I have been gaining knowledge about mechanical watches since the Thai general luxury watch scandal. Mainly because I want to understand how its value. It just a timekeeping device. My phone does it better. Why we need an expensive wristwatch? It is a question I try to understand for myself. I got my first mechanical watch after long research and I got Seiko SARB017 Alpinist. It really takes beats. I wear them to do everything and It got so many scratches on its body. So I decide to purchase a second mechanical watch. This time I looking for more dressy and good looking watch for a small amount for money to spend. I watched a video on YouTube about $100 watch and found a really beautiful and high spec watch. It is the Cadisen C8097 from an unheard brand from China. People might think the quality must be shit but I have bought many things on AliExpress and most of them really fine except once when I bought a too cheap too be the real stuff. It should be fine I guess. And this time it really the best quality watch I ever bought.
The spec of Cadisen C8097
- Movement: Miyota 9015 Automatic Japanese. It got high beat 28,800 vibrations per hour, it really smoothes the second-hand sweep, 40 Hours power reserve, Hack to stop second hand when adjusting the time, Hand-windable to manually add power reserve, and date. The cost of the movement like $85 already. Really accurate movement, mine got average +0.5 s/day this is better than some 10x price swiss watch.
The movement accuracy
- Case: Stainless Steel, 40mm dial, 46mm lug to lug best for normal size men wrist. 20mm lug can easily fit many straps. Hight 10mm is slightly slim. 50m water resistance can wash hands with it no good for swimming.
- Dial: Scratch-proof sapphire crystal on both front and the back showcase. Slightly dome crystal on top and no anti-reflection coasting (I guess). White cream dial, silver minute mark with a diamond on 12. Metal hands and blue painted second hand. The date window is framed nicely by a polished border.
Sapphire crystal on both front and the back using a diamond selector II
- Band: cheap, not soft, good looking leather strap with butterfly clasp. I don’t like how it uses. I swap to another buckle strap immediately.
My ReviewI use it for 4 months, it a really reliable mechanical watch. I use it for my everyday office work. The blue second hand is darker than expected. It is really easy to read the time. The back shows beautiful of the movement work. The automatic-self-wind rotor can cause a small noise when move. The weight of the watch is lite but noticeable. From the spec and ~$100 price, it is the best value for the money mechanical watch I ever found.
Link to buy Cadisen C8097:http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dZnbBMC
