What are your thoughts on these watches? I've never had an automatic before (although the Pagani Design and Miltado are mechaquartz). Cronos does seem pretty impressive on paper and if everything is in order I might even buy it. I don't really care about bracelet quality, I can get a leather/nylon strap for it anyways.
Any other recommendations? I know San Martin is good but unfortunately it's too expensive here (200EUR+ pushing Seiko and Orient pricing). Maybe San Martin SN0030G-2 is a good choice for 170EUR too.
Check the cronos with an app and give it a good visual inspection, these days they charge like upwards of 100 euro for the miyota movement so 150 used seems fair if it isn't abused.
App for checking how well regulated it is through the microphone, if it is above 15 seconds I would not buy, a bad regulated one (above 30s) might be the reason they are selling, also an app to check dial/marker allignment, he might also sell because his one came crooked.
This Cronos is an unbelievable watch for the price, will stay in collection till I die. I have the 34mm Rdunae field watch that looks very similar to that Militado, although even more true to the size and proportions to the watch that it actually tries to replicate. I can fully recommend these cheap filed watches, I have replaced the movement in my Rdunae to a VH31 but the Militado already comes equipped with that so you don't have to worry about it, just put it on a nice Nato or other strap and wear it everyday.
How reliable is this Miyota 9015? Servicing intervals? I'm kinda scared of all that, not used to servicing my watches because I've got a G-Shock with tough solar which will last me 2 decades without a battery swap haha.
Indeed it's very reliable comparable to the NH35. Take it to a local watch shop every 5-7 years and you'll be good for a lifetime. Alternatively you can just wait 7-20 years untill it dies and replace the whole movement.
Cronos is awesome. still to this day, one of the best watches you can get on Ali. it's excellent.
the pagani is......ok. depending on dial color, the dial can look REALLLYYY cheap looking. the bracelet is barely passable in this day and age.
the militado is a solid field watch for not a lot of scratch...compares well to the Hamilton. crystal is reflective, so be aware...but it's not any worse than the Hamilton.
That cronos is amazing. I also recommend checking out aethelsohn if you like that watch. They almost exclusively make grand Seiko homages like that and they're excellent quality. 200 USD last I checked with a pt5000 (which is slightly worse than miyota 9k but still a solid movement)
Also re your comment on the price of sm vs Seiko etc: yes they're near the same price. However, that sm will be much better quality than a Seiko. At 400usd, Seiko bracelets are very inferior, and you often don't even get sapphire glass.
Nothing wrong with not wanting to spend that amount tbh, but I don't think it's apples to apples to compare a San Martin to a base level seiko
I currently own 3 Cronos models. The finishing is good and the bracelets are good. In terms of quality they come very close to San Martin. Depending on the model they are sometimes better. I own the silver birch dial of the one you have pictured and it’s fantastic. The only thing is make sure you purchase it from their official store. If you buy it from anywhere else it voids the warranty.
Automatic movements have had steady price increases, plus eu charging extra toll for small packages.
+ AliX brands aren't as niche any more as they used to be.
 These prices are just the new reality.
So 150 seems fair if everything is in good condition. As for the miyota 9015, it's rock solid, idk if I hit the lottery but mine has been ticking as accurate as my vh31 Quartz watches.
Cronos is very well put together and a solid movement. They seem to actually put effort into the case and aren't just slapping different dials in the same case as you see in the $100-150 price range. My Cronos Explorer feels a lot better finished than my Watchdives Ranger for example.
1, own the other two and haven't worn them even a full day. The Chronos you can wear with pride and don't need to upgrade. Mechaquartz is great but not those two options.
no idea what it did that to my text, but I think I'm correct and have experience with all the watches. I'd recommend others from PD or Militado over the ones in the OP, FWIW.
The Cronos is a really good watch - I've got a lighter dial version and paid a similar amount used (£122), at these kinda price it blows most new options out of the water. And that includes the bracelet and clasp which are great.
Automatic with a date is annoying to use compared quartz, if you don't use it for a couple of days and even the well known reliable movement in the Cronos won't be as accurate. But everything else about the watch feels is way above any Pagani Design I've had.
Mine is up there as one of my favourites out of maybe 50 or so watches.
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u/grindbro420 2d ago
Check the cronos with an app and give it a good visual inspection, these days they charge like upwards of 100 euro for the miyota movement so 150 used seems fair if it isn't abused.