I've been a ceramicist for several years and have experience throwing and building porcelain. They claim to use notoriously unpredictable, traditional wood-wire kilns but must press these dials thousands at a time. It doesn't make any sense to do this, when more controllable and precise temperatures/ramps can be achieved with a simpler, electrical, thermocoupler kiln. The loss in man hours and work volume would make their methods completely untenable when obvious solutions are easier and readily available. I'd also be very skeptical of their claims of 99% failure rate. I'll eat my hat if these aren't marketing lies. Which is a shame... because the watch is very lovely.
To many watch reviewers are dazzled by excess, and their love of chronographs, and diver watches, features hardly anyone uses on a watch, as let's be honest here, how many of us do laps and dive? I also like minimalism, and the ability to quickly glance at my watch, and tell me what time it is. Still beats looking for, and accessing my cell phone. I find this watch very attractive, and functional without being a Bauhaus style.
3:40 hearing about a 99% failure rate in the manufacturing of the dials coming from a Chinese company with a culture of Cha bu duo” (差不多) I find that exceedingly difficult to believe. Calling shenanigans on that from them.
That 99% failure rate claim is … half-baked. NOBODY makes a product with a component that has a 99% failure rate. And he’s not much of an artisan, is he, if he’s not able to do better. It just doesn’t add up, Jody. That said, the Chinese character dial is prettier than Seiko’s by a smidge. Many pocket watches 100 years ago had porcelain dials, and they are really gorgeous. I love this idea.
Watching this video and we finally get to the MSRP price. My only thought was 'get back in your lane'. Bargain basement cheaper than cheap Chinese generic case, cheap 'Genuine Leather' band, too small crown, with the cheaper movement for $1200.- Excuse me while I throw my head back and laugh! I tried to open up the Halcyon page to see what the Selitta one goes for but the link triggered my malware protection and blocked the website. Yeah, that's the Chinese for ya. Nothing changes. Then a moment later they've got it on sale for $800 and then there's a coupon code to get it close to $600.- Again, par for the course and nothing changes. Gotta love that Invicta style pricing strategy. Even at $600.- this is sooooo overpriced.
Let's raise the interest factor; bake in lume to that dial so that the Asian characters appear to float at night as do the blued steel hands, next use the Chinese licensed clone of the eta 2892, an adjustable deployant clasp, and a recessed spring-loaded crown. If it's Asian and luxury knock it out of the park.
In fairness, this box is the same style (possibly vendor?) as the current Omega box you get after servicing your watch with them. (Omega replaced their old "travel" case with this box in recent years)
I find the dial layout to be very beautiful and I would definitely go with the Chinese numerals. Very interesting dressy watch IMO. It's really hard to tell if the price is justified without further details, but a 99% failure rate seems to indicate that a lot of work and QA is involved, so I don't think it is overpriced.
Dial is very creamy. like the hands are floating on milk. Love the blued hands. Im ok with a small crown. This is up there with Namika as an interesting addition to my collection.
This a gorgeous wee watch, Jody. Some work needed in the areas mentioned in your review. A little pricey for me, even with the 20% off. The dial with chinese characters is definitely the one to go with if you want to pull the trigger on this one.
This is a watch with a great story. To your point - they really ought to lean into that more than they are. Curious case back. At first glance I thought 'Aztec' rather than 'Chinese'.
Thank you very much for presenting this watch. A lovely watch, I would be very happy to own. What makes me a bit unkomfortabel is the brands desinterest in branding, the lacking of a cohierent marketing concept and the high price. But maybe I just have to break with some preconceptions on my part. That's perhaps the problem with the price. The watch is a bit of a gamble.
It's not really a GADA and it's too big for a dress watch. I like the dial, and both movement options are good. Apart from that there isn't anything I like, and it's over priced
Gorgeous dial! Give me a Miyota 9039 any day of the week over a Sellita SW200-1. 2 watches currently waiting to be fixed because of the horrifically dainty ratchet wheel. The teeth will shear off if you look at it funny lol. Great looking watch though Jody. 🫡
I would not want to purchase a watch because it is discounted-would buy one based on liking it. Crazy big money for Chinasium. $89.00 I still wouldn’t wear it…
The name sounds exactly like an old sleeping tablet by the name of Halcion. This is very addictive stuff. I won't be able to take this watch seriously.
This isn't a review, it's an advertisement. I know, it's confusing, because he claimed this was a "review" multiple times before he admitted it's an ad. But he did, and it's an ad.
The dial and hands are beautiful. That's the end of my positives. They offer two movements, but both of them are automatic? Why?! If you're going to offer a second movement choice, then make it a quartz option and save money rather than drive the price up. The second-hand lume is bizarre. So, if I wake up in the night, I can quickly glance what second it is?? Not helpful. And the price is just way out of scope for what you're getting. Make it hot pink with black hands and a high-precision quartz ETA for a fraction of the cost, and there'll be a market. As is, I don't imagine there will be many takers.
Very expensive given the obviously untrue 99% failure rate and the extremely boring case and crown. I really like the dial but man that case looks like it could be plated brass or from a Spaghetti Scameti.
Hard pass. It may be porcelain but it's a boring, oversized dial, in a boring case, with an undersized crown, priced way too high. Surprised this managed to get on the channel.
I really like the idea! The dial needs more going on, to my thinking… maybe a chapter ring with a minute track, maybe slightly larger printed numbers, maybe slightly differently shaped hands that take up more space. I wouldn’t mind if there’s no lume, but either lume the hands or don’t lume at all… It might be interesting to see a lumed chapter ring to see how that plays with the porcelain surface…
Underwhelming to be honest. I would have thought 38mm would have helped it a bit. It looks too chunky for that style of watch. Then there’s the price. Not for me thanks. Cheers Jody.
They should change their dial production method to reduce waste. Then they could sell this watch for under $200 which, coincidentally, is exactly the price point where Chinese watches belong. Back in your lane!
Hi Jody, I bought a watch with chinese characters 10 yrs ago for £1-50 on a market in Hong Kong. I know it was quarts but it has only had two batteries in that time and still works well.
The Chinese characters are weird... I can only recognize 1, 2, 3 (turn 90 degrees) and 10 correctly. "廿" is "20" and "卅" is "30"; "夂" means "from behind" or "to stop", and I think it is a mistranslation of "久", which is pronounced "9" in Chinese. I don't understand why they write them this way.
As a Chinese, I just can't stand the error on the dial marking. If they decide to go with Suzhou Numeral, then please go full with Suzhou Numeral!!! The “十” marker is a normal Chinese character and not a Suzhou Numeral. In Suzhou Numeral it should go by "〡〇". But the meaning of the character still mean "10" in chinese. So will just give it a pass. But the ridiculous part is the“廿” mean “20” and “卅” mean “30” in chinese!!!!! As a Chinese i just can't wear this proudly as the company suggest!!! Not to mention the price! This is just a big no for me!
I studied Chinese a bit in university and was so confused by the numerals, never heard of Suzhou numerals before. Interesting stuff, it's a shame to hear they don't make sense. I'd personally like to see more dials with normal Chinese characters on them, though I understand 11 and 12 would stand out a bit compared to the rest since they require two characters.
Pretty ordinary to call this a "review" multiple times at the start, before admitting that it's actually a paid advertisement, not a review at all. The word "review" carries the clear implication of a lack of commercial influence, meaning that if its been paid for, it isn't a review, it's an ad.
You keep referring to craftsmanship because you read it on a Chinese manufacturer's website? Come on Jody, don't perpetuate the story unless you verify this. My guess is that the porcelain dials are batch-made by some dude who also does the photocopying, lunch runs and shipping.
Actually, a very nice/dress style watch in my eyes. Love the dial with Roman Numerals. A little expensive agreed. Thanks again for sharing something a little different.
99% failure rate… “So you’re telling me there’s a chance…!” Ten points for getting the movie reference! It’s a beautiful watch. I cannot wait to see what the Chinese watch scene will look like 5, 10, 20 years from now!
love seeing more chinese brands be proudly chinese, although the chinese numerals confuse me, they don't seem to be all chinese characters. edit: looked it up, it's something called suzhou numerals. how interesting! learnt something new today :) i would have used different chars for 11 and 12 though. those are the suzhou numerals for 20 and 30, not 11 and 12.
I've been a ceramicist for several years and have experience throwing and building porcelain.
They claim to use notoriously unpredictable, traditional wood-wire kilns but must press these dials thousands at a time. It doesn't make any sense to do this, when more controllable and precise temperatures/ramps can be achieved with a simpler, electrical, thermocoupler kiln. The loss in man hours and work volume would make their methods completely untenable when obvious solutions are easier and readily available.
I'd also be very skeptical of their claims of 99% failure rate. I'll eat my hat if these aren't marketing lies.
Which is a shame... because the watch is very lovely.
Jody is too polite to state the obvious, that their claim of 99% failure rate is obviously untrue.
Are they trying to say their standards are so high that only 1% are accepted? Or are they just crap manufacturers that fail 99% of the time...🤔
I'd bet money on it. Total b*llocks dressing on an otherwise nice piece.
If they can afford to throw 99% of them away, then it's nothing special at all.
My grandfather has the heart of a lion and a lifetime ban at the zoo.
Porcelain isn’t enamel, btw… A Seiko with an Arita porcelain dial normally costs around £1,700.
When you put “99% failure rate” in the title, I struggled to think of why you’d accept this sponsor until you mentioned the dial
Anything for money man
@@Beck-Stein hell yeah, get that bag.
It is still stupid.
99% failure rate is a LOT failure.
@@victorutomo7244TYVM, Captain Obvious!
Blued hands, minimalism and porcelain dial - I love love love this! ❤
To many watch reviewers are dazzled by excess, and their love of chronographs, and diver watches, features hardly anyone uses on a watch, as let's be honest here, how many of us do laps and dive? I also like minimalism, and the ability to quickly glance at my watch, and tell me what time it is. Still beats looking for, and accessing my cell phone. I find this watch very attractive, and functional without being a Bauhaus style.
I like the dial but if the how markers were slightly larger i think it would make the dial look more full.
With the skinny bezel and white dial it will lok like a dinner plate on the wrist. A 36mm would be nice.
I applaud this movement. I hope to see more of this.
Oof. I like the dial and numerals, but case design is so weak and pricing is rough
3:40 hearing about a 99% failure rate in the manufacturing of the dials coming from a Chinese company with a culture of Cha bu duo” (差不多) I find that exceedingly difficult to believe. Calling shenanigans on that from them.
That RRP price is a no go - porcelain dial or not - its just a plain white dial.
These need to be $499USD to have a chance.
It not just a plain white dial.
Just get Daniel wellington
Thanks Jody, now you got me hunting for that Seiko presage enamel watch lol
That 99% failure rate claim is … half-baked. NOBODY makes a product with a component that has a 99% failure rate. And he’s not much of an artisan, is he, if he’s not able to do better. It just doesn’t add up, Jody.
That said, the Chinese character dial is prettier than Seiko’s by a smidge.
Many pocket watches 100 years ago had porcelain dials, and they are really gorgeous. I love this idea.
Watching this video and we finally get to the MSRP price. My only thought was 'get back in your lane'. Bargain basement cheaper than cheap Chinese generic case, cheap 'Genuine Leather' band, too small crown, with the cheaper movement for $1200.- Excuse me while I throw my head back and laugh! I tried to open up the Halcyon page to see what the Selitta one goes for but the link triggered my malware protection and blocked the website. Yeah, that's the Chinese for ya. Nothing changes.
Then a moment later they've got it on sale for $800 and then there's a coupon code to get it close to $600.- Again, par for the course and nothing changes. Gotta love that Invicta style pricing strategy. Even at $600.- this is sooooo overpriced.
I designed a clock face with Mayan numbers :)
Let's raise the interest factor; bake in lume to that dial so that the Asian characters appear to float at night as do the blued steel hands, next use the Chinese licensed clone of the eta 2892, an adjustable deployant clasp, and a recessed spring-loaded crown. If it's Asian and luxury knock it out of the park.
This dial is very intriguing
I want to see this watch in the next Lume-Wars
One of my grails is a porcelain dial Breguet Classique. This is lovely.
In fairness, this box is the same style (possibly vendor?) as the current Omega box you get after servicing your watch with them. (Omega replaced their old "travel" case with this box in recent years)
Based on the initial commentary, I was guessing the watch would cost about $150, and not four times as much. Halcyon must be joking
You think you're going to get a porcelain dial for 150? Lol
A small seconds hand at 6-oclock would convince me to give the watch a real look.
I m Chinese yet I cannot read those character lol😅
Hmmmm....I just got a warning when I clicked on their website link. "Fake store"
I find the dial layout to be very beautiful and I would definitely go with the Chinese numerals. Very interesting dressy watch IMO. It's really hard to tell if the price is justified without further details, but a 99% failure rate seems to indicate that a lot of work and QA is involved, so I don't think it is overpriced.
Hey, that sounds a lot like Credor! The price isn't bad at all by comparison
I like it; agree a bit of color would bring it to life, but very nice all the same 😎
I have a Tissell Marine watch enamel dial (Stowa clone) that is fantastic. Miyota movt. Can't beat that for the price
About time i went back to Suzhou for a holiday with my old mate Horace.
Is that t-shirt really in the spirit of Christmas? Run choir boys run!
It's quite gorgeous this one
Dial is very creamy. like the hands are floating on milk. Love the blued hands. Im ok with a small crown. This is up there with Namika as an interesting addition to my collection.
This a gorgeous wee watch, Jody. Some work needed in the areas mentioned in your review. A little pricey for me, even with the 20% off. The dial with chinese characters is definitely the one to go with if you want to pull the trigger on this one.
This is a watch with a great story. To your point - they really ought to lean into that more than they are. Curious case back. At first glance I thought 'Aztec' rather than 'Chinese'.
Great looks
Thank you very much for presenting this watch. A lovely watch, I would be very happy to own. What makes me a bit unkomfortabel is the brands desinterest in branding, the lacking of a cohierent marketing concept and the high price. But maybe I just have to break with some preconceptions on my part. That's perhaps the problem with the price. The watch is a bit of a gamble.
I find it interesting. I’d like to review one at some point.
It's not really a GADA and it's too big for a dress watch. I like the dial, and both movement options are good. Apart from that there isn't anything I like, and it's over priced
Gorgeous dial! Give me a Miyota 9039 any day of the week over a Sellita SW200-1. 2 watches currently waiting to be fixed because of the horrifically dainty ratchet wheel. The teeth will shear off if you look at it funny lol. Great looking watch though Jody. 🫡
"USP," Jody you are showing your real world marketing chops. 😊 If the hands are heat-blued, they should let that be known as well.
Your Erebus T shirt reflection from the watch is an ad within the sponsored content? : )
I thought enamel does not equal porcelain. Enamel is baked onto a metal disc whereas this is essentially a tiny plate for a dial.
I need to wear this on my next pub crawl, coordinating with the inevitable Porcelain Confessional.🤮
I gotta say, I really like this!
that's honestly beautiful and I would buy one in a heartbeat if I could afford it.
a watch with a bezel that slim should not be 40 mm
Beautiful watch!
Lovely watch 🤩😍
I would not want to purchase a watch because it is discounted-would buy one based on liking it. Crazy big money for Chinasium. $89.00 I still wouldn’t wear it…
The name sounds exactly like an old sleeping tablet by the name of Halcion. This is very addictive stuff. I won't be able to take this watch seriously.
A good effort, but further refinement is needed. For me, this one's a pass.
It's just an advert, come on your better than that, we're not daft.
Seriously. Says the word "review" multiple times, before admitting it's actually just an ad, and not a review at all.
No thanks. The price is way to much for what you get in my opinion.
I think my wife would really enjoy one of these if they made 36mm versions.
I like everything but the price and lume.
Great review, Jody, as usual. :)
Very interesting watch. Well above my price range, but a ncie watch, nonetheless. :)
This isn't a review, it's an advertisement.
I know, it's confusing, because he claimed this was a "review" multiple times before he admitted it's an ad. But he did, and it's an ad.
The dial and hands are beautiful. That's the end of my positives. They offer two movements, but both of them are automatic? Why?! If you're going to offer a second movement choice, then make it a quartz option and save money rather than drive the price up. The second-hand lume is bizarre. So, if I wake up in the night, I can quickly glance what second it is?? Not helpful. And the price is just way out of scope for what you're getting. Make it hot pink with black hands and a high-precision quartz ETA for a fraction of the cost, and there'll be a market. As is, I don't imagine there will be many takers.
It’s a cool looking watch, and I love the dial, but even at $650 it’s a no-go. Too much for what it is.
Wouldve bought one if it didn't have 'Journey' on the otherwise fantastic dial, really takes away from the esthetics of it for me :(.
Very expensive given the obviously untrue 99% failure rate and the extremely boring case and crown. I really like the dial but man that case looks like it could be plated brass or from a Spaghetti Scameti.
for that price, i will go with Seiko's with japanese crastmans.
$1000 and they couldn't swing the extra $5 for quick release spring bars?
The only manufacturer with a 99% failure rate on a watch component is Rolex with the BLRO bezel 😜
Hard pass. It may be porcelain but it's a boring, oversized dial, in a boring case, with an undersized crown, priced way too high. Surprised this managed to get on the channel.
Definitely stretching the credibility here, even for a channel that is about 90% ads these days.
Some Chinese numbers are with wrong writing!
I reckon that this might be gamin marketing, but it is different at least. Hey, if Rolex et al can do it, why not the Chinese.
$1K - $700 for a basic watch with an Aztec duck farting on the case back? ...The dial is beautiful but for this price, no thank you.
Pretty classy
Norton hates the halcyon website. Says its fake. Won't let me in.
It's not today, it's tonight😂
I really like the idea! The dial needs more going on, to my thinking… maybe a chapter ring with a minute track, maybe slightly larger printed numbers, maybe slightly differently shaped hands that take up more space. I wouldn’t mind if there’s no lume, but either lume the hands or don’t lume at all…
It might be interesting to see a lumed chapter ring to see how that plays with the porcelain surface…
Underwhelming to be honest. I would have thought 38mm would have helped it a bit. It looks too chunky for that style of watch. Then there’s the price. Not for me thanks. Cheers Jody.
They should change their dial production method to reduce waste. Then they could sell this watch for under $200 which, coincidentally, is exactly the price point where Chinese watches belong.
Back in your lane!
The porcelain thingy is pure BS. Should cost less than a Tandario Pilot watch. Definitely a pass.
Hi Jody, I bought a watch with chinese characters 10 yrs ago for £1-50 on a market in Hong Kong. I know it was quarts but it has only had two batteries in that time and still works well.
The Chinese characters are weird... I can only recognize 1, 2, 3 (turn 90 degrees) and 10 correctly. "廿" is "20" and "卅" is "30"; "夂" means "from behind" or "to stop", and I think it is a mistranslation of "久", which is pronounced "9" in Chinese. I don't understand why they write them this way.
Norton shows the link as a fake website.
With a 99% failure rate, maybe they should consider hiring a more competent porcelain master... 😂😅
As a Chinese, I just can't stand the error on the dial marking. If they decide to go with Suzhou Numeral, then please go full with Suzhou Numeral!!!
The “十” marker is a normal Chinese character and not a Suzhou Numeral. In Suzhou Numeral it should go by "〡〇". But the meaning of the character still mean "10" in chinese. So will just give it a pass.
But the ridiculous part is the“廿” mean “20” and “卅” mean “30” in chinese!!!!! As a Chinese i just can't wear this proudly as the company suggest!!! Not to mention the price! This is just a big no for me!
I studied Chinese a bit in university and was so confused by the numerals, never heard of Suzhou numerals before. Interesting stuff, it's a shame to hear they don't make sense. I'd personally like to see more dials with normal Chinese characters on them, though I understand 11 and 12 would stand out a bit compared to the rest since they require two characters.
Pretty ordinary to call this a "review" multiple times at the start, before admitting that it's actually a paid advertisement, not a review at all.
The word "review" carries the clear implication of a lack of commercial influence, meaning that if its been paid for, it isn't a review, it's an ad.
If only the case was interesting.
yuk no thanks cheers
It’s a little counterintuitive to brag about manufacturing failures.😂
Nice dial and hands in a 20 dollar case. Poke it China. Nope. Like a Chinese Anordain, ridiculous.
You would have to be smoking something really interesting to pay that much money for that watch.
$800 😂😅😂😅
That is a lovely modest dial... with the porcelain..
This should be good 🙃
499 Aussie Dollarydoos OK......499USD yeah/nah
You keep referring to craftsmanship because you read it on a Chinese manufacturer's website? Come on Jody, don't perpetuate the story unless you verify this. My guess is that the porcelain dials are batch-made by some dude who also does the photocopying, lunch runs and shipping.
It sounds like BS marketing to me.
3 person with 1/100 productivity? Good luck with better lies
I'm not buying the failure rate.
Actually, a very nice/dress style watch in my eyes. Love the dial with Roman Numerals.
A little expensive agreed.
Thanks again for sharing something a little different.
99% failure rate… “So you’re telling me there’s a chance…!” Ten points for getting the movie reference!
It’s a beautiful watch. I cannot wait to see what the Chinese watch scene will look like 5, 10, 20 years from now!
D&D ..;)
I'll take one if they can get the price down to $100 U.S.
Merry Christmas, Jody!
Take a brake mate. Horrible.
655 for a chinese made watch. hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
love seeing more chinese brands be proudly chinese, although the chinese numerals confuse me, they don't seem to be all chinese characters.
edit: looked it up, it's something called suzhou numerals. how interesting! learnt something new today :) i would have used different chars for 11 and 12 though. those are the suzhou numerals for 20 and 30, not 11 and 12.