Here we have three $500 watches that make up a collection for every occasion. I love 2024! Join the best online community of watchlovers at WatchCrunch (download the app)
I wish the Nezumi had a date function. GMT watch is a tool made for traveling. I feel that omitting the date function from a GMT watch is like removing a speedometer from a racing car. You should not have to second guess the date, especially when you are traveling across multiple time zones. That's my 2 cents.
Ah man. I hadn't noticed that. I was about to look into how to buy one. I won't buy a GMT that's not a jump hour since the 9075 came out. Unfortunately, I also won't buy one without a date.
The only thing I don't like about mine. Otherwise it's so good, especially for the price before they upgraded the movement. The blue dial coordinates with medium denim and their tropic straps are just fantastic.
Wow that Kuoe is a stunner! I wish more micros would make vintage-inspired dress watches like this. Not a fan of the straight end link bracelet, but overall a really cool watch
You made excellent points. Amazing collection. I’d love to see a microbrand Video about the ones that have it all. Sapphire, elevated vickers,screwdown crown, excellent Lume, respectable movements, etc
wow. I was looking at the Kuoe a month or so ago when they refreshed it, but then I moved on and forgot about it. Seeing it on the bracelet makes we want one again.
Really good list and i agree that Kuoe Royal Smith is a nice watch. Now i gotta get that watch. Flukes diver watch looks like the Baltic Aquaschape that i own from first look. Design wise very similar
Another nicely designed micro-brand watch is the new Eska Amphibian 250 . A freind sent me a pic . Has the vintage Fifty Fathoms vibe. I've been gone working and just returned. Good informative video . Thanx
Microbrand, I would go with Islander watches. They have SOOOO many to choose from and I totally trust, respect, and appreciate Mark from Long Island Watches. I have learned so much from him here. I can’t wait to buy an Islander.
I‘ve been watching the Kuoe Website for montags, Finals wanted to order, and then the Royal Smith is sold out 😅 I‘ll wait, just fell in love with this Watch.
I've looked at and briefly considered one of Kuoe's small seconds models, I like the look of those a bit more. I've owned a few Nezumi chronographs in the past. And, I'd say the closest looking to the Cali dial Flux I've considered is from another microbrand called Beaufort, but it also has a sector dial. I'd say my experience and personal picks could be a good alternative to the ones you picked.
Thanks for the video. Just added the Nezumi to the wish list. Looks great on the cream rubber strap but thinking I’ll order with their brushed jubilee bracelet too. QC issue was a little concerning (given the risk of negative comments, why wouldn’t they be checking press versions even more closely than customer versions??). But at the price I reckon it is worth a punt (particularly with the Miyota movement).
Nice video. What you don’t mention is that these are gateway watches. They lead you to harder stuff. If I had $1,500 to spend on my watch collection, I’d keep it to one watch, buy it used, and wear it everywhere. Lots and lots of ways to do that.
I’m not a diver but I time so many things everyday with my rotating bezel. That one is a guessing game where you always lose. Haha, let’s make a watch with no hands too! 🙄 Kuoe is the fillet of the three in my book.
1500 bucks for 3 watches are good, now lemme check last time I post on your website how much I have spent in 11 months... ...2718 bucks for 14 watches (dives, dress, field, flieger, chronograph, regatta, sport) well let's say that I done pretty good savings haha
Love the Kuoe and the Fleux. I preordered the Nezumi when it was announced but when it turned up it was pretty underwhelming for me and I moved it on after a few weeks but that's just personal taste, I know there are many more who love this watch.
I wish ud put links to the watches. Anyway..the dress watch is nice but that name is terrible. And the gmt is similar with the names but my main thing with that one is , they are using a thin movement but the watch is still so thick
This video just cost me $117. I needed the off white rubber strap for my Aviera after seeing this, and since the shipping was $30... Well I had to get the Rindt leather rally to make it worthwhile, didn't I?
Or you could get a: Seiko 5 GMT = $475 Seiko Presage Cocktail Time = $450 Seiko Padi Diver = $450 All FAR better watches for under $1,500 Or… Tissot Gentleman = $825 Seiko Presage = $450 Orient Kamasu Diver = $225 = $1,500 Perfect Swiss every day watch, a beautiful dress watch, and a sharp/sexy proper dive watch. GMT? Use your phone.
Nothing against the brand but a dress watch with 9039 and an optional Sapphire upgrade of $138 on already a $568 watch bringing the total value of $706 is just ridiculous in my opinion. What other Miyota microbrands charge that much? No one or at least except for perhaps a few microbrands...
“Made in Japan” labor costs likely explain higher costs. Also the Sapphire is not flat, it’s a proper dome which makes it more expensive than a regular flat version. I get what you mean, though
It did. My Aviera has a Seiko movement in it. I don't mind it because my GMT stays set to IST, so the caller suits me just fine. My days of taking the flying bus to work are over.
I just realized it has no date. Which to me is the dumbest thing ever, because literally why would they switch movements than? The literal difference practically between caller and Traveller gmt is the date and how it is synchronized with the local hour hand. But if you’re not using a date…it makes no practical difference…..
We may not talk about it a lot, but now is the second golden age for mechanical watches. In 2050, when the World Economic Forum will have decided that only smartwatches measuring the CO2 emissions of your farts can be bought, those born in 2000 will fondly remember the 2020’s as the good old days.
I must be watching too many youtube watch channels… all these watches are starting to look the same to me… is it me or anyone else feeling visually overwhelmed? 🤯
With the same budget I'd go: (1) Seiko SKX 007 / 009 with upgraded with domed sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel (2) 40mm Seagull Panda Chronograph (3) Pre-owned Rolex Precision
Kuoe is just riffing off the old UK made Smtihs 50's and 60's watches. It's clever I guess, as the old Smiths watches have a huge Japanese following, but sadly it bears no relation to the old Smith's watch of the era that they are attempting to emulate.
When you showed that Kuoe I genuinely thought the video was about hunting vintage deals. It’s drop dead gorgeous ❤
Right?! 💯
I wish the Nezumi had a date function. GMT watch is a tool made for traveling. I feel that omitting the date function from a GMT watch is like removing a speedometer from a racing car. You should not have to second guess the date, especially when you are traveling across multiple time zones. That's my 2 cents.
I second guess the date without leaving my own lounge room.
Is the date set to your local time or your home time? Who knows
Ah man. I hadn't noticed that. I was about to look into how to buy one. I won't buy a GMT that's not a jump hour since the 9075 came out. Unfortunately, I also won't buy one without a date.
I agree
The only thing I don't like about mine. Otherwise it's so good, especially for the price before they upgraded the movement. The blue dial coordinates with medium denim and their tropic straps are just fantastic.
Screw down crown, thin, automatic, and under 36mm? Glad to see Kuoe getting the appreciation they deserve
Unfortunately I have 8.25” inch wrist and this size looks silly on me.
@@EdmundPorter-ju8kd I have a 5.5 inch wrist so we probably wear different watches lol
Thanks for the video. I immediately went to Kuoe website only to find out both colors of the Royal Smith were on backorder. I love that vintage look.
Wow that Kuoe is a stunner! I wish more micros would make vintage-inspired dress watches like this. Not a fan of the straight end link bracelet, but overall a really cool watch
Great trio! I've had my eye on all three of these for a while.
You made excellent points. Amazing collection.
I’d love to see a microbrand Video about the ones that have it all. Sapphire, elevated vickers,screwdown crown, excellent Lume, respectable movements, etc
Excellent suggestions. It's great to hear about new watches. Where are the watches made? That's important to me.
Good job MAX, thank you.
wow. I was looking at the Kuoe a month or so ago when they refreshed it, but then I moved on and forgot about it. Seeing it on the bracelet makes we want one again.
Good pick Max! I really enjoy this episode. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Really good list and i agree that Kuoe Royal Smith is a nice watch. Now i gotta get that watch.
Flukes diver watch looks like the Baltic Aquaschape that i own from first look. Design wise very similar
Amazing line up! The Royal Smith 🤌🏼
I do like that Nezumi. My favourite of there's is the black dial with jubilee.
Another nicely designed micro-brand watch is the new Eska Amphibian 250 . A freind sent me a pic . Has the vintage Fifty Fathoms vibe. I've been gone working and just returned. Good informative video . Thanx
Great collection of watches ❤
I’ve got the standard dial version of the Fleux. It’s really fantastic. One of my best surprises of 2023.
The Kuoe is beautiful. Thanks Max.
Yes she is 😍
Wow, you knew about Nezumi, I learned of them a few years back when they had the release of the limited edition RUFF chronograph, stunning! 😊😊😊
Very nice, all of them but that dive watch on the nato, very nice
Great video 🎉
The Royal Smith on leather looks great!
the fleux is pretty similar to the Squale Marine Militare with the blank bezel insert and orange sword minute
Microbrand, I would go with Islander watches.
They have SOOOO many to choose from and I totally trust, respect, and appreciate Mark from Long Island Watches.
I have learned so much from him here. I can’t wait to buy an Islander.
I‘ve been watching the Kuoe Website for montags, Finals wanted to order, and then the Royal Smith is sold out 😅
I‘ll wait, just fell in love with this Watch.
That is an awesome cover of AFFORDABLE watches great job man!
Very crunchy.
Great content
I love the first two. Not crazy about the third. I think, for GMT I'd go with the Nodus specter.
Nice choices
Wow, what a collection!
Kuoe is definitely on my radar.
I just purchased the Nezumi today.
That Fleux is fire though 🔥
From a distance, the Fleux resembles Lorier, but up close it is wild! In a good way.😊
I've looked at and briefly considered one of Kuoe's small seconds models, I like the look of those a bit more. I've owned a few Nezumi chronographs in the past. And, I'd say the closest looking to the Cali dial Flux I've considered is from another microbrand called Beaufort, but it also has a sector dial. I'd say my experience and personal picks could be a good alternative to the ones you picked.
Wow, nice dude! 👍
Could you do a "best cushion cases" video?
Awesome video like I said on the Crunch Max. I come to give my Hulk smash to the like button.
Thanks for the video. Just added the Nezumi to the wish list. Looks great on the cream rubber strap but thinking I’ll order with their brushed jubilee bracelet too. QC issue was a little concerning (given the risk of negative comments, why wouldn’t they be checking press versions even more closely than customer versions??). But at the price I reckon it is worth a punt (particularly with the Miyota movement).
Yeah it's unfortunate but they are good guys that would take care of you
Wow. The Kuoe looks incredible. I love vintage looks (and size) but not vintage fragility. It's like my clone started a micro-brand!
The kuoe is 🔥
Ive the Nezumi in black and on bracelet, dress tool watch.
Cheers 🍻
Kuoe make amazing watching! Its on my list for the watch I would buy if I had the money for it! Love the care and quality that goes into them
For sure! These guys know what they are doing
@@WatchCrunchOfficialagreed, Japanese finishing 😍
@@WatchCrunchOfficial need to do a giveaway of one of these!
Are the zero straps shipping currently? Very interested in purchasing one.
Wise ad8 my friend.
Nice video. What you don’t mention is that these are gateway watches. They lead you to harder stuff. If I had $1,500 to spend on my watch collection, I’d keep it to one watch, buy it used, and wear it everywhere. Lots and lots of ways to do that.
Going to trade my Baltic MR01 in for that Kuoe, microtor and breguet numerals is cool but that waffle dial is way more my speed!
I’m not a diver but I time so many things everyday with my rotating bezel. That one is a guessing game where you always lose. Haha, let’s make a watch with no hands too! 🙄 Kuoe is the fillet of the three in my book.
Nezumi aviera is really top looking. 200m ,explorer style for 500 euros !!
I do go snorkeling. With my Seiko 5.
1500 bucks for 3 watches are good, now lemme check last time I post on your website how much I have spent in 11 months...
...2718 bucks for 14 watches (dives, dress, field, flieger, chronograph, regatta, sport)
well let's say that I done pretty good savings haha
My favourite is the lovely dress watch a sleeping beauty
😍👍
Genuinely thought that Fleux was the Baltic Aquascaphe in blue for a minute. Love the piece regardless
Nezumi looks like the best of the lot.. but the watch failure seems a bit odd..
Love the Kuoe and the Fleux. I preordered the Nezumi when it was announced but when it turned up it was pretty underwhelming for me and I moved it on after a few weeks but that's just personal taste, I know there are many more who love this watch.
Damn Morgan, you are really back at it 😉
@@WatchCrunchOfficial 😂😂
No sweat arm pit😂😂😂good job max,. Thé last gmt bleu IS a killer,. Frédéric from Paris France...
😂😂
I wish ud put links to the watches. Anyway..the dress watch is nice but that name is terrible. And the gmt is similar with the names but my main thing with that one is , they are using a thin movement but the watch is still so thick
Kuoe has been catching my attention lately. Just not sure I can pull off 35. My smallest watch is 37 and that feels like I’m pushing it.
Smaller watches are coming! 😉
The Kuoe is outstanding! Wow. The Japanese know how to build a watch. Elegance personafied.
This video just cost me $117. I needed the off white rubber strap for my Aviera after seeing this, and since the shipping was $30... Well I had to get the Rindt leather rally to make it worthwhile, didn't I?
Nezumi should have said yeah we know about the seconds hand it's actually a built in windshield wiper
Good, the Nezumi GMT is killing me.
hii sir, i loved your videos, im indian. how can buy in india this watches?
Ain’t nobody tryna build a collection of microbrands
Or you could get a:
Seiko 5 GMT = $475
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time = $450
Seiko Padi Diver = $450
All FAR better watches for under $1,500
Or…
Tissot Gentleman = $825
Seiko Presage = $450
Orient Kamasu Diver = $225
= $1,500
Perfect Swiss every day watch, a beautiful dress watch, and a sharp/sexy proper dive watch.
GMT? Use your phone.
Nothing against the brand but a dress watch with 9039 and an optional Sapphire upgrade of $138 on already a $568 watch bringing the total value of $706 is just ridiculous in my opinion. What other Miyota microbrands charge that much? No one or at least except for perhaps a few microbrands...
“Made in Japan” labor costs likely explain higher costs. Also the Sapphire is not flat, it’s a proper dome which makes it more expensive than a regular flat version. I get what you mean, though
Kuoe is outstanding! Wow. The Japanese know how to build a watch. 😮
Prices of each individual watch would have been useful.
What is "meh"?
My iPhone serves as a GMT and world timer.
if its one thing that sucks its when a company gives a watch a name that people are not sure how to pronounce
The 9075 must be a very new development for Nezumi, I'm 90% sure it launched with the NH34 like most other micros.
It did. My Aviera has a Seiko movement in it. I don't mind it because my GMT stays set to IST, so the caller suits me just fine. My days of taking the flying bus to work are over.
I just realized it has no date. Which to me is the dumbest thing ever, because literally why would they switch movements than? The literal difference practically between caller and Traveller gmt is the date and how it is synchronized with the local hour hand. But if you’re not using a date…it makes no practical difference…..
You had me at artsy fartsy.
Great picks 👍 , I think for new collectors it's important to mention that microbrands like these don't hold any sort of value in the secondary market.
Yes, I don't think any $500 watch holds much value.
I wozh the fleux had sapphire glass...
I like the Kuoe, really dislike the Fleux and in general I dislike big GMTs with numeric bezels. One out of 3 isn't bad.😊
Hehe 😂.
fluex looks like a baltic
Great video on some outstanding watches that standout from the norm. I love the Fleux quasi -dive watch!
Thanks! Yeah that's an interesting piece
My wife is gonna be wondering where that 1.5k went....
I have a KUOE black dial with a bronze case. It definitely won't be my last KUOE.
Nezumi look like replicas of Farer watches.
You can get a lot of watch for$1500 these days 🎉
kuoe charges more if u want sapphire and even more of you want a bracelet. that fleux bezel is useless
We may not talk about it a lot, but now is the second golden age for mechanical watches.
In 2050, when the World Economic Forum will have decided that only smartwatches measuring the CO2 emissions of your farts can be bought, those born in 2000 will fondly remember the 2020’s as the good old days.
I must be watching too many youtube watch channels… all these watches are starting to look the same to me… is it me or anyone else feeling visually overwhelmed? 🤯
Mistakes happen, no big deal. But having less QC for press versions seems like a bad business decision.
Oh, new zero pass strap ad disguised as youtube content just dropped.Nice.
Fleux would actually be pronounced “Flu” 😂
I got that new Flu Watch 👍
Only...😅
that watch failing on you during review isn't helping your case 😂
With the same budget I'd go:
(1) Seiko SKX 007 / 009 with upgraded with domed sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel
(2) 40mm Seagull Panda Chronograph
(3) Pre-owned Rolex Precision
Kuoe is just riffing off the old UK made Smtihs 50's and 60's watches. It's clever I guess, as the old Smiths watches have a huge Japanese following, but sadly it bears no relation to the old Smith's watch of the era that they are attempting to emulate.
Yeah everyone is riffing off each other in the watch world, at least the watches are well executed.
Thanks for not saying “True” GMT, I throw up in my mouth a little every time someone says that unironically.
Our ideas of an “epic” collection are worlds apart 😂
and no one with date. Useless for me at all...
Wtf i love no date gmts now? No really
Brands without any history ?
No thanks .
Just by a real vintage watch from a real watch company .😊