First Look! Seestern S445 Mechanical Chronograph - Premiere Unboxing

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  • Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024

Комментарии • 74

  • @WatchWitt
    @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +8

    UPDATE: These ARE available on AliExpress now! The current sale price is about $210 USD. s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dlayq55 Also, after a couple of days wearing the watch, the strap has stretched a little and fits me perfectly now. Power Reserve update: I achieved 54 hours from full wind to completely stopped, with approximately 1 1/2 hours of chrono use during that period.

  • @WaqasAhmad-ho4rk
    @WaqasAhmad-ho4rk 2 месяца назад

    Hi, what is the waterproof specs on this watch? Have you taken it swimming? Would you go swimming with it, given it is 50m water resistant?

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  2 месяца назад +1

      50m...push/pull crown (hand wind movement) and chrono pushers are free standing. Man, I haven't really thought about it until you asked. I've had it in the (cool) shower with no issues. I know 50m SHOULD be fine, but I like this watch so much that I probably would try to remember to take it off, just in case. I have other 50m watches that I do swim with, and they're more expensive, but they're not chronographs. Something about the extra holes gets me paranoid! 😂 I have a few 100m chronos that I swim with...

  • @charliealva4833
    @charliealva4833 3 месяца назад +5

    Kudos on being the first one (that I know of) to review this watch! 👏🏼👏🏼

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +1

      Thanks...just by chance. I had seen several Instagram posts of it and really liked it. Bought it when it was website only, and it released on AliExpress around the time I uploaded this. I feel like there will be quite a few enthusiasts searching for a video on this one, so they can decide if it's worth it or not...

  • @adolfolerito6744
    @adolfolerito6744 Месяц назад +2

    I’m glad I watched this video, because I was about to buy this watch (the black version), and what was holding me back were mainly the fixed lugs. That, plus the 24 click bezel made it a pass for now, at least until Aliex has some kind of super discount offer.
    Instead I scoured eBay and bought a vintage chronograph mounting a Venus 170 for about 250$. A lucky find that is just an insane amount of value!
    Btw, do you know that Venus was the chronograph manufacturer who supplied column wheel movements, plans, machinery, know how and basically literally everything to produce these movements to both the USSR and communist China?
    They supplied the Venus 150/152 caliber to the 1st Moscow Watch Factory in the USSR, which was then used for their Strela/Poljot/Sekonda chronos as the Strela 3017 caliber, and then when China was in desperate need of a chronograph for their Air Force, they followed the same recommendation of the USSR and contacted Venus as well.
    Venus then supplied the Venus 175 caliber to the Tianjin Watch Factory (which then became Seagull), which was used mostly in military watches during the Mao era, and then reworked into the modern Seagull movement.
    Of course China is one of the worst totalitarian dictatorships on Earth, which spends a sizable portion of their GDP in censorship and propaganda, and watches were affected too. They now say everywhere (including on Aliex, on their chronographs’ manuals, etc) that the great CCP tasked Chinese watchmakers to invent a chronograph movement from scratch and the Seagull ST1901 was born in an exercise of flawless engineering prowess.
    No mention of Venus, no mention of China using the movement exactly as it was for decades, no mention of Venus giving them machines, blueprints, spare parts and even being sent to China post quartz-crisis to maintain the machines…
    The CCP just expects everybody to think that they were able to create a chronograph movement from scratch in the early 1960s, which is not only after Mao had almost every single watchmakers and artisan in China EXECUTED because “watches were items of the capitalist bourgeoisie that represented the old decadent society”, but it’s also the time period where the Great Leap Forward and the Great Chinese Famine that resulted from the CCP’s policies were at their absolute height… with 2/3 of China’s population melting garbage steel in backyard furnaces and delivering inflated crop harvests that resulted in (at the very least) between 40 and 70 MILLION people dying of hunger, exhaustion, overwork and being outright executed!
    Sorry for the long comment. Anyway if you’re lucky you might be able to score a vintage chronograph with the original Venus 175 movement for about 400$ to 500$.
    It might be a bit hard, considering how inflated watch prices are, but if you do I guarantee you’ll be extremely pleased when you’ll compare the OG Venus to the modern Seagull.
    Thank you for the video man!

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  Месяц назад

      It's funny because one of the things that attracted me to this watch is the fixed lugs, and I'm not particularly a NATO strap fan. But I love that one-piece look, so I bought it and I'm enjoying my time with it immensely! I was disappointed about the 24 click bezel too, but enjoy it better than my first impression. It's like a friction bezel between the clicks, nice and firm. Still a weird choice, but definitely usable.
      Haha! Yes, this may have the record on the channel for longest comment! But I enjoyed your commentary and information. Great find on your Venus movement watch! Let me know what kind of shape it's in when you get it!

  • @ulig12
    @ulig12 3 месяца назад +2

    Some hard failures to swallow. Useless bezel, diver look without sufficient water resistance, straps too short, weird text on the dial… Try again, Seestern.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +1

      I'm 50/50 with you. 1) The resistance on the bezel BETWEEN the clicks is solid...like a friction bezel. While I don't agree with the 24 click choice, it IS functional as its intended countdown scale. 2) Absolutely. Screw down crown and pushers with 200m water resistance would have been awesome! 3) The strap DID stretch out a little. I can now wear it with confidence that it won't come undone. Since 7" inch is average, and I have 8" wrist, it's acceptable. Bigger would have been better, but not if you've got a 6" wrist...too MUCH strap. 4) Absolutely! The text feels like it wasn't thought out. It didn't stop me from buying it, but it may stop others.

  • @maximushornet
    @maximushornet 3 месяца назад +2

    To have a movement like that and on display .. to use a passthrough strap is just ridiculous sorry

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +1

      Less ridiculous than a solid caseback! With a 2 piece strap you're still taking the watch off. With this particular pass-though you just have to pull a little slack and you can easily scoot the strap to the side to have complete view of the movement. This is a single pass with only one piece of hardware...you don't have to remove the strap.

    • @charliealva4833
      @charliealva4833 3 месяца назад +3

      That’s my thought as well. That movement window is wasted there, I’d rather have more water resistance. They could have gone with a mecca quartz movement. It would make it cheaper and thinner.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +2

      Not truly wasted...like I mentioned, at least it's not a solid caseback. There was a watch I really liked from Merkur that had this movement, but solid caseback, so I passed. I'm with you on the WR...would love more.

  • @walkaroundwatches
    @walkaroundwatches 3 месяца назад +3

    Very cool! Love the white on that blue! Looks sharp.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +1

      I think so too! That's really the first thing that attracted me to this watch, then everything else just fell into place. I have been wanting an ST19 movement for a while now.

  • @Borednlonely
    @Borednlonely 6 дней назад

    I really don’t get the criticism. It looks very nice and the dimensions and look on the wrist are very well judged. A mechanical that looks this good for about 200 bucks. What’s not to like

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  5 дней назад

      Agreed. It's done very well. I think the only issue is whether or not you like homage watches. Or Chinese watches....etc.

  • @sinjinadams2862
    @sinjinadams2862 3 месяца назад +2

    Fantastic! I just saw this watch on AliExpress yesterday for the first time. I can't believe someone already has a review video out on it. This is great because I'm really interested in this watch. I'm looking forward to watching your video. My first reaction though is I wish the watch was made of Titanium and I hate the "Hand Winding" print on the dial. Other than that, it looks pretty good.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +1

      I had been eyeing this one via Instagram pics, as it was only available on their websites, and decided to pick it up. By chance, after I had already produced and uploaded the video to RUclips, they released it on AliExpress! There's definitely room for criticism with some aspects of this watch, but overall I'm happy with my purchase so far...except I paid $40 more than today's sale price. I heard that these are limited to 500 pieces, but not sure if that's accurate.

    • @sinjinadams2862
      @sinjinadams2862 3 месяца назад +1

      @WatchWitt You did a great job on your video. I'm pretty sure you're the first one out with a review on this watch. I haven't seen anything about this being a limited edition. I'll have to look into that more closely. I have a few very minor complaints but overall I really like the watch. I'll definitely be buying it, I just have to decide which color.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      Both colors look good with the white contrast, but I'm a blue dial guy...so choice was easy for me. I do have a lot of black dial watches, though.

  • @pauldevey8628
    @pauldevey8628 3 месяца назад +2

    Love the watch except the fixed lugs

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      The fixed lugs was one of the attractions for me, even though I'm not the world's best pass-through strap fan! I love the way the naked case looks from the underside.

  • @tonyd223
    @tonyd223 3 месяца назад +1

    50m water resistance... That's the deal breaker for me. I know it needs winding every day, but it could still have a screw down crown and pushers. I'd want 200m on a watch like this. Also, a glass back on a watch where the strap covers the back? That doesn't make sense!

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +1

      I always prefer at least 100m WR, and even though I’m “ok” with this 50m, your idea of a 200m with screw down crown and pushers would have been badass! I hear you on the exhibition caseback, but this particular strap easily scoots out of the way by just pulling up a little slack…no need to remove it. I should have shown on-camera…sorry. But not as bad as it seems. I thought the same thing.

    • @ulig12
      @ulig12 3 месяца назад +1

      Screw down crowns don’t go well together with hand-wind movements, because you cannot not screw down the crown once the watch is fully wound.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      True.

  • @Apex_Apeq
    @Apex_Apeq 3 месяца назад +1

    I just watched all your videos. apparently your channel makes all the videos about watches that are worth the price and cheap. different from the others. keep up this kind of content. Videos like this really deserve to get subscribed and liked from me. Keep it up sir ❤

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +1

      Wow, that's quite a task! Well, yes, I tend to make videos on watches that appeal to me and that are generally under $1k. Occasionally I'll review a more expensive watch, but I label those as "Luxury Edition." Thanks for subscribing...glad to see you here!

    • @Apex_Apeq
      @Apex_Apeq 3 месяца назад +1

      @@WatchWitt happy to see U man 🙂✌🏼

  • @PokemanOkie
    @PokemanOkie День назад

    I'm not a blue color guy but I like this blue.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  День назад

      This one is exceptional because of all that bright white contrast. Makes for a very clean look!

  • @josephtucker7397
    @josephtucker7397 3 месяца назад +1

    I think I like it, right up to the point where the back display window/glass is covered by the strap. It's a beautiful mechanism. I always enjoy seeing the artistic work. So to cover it and have to work to see it is disappointing. I'm keeping my eye open for improvements to it.
    I'm a fan of chonograph and mechanical with the display, though...so we'll see...

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      Glad you like it! Yeah, this strap comes off more easily than a double-pass, but I get what you're saying...it's not easily viewable. And this IS a fun movement to gaze upon!

  • @k2blitz
    @k2blitz 3 месяца назад +1

    Whoa...... that caseback movement superb

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      The Seagull ST19's are hands down the most beautiful mechanical chronograph movements you can obtain at an affordable price!

  • @HAL-xy3om
    @HAL-xy3om 3 месяца назад

    24 clicks is pretty dumb, nice watch though!

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +1

      I agree. However, between the clicks it's like a SOLID friction bezel. SOOOO, it IS actually useable outside of just the indentations. Still stupid, but better than my first impressions from this video. It's a great watch! I'm really diggin' it!

  • @nikc1313
    @nikc1313 3 месяца назад

    Damn I had actually thought about ordering one of these but the 'chronograph' font genuinely kills this for me. I couldn't look at that Simpsons font. Hopefully enough people complain about it and they fix it with a V2. They can get rid of the crown guards while they're at it.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      Well, that's why I'm here...show you the watch and let you decide what's right for you! But I'll tell you, that font doesn't jump out at you while wearing the watch; it's just too small to even tell. But if you know, you know...and I guess that's where some get hung up. I saw a Reddit post that said this was limited to 500 pieces, so there might not be a V2. I like the crown guards...!

  • @chronocommander007
    @chronocommander007 3 месяца назад +1

    Looks really good. The text printing is a little wonky. The ST1901 is a favorite of mine. I regard its existence sort of as a successful preservation attempt of the past.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +3

      "Chronograph" looks 3rd grade up close! Ha! I don't mind the cursive to much on "hand winding," but I would have prefered "mechanical" to set this apart from all the mechaquartz watches available in the budget category.

    • @chronocommander007
      @chronocommander007 3 месяца назад +3

      @@WatchWitt The language barrier tends to trip up Chinese companies when assigning English labeling and names. They may want to employ native speakers in their marketing departments who can let them know if a name, label, or designation is awkward or sometimes even unfortunate.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +2

      @chronocommander007 So true, and we all have said that, yet they don't...or somebody's fooling them! Oh, and I love your comment on the ST1901. Absolutely a continuation of the torch. Such a beautiful and historical caliber. Timeless.

    • @sinjinadams2862
      @sinjinadams2862 3 месяца назад

      I own 6 watches with the ST19 movement but I don't consider a watch with this movement as a daily wearer. This is a movement that has to be treated very gently if you want it to last.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      And I think that statement, combined with fixed lug system seems to be a weird pairing. Here's a FXD so you can bang the watch around and not worry about it falling off your wrist...oh, but be gentle with it! 😂

  • @ccampbell1117
    @ccampbell1117 3 месяца назад

    Thanks for that . Strange decisions regarding lugs and thus strap options . I don’t like straps that pass under the back and like to swap straps on my watches occasionally. It also renders the beautiful exhibition back rather redundant , and possibly more prone to scratches if grit gets in between the strap and back undetected. It’s a niece looking piece and as I own a couple of Seestern models I expected the good lume and general presentation. Can’t imagine it will be a best seller , with too many quirks .

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      Well the fixed lugs are the most major part of the homage, as this takes design cues from the FXD collection. Man, great point on grit/sand getting between the strap and caseback crystal...another reason sapphire might have been a better choice there. I originally heard that this would be limited to 500 pieces, but haven't been able to confirm. They don't mention that in the listing.

  • @bladimirkroutska3707
    @bladimirkroutska3707 3 месяца назад +1

    Very nice but not 255$ nice....

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      Haha! Is it $210 nice...??? 😎

    • @bladimirkroutska3707
      @bladimirkroutska3707 3 месяца назад +2

      @@WatchWitt I would pay up to 150 max.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      @bladimirkroutska3707 You drive a hard bargain!

  • @1vegasdood
    @1vegasdood 3 месяца назад

    I bought the ever-popular sub600T which is a really great watch...BUT, as a graphic designer their SEESTERN text/logo on the sub600T is too small and misplaced. I agree the subtext font in your reviewed watch in the title logo seems weird but I do like the cursive font at the bottom which translates to a nicer center balanced branding IMHO. The view-through on the back case the movement is pretty badass. Another great review Witt! I love your enthusiastic expressions about certain features and I have learned some good watch vernacular from your reviews as well. Like someone else said the fixed lugs not my thing.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +1

      Yeah, it's little things like that (and sometimes BIG things, like brand names!) that can fall short with Chinese brands. This movement looks beautiful...fun to look at. I've been wanting a watch with an ST19 for quite some time. Merkur has one that REALLY appeals to me, but it's a solid caseback. I HAVE to SEE this movement! Surprisingly, I like the fixed lugs even though I'm not the biggest fan of pass-through straps. I'll probably buy a leather pass-through for this one. OEM strap has been great so far...it stretched out a little. Thanks for your compliments! Don't lean too hard on my vernacular...I make sh*t up! 😂

    • @1vegasdood
      @1vegasdood 3 месяца назад

      @@WatchWitt 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  • @brucecoleman7412
    @brucecoleman7412 3 месяца назад

    I love the look, but… I don’t particularly care for pass through straps. On top of that, why would you put a see through case back on a watch that you have to remove the strap just to see it? There was also no mention of whether or not the movement has the swan neck regulator. For about $150, Sugess makes some really good looking chronographs similar to a 1963. You can get them with or without the swan neck regulator. I might consider one of these if I could put it on a bracelet or at least a spring bar type strap.

    • @brucecoleman7412
      @brucecoleman7412 3 месяца назад +1

      Update: Although there is no mention of the swan neck regulator, the picture on AliExpress shows it on the back side of the watch.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      Probably the number one comment...and I had the same reservations before buying the watch. But, at least with THIS single pass, you just have to grab some slack and move the strap to side for glorious viewing! No need to remove the strap. This DOES have the swan neck regulator. Versions I have seen in the past have it blued, but this one is gold in color. You can see it in this video above the balance wheel.

  • @Apex_Apeq
    @Apex_Apeq 3 месяца назад

    Looks stunning with the gorgeous movement

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      I love this blue and white contrast! Yes, I've been wanting one of these Seagull movements to gaze at...finally got one!

  • @charliealva4833
    @charliealva4833 3 месяца назад

    They definitely did a great job on that strap! It’s very close to one in the Red Bull FXD. I own a Tactical Frog homage to the regular FXD. It’s a fantastic watch for the price point but they can’t get the strap right. First, the fabric is not great. Then, the length. I have a 6 1/2 in. wrist and the strap is too long. The one on this Seestern seems like it’s gonna be a perfect fit for me! Too bad they don’t sell it separately.

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +1

      I love this strap! Comfortable, rugged, and looks great. Once it stretched a little to fit me, I was happy. It really gives it a nice sporty look and feel. And as I've mentioned in other comments, just pulling a little slack and moving the strap to the side gives you full view of the movement...no need to remove the strap from the fixed lugs.

    • @charliealva4833
      @charliealva4833 3 месяца назад +1

      @@WatchWitt Yes, that makes this strap super practical, easier than natos to put your watch on, bracelet-like. I’m glad it finally fit you right. It’s very kind of you to take your time to reply to the comments 👏🏼

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      @@charliealva4833For my size wrist, 8 inches, I have to remove the strap from the bottom lug to take on/off. My guess is somewhat smaller wrists could slide in/out without removing. Another nice thing about the fixed lugs is that the opening is wide, unlike some springbar clearances, so wear and tear on the strap should be reduced. Man, I'll always reply to comments, at least as long as it's feasible to do so. I've always wanted this channel to be more of a community for watch nerds than a straightforward review channel. That's why I try to keep my videos conversational...no scripts...so you know that I'm genuinely just geeking out, and that there's a welcome invitation to join the conversation. Thanks for noticing.

    • @charliealva4833
      @charliealva4833 3 месяца назад +1

      @@WatchWitt I guess that I won’t be doing any arm wrestling with you, at 8in, we know who’d be the winner 😅 btw: Watch nerds 🤣 that’s what we’re, right? We should be proud and know that…we’re not alone! 🤓 Keep enjoying what you do best!

  • @zillsburyy1
    @zillsburyy1 3 месяца назад

    auto would be nice

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад +1

      I like the historical significance of this caliber. For me, it's a nice touch to interact with the watch before putting it on, and gaze at the movement. But as a different build, maybe a more robust watch, an automatic would be cool....

    • @zillsburyy1
      @zillsburyy1 3 месяца назад +1

      @@WatchWitt i have their full lume dial watch

    • @WatchWitt
      @WatchWitt  3 месяца назад

      How do you like it? The lume on this watch is fantastic!

    • @zillsburyy1
      @zillsburyy1 3 месяца назад +1

      @@WatchWitt great lume for the money, nh35, sapphire maybe a real leather band

    • @ulig12
      @ulig12 3 месяца назад +1

      There is no auto chrono movement to fit into this price range, not even from the Chinese.