Update on Alba Watch - It has now been just over 2 month since I got the watch and adjusted the time to my Swiss quartz watch, I have again compared the time keeping - Happy to report that the automatic movement has not deviated in the plus or minus, keeping exact time - just a great watch for the price !
Alba Watch last update: Almost 4 month now. I have checked the Alba watch and compared the time keeping against my Swiss Quartz watch and noticed a pronounced deviation of around 2.5 - 3 minutes going slow, not sure why the sudden change. I suppose it eventually had to go into a deviation of sorts. However it is not posing a big problem as you need to adjust the calendar date at least once every 2 or so month for the shorter month and when doing so you can adjust and correct the time too. Still a great watch and not loosing or gaining 30 seconds a day as per the specifications.😊
I have a Submariner homage and 6105 homage from Steeldive. For the price, the quality is just right. And the full-lume bezel is the cherry on top. Steeldive are now selling the Willard homage with a PT5000 movement on AliExpress, around $100 too!
For a few $$ more I would go for the Steeldive. It's a great tuna homage with NH35 and 300m. I can tell you don't feel well and I admire your work ethic. Praying for your quick recovery! By the way Jody I do shop at Aldi and your comparison is spot on. It brought a few chuckles on this end.
My Seiko 5 was destroyed and I needed a quick watch asap as cheap as possible and have an Alba and so far I’m happy with it. Here in Japan at least in my scenario my Alba came in a Seiko Box and the guarantee card mentions both names.
I purchased the 20 bar green dial ALBA automatic about 3 weeks ago, with the crown located at the 3 hour position. I could not be happier with this watch, it was cheap as it was on special at $155 AU. Now the the night illumination is fantastic, it lasts the whole night through, amazing ! I set the watch time to my swiss made quartz watch and after 9 days checking the time fluctuation I found it has neither lost nor gained time, another amazing feature !. I'm going to leave it running for more days and weeks and will check it against my quartz watch periodically. According to the write up it is about +/- 40 seconds per day., but have not experienced this kind of deviation as yet. Not sure then if ALBA made some kind of improvement or if the watch is a fluke !
I remember how thrilled I was when I bought my first automatic watch, a Seiko SNK805. Same 7S26 economy movement and an even more paltry 30m water resistence rating. It's saving graces? Principally the exhibition caseback, which allowed me, as a mechanical watch noob, to marvel at the rotor, tiny gears and balance wheel spinning away hour after hour, month after month, year after year. That and it's over-acheiving Lumibright lume and whatever incremental increase in scratch resistence Hardlex offers over normal mineral crystal. It's still in my collection and I love it. Everything's relative, Jody. The Alba is probably a lot more appealing to the neophyte watch enthusiast than those of us who've been in the game for a while. But I agree at it's price point a budding watch collector can find far better options. If Seiko had deigned to slap an exhibition caseback on this Alba-branded watch, it would be a more intriguing proposition.
I saw these appear at my local jeweller a couple of weeks ago and thought I'll wait for JOMW. I'm a sucker for a vintage seiko and I'm disappointed some of their TV dial models aren't available here in Australia from the distributor.
Some of the Wired stuff looks appealing too; their integrated bracelet chronos for under $200 are more like the Seiko of yore (except with solid endlinks!). I think these subbrands will bring the real budget value now that Seiko wants to push their brand upmarket.
Ordered an Alba once, waited keenly for delivery but once it was in front of me I felt really deflated. It just didn't quite measure up, much as you've described Jody, so the almost-Seiko was sent back the next day. The experience did make me appreciate the quality of the catalogue photographs though. That photographer was highly skilled!
My mate recently bought an Alba with proper Arabic (and I mean 'Arabic') dial here in Qatar and to be honest it is absolutely awesome - QR 220-00 or equivalent to US$ 60-00. It is an absolutely amazing piece!!!!!!
@@edwardfletcher7790 Morning Edward. To be honest I don't know the model but will find out and come back to you. I guess I'm comparing it to other watches in a similar price bracket including comparable Seiko models and others.
In my opinion Lorus (easier to find in the U.S. and Europe) and Alba are pretty good value Seiko sub-brands (if you get the right watch i.e. Lorus Lumibrite and Alba make a Titanium version of it) and are often priced where Seiko used to be. Plus they are brands watch enthusiasts recognize. Bracelets are like Casio bracelets ... which is why with the savings you ALWAYS swap then out.
This was the first I’d heard of Alba, so I looked them up while watching the video. I found the same Tuna homage that you reviewed on Amazon Canada and it was $351.90!! That’s a hefty price to pay to have the hair removed from my left forearm.
When I had a personal stereo back in the day I used a device that enabled me to turn my cassette tapes back by hand. My tape machine had a rewind ⏪ feature on it, but I figured it was saving me a heck of a load of battery 🔋 power in the process.
Mr. JOMW! I was a regular watcher a while back and have returned! (Though I haven't *really* stopped watching, just wasn't able to catch the videos on the day posted). Thanks for inspiring me to get into budget watches and watch modding! I now own 6 NH35, and 2 PT5000 powered watches now all built in the comfort of my own studio, with specs that would blow any retail watch at its price point out of the way! I'm very proud of them and it's all thanks to you for the inspiration! In addition, I've built watches as gifts to family and friends and they love em!
That's the problem with the budget sub brands. The Aliexpress watches are undercutting them. They provide better materials and movement for the same price.
Giving us some serious Sean Connery vibes with the voice, Jody! Get well soon! Alba I believe replacing Pulsar as Seiko's budget brand in Australia? Bit of a pity as I love a Pulsar.
Very glad to see you improving, Jody. The watchworld just wouldn't be the same without you. I too, am an avid shopper at Aldi's. IDK about the ones "Down Under," but the Aldi locations here in" the states," have non-food related items, where I find the best deals on all kinds of household items. Sheets, rugs, air-conditioners, cutting-boards, mixers....you name it. Most of the items, very well made for the price. 😄Seriously!!! For a minute I got excited, (as I've never heard of Alba) but then I remembered, that we are dealing w/ Seiko here. Lol. I just don't understand why they don't abandon the old "rolled-links" at this stage of the game. SMH. Bravo, Jody.....bravo👏!!!
Aldi Australia is very disappointing. They are all very small shops with a tiny range of products. 30% of the floor space is taken up by the weekly junk non-food specials. They occasionally get some great cheap high quality food items, but, they're only ever stocked for a month or two before deletion ! 😠
I have worn the Vostok as a daily for the past year and have to agree, its far better. Change the bezel and strap and it becomes gorgeous, very beautiful and the friction bezel is useful when you dont want to make noise.
Put some u.k. prices on it, lots of viewers over here love your channel. If you can that is. Love the vids make a lot of my collection choices on your reviews, top class stuff.
I think you are being a bit harsh on the Alba. When it comes to value for money, you really can't beat the Ali Express brands like Steel Dive, Pagani Design, Seestern and the like. Even Seiko and Orient watches would lose in such a comparison. What you do get with an established brand like Seiko (and its subsidiaries like Alba) is security - they have a reputation to uphold and customer service to match. Can the same thing be said about the Ali Express brands (and I am a fan of theirs, thanks in no small part to you :P)?
I was going to ask on a recent video when we were going to see Seikos (Pulsar, Lorus and I’d forgotten about Alba). These are presumably the reason Seiko is raising prices so it becomes mid-tier, these cover the budget market and Grand Seiko have high-end (with Credor in the horological space). They’re creating their own market from bottom to top.
I have a Seiko SKN800 series watch with the 7S26 movement. Bought it at probably 15 years ago for between 70 and 80 USD. I wear it everyday as my beater and the thing just won't give up the ghost. Since I'm a cheapskate I can't buy another watch until this one dies. It might just outlive me.
I don't know how you managed to snag one for what you got it for, as they're listed on the Alba Australia website for $240 AUD. This may be cheaper than a Seiko but certainly not bargain basement.
Great review as always and kudos for continuing to upload videos while being under the weather. 👍Get well soon! Not sure if they're made anymore but I've always thought the Alba bullhead chronographs are interesting. For $65.00 these days, the only thing you can buy with the Seiko name on it is a silicone strap with an oversized buckle and a metal keeper.
Thank you very much for this 'eye-opener'. I have the Seiko 5 SRPK53K1 (Pepsi Bezel) and was looking at the Alba AL4209X1 (Tokyo Neon) with a Jubilee bracelet - as I liked the colour combination, but the points you have raised here are very interesting and make a lot of sense. Subsequently, I have dropped the Alba purchase. Thank you very much, once again.
The lume on both my Alba and Lorus are standard lumibrite and full dial. So I don't get what is going on there. Got the Lorus for $40 and the Alba for around $90. Both quartz, though.
I always enjoy your videos, Jody. Will you review a Long Island Watch Islander at some point? I have a few of those already, and they seem excellent to me, but I'd love to hear your analysis. Get well soon.
It's not a disaster of a watch with a couple of nice features. The pressed and rolled links are usually found on cheap and nasty watches, utter crap. Good review
Not going to buy Alba, certainly not buying anything from Russia ever again, but I might pick up a Steeldive Tuna. That looks pretty sweet. The law of unintended consequences strikes again.
Didn't alba make VCRs in the 80s? Thought for a minute that was a future modding piece as a cheaper alternative...but sounds like there's too much to do lol. But the alternatives are definitely better 👍
@@rostokmcspoons Different Alba, much like the Japanese Kenwood (hi-fi maker) and the UK Kenwood (kitchen appliances) are separate firms. There again, Alba is also Gaelic for "Scotland".
@@Seele2015au yes it's unfair on them, but my friends being all of the same age as me grew up with those dodgy hi-fi's, and would immediately jump to the same memory! So I'd never go there. Just like I'd give Seestern a swerve, as it makes me think of toilet cisterns!
@@rostokmcspoons There's a British RUclipsr on audio equipment, who said that he recommended Kenwood hi-fi gear to a friend as it fitted his needs perfectly. He ended up buying something else: "I won't want to get hi-fi gear from a maker of kitchen appliances".
@@Seele2015au Haha :) I remember Kenwood is being quite upmarket, I think I lusted after their car stereos to replace the basic cassette decks in my first cars. And Kenwood mixers were quite the thing back in the day, I'm sure my mum lusted after one of those :D So basically the 'Alba' name's biggest problem is that it's associated with the bargain end of the spectrum both now, and historically. Well good luck to Seiko, they might not do too well in the UK with the name, but credit to them for bringing cheaper mechanical watches out.
if I spotted that watch in our local Aldi I would definitely check it out. However my wife wouldn't be all that happy with me, oh no not another watch Robert!, would be her reply.
I know the 7S26 ain't much to write home about, but damned if I haven't beat the absolute hell out of my Seiko SNK805K2 and she's still not in need of a service after about 7 years of ownership. Well, maybe 2.5-3 years of hard wear, then a lot of time on the winder. I appreciate that watch so much, it was my first automatic.
I've always found something endearing about the venerable 7s26. If they had one of these for $65 that looked like an SKX I'd get one for the novelty of it... if I hadn't bought an SKX013 clone with an NH35 on Ali for around that price a few weeks back. If only one of those sub brands like this or Lorus could bring those back and be to the SKX what the Black Bay 58 is to a Submariner!
Can't believe the price that you managed to get the Steeldive for!! Do they have regular sales or is it just a case of checking on the website daily? Hope your voice and throat get better soon.
Alba is just old Seiko 5.. same caliber, same bracelet. It is what it is. Usually when people bash Seiko for the new prices, I show them Alba or Lorus and say, go there, for the same price range as the old Seikos, and for the same build quality.
Great review, as usual, Jody! :) Between the clasp and the movement, I just don't see the appeal. If you're okay with a homage, you could get a Pro Diver that at least has a hacking movement and the NH35. It's got the same shitty clasp, but at least it's a *little* bit of an upgrade.
There's a frog in there! The Alba range is really decent, I'm just missing the sapphire. But at the prices the Alba's sell for, I can easily overlook that.
An opportunity to recommended a watch for small guys here. Alba aefd530(black bezel) or aefd529(silver bezel). Solar 200m(iso certified) diver at 38mm. A seiko submariner homage from the 90s. Killer specs and a good price and looks the part
Can you even buy Vostoks at the moment? Or more to the point, should you. Mine have been mothballed unti a slightly less evil and murdery regime is in charge of Russia, I'd not want to be explaing the providence to anyone who asked about them. ☹️
It just completely lacks personality, i don't mind corners being cut when i can still feel a some sort of connection with the watch but the alba looks like someone that'd give me a funny look for waving at them on the street
This review reminds me of when I finally realized that quartz watches are twice as accurate and half the price of a similar automatic, plus I don't have to reset them after a week on the shelf. You want to love the auto for the heritage and craftsmanship, but in reality it's just not that impressive.
Have you had a look at the Foxbox Tuna from the Aldi ...er I mean Alibaba Lige store? It has the r4emovable shroud & a solid end link engineers bracelet and looks like the steeldive, mine was $34.85 Aussie dollars landed here, It does have a quartz movement though and when I checked the Steeldive they were $177.43 so you were lucky Jody. I had bought all the bits to build one but it will sit on the back burner for a while now.
Jody, just saw your surname up on the screen and it looked familiar so regoogled and lo and behold it is familiar. Really loved your academic writing on Iris Chang (vale). Hope your submission on your PhD went well. That's a very hard slog mate. Channel. PhD. Dunno how you do it but you're a champion.
Update on Alba Watch - It has now been just over 2 month since I got the watch and adjusted the time to my Swiss quartz watch, I have again compared the time keeping - Happy to report that the automatic movement has not deviated in the plus or minus, keeping exact time - just a great watch for the price !
What would you say about the level of finishing/detailing and the quality of the stainless steel on the watch since you've seen it up-close?
@@ahmadhourani3014i have 2 , finishing on the dials is good , but bracelets are pure shit
Thank you Jody for powering through and pumping out content. Get well soon.
Thanks Armand! The show must go on 🤣
Alba Watch last update: Almost 4 month now. I have checked the Alba watch and compared the time keeping against my Swiss Quartz watch and noticed a pronounced deviation of around 2.5 - 3 minutes going slow, not sure why the sudden change. I suppose it eventually had to go into a deviation of sorts. However it is not posing a big problem as you need to adjust the calendar date at least once every 2 or so month for the shorter month and when doing so you can adjust and correct the time too. Still a great watch and not loosing or gaining 30 seconds a day as per the specifications.😊
Alba, Lorus and Pulsar. The 3 of them are made by Seiko and the 3 of them are still a great value for the money. Great video!
Was just about to comment that!
I’d recommend Steeldive too. I have the Capt Willard homage and it’s an amazing value.
Same here!
It's more comfortable too, with the Crown protection.
I have a Submariner homage and 6105 homage from Steeldive. For the price, the quality is just right. And the full-lume bezel is the cherry on top. Steeldive are now selling the Willard homage with a PT5000 movement on AliExpress, around $100 too!
For a few $$ more I would go for the Steeldive. It's a great tuna homage with NH35 and 300m. I can tell you don't feel well and I admire your work ethic. Praying for your quick recovery! By the way Jody I do shop at Aldi and your comparison is spot on. It brought a few chuckles on this end.
My Seiko 5 was destroyed and I needed a quick watch asap as cheap as possible and have an Alba and so far I’m happy with it.
Here in Japan at least in my scenario my Alba came in a Seiko Box and the guarantee card mentions both names.
I purchased the 20 bar green dial ALBA automatic about 3 weeks ago, with the crown located at the 3 hour position. I could not be happier with this watch, it was cheap as it was on special at $155 AU. Now the the night illumination is fantastic, it lasts the whole night through, amazing ! I set the watch time to my swiss made quartz watch and after 9 days checking the time fluctuation I found it has neither lost nor gained time, another amazing feature !. I'm going to leave it running for more days and weeks and will check it against my quartz watch periodically. According to the write up it is about +/- 40 seconds per day., but have not experienced this kind of deviation as yet. Not sure then if ALBA made some kind of improvement or if the watch is a fluke !
So what was the result??
That Alba looks good to me, specially at that price. Thanks for the review!
Wishing you a speedy recovery and cheers for the fun review as the Aldi reference brought a smile to my face. 😁
Ha! Thanks mate. I had a laugh with it too.
I remember how thrilled I was when I bought my first automatic watch, a Seiko SNK805. Same 7S26 economy movement and an even more paltry 30m water resistence rating. It's saving graces? Principally the exhibition caseback, which allowed me, as a mechanical watch noob, to marvel at the rotor, tiny gears and balance wheel spinning away hour after hour, month after month, year after year. That and it's over-acheiving Lumibright lume and whatever incremental increase in scratch resistence Hardlex offers over normal mineral crystal. It's still in my collection and I love it.
Everything's relative, Jody. The Alba is probably a lot more appealing to the neophyte watch enthusiast than those of us who've been in the game for a while. But I agree at it's price point a budding watch collector can find far better options. If Seiko had deigned to slap an exhibition caseback on this Alba-branded watch, it would be a more intriguing proposition.
I saw these appear at my local jeweller a couple of weeks ago and thought I'll wait for JOMW. I'm a sucker for a vintage seiko and I'm disappointed some of their TV dial models aren't available here in Australia from the distributor.
Some of the Wired stuff looks appealing too; their integrated bracelet chronos for under $200 are more like the Seiko of yore (except with solid endlinks!). I think these subbrands will bring the real budget value now that Seiko wants to push their brand upmarket.
Same with Orient. Their $200 dive watches and neosport chronograh "daytona" are what Seiko used to be
wow. I assumed the WIRED was a review article on the magazine, so did not click on. thanks mention. I really like them, the simple no date is great.
Get well soon, friend
Thanks mate!
Ordered an Alba once, waited keenly for delivery but once it was in front of me I felt really deflated. It just didn't quite measure up, much as you've described Jody, so the almost-Seiko was sent back the next day. The experience did make me appreciate the quality of the catalogue photographs though. That photographer was highly skilled!
Photographer made the girl next door look like prime Kim K
hmm which model? some of them doesn't seem to have great built quality
Where’s your proof?? 😂
My mate recently bought an Alba with proper Arabic (and I mean 'Arabic') dial here in Qatar and to be honest it is absolutely awesome - QR 220-00 or equivalent to US$ 60-00. It is an absolutely amazing piece!!!!!!
Not to doubt you Ian, but, what's the model and what are you comparing it to ?
@@edwardfletcher7790 Morning Edward. To be honest I don't know the model but will find out and come back to you. I guess I'm comparing it to other watches in a similar price bracket including comparable Seiko models and others.
That logo on the casebook is the Pulsar logo.I remember Pulsars in the 80s and 90s being half the price and as good as Seikos.
In my opinion Lorus (easier to find in the U.S. and Europe) and Alba are pretty good value Seiko sub-brands (if you get the right watch i.e. Lorus Lumibrite and Alba make a Titanium version of it) and are often priced where Seiko used to be. Plus they are brands watch enthusiasts recognize. Bracelets are like Casio bracelets ... which is why with the savings you ALWAYS swap then out.
I have a Lorus “Tri-lum” solar watch which is running well since I bought it at least 28 years ago.
This was the first I’d heard of Alba, so I looked them up while watching the video. I found the same Tuna homage that you reviewed on Amazon Canada and it was $351.90!! That’s a hefty price to pay to have the hair removed from my left forearm.
Reminds me when I was a kid I wanted a Sony Walkman for Xmas and received an Alba Walkman instead with no rewind button 😂
Devastation. I wanted a Mongoose BMX, got a Raleigh 😭
The Good Old Days Lol.
You could turn the cassette and use the fast forward function in order to rewind the other side
I wanted a GT performer bmx bike and got a Mongoose
When I had a personal stereo back in the day I used a device that enabled me to turn my cassette tapes back by hand. My tape machine had a rewind ⏪ feature on it, but I figured it was saving me a heck of a load of battery 🔋 power in the process.
Mr. JOMW! I was a regular watcher a while back and have returned! (Though I haven't *really* stopped watching, just wasn't able to catch the videos on the day posted).
Thanks for inspiring me to get into budget watches and watch modding! I now own 6 NH35, and 2 PT5000 powered watches now all built in the comfort of my own studio, with specs that would blow any retail watch at its price point out of the way! I'm very proud of them and it's all thanks to you for the inspiration! In addition, I've built watches as gifts to family and friends and they love em!
That's the problem with the budget sub brands. The Aliexpress watches are undercutting them. They provide better materials and movement for the same price.
Giving us some serious Sean Connery vibes with the voice, Jody! Get well soon!
Alba I believe replacing Pulsar as Seiko's budget brand in Australia? Bit of a pity as I love a Pulsar.
Very glad to see you improving, Jody. The watchworld just wouldn't be the same without you. I too, am an avid shopper at Aldi's. IDK about the ones "Down Under," but the Aldi locations here in" the states," have non-food related items, where I find the best deals on all kinds of household items. Sheets, rugs, air-conditioners, cutting-boards, mixers....you name it. Most of the items, very well made for the price. 😄Seriously!!! For a minute I got excited, (as I've never heard of Alba) but then I remembered, that we are dealing w/ Seiko here. Lol. I just don't understand why they don't abandon the old "rolled-links" at this stage of the game. SMH. Bravo, Jody.....bravo👏!!!
Aldi Australia is very disappointing.
They are all very small shops with a tiny range of products. 30% of the floor space is taken up by the weekly junk non-food specials.
They occasionally get some great cheap high quality food items, but, they're only ever stocked for a month or two before deletion ! 😠
It's not often you hear a Vostok described as having "better lume". That really says it all about the lume on the Alba ...
Ahahhahha, indeed!
I have worn the Vostok as a daily for the past year and have to agree, its far better. Change the bezel and strap and it becomes gorgeous, very beautiful and the friction bezel is useful when you dont want to make noise.
This Alba looks exactly like my citizen promaster that I have just purchased, it’s even the same colour.
Put some u.k. prices on it, lots of viewers over here love your channel. If you can that is. Love the vids make a lot of my collection choices on your reviews, top class stuff.
Good to know if the movement in my first gen Seiko Monster ever dies I'll have no problem finding a replacement.
I think you are being a bit harsh on the Alba. When it comes to value for money, you really can't beat the Ali Express brands like Steel Dive, Pagani Design, Seestern and the like. Even Seiko and Orient watches would lose in such a comparison. What you do get with an established brand like Seiko (and its subsidiaries like Alba) is security - they have a reputation to uphold and customer service to match. Can the same thing be said about the Ali Express brands (and I am a fan of theirs, thanks in no small part to you :P)?
Our buddy still giving one if if best watch content even though he was sick. Get well soon ❤
Thanks mate! 💪💪
I have an Alba from 96 , titanium case full lumed dial field watch and it's awesome, lume lasts all night
5:21 I would call that Billabong logo Homage 🤣
Ha! Indeed.
I was going to ask on a recent video when we were going to see Seikos (Pulsar, Lorus and I’d forgotten about Alba). These are presumably the reason Seiko is raising prices so it becomes mid-tier, these cover the budget market and Grand Seiko have high-end (with Credor in the horological space). They’re creating their own market from bottom to top.
I have a Seiko SKN800 series watch with the 7S26 movement. Bought it at probably 15 years ago for between 70 and 80 USD. I wear it everyday as my beater and the thing just won't give up the ghost. Since I'm a cheapskate I can't buy another watch until this one dies. It might just outlive me.
Lorus is sub brand too of Seiko, great watches for afforable price.
And don't forget Pulsar!
Both Pulsar and Lorus and good! The had some really awesome designs especially back in the 90s...
i always hated your starting hello . bizarrely i love your new sick tone Voice ! this entire episode is much more pleasing to my ears!
Damn, this deep voice is Radio worthy! 💪 quick Recovery, Sir 🙏
I don't know how you managed to snag one for what you got it for, as they're listed on the Alba Australia website for $240 AUD. This may be cheaper than a Seiko but certainly not bargain basement.
We already miss your smooth and positive voice, get well soon m8❤️
Thank yoooooouuuu!
Your voice is already legendary, but you sound like a synthesized narrator for an awesome anime! Quite interesting. I do hope you feel better 🙏🏼
Apparently this isn't meant to appeal to American buyers... This Alba is $250 on amazon for me in the USA. Another site has it for $150.
Well done Jody. Feel better
Great review as always and kudos for continuing to upload videos while being under the weather. 👍Get well soon!
Not sure if they're made anymore but I've always thought the Alba bullhead chronographs are interesting.
For $65.00 these days, the only thing you can buy with the Seiko name on it is a silicone strap with an oversized buckle and a metal keeper.
Hope you are feeling better, great reviews
I'm sure they're great watches, but no one should buy a Vostok today with a clean conscience.
I still have a couple and tons of parts, but I just can't bring myself to wear them anymore
Thank you very much for this 'eye-opener'. I have the Seiko 5 SRPK53K1 (Pepsi Bezel) and was looking at the Alba AL4209X1 (Tokyo Neon) with a Jubilee bracelet - as I liked the colour combination, but the points you have raised here are very interesting and make a lot of sense. Subsequently, I have dropped the Alba purchase. Thank you very much, once again.
Maybe have a look at another Seiko budget brand, Lorus. They have some nice looking automatics for around £100 or under.
The lume on both my Alba and Lorus are standard lumibrite and full dial. So I don't get what is going on there. Got the Lorus for $40 and the Alba for around $90. Both quartz, though.
get well soon Brother. One of the models that they launched has exact tiffany blue dial. I suppose it’s sold out.
I always enjoy your videos, Jody. Will you review a Long Island Watch Islander at some point? I have a few of those already, and they seem excellent to me, but I'd love to hear your analysis. Get well soon.
It's not a disaster of a watch with a couple of nice features. The pressed and rolled links are usually found on cheap and nasty watches, utter crap. Good review
I gotta say. Your voice giving out has its charms! Get well soon!
Ace show Jody.... its an OK watch. but you are bang on with the other makes.
Not going to buy Alba, certainly not buying anything from Russia ever again, but I might pick up a Steeldive Tuna. That looks pretty sweet. The law of unintended consequences strikes again.
Good review! 👍🏻 I’m just not a fan of Seiko watches, Toyota Cars, or AK pattern rifles.
Didn't alba make VCRs in the 80s? Thought for a minute that was a future modding piece as a cheaper alternative...but sounds like there's too much to do lol. But the alternatives are definitely better 👍
Yes indeed! I'd get laughed out of the pub if anyone noticed 'Alba' on my wrist :D
@@rostokmcspoons Different Alba, much like the Japanese Kenwood (hi-fi maker) and the UK Kenwood (kitchen appliances) are separate firms. There again, Alba is also Gaelic for "Scotland".
@@Seele2015au yes it's unfair on them, but my friends being all of the same age as me grew up with those dodgy hi-fi's, and would immediately jump to the same memory!
So I'd never go there. Just like I'd give Seestern a swerve, as it makes me think of toilet cisterns!
@@rostokmcspoons There's a British RUclipsr on audio equipment, who said that he recommended Kenwood hi-fi gear to a friend as it fitted his needs perfectly. He ended up buying something else: "I won't want to get hi-fi gear from a maker of kitchen appliances".
@@Seele2015au Haha :)
I remember Kenwood is being quite upmarket, I think I lusted after their car stereos to replace the basic cassette decks in my first cars. And Kenwood mixers were quite the thing back in the day, I'm sure my mum lusted after one of those :D So basically the 'Alba' name's biggest problem is that it's associated with the bargain end of the spectrum both now, and historically.
Well good luck to Seiko, they might not do too well in the UK with the name, but credit to them for bringing cheaper mechanical watches out.
The logo on the back of the watch is the wave logo from the silverwave edition watches back in the 70’s
If you are looking at seiko sub brands don't go for an automatic, go for a solar version.
Alba is a brand from my childhood .Saw a lot when I was on vacationing in the Philippines . I prefer orients .
Alba is Gaelic for ‘Scotland’ 🏴 Slanj! 🥃😊
5:26 The wave on the back is Seiko’s icon system of showing how water resistant the watch is
Pulsar and seiko both use this icon system as well
Seiko srpd is very nice but 2 things are unacceptable for the price braclet and bezel insert
Thanks for the great video Jody! Hope you get better soon.
if I spotted that watch in our local Aldi I would definitely check it out. However my wife wouldn't be all that happy with me, oh no not another watch Robert!, would be her reply.
As soon as I saw Alba I think back to those crappy cheap VHS cassette players and CD players
It’s like a Vostok for folks who don’t feel particularly comfortable wearing something quite so Russian on their wrist 🤣
I would feel comfortable even with cyrillic markings CCCP and the big red star on it.
@@unwokeneuropean3590 europe has fallen
Except it will keep better time than the Vostok but wont be nearly as reliable and robust!
7s26 ~ old is gold
Check out some other Alba models. I have an Alba field watch that I dearly love!
I know the 7S26 ain't much to write home about, but damned if I haven't beat the absolute hell out of my Seiko SNK805K2 and she's still not in need of a service after about 7 years of ownership. Well, maybe 2.5-3 years of hard wear, then a lot of time on the winder. I appreciate that watch so much, it was my first automatic.
Hello, very good video as usual, with a lot of details and macro shots (that we love !). Hope you are getting better soon. Take care of yourself.
There's some interesting JDM Alba models to look at
I agree with the Voice. Get well soon☘
Keeps up with the Aldi comparison then, as sometimes Aldi knockoffs taste a bit funny and the original is worth it.
I've always found something endearing about the venerable 7s26. If they had one of these for $65 that looked like an SKX I'd get one for the novelty of it... if I hadn't bought an SKX013 clone with an NH35 on Ali for around that price a few weeks back. If only one of those sub brands like this or Lorus could bring those back and be to the SKX what the Black Bay 58 is to a Submariner!
What brand did you pick up the 013 clone from? I'm looking for one at the moment
@@MattGDesign Tandorio
Jody!!! Please Review the Alba AEFD529 solar diver..
Can't believe the price that you managed to get the Steeldive for!! Do they have regular sales or is it just a case of checking on the website daily? Hope your voice and throat get better soon.
When you an get sapphire on a $59 watch, why oh why is Seiko still using Hardlex? It's ridiculous.
Alba,Lorus,J.Springs....
Alba is just old Seiko 5.. same caliber, same bracelet. It is what it is. Usually when people bash Seiko for the new prices, I show them Alba or Lorus and say, go there, for the same price range as the old Seikos, and for the same build quality.
What’s the point in hacking on a seiko? Doesn’t it just show you how inaccurate your seiko is ?
The caseback design isn't so much the current 'great wave', but rather similar to the Seiko Sports 100 caseback of the 80s! 👍
I'll buy alba then replace it with a seiko dial.. next thing you know, it is all Seiko watch.. I just save me a bunch of cash..
Hmmm ... maybe these models fly off the shelves but I think I would give this Alba a toss.
I used to have a tape/radio player made by Alba when I was a kid. It was rubbish too !!
Great review, as usual, Jody! :)
Between the clasp and the movement, I just don't see the appeal. If you're okay with a homage, you could get a Pro Diver that at least has a hacking movement and the NH35. It's got the same shitty clasp, but at least it's a *little* bit of an upgrade.
There's a frog in there! The Alba range is really decent, I'm just missing the sapphire. But at the prices the Alba's sell for, I can easily overlook that.
I've been wearing the same Hublo every day since '88, never a problem.
An opportunity to recommended a watch for small guys here. Alba aefd530(black bezel) or aefd529(silver bezel). Solar 200m(iso certified) diver at 38mm. A seiko submariner homage from the 90s. Killer specs and a good price and looks the part
Can you even buy Vostoks at the moment? Or more to the point, should you. Mine have been mothballed unti a slightly less evil and murdery regime is in charge of Russia, I'd not want to be explaing the providence to anyone who asked about them. ☹️
Alba is a Good seiko brand,but its for asian market.
It just completely lacks personality, i don't mind corners being cut when i can still feel a some sort of connection with the watch but the alba looks like someone that'd give me a funny look for waving at them on the street
This review reminds me of when I finally realized that quartz watches are twice as accurate and half the price of a similar automatic, plus I don't have to reset them after a week on the shelf. You want to love the auto for the heritage and craftsmanship, but in reality it's just not that impressive.
Thanks for the great watch content mate. Get better soon
And there I was thinking that we are starting this with a Sean Connery voice over...
Ha! I wish.
Have you had a look at the Foxbox Tuna from the Aldi ...er I mean Alibaba Lige store? It has the r4emovable shroud & a solid end link engineers bracelet and looks like the steeldive, mine was $34.85 Aussie dollars landed here, It does have a quartz movement though and when I checked the Steeldive they were $177.43 so you were lucky Jody. I had bought all the bits to build one but it will sit on the back burner for a while now.
I was expecting an Invicta killer, got disappointed
Always enjoy your videos - wishing you a speedy recovery. But until your voice returns, have you considered doing an asmr style video?
Ha! Time Teller tried that a few years bac. Don't think it went well for him.
Get well soon, Jody! Awesome content as always. 👌
Jody, just saw your surname up on the screen and it looked familiar so regoogled and lo and behold it is familiar. Really loved your academic writing on Iris Chang (vale). Hope your submission on your PhD went well. That's a very hard slog mate. Channel. PhD. Dunno how you do it but you're a champion.
Thanks Tom! Currently back on campus doing a few small corrections on the thesis. Should graduate before Christmas!