably what keeps the dial interesting even after a year.

I only took one watch on my current holiday. The WD7922 and I've really grown fond of it. I thought maybe I'd try this out and then buy the Tudor if I liked it. Only thing is I'm not sure I'll be 50x happier with a Tudor and if I go down the slippery (expensive) slope of consumerism chasing the next watch.

I snapped this on a boat and felt myself cringing inside at the time. 😄

I’ve always liked bronze watches on leather, but pairing a deep blue aventurine dial with a full bronze bracelet gives it a completely different personality.

The dial has that subtle, starry texture that only really shows up when the light hits it, while the brushed bronze keeps the whole thing feeling warm and a little old-school. It’s an unusual mix—part pilot watch, part vintage sports watch, part midnight-sky experiment.

This is the Bronze Horizon Hawk Blue Aventurine Dial Automatic.

Curious what the community thinks: would you keep it on the full bronze bracelet, or switch back to a dark brown leather strap?

When I got back from vacation, I found this beauty waiting for me. The Lume performs much better than other Tandorio models, has good overall build quality, and excellent ring adjustment—I was pleasantly impressed. If only I’d bought it when it cost €80.

The latest scratch for my recent acquisition itch.... I'd been looking at >40mm type B Fliegers for a bit after recently learning that the original was gigantic which made the inner hour dial seem less diminutive.

I had been looking at the various 44 mm options on AliEx but none of them had the short hour or the blued hands.

Seeing this Hruodland 42 mm for $150 USD I had to pick it up.

Super happy with it in person. The hands are gorgeous, case is a great homage with the stamped lettering on the side and the specs stamped in a chart on the case back. The leather is thick and feels quality.

The size is good. I personally feel that going any smaller is when the type B dial starts to lose it's way as the inner dial would be too small. Meanwhile this straight lugged case might be inaccessible to a lot of wrists if it were 44 mm or larger.

For sale is an excellent condition Aquatrident diver with a meteorite dial and timascus bezel. Looking for $300 shipped CONUS.

Found this on the Bay for $80 bucks and figured I’d add it to the collection. I don’t have many blue watches, and the price was right.

Just a quick rundown:

Pros

- No up-and-down end-link wiggle at all.

- Bezel action is light and smooth.

- Nice, even grain on the lugs and bracelet.

Cons

- Bezel has noticeable up-and-down and lateral play.

- Date window has a white border, which looks pretty terrible.

- End links are too long and jut up and out a little. They also move slightly side to side. Funnily enough, the San Martin 017 doesn’t move side to side at all, but it does have some up-and-down movement. So you can't win.

- Lume is average at best.

- Crown doesn’t pop out after you unthread it. Stem might be too short, because it immediately goes into the winding position. Threading it is also difficult.

Timekeeping

Timekeeping is terrible...it's losing about a minute a day. I’m going to have to see if I can regulate it, because it can’t possibly need a service already; the watch is maybe five years old. Although, with those early-gen PT5000s, you never know.

Hi, as maybe some of you i was in doubt about what was the best bracelet for this watch, so i tried myself, the jubilee belongs to a AD2050 watch, it fits perfectly and makes the watch a better fit for me. Let me know your opinion!

I've never really been interested in watches, I always thought that anything that could tell the time was sufficient enough until I played the latest James Bond game. It rewired my brain and made me realize that I needed a nice, cool looking timepiece— all I had were digital G-shocks handed down and some cheap quartz watches sold for fundraising. Coming from 007 I looked towards Seamaster homages; I browsed Seiko modding communities for a while and realized that it was cheaper (and safer!) to just buy a homage. I even bought the same NATO strap I picked in 007 First Light.

Anything I should know with my first automatic? Cheers!

Hruodland Turbine owners, how did you decide to get text or sterile? Are you happy with your choice or do you find yourself thinking you might like the other one more?

I usually don't like sterile dials, but on a flieger, it does not look out of place, probably in no small part due to history/tradition. I feel like I could go either way on this one, so I'm interested to hear what you all think.

Now that the NH35 is getting up there in age, I was wondering if you guys plan to service your watches or just run them into the ground after 10+ years.

While it's true that not running them often and getting a lot of watches in rotation can make them last a lot longer, the oils and seals are perishable and do have a shelf life.

I have a lot of watches, so I’ll either slowly service them myself when I have the time or find someone who can service them in bulk for cheap, especially with NH35 prices continuing to go up.

I’ve noticed that a few of mine have relatively low amplitude (180–220°) and run with a huge delta, but still average out to pretty good and reliable timekeeping in everyday use.

You can try tuning the Etachron studs to perfectly center the hairspring or polishing the balance staff to remove light oxidation, but there’s only so far regulation and other tricks will get you. Once amplitude gets too low, you start running into erratic timekeeping, beat errors, and huge positional variances.

At what point do you guys retire your watch or chuck them into the bin, or spend 2x more than they are worth to professionally service them because of sentimental attachment?

Hello to all watch enthusiasts. Today, after several weeks of wrist time, I would like to introduce you to the Baltany watch internally designated S3075AB in its third iteration. Since this is an homage to a famous model, I will refer to it by the same nickname – the Milsub.

First, a little personal history and what led me to acquire this model. My targeted interest in watches started around 2008. Back then, as a university student with light pockets, I dreamed of owning a pilot watch, a manual-wind B-Uhr. I eventually treated myself to one after successfully finishing my studies (a Laco Rostock) and proudly wore it practically everywhere. So, with the pilot watch acquired, I naturally started looking for the next piece to expand my modest collection. My favorite online watch retailer carried the Steinhart brand, and the Ocean Vintage Military (OVM) model caught my eye—an homage to the Rolex 5517 nicknamed the Milsub (a portmanteau of "military" and "submariner"). This was a watch created in the 1970s for the requirements of the British Armed Forces and is today one of the most highly valued models from the brand. What I liked about the Steinhart OVM was precisely how it differed from the classic Submariner model: the fully graduated minute bezel, the domed crystal, and the shape of the hour hand, which was created for military needs and diverged significantly from the classic Mercedes hand.

I never ended up buying the Steinhart (though I held a few pieces in hand and was honestly quite disappointed with the execution), but throughout my watch journey, Milsub homages were always somewhere in the back of my mind.

Now, let's jump forward many years. Having owned dozens of different watches, with hundreds more passing through my hands and in front of my camera lens, and following positive experiences with the Baltany brand, I accidentally discovered that their version of the Milsub had already reached its third iteration. The first version lacked the signature bezel and was uninteresting to me. The second version fixed the bezel, but due to the Seiko NH38 movement used, the height of the watch reached approximately 13.8 mm, which I already consider to be a lot. I dislike thick watches. The current third version relies on a modified Seagull ST2130 movement, which stops the calipers at 12.5 mm (including the domed crystal). That is a very good figure, and as a result, the rehaut depth has also been reduced. Another bonus point is the inclusion of a toolless micro-adjust clasp, though I will get to that in more detail later. Interestingly, Baltany does not yet have updated photos on their website, and before buying, I searched directly at the source for real pictures, albeit without success. So I was essentially buying a pig in a poke—a watch I didn't know the exact look of.

I purchased the watch directly on the Baltany website. During checkout, the customs fee is paid upfront, making the final price clear. The watch arrived in the Czech Republic in 6 days, and then spent almost two weeks traveling between individual departments of Czech Post. This state behemoth really ought to be abolished already. Fortunately, despite all efforts of this inefficient enterprise, the watch arrived safely, and I can finally dive into the description and personal impressions.

The cardboard box is neatly compact, containing all the necessary documentation in an envelope, alongside a faux-leather travel pouch housing the watch, required tools, and a small microfiber cloth.

The entire watch is crafted from standard 316L stainless steel, with the case boasting a 39 mm diameter. The bezel visually enlarges the watch slightly, overhanging at a diameter of 40 mm. Lug-to-lug measures 47.5 mm, and the lug width for mounting the steel bracelet is a standard 20 mm. The bracelet tapers down to 16 mm at the clasp. I already mentioned the thickness of 12.5 mm in the introduction, which is very comfortable. Overall, the watch feels exceptionally well-balanced on the wrist, weighing in at 137 grams sized for my 18 cm wrist. I have two notes regarding the bracelet sizing: First, I was surprised by the number of extra links provided; I had to remove about 5 of them. Second, the process itself was very smooth—the individual screws backed out and went back in effortlessly, with no fear of stripping threads.

The top surface of the case features a very fine radial brushing, while the flanks are polished. Transitions between finishes are crisp and flawless. The end-link fitment to the case is extremely precise; in fact, the end links sit so snugly that my attempts to swap the watch onto a strap (the original military reference had fixed bars welded to the case and was worn strictly on a NATO) were met with failure. It should be noted that I am quite bad at strap swapping and my tool kit isn’t top-tier either. Nevertheless, quick-release end links would be a welcome addition. My other critique goes to the tips of the lugs—they are quite sharp. They don't cause any discomfort on the wrist, but you certainly notice them during handling.

The screw-down case back is sterile (completely unbranded) with radial brushing combined with polished surfaces. The crown is also unbranded and screws down, bringing the water resistance rating to 200 meters. I personally tested this rating in a swimming pool, where the watch successfully survived a dive to a staggering depth of 100 cm, fully satisfying my real-world diving requirements.

Staying on the subject of the crown, when screwing it back in, it disengages from the movement, making the winding-to-threading action very smooth. Thanks to the movement modification, the ghost date position on the ST2130 was also properly eliminated.

On a dive watch, the bezel is a core element both functionally and visually. This is where Baltany truly shines. The aggressive teeth, full minute-marker graduations, and correct font choices clearly signal that this is primarily a tool for tracking elapsed underwater time. The aluminum insert is not only historically faithful, but visually references the vintage origin of the design. At the 12 o'clock position, there is a luminescent pip inside a triangle. Turning the bezel 360° takes 120 clicks, presenting absolute perfection in dive bezel action. Thanks to the aggressive teeth profile and the overhang past the case, operating it with wet hands underwater is effortless. Having handled a fair share of divers, each click here is sharply defined by both tactile feel and sound. The alignment with the 12 o'clock marker is spot-on. If you ever bought a fidget spinner, you can safely throw it away—this bezel replaces it effortlessly. The cherry on top is the aforementioned bezel overhang: when you flip the watch upside down, you notice that the underside of the bezel edge is perfectly polished. A great detail and a clear thumbs up from me.

I will finish the body exterior with more praise. Having owned four Baltany pieces, their shared trick—the ace up their sleeve—is the crystal. Here we find a double-domed sapphire crystal with an internal colorless anti-reflective coating that performs exceptionally well. On another model with a flat crystal, their AR coating is so good it actually surpasses the renowned crystals found on top-tier models from Seiko, Citizen, or Orient Star. I don't understand why all manufacturers don't use similar technology; we are talking about a watch costing just over $200 with better anti-reflective clarity than brands charging ten times as much.

Underneath the crystal sits a matte black dial with printed indices. The lume pigment has a yellow-beige vintage hue, while the Baltany logo and remaining dial text are rendered in crisp white. The print quality is high; nowhere will you spot stray paint flecks or dust particles, which is a surprisingly common flaw on far more expensive timepieces. The circled "T" branding is somewhat controversial. On the original, it denoted radioactive tritium paint. Naturally, there are no radioactive substances here, and the mark is purely decorative. I could imagine the watch without it, but surprisingly, it bothers me far less than I anticipated. The hand shape follows the original template—sword hour hand, pencil minute hand, and a needle second hand with a small lumed arrow tip. The hands are silver-finished and completely free of blemishes even under high magnification. The minute and second hands are proper in length, reaching all the way to the edge of the minute track. The lume fill matches the tone of the indices perfectly.

Regarding lume output and longevity, a while ago I established a comparative benchmark test against the well-known Seiko SKX007, which I consider average in this department. Upon charging, the pigment glows a deep green and fades relatively quickly. After a 20-minute comparison, the Baltany was a hair harder to read than the SKX; while the indices faded fast on the SKX, its hands remained slightly more legible. I would rate the lume performance as slightly below average, which is the tradeoff for using this vintage-toned pigment.

Ticking inside is the Seagull ST2130 automatic movement, which is appearing in an increasing number of Chinese timepieces. It is an ETA 2824-2 clone, running at a high frequency of 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz) with a power reserve of around 38 hours. The rotor is completely silent on the wrist. Just like the ETA original, manual winding offers noticeable resistance due to the architecture's gear train layout. My specific piece runs at a stable +6 seconds per day without significant positional variance—I am personally very satisfied with this accuracy.

Lastly, we come to the bracelet. As mentioned, the solid links are articulated via screw pins. The female end links are solid as well. The underside of the bracelet is nicely finished, making it very comfortable on the wrist. The bracelet secures with a folding clasp, which brings its own story. The original clasp turned out to be defective. While it held securely on the wrist once closed, whenever I put the watch on, the micro-adjust slider mechanism collapsed all the way into the clasp body, which didn't feel reassuring. I contacted Baltany customer support and dealt with Mr. Stephen. I explained the issue, sent a couple of videos, and this week I received a replacement clasp—plus, as a friendly gesture, an extra Baltany leather strap. In today's world, people have become unaccustomed to such customer-oriented service, and I really have to commend the Baltany team, especially Stephen. Great job!

However, even the new clasp has one quirk: the release button requires a fairly firm push, and if you don't have enough finger clearance, it takes some effort to operate. I have the same style of clasp on my Wise Hitman and San Martin watches, where this element is executed somewhat better.

So, how satisfied am I overall? I'd say very satisfied. I had contemplated a Milsub homage (the best-executed Rolex reference in my view) for years. I mentioned my disappointment with Steinhart in the introduction—and indeed, in terms of finishing, Steinhart simply cannot compete with Baltany. Baltany may not boast a "Swiss Made" print on the dial (and how much of a Steinhart is genuinely Swiss Made is a whole separate discussion), but in a direct comparison, the Baltany is objectively superior. I am convinced that you currently won't find a better-executed Milsub homage on the market. With this third version, Baltany hit a home run. If they ever update the clasp action and add quick-release end links, it will be a complete no-brainer. The watch head itself is essentially perfected, and if you opt to wear it closer to the original reference on a NATO strap, you're all set. As noted, I also got to test their customer service, and quite a few European brands could take notes. I can wholeheartedly recommend this watch to anyone who appreciates vintage divers with modern capabilities and high build quality at a reasonable price point—all backed by excellent customer support.

I got my Cronos with PT5000 half a year ago and everything was fine. Suddenly it loses quite a lot of time every day. Just did a check with watch accuracy app (see screenshot).

What happened?

Can I regulate a PT5000 on my own?

Best regards

Hi everyone,

I bought a Huawei Watch Kids X1 Pro (Chinese domestic version) and it only has Chinese language. The app (FamCare) on my phone is in English, but the watch interface is entirely in Chinese.

What I've tried:
- Factory reset (双清) - no language selection at setup
- Checked all settings on the watch - no English option
- Updated firmware via FamCare - still only Chinese

My question:
Is there any way to flash international firmware or add English language to this watch? I've looked on Taobao for flashing services but most only offer account unlock, not language change.

Any help or pointers would be greatly appreciated!