If Seiko made this watch they would charge you $1,500
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
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Review of the Wise AD773 Damascus Steel cased sports watch, featuring an Automatic movement and some of the best quality you'll find under $1,000.
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Wise makes a good product. I do think it takes after an Aqua Terra more than Seiko. The Miyota movement is fine. You're paying for the whole sum of the watch. Not just the movement. Love the Damascus steel look.
Dial: Aqua terra
Case: Seiko or GS😉
Wow. Just wow. Finally an original watch idea.
Looks very elegant with great strap selection that matches the watch. What's impressive is the luminescent I would definitely add this watch to my collection of homage and luxury watches.
Picked up the stealthy version of the AD8 a while back, and I've really enjoyed it. Cool dial texture, very good lume, and it wears well on a variety of wrist sizes. I've been fighting the temptation to buy this Damascus case for so many weeks now, and I may well succumb. Just keep going back to the website and looking at it... They are a bit expensive relative to many of their high-quality/interesting-materials microbrand peers, but I think they are trying to position themselves closer to say, Christopher Ward than Zelos, etc. I agree that the one glaring issue is the logo. They've got that cool Thailand-inspired little motif that goes on the rotor, so why not use that? A truly odd choice for a brand that otherwise tries hard to be visually unique.
They have a ready made 'W' logo on the case back, visible rotor and packaging! Have two. Love them both AD8 and a Hitman 'thai version.
That was my thinking, too. Seems like such an obviously better choice!
Overall the watch looks good. My only issue is the WISE brand on the dial. I think it lessens the elegance of the watch and distracts us from the damascus pattern on the case.
Wasn't very wise to put it there.
@@DM-rc4yu 😂
Wise is one of my grail brands. I haven't got one yet because I live in Brazil, and getting it here, including shipping and taxes, would make them in the US$2k range.
But if I ever go to Thailand, I'm 100% buying one.
I have been keeping an eye on them for quite a while and even subscribe to their mailing list.
They have some gorgeous very affordable watches also, their HITMAN line.
Rodrigo, 2k? Are you sure? I was thinking about buying One. I thought Taxes would be around 60%, which would make it cost around 1k
If they used the logo they currently have on the crown on the face, I’d be much more interested. Great looking watch.
The one thing I don't like are the small numbers in front of the indices! And I agree about the logo. Otherwise a great looking piece! I would go for the "deep aqua blue" version ;-)
I have the Wise Adamascus AD951 with the deep red dial. It is well made and has a stunning look. It comes in both 39mm and 41mm. I got the 39mm for $549 (US) which I think is a good value for what I got. Packaging was nice and it came fairly quickly considering that they do not assemble the watch until ordered and the distance from Thailand to the Northeastern US. It was only a couple of weeks from order to receipt.
Yeah, I had settled down for a lengthy wait, but was pleasantly surprised at how fast my watch got to me!
Can I ask if you got it on the bracelet or the black strap?
Black alligator strap and it looks and wears great! (It also comes with a second Cordura strap, but I haven't tried that yet.)
Thanks for this nice review. I often wondered why nobody made cases out of damascus steel and now all of a sudden one microbrand just did. I love the case of this watch, it seems very nicely and precisely made and the damascus steel pattern is just beautiful. I also like the way the lugs are formed, with a slight bevel on the inside when you look at the watch from above, that accentuates the damascus lines going over the edges. Very interesting watch. Reg. the logo: they have a nice Thai-style logo on their website, would be nice if they used that on their dial like they do on their Flyboy model.
This isn't actually "damascus" or pattern welded steel its just lazer etched
I have that one with the old radium lume and brown strap. Very nice and I love they use Damascus buckles on both straps.
It's not actually "damascus" pattern welded steel this is actually just lazer etched to look like it
If vintage Grand Seiko used Damascus steel, it would look like this watch. Vintage GS focused heavily on the case shape.
Great observation.
That's a Beautiful watch!!!
Very cool. A bit much for a daily wear i think but its a really pretty watch. Would love to add one to the collection
Nice looking watch and I especially like the case design and shape. I was thinking the same thing about needing a bracelet but you're right about the price bump and even more so that much Damascus steel would probably take away from the wonderful dial.
Nice find Dave…..this is a great looking watch.
This is the type of watch that if it said "Seiko" or "Longines" on it would sell for 2500$+
That's a much better title than mine. I'm going to steal it!
There are some rules to build and maintain itself as a brand in the market like In house movement will cost more than 3rd party movement, cost relies heavily on brands history and reliability. So comparing this with seiko is something pure insanity in personal opinion.
That movement on a watch this beautiful is the biggest of sins.
Seiko and Longines are in a different league. This watch is not worth any more than the retail price. And that is quite OK - why do you keep making comparisons?
@@peterlandbo2726 Because the only way to buy the best option is to compare it with alternatives, dont you think?
If you ask anyone who's not obsessed with watches, the least interesting part of a watch is the watch. 😂 I learned this by bringing up the subject and observing the response.
No one outside of collectors care about watches. There’s a train mall brands exist and sell in the quantities they do. If the general public wants a “luxury watch” they immediately think of Rolex, not Patek.
Great review Dave & a solid comparison with the Aqua Terra! This could motivate someone to update the J-score page?! I could only see it when you pointed this out. The SARB is probably a bit more of an 'explorer gets an everyday job' as the bezel leaves the sport range slightly more. Not sure why I am really nitpicking this.
Going back to the watch - There's much to like and I wouldn't fight about the movement, keeping it in this price range, however I assume there should be a market for 'Damascus every day watch under 1000 bucks'. Would enjoy seeing it sold with one leather strap and one metal bracelet. Feel free to disagree though!
Also, the website is confusing, the black leather (calfskin) shown here is probably the one you get. The images on the website are showing two dollaro leather straps (black & blue).
I'm a Seiko fan, but gotta say that watch is really nice for the price. Would I buy that instead of a 700 dollar Seiko?....no. Because it's easier to buy a Seiko and I know what I'm getting, even tho that is "Technically" better. 🤷♂️
The silver dial doesn’t contrast enough to bring out the beauty of the case. They have a dark grey and blue that look better. Nice watch and neat concept.
This looks really unique and interesting! So clean and yet funky with the zebra-like stripes.
Awesome review! Very nice watch and that movement looks pretty good! Glad you get to keep that piece!
✌🏼😎👍🏼
I mean, its still weird that Wise said that "Thai people will get cheaper watch than foreigners" but still I have to pay at the same ate of Seiko haha, but hell I'm Thai and that its HQ is damn near my house LOL
@@IDKline yeah I really should
I really like knives and watches and was wondering when someone was going to do this!!
Just super glue one keeper.
Their lume is great, bezel was stiff but still really good. Their 904L SS watches are really cool
Branding in all businesses is absolutely essential. The brand name itself turns me off. The watch itself is very appealing. I grew up with “Wise” potato chips and I can’t see past it.
I love the case, and the handset is so nice, but the hour numerals under the indices are small and make the dial too busy. And i agree, Seiko would charge you an arm and a leg for thid watch and stikk wouldn't give yiu a signed crown nor a sapphire crystal.
I bought the gold version with white dial. I’m amazed at the quality!
Fine vid Dave! Thanks….man, that case sells itself….(my bad…I’m in Texas…..”sells its own self”). Happy Trails!
I'd be interested in a similarly finished bracelet too, maybe with a jubilee or beads of rice style bracelet, so they would only have to do the damascus on the outer links with polish inner links, and it would be still somewhat subtle and dressy. Not sure if Miyota has a movement with Date& Day, that is such an overlooked complication. If they did it with a day at 12o'clock like a president, I'd love to see that in a case similar to this. The damascus is a great idea, and the case shape is just perfect. It is a very nice watch as is.
I agree will all of that but I would prefer it in 36mm.
True, but they would have designed and made the actual movement. Which I think is perhaps the most important parts of an automatic watch?
Cool review. Like you said it’s well balanced and they did a good job with the face. I agree with the AT comparison.
That finish looks amazing. Putting that on my wish list.
Don't waste the extra $100 for the exact same as their others this isn't actually "damascus" pattern welded steel it just lazer etched and charging $100 more for ut
It's a great watch. I think I like the silver version better than the blue I have.
Not wanting to spend the money for an aqua terra since I knew I wouldn’t wear it more than a few days a month, I’ve been looking for a year now for something that gave me the same vibes in the 500-1000 range. Been looking at this for a couple of weeks now and just pulled the trigger on the blue dial. Really looking forward to seeing it on my wrist. Love this thing in the pictures.
...is it really damascus or is it laser-etched to resemble damascus....
So, so cool! Thanks for sharing this one!
Not sure that design is for me but I’m always happy to see something new!
Looks nice, but won't damascus steel rust like crazy??
Interesting watch. I agree they need to have a different logo than "WISE" front and center. Since it's Thai I could see using some common Thai symbol (elephant, Buddha, etc)
For the same price, i prefer citizen nb1060 ...
So beautiful. Especially the case....
At first I thought you had shot the closeup next to a window with blinds. Then I realized the lines are on the actual case 🤣
I agreed on what you said about the dial logo. Wise has a pretty nice image logo. They should have replace the WISE logo with the graphic logo instead
Beautiful watch. I like the dress/sports style.
Great video as always. I wish you would make an emergency "Don't buy that watch" video I could watch about once a week to stop me from buying another watch. Basically something to talk me off the ledge with stuff like reminding me how many watch I already have, that my wife will be mad, other watches coming out in a few months I'll the money for, etc. I bet others could use the help too.
I LOVE THIS TYPE OF AFFORDABLE WATCH CONTENT! 👍
I love it! I'd like to see it with several different style bracelets.
I want one the case is amazing a great everyday watch ,a strap monster .
Great review
It’s different in a good way. I didn’t understand from the video if the crown is screwed down or push-pull. That’s something like a deal-breaker to me.
Well they should make the font more interesting & Specially the branding!!
The Damascus steel and date-just dial, make it a dress watch. That’s it has 100m wr - like a date-just is a bonus.
2mm smaller in every dimension would have made this a must-have😢
it is one of those watches that i see and then i have to see it again becasue the first time i didnt see the hour lol
Nice review. I'm going to look into getting one of these i think.
I absolutely love the fact that prior to a closer look, to me, the design appeared conservative to the point of being a bit bland...that aspect being offset by the quality of
materials. BAM, the case gobsmacked me! This watch manages to fit in, all quiet and unobtrusive, while, shouting, "Look at me! Take gander!. Hey you, lookee here".
I like it.
Wow, beautiful watch! KSK vibes. Should have gone more dressy with high polish dauphine hands, IMO.
Ooh, fascinatingly different. As has already been commented, there is inherent variability in the "watermark" of damascus steel so the possibility exists of receiving a watch which isn't quite so symmetrical in its patterning: I rather like that no two cases will be exactly alike. Damascus steel items are usually forged rather than cast. Are we sure this is real damascus steel and not just a surface treatment? There are cheap "damascus" knives out there which just have a surface etching.
Not being a metal expert it's hard for me to comment, could you tell anything from the macro shots?
This looks like an AquaTerra to me. A typical GADA with the Damascus Steel thingy (I'm not good at identifying steel materials so I'm sorry with the thingy) makes it very striking and interesting.
exactly my point. Aqua Terra Lift and Shift.
Grand Seiko vibes.
That font makes it cheap. And it's a beautiful watch
I collect knives and don’t own any made w/ Damascus. I don’t understand why people like it so much. It makes more sense on a watch where it has aesthetic appeal. Less so on a knife where it’s an inferior steel.
The best is the aluminium sticker on the rotor.
Depends on who looks at it. Before the video even played I noticed the Damascus pattern first.
Good review, but I want more info on the movement.
I love the case and matching buckles. If you can overcome natural Swiss leaning - I have a quartz TAG i thought was worth more than this WISE and that's before 10 years of price inflation.
My father basically live in Thailand these days and I’m gonna ask him to swing by their retail location in Chiangmai to see what the price delta is vs buying direct online.
Great looking timepiece! But not a fan of the striping affect. Wish that it was a straight polished feel.
How would you know if it was damascus steel?
2 very different watch. But a gift for myself for Christmas. Will you recommend spending more for this
Or spending lesser for the RZE endeavour in yellow which you did enjoy alot too.
I like it I just wish it was $300 cheaper
Wise watches are excellent quality. I own a AD8 and Hitman.
Also wise has been teasing a bracelet for about a year now made out of 904L.
I also like how each case is going to be different from each other.
Reminds me of my Tissot pr100 auto chronometer. Cosc certified powermatic 80.
Cool looking watch. Strictly speaking it's Damascus looking steel as true Damascus steel is made by a completely different process as that uses in 'modern' Damascus steel. I do agree with your opinion that if this was made by Seiko it would be more costly. Shame about the movement. A SW200 or similar would make it much more attractive.
How is SW200 any better?
It's unique, like a fingerprint!
I agree on the logo. Zelos, Bulova or even chinese San Martin are examples, how to do it right (in my opinion, of course). Watches from the latter brand still have "San Martin" on dial, but these words are neatly enclosed in a hexagon, making for easily recognizable and quite unobtrusive logo, which is also better, than their previous one (just a line of text). Christopher Ward heard the feedback from the customers: a lot of people didn't wanted brand's name on a dial, probably because it looked kind of generic, and also reminded you of all those poorly-made and/or overpriced "fashion watches" (cough, Daniel Wellington, cough). So they have switched to their current "swiss flag", which looks much better (again, opinions may vary).
I actually like the damascus steel case, it makes for an unusual look. For the same reason I have an all-bronze Phoibos diver on my list...
Doesn't Damascus steel rust in time? That is the case with most Damascus knives.
Dave hate to tell you but this is not damascus steel this is supposed to be whats called pattern welded steel theres an extremely large difference between the two. And lastly this is neither of the two this is lazer etched to look like pattern welded steel this is just a normal steel case. Ask wise what the 2 difference steel used in the making of the "damascus" for this
I dont think you cant really compare this to many Seikos. Design and the movement. But yes, Seikos have become too expensive.
I never really considered wearing a seiko until they started making more expensive watches
Yes you're right!
I love that people are recognizing that Seiko is probably the worst value in the entire Watch industry. Aside from fashion watches
That’s like saying a Corolla is a bad car to buy. People complain because they don’t like that costs have increased. But you still have a watch that will last you decades. And of the movement fails you can replace it easily and cheaply.
@@Bob_Smith19 I didn’t say they are bad watches. Modern Seiko watches are like paying BMW prices for a Toyota
@@SniperKing029 Right, and the dials on the Toyota don't line up properly. Plus, one Toyota runs fast and another runs slow.
But they will still rush to buy them and hope to get one with decent QC, or before the next price hike. 😮
Kinda off topic: interesting to see some fountain pens in the shots, Dave. I think the Pilot’s retro pop band complements the watch’s case nicely. Are you ever going to talk about your pens/writing habits on the channel?
I think it's well worth the money. I think that movement beats at 28800bph. Plus sapphire. Nice.
Beautiful watch but the weird “Damascus” case is a no go. Plain ss case and I’m a buyer.
Damascus + meteorite dial = I'm interested.
I think the metal grainy look is horrid personally. But their plain version looks amazing!
That is very unique! Take my money!
That watch just looks absolutely at home on your wrist! I hope you get to keep it, because it is like it belongs there. I've come to the view that I mostly like the AD7 in tones of grey. The detail in the silver version that seems slightly unnecessary to me is the blue seconds hand. Sure, it's handsome enough, but it disrupts the tones of grey. Therefore potentially my favourite of the bunch is the dark grey one (but don't expect me to stick to my preferences necessarily). I think that preference though is due to the Damascus steel. It is actually quite distracting, so I think I need a dial that doesn't similarly compete for attention. The lighter and the darker tones of the Damascus correspond well to a silver or grey dial to make a quieter composition. It's 9ne I'd love to try, but for now I have given my preference to their Anniversary watch, which somehow seems to tune into my character and dressy wearing preferences a little better. I do love the case shape of this and might have been persuaded to give Damascus steel a go.
Interesting case design with that steel. Not sure how they produce it to make a small case like that. I own a number of hand forged knives with Damascus steel. Each different, and a thing of beauty.
The Wise watches are amazing quality for the money. Outstanding watches. I own a 904 steel diver, and a dark meteorite dial watch from them. Quality!
The Damascus steel case would be a novelty! You just don't see it.
I don’t think it’s real Damascus like your knives. It looks like they just added stripes to resemble it.
Not sure to get the Damascus steel or the 904L
The question is, is it real Damascus steel? Or regular steel with etched surface?
I got a question though, whats the difference of both swiss and miyota movements?
Good looking watch. Wish it were 42mm.
Looks nice
Wise do a bracelet in DS..
I almost bought one of those when in Bangkok this winter ... but then user reviews on reddit brought up some reliability issues so I gave up
Little bit of a GADA watch. Honestly think this is pretty cheap considering the case material and looks stunning