I own 2 Baltany watches, the Retro Diver and the Dirty Dozen quartz. Very impressed with the quality and looks of these watches. Ordered mine from their website, had them on my wrist a week later. Kudos to Baltany, they are head and shoulders above the other Chinese micro brands. 😊👍
I have the blue cali dial version of this & it's a cracking little watch, I have bought a number of bracelets that I have been wearing it on a little bit loose over the summer. Smaller watches worn loose is my thing atm. Everyone should try it.
Great review! This watch looks awesome! I love what Baltany are doing with all their military-inspired watches. It makes me appreciate the brand more as they have a very clear focus. And this one might be the best watch they have out.
Thank you👍🏻😄🙏🏻 This is my first Baltany watch, and I was very pleasantly surprised with just how good it is!! Needless to say, I have ordered another in for review!
That was a fantastic review! Not only did you show some of the classic style features, I thought seeing the smaller size case “old school” on a normal wrist really hit home for me.
Like you, as soon as I saw it I had to have it. I ordered it with the blue Cali dial. Specs and finishing are great indeed. It is a real homage to the original 1940s Rolex. I haven't worn it much yet, but that may change with spring in the air. Nice video BTW. (Baltany are very good, I have their tonneau as well, which is even nicer.)
Very nice watch indeed! Love the size. The quality seems really nice and there is even some attention to detail, for example how neatly the hands are applied on the pinion. The patina suits the watch and it isn't overdone. The watch looked also nice on the grey strap but as you said the supplied strap perfectly suits the watch and it will look even better when it's broken in a little. This brand continues to offer very decent watches for the money.
Thanks for the review. I’ve had the blue dial in my Ali express basket for a while, really caught my eye when I first spotted it on the site. You’ve convinced me to pull the trigger on it 👍🏻
Beautiful watch, but the one I purchased was dead on arrival. Nothing I could do would get it to run. Unfortunately, Baltany were not super helpful and the watch ended up in a drawer - maybe to be repaired some day when I can find someone to work on it. Just wanted to add my two cents as these Chinese watches can sometimes be hit or miss.
Thanks mate!🙏🏻 As I mention in the review, this was my first experience with Baltany, but I thought the quality of this Bubbleback model was outstanding! Just very well put together! I’ve only looked at one Seizenn and one Baltany, but for me, the Baltany wins!
Yes, this has the ST1701 movement. Rotor noise is very good. If you put it next to your ear and spin, then you can hear it (as you will with many watches), but it is not overly loud. Nothing like the old Miyota rotors! I am not 100% certain, but I believe it is a bidirectional rotor.
How much quality difference is it between these more expensive Alibaba watches and non chinese microbrands that probably buy the same parts & assemble them? is it worth $200 or should i get a microbrand quartz like Vaer or Maratac instead? I have no issue spending more,but the more known brands like hamilton,laco and such just seem to cost more but lack features like good WR,screw down crown and other things. I don't like paying just for the name 🙂
And that’s what it’s all about - The Name!! Obviously not all watches on AliExpress are equal, but this little Baltany really blew me away with the level of fit and finish and of quality! It really is fantastic quality. I was pretty much exclusively a Seiko collector up until a few years ago, and thus Baltany easily competes with SKX, Monster, Presage quality.
I echo Chris here. I find that these high quality Chinese brands like San Martin, Baltany, and Heimdallr are often equal to or better than more established brands in quality. I've actually stopped buying Seiko after getting one watch with absolutely awful alignment, another with end links that rattled around, and a third that just completely died at 3 years of ownership. None of my Chinese brands have had any issues with alignment, finishing, and all of them are keeping great time and working flawlessly. Non -Chinese micro brands are functionally identical to the Chinese ones. The manufacturing and assembly are not happening in the west, only the design and marketing. While this often means more original designs and better names, I hazard to say the components are exactly the same. While I don't support the Chinese government or the CCP, I have to admit that these watches are an excellent value if you find a design and brand that really works for you.
I own 2 Baltany watches, the Retro Diver and the Dirty Dozen quartz.
Very impressed with the quality and looks of these watches. Ordered mine from their website, had them on my wrist a week later.
Kudos to Baltany, they are head and shoulders above the other Chinese micro brands. 😊👍
Agreed! I was so impressed with this Bubbleback, I’ve ordered another Baltany!👍🏻
it's curious -- must be something about the proportions of the bubble-back style, but at 36mm it sits really well on a 7.5 inch wrist
I have the blue cali dial version of this & it's a cracking little watch, I have bought a number of bracelets that I have been wearing it on a little bit loose over the summer. Smaller watches worn loose is my thing atm. Everyone should try it.
Great review! This watch looks awesome! I love what Baltany are doing with all their military-inspired watches. It makes me appreciate the brand more as they have a very clear focus. And this one might be the best watch they have out.
Thank you👍🏻😄🙏🏻 This is my first Baltany watch, and I was very pleasantly surprised with just how good it is!! Needless to say, I have ordered another in for review!
@@seadweller44 Awesome! I look forward to seeing which one you've chosen
It’s still on the way, so hoping to feature it in a few weeks time. 👍🏻🙏🏻
I love the scenery in your reviews.
That was a fantastic review! Not only did you show some of the classic style features, I thought seeing the smaller size case “old school” on a normal wrist really hit home for me.
Like you, as soon as I saw it I had to have it. I ordered it with the blue Cali dial. Specs and finishing are great indeed. It is a real homage to the original 1940s Rolex. I haven't worn it much yet, but that may change with spring in the air. Nice video BTW. (Baltany are very good, I have their tonneau as well, which is even nicer.)
Thanks👍🏻😊🙏🏻 Good to know as I’d like to try another Baltany in the future!
Very nice watch indeed! Love the size. The quality seems really nice and there is even some attention to detail, for example how neatly the hands are applied on the pinion. The patina suits the watch and it isn't overdone. The watch looked also nice on the grey strap but as you said the supplied strap perfectly suits the watch and it will look even better when it's broken in a little. This brand continues to offer very decent watches for the money.
Completely agree! I am very impressed with this. Will definitely be getting another Baltany in for review in the future.
There’s now a UK site
Thanks for the review. I’ve had the blue dial in my Ali express basket for a while, really caught my eye when I first spotted it on the site. You’ve convinced me to pull the trigger on it 👍🏻
Thanks you!👍🏻🙏🏻 I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, I think this Baltany is superb!
I’m in same spot as you… hahaha
Unique case & lugs... great quality review Chris, cheers!
Beautiful piece. Looking at it on a Milanese mesh bracelet? Or Oyster bracelet? Hoping the 18mm will fit. The Baltany dive watch is stunning
Beautiful watch, but the one I purchased was dead on arrival. Nothing I could do would get it to run. Unfortunately, Baltany were not super helpful and the watch ended up in a drawer - maybe to be repaired some day when I can find someone to work on it. Just wanted to add my two cents as these Chinese watches can sometimes be hit or miss.
Whoa, that was so spectacular and so super epic :) Magnificent content :)
Thank you, very kind!👍🏻🙏🏻 Very much appreciated!😊
I've always been impressed with their offerings. What do you think of Baltany's quality as compared to Seizenn? Great review Chris!
Thanks mate!🙏🏻 As I mention in the review, this was my first experience with Baltany, but I thought the quality of this Bubbleback model was outstanding! Just very well put together!
I’ve only looked at one Seizenn and one Baltany, but for me, the Baltany wins!
Awesome review !
question on the movement: itś a st17 right? What about rotor noise? Does it bear a mono- or bidirectional rotor?
Yes, this has the ST1701 movement. Rotor noise is very good. If you put it next to your ear and spin, then you can hear it (as you will with many watches), but it is not overly loud. Nothing like the old Miyota rotors! I am not 100% certain, but I believe it is a bidirectional rotor.
How much quality difference is it between these more expensive Alibaba watches and non chinese microbrands that probably buy the same parts & assemble them? is it worth $200 or should i get a microbrand quartz like Vaer or Maratac instead? I have no issue spending more,but the more known brands like hamilton,laco and such just seem to cost more but lack features like good WR,screw down crown and other things. I don't like paying just for the name 🙂
And that’s what it’s all about - The Name!! Obviously not all watches on AliExpress are equal, but this little Baltany really blew me away with the level of fit and finish and of quality! It really is fantastic quality. I was pretty much exclusively a Seiko collector up until a few years ago, and thus Baltany easily competes with SKX, Monster, Presage quality.
I echo Chris here. I find that these high quality Chinese brands like San Martin, Baltany, and Heimdallr are often equal to or better than more established brands in quality.
I've actually stopped buying Seiko after getting one watch with absolutely awful alignment, another with end links that rattled around, and a third that just completely died at 3 years of ownership.
None of my Chinese brands have had any issues with alignment, finishing, and all of them are keeping great time and working flawlessly.
Non -Chinese micro brands are functionally identical to the Chinese ones. The manufacturing and assembly are not happening in the west, only the design and marketing. While this often means more original designs and better names, I hazard to say the components are exactly the same.
While I don't support the Chinese government or the CCP, I have to admit that these watches are an excellent value if you find a design and brand that really works for you.
Beautiful
Thank you.👍🏻😊🙏🏻
36mm, i think it's to small for a man right? Nice watches but if maybe 40-42mm it's better....
No a perfect size at 36mm regardless of wrist size, if you look back at history a common size for a man was approx 33mm.
Nah 40-42 looks like a platter