I’ve been contemplating joining Watch Gang. Been watching TH-cam reviews and online reviews. I was very jazzed to join but after the research I’ve decided to nix it. I have a nice collection going and each one is special to me. Getting one monthly or quarterly that I have no control over is becoming less and less appealing. Thanks for your honesty and obvious impartiality.
You're welcome. In the end, it's not for everyone, and I hoped by making this video I could help folks figure out whether it was right for them. I understand having each watch be special. For me, several of these WG watches have become special because of the particular things that were happening in my life when they arrived.
@@DrPronghorn Ain’t it the truth! I too have watches that stamp a time in my life. I have a 40 year old Pulsar that has followed me though much of my adult life and other watches that I look at and remember things.
@@casualsuedeit would be nice to get a Rolex at msrp you could instantly flip it for a profit. Omega no but Rolex’s usually command above the msrp on the used market.
I actually like all but one of these watches. I also want the excitement of getting a surprise, so it works out for me. Others, maybe not, and that's OK.
@@DrPronghorn I don't doubt that any ya some of them are nice. I just don't think they are worth 300 each. If you was to look each one up to see what they actually sell for the math won't add up. You can not go by the price onthe watch hang tag either. Look at invicta watches, there pro diver has $700or more on the hang tag when thu actually sell fot $70 to $150.
@@johnleonard3951 I understand your concern, that's why I tried to find recent eBay prices for these watches, and I listed those, too. In the end, there are some that sell for less than $300 on eBay, but some that sell for more, so it works out on average.
There are so many nice watches that are available, I could never let some service pick them for me. The MSRP on a lot of these are jokes, so it wouldn't enter into my personal math. The fact that WG can pick these up from the manufacturer and sell them to their members at $300 and still make a profit suggests to me that these are the ones that the manufacturer are having a tough time moving through their normal business course. Thanks for the video describing your experience. Subscribed to see how you make your straps!
I'm never going to wear $2400 on my wrist at one time, let alone $3600, so this is the right speed for me. Other folks can do what they want, and that's OK, but I'm not willing to risk that much value on my wrist.
I appreciate you making this video. I'm not terribly a big fan of any of those watches. And if I were to join Watch Gang, it would've been the Plat. Tier that I would've chosen. I'm familiar with those watches and their movements and I think for the amount I'd spend in a year -- for me, it may just be better to buy the couple of Seikos I want (mod them) and get the Omega I want. Thanks so much for this video! 👍🏼
I was subscribed to WG about 3-4 years ago or so. I was subbed for around a year, hit the wheel a number of times as well. I still have most of the watches I received. I did give a few away as they just weren't my style. However, as time went on, the appreciation for the watches they were giving out dropped drastically. Seemed like everyone was kinda on the fence and unhappy, myself included. They started banning people on their FB group if you started criticizing the watches they were sending out. Their listed MSRP is such a wild joke. You can find just about any one of their watches listed for much less on ebay.
I didn't even know there was a subscription service for watches. Sounds like a good introduction for new watches, but I'd rather have a few that I really like myself. -Says the guy who has dozens of Casios. I love Casios, regardless of price point.
Casios are great. I personally enjoy the excitement of getting a mystery watch each quarter, but I also understand not wanting to give up control of a purchase like this.
Nicely detailed video, thank you. You confirmed that I would hate Watch Gang, so you saved me the trouble. The MSRP's used are fantasy-land, so you're usually paying street price for a watch you don't get to select. I imagine they make deals with the various small microbrands to buy out their overstock and unpopular models for a good deal (for them, not so much WG customers).
I think you're right. Since I made this video, I've dropped my subscription, based on the many comments that are similar to yours. It was a fun way to be distracted during the worst of the pandemic, but I've moved on now.
I’m not a watch guy and I never have been, but lately I got the bug. Thank you for sharing your experience. By the way, I like that AV8. Shortly after you opened the box at the beginning, it was the first one that caught my eye, haha. Funny how it is one of the ones you dislike. Very cool collection.
Heard of Watchgang. Was on the fence. Most of these brands I've never heard of, MSRP in watches are almost always highly over inflated except for some Swiss brands. (Invicta being the worse) The only reason I decided not to was that most of these 300 dollar watches all probably have NH35/4R36 movements in them at best, not going to get a Miyota 9015 for $300.00, some of these watches you have might have the very old Miyota 8215 movement. I just didn't want a collection of watches all with the same movement in them (wanted a better variety of movements) Rather spend closer to $1,000 range for a Swiss automatic or higher Japan grade like 6R15 or 9015. And also better bracelet and case quality near $1,000 price point. The NH35/4R36 is a good workhorse movement though, most come out of factory with a good +/- variation, which is good cause Seiko's guaranteed tolerance on the movement is atrocious. Hopefully none of these watches have Chinese automatic movements in them, I have personally never had much luck with Chinese made automatics.
Just spun my first watch gang wheel earlier this week! I didn't realize there was any strategy to it. Would definitely be interested in a follow-up video!
I like what you did with the strap on the yellow one. That and the orange are realistically the only two I’d pick up since they’re so sporty looking. That first one must feel like a dinner plate on your hand
I tried the watchgang subscription but I didn’t continue with it. If they have anything that you want you can buy a wheel spin and a few times I have won a much more expensive watch than what I was buying. You can select 3 choices from the first tier then 2, and then 1 for all the high end. You can win watches like Rolex’s on the spins.
The Woolbrook/Douglas is the only watch here that is objectively a good watch. I read in other comments you would never wear a $2,400 watch but you could have some really nice Seikos or in my opinion the best watch you can buy for $300, the Zelos Swordfish. I'd assume some of those watches are sold out because WG bought them all. Also, that Woolbrook shouldn't run out of power half way through the day
It only ran out of power halfway through the day because I wound it the way I wind an automatic to get it going before I wear it, so only about ten turns. Once I knew it had no rotor and started winding it fully, it had the power reserve you would expect from that movement. It's interesting how taste can be so different between people who are still enthusiasts for the same hobby. I don't find the Zelos Swordfish to be as attractive as the Spinnaker Hass or my Out of Order Automatico, but that doesn't mean your love of it is invalid. I'm not a big fan of the date at the 6 o'clock position, and I also like the rotating bezel to have minute marks all the way around the dial. I appreciate your comment, and I appreciate that you took the time to watch my video. Thanks!
I have had the watch gang subscription for a little over a year now, was fairly happy with the watches I was getting under the black tear, so I bumped it up to the platinum, I have been nothing but disappointed in every single one of those an absolute waste of money at that subscription level.
Something about the number of watch brands that have a "website" with high MSRPs but are conveniently "out of stock", doesn't pass the smell test for me. I could have a garbage product, create a website as a front, and then sell all of my products to a third party which appears to sell them at deep discounts, making consumers feel like they've gotten a great deal.
I just won the Duxot in their summer wheel spin. Mine is black/blue though. It came out to about $310 after tax and shipping. Seems to be about what they’re going for lightly used. Didn’t realize it was so thick when I added it to the wheel. Still a nice looking watch though. Thanks for the video
Can someone explain to me how helium release valves work? How does the helium get in there in the first place and why would decompressing blow the crystal off the watch? Wouldn't the valve then backfill with air once you let the helium out?
They use helium instead of nitrogen in the air mixture for extremely deep dives. When the diver is in the decompression chamber, the helium can make it past the otherwise airtight seal, leaving the inside of the watch pressurized with helium when the pressure is equalized around the diver. Without the valve, this can cause the crystal to pop off. So it's really useful only for folks doing specific kinds of extreme deep sea diving; for the rest of us, it's a curiosity.
This is what Platinum will get you? I've spun the "Wheel" twice and have gotten an NTH Barracuda and a Gevril Vaughn both of which I like. The NTH is listed at $700 and the Gevril is listed on the Gevril site for $3,400. I do have a OOO automatic that I didn't get through Watch Gang, that I like as well.
@@lukewarrington756 I've noticed that. I've seen their Wall Street model discounted heavily along with others. Nice watches though, and better than some of the other stuff Watch Gang has.
I am so happy I found your channel and this video. Huge fan of horology, (love the double entendre of the word as well,) and just getting back into collecting after I liquidated my collection after the 2008-2009 meltdown. I've been thinking of doing the wheel, so please make a video. I believe I came up with a winning strategy for the 5th wheel. There are some pleasant surprises in price points and what I found on eBay. I figure I can stack multiples of the same watch/ different styles of which I know I cannot purchase for less. Works in tier 1 and 2. Most likely that is what I would receive, so having 3 of the same watch in tier 1 would guaranty me that watch, in different colors or bands. Let me know if you had similar thoughts or what your strategy is?
You're thinking along the same lines as me. A lot of the strategy for the wheel is waiting to see what shows up there and not being impulsive about making spins.
I'm still thinking of doing that. I haven't seen just the rotor and screw for sale, though, and it seems a shame to buy a whole movement just for that. Thanks for the compliment and thanks for watching!
I can't spend $300 on a watch and not be sure whether I'm going to like it. There are far too many watches at that price point that I love. Then factor in the pre owned market on eBay and I can often get a gently usedd watch that's hardly been worn and is worth more than $300. Unfortunately, people get themselves into financial situations where they have to part with watches and take a loss. That's the best way to acquire watches as far as I am concerned.
The Coronagraph is super cool, like a barebones Speedmaster Regarding OOO, i cant speak to their watches, but they've been harassing me with their newsletter since i gave them my email, and no unsubscribe procedure seems to work. You mentioned elsewhere that you are eyeing higher end piece currently, whats on your mind specifically?
Higher end for me... I got the OOO 10th anniversary watch. I asked Ricci very nicely and got #42. th-cam.com/video/-Xq9tb1JKII/w-d-xo.htmlsi=osVRscJot06cHBQP
This video is SO helping me decide what I want out of WG. But there are certain things I MUST have out of a watch, and somethings I absolutely do not want... Looks like WG won't let me customize my options for those things. (Example: I ONLY want white, black, blue, or gold dials and it MUST have a Date complication bare minimum.)
I like the fact you made your watches and straps yourself. For the other watches, you have to wonder should I biy these watches in the forst place? Or do I save up money for a "grail" watch.
got just 1 black tier Oceneva watch, used bonus offer to get Spinnaker, and played the wheel once to get James McCabe. Canceled right after that and never regretted :)
Look into 'white label' brands/factories and the inflated MSRPs central to their MO. I'm afraid that ruse is what WG are mostly about. I'd also wager the vast majority of those eBay like pieces youi saw were also of WG origin.
I agree, I think most of the eBay pieces were originally WG purchases. It's clear that the MSRPs on these watches cannot be trusted, and one should look at prices on eBay and other resellers to get a good idea of the value of the pieces.
the question even if you saved money off of MSRP, would you actually buy the watches they sent you and do you wear the ones you don't really like? that's the real determinant of if it's worth it
I ended up selling most of these watches after making this video. I took a slight loss on most, too, but it was a fun diversion, and I've made enough on this video to make up for my losses....
@@DrPronghorn nice, I think most watch collecters are willing to spend quite a lot to wear a fun piece even though we know it could be better spent on a house, a car etc...
I sense a pattern here. Lot of watches that are discontinued. I assume WK buy out the remaining stock of discontinued watches for cheap cheap from the manufacturers trying to move the last of their stock and ship them out.
Strategy video of wheel of watches please. I'm not trying to beat the system, I just want to get the ones I like that will have atleast some worth of I need to sell them later on
It's the Spinnaker Bradner. I got it on the Wheel of Watches, and it's the only Wheel of Watches purchase that I've ended up keeping and not reselling. You're right, it's a very nice looking watch, and the color combination I have seems to be sold out now. Here's the listing: spinnaker-watches.com/collections/view-all/products/bradner-olive-sp-5062-02
A lot of negativity in the community can understand the fun aspects of this. Wheel of chance. Most are decent. Definitely not worth entirely the money for many but hell it’s fun right ? And during covid seems like the community gained a cool bloke. So positivity all around thanks for sharing :)
I'm sure there is the element of the box arriving as being an unknown watch that adds some sort of value for the member, with that said it seems with money spent versus knowing companies like zelos, raven, gruppo gamma with some models , and on & on & on where dollar for dollar would easily be purchased with perhaps a higher personal value held then the grouping this membership offered up over that time. But I'm sure for some this is just the bees knees & again perhaps the surprise/ unknowing element is truly valued by their members. Either way enjoy your collection.
Thanks! In the end, the surprise is worth a lot to me, and I think I showed that the watches generally hold their value in the resale market. No one will be making a profit from Watch Gang, but you can be confident that you can resell the watches for around $300. Of course, the price has gone up to $400 now, so it may be a different calculation for new subscribers.
Save you money and by some quality microbrands you love with better specs. Zelos dorezo phoibos so many great options . Best watch you have in that entire collection is the spinnaker . Pretty sad
I would never join the Watch Gang because I love the process of selecting the watch that is right for me. And I allow myself to buy it only if I like the watch at least a few months. Also many of these "microbrands" just don't speak to me (I would rather buy some Seiko or real microbrand like Lorier). BUT I have to say I can imagine myself wearing that Spinnaker, Duxot, Archon and OOO. They are pretty unique. And your straps are really nice. I would be pretty upset about that Wolbrook though. I heard many stories about broken automatic movements that were wound every day. They are just not made for every day winding action, so removing rotor from automatic movement is just a bad idea.
I think I'll end up purchasing a rotor and adding it to the Wolbrook. It's a cute idea, but I would have been happier if they had actually sourced a manual-wind movement for it.
I just joined Watch Gang today and I am not sure if I will keep the subscription. I guess I just wanted to try the concept. All of these watches are not worth investing in, to be honest. A good watch should be in the 2k region, Omega maybe... Oris isn't worthy of your money, to be honest. I think it's better to have one nice swiss watch in 2-3k region than a box of bottom crawlers. What do you think?
I can understand that perspective. I've dropped my WG subscription because I feel happy with the watches I have now. I also sold off about half of my watches to pay for Jeep parts, because I found I wasn't wearing them. In the end, I would worry wearing a watch that costs as much as a project car; I would rather have the car than the watch. For now, I'm going to refocus on learning to clean and repair vintage watches. I bought several that looked interesting but didn't run, so I'm going to have a go at making them work again. I find that I enjoy that more than buying them new.
I paid $300 with a discount for two watches and got Melbourne Watch Company - Chelsea and Cadola Galathea - Limited Edition . Both watches look good but if you look at them closely you will find some issues with bezel or movement . I thnk it's not worth it . They are big lots version of watches you will do better buying seiko, citizen or orient watches .
I haven't had any problems with my watches, but I appreciate that you have, so thank you for sharing. In my experience, WG has been very responsive to complaints (even when I was wrong!!), so it's worth reaching out to them.
@@troller3155 So far, I’ve liked all but one of these watches, so it’s working out for me. I understand it may not be the same for everyone else, so I made this video to help people make that decision. If it’s not for you, I understand and value your opinion.
These microbrands are fun, but way overpriced most of the time for the quality you're getting. Most of them have dropped in msrp since this vid. Also fun fact: NH35 movement is originally from Pulsar. It's technically not a Seiko movement.
Those watches come from solar time limited, all from china, nh35 is a great movent but if they say the value is $650 it should be a much better movement. You can get a real swiss watch for that money with a ETA movement for what the charge for platinum tier. Look at tissot prices, real swiss watch for $300. Watchgang is a ripoff. 8215 movement is what you find in a $40/$50 aliexpress watch, ok for a budget watch but definitely a budget watch movement. 9015 a better movement, but myself its not a $300 watch movement, but at least its a high beat movement.
@@DrPronghorn I you search the trademarks on most of those watches they will come up owned by solar time limited, they are not horrible watches but they are over valued for sure. I did watch gang for 3 months and watched a lot of you tube videos, followed the people I like and learned tons. If your watch budget is $300 a month you could buy some serious quailty watches at that budget, Don't be afraid to try some ali express watches, once you buy a few ali express watches you'll really understand what a ripoff watch gang is. You can get some great seikos watches which won't lose value and some will gain value. Good luck with the hobby dude !
I can bet every paycheck I have for the next 10 years that watch is NOWHERE near 500m water resistant. The Rolex Deep Sea is rated for 3900 meters. It’s too expensive for a $300 watch to be tested that deep. No shot in hell. Also, Out Of Order watches are garbage. They should be Out Of Business.
I agree about the 500m water resistance, but we're going to have to agree to disagree about Out of Order watches. I love their style, and I love their attitude as a company! Out of Order is the only watch brand I'm buying now...
The absolute worst way to buy watches for uninspired people who have no idea what they want 😂 If one of my friends would tell me they subscribe to this service, I would instantly lose a bit of respect for them.
@@vik574 Getting the watches from WG has given me a better idea of what I want. I’ve discovered some other brilliant designs by Spinnaker and Out of Order, and the Wolbrook confirmed my love of watches with crunchy, complex bezel markings. I’ll sell the ones I don’t like and if I loose a little bit of money on the deal, I’ll feel OK because of what I learned from both the watches I like and the ones I don’t.
I'm never going to wear $2400 worth of watch on my wrist at one time. $300 is about as much as I'm willing to risk out in the world, so this is just fine for me. I understand if other folks want to save up their money and buy more expensive pieces, but this works for me.
Mugs game you could have a much better collection if you had done it yourself and none of them are morth MRSP thats fixed high just like that Invicta junk and the auto movements from seiko are 60 bucks total CRAP
I agree. I've sold most of these and I'm taking a more measured approach to collecting now. I'm actually more interested in getting non-running vintage watches and restoring them at this point. All of my horology is on hold until I can get a place with a better workshop for it.
They say on their website Swiss and Japanese watches, I don't see one Swiss watch in your collection nor anyone else's collection while researching this company . I am not trying to be an ass when I say I don't see anything I would value over 100CAD , Only one watch looks half decent but it looks too much like an Omega speed master knock off something no respectable collector would even consider buying. The companies who are setting the MRSP are over valuing these cant see paying more than 25 CAD for any of them used let alone 200 , none of the brands are tried tested and true nothing unique no interesting features at best they are functioning. Once again where are the Swiss watches promised or even a German or Russian made ? Not one brand I recognize ( I know lesser but very valuable brands like Bur, Doxa Valjoux and Zenith ) Seems this club is picking mushroom watch brands who hike the MSRP and try and make you think you're getting a deal , Only someone who is not an experienced collector would fall for this . Thank you for you video you have helped me in my research into this company,
@Drpronghorn : One question and no one has been able to answer this question , How about those Rolex and Omega giveaways WG keeps yacking about not one person doing these videos has claimed to have received that free Grail watch . Only video I have seen of a Giveaway Rolex was produced by WG themselves, and it appeared like they were all paid actors .
I agree, I think there is a lot of MSRP inflation for the WG brands. BTW, the speedmaster knock off is a watch I made myself from spare parts I bought on eBay. I have another video documenting that build. th-cam.com/video/BfmzmHLPQoM/w-d-xo.html
Another good question. I, for one, never had any hint of getting a giveaway. I don't want to suspect bad faith, but it seems strange that the unboxing videos of the Rolex and Omega giveaways are so rare.
They're not garbage, but they are all relatively unknown brands, and that affects their re-sale value, for sure. Except maybe the Out of Order, which has a bit of a following.
I’ve been contemplating joining Watch Gang. Been watching TH-cam reviews and online reviews. I was very jazzed to join but after the research I’ve decided to nix it. I have a nice collection going and each one is special to me. Getting one monthly or quarterly that I have no control over is becoming less and less appealing. Thanks for your honesty and obvious impartiality.
You're welcome. In the end, it's not for everyone, and I hoped by making this video I could help folks figure out whether it was right for them. I understand having each watch be special. For me, several of these WG watches have become special because of the particular things that were happening in my life when they arrived.
@@DrPronghorn Ain’t it the truth! I too have watches that stamp a time in my life. I have a 40 year old Pulsar that has followed me though much of my adult life and other watches that I look at and remember things.
@@DrPronghorn No its not for everyone. Its for people believing in bogus MSRPs. They are a business, not a charity.
@@YT32-16branch msrp in the watch world is bogus for all watch companies including Rolex or Omega.
@@casualsuedeit would be nice to get a Rolex at msrp you could instantly flip it for a profit. Omega no but Rolex’s usually command above the msrp on the used market.
You would have done better to save that monthly fee and buy something you actually wanted and liked. None of those watches are worth 300 each.
I actually like all but one of these watches. I also want the excitement of getting a surprise, so it works out for me. Others, maybe not, and that's OK.
@@DrPronghorn I don't doubt that any ya some of them are nice. I just don't think they are worth 300 each. If you was to look each one up to see what they actually sell for the math won't add up. You can not go by the price onthe watch hang tag either. Look at invicta watches, there pro diver has $700or more on the hang tag when thu actually sell fot $70 to $150.
@@johnleonard3951 I understand your concern, that's why I tried to find recent eBay prices for these watches, and I listed those, too. In the end, there are some that sell for less than $300 on eBay, but some that sell for more, so it works out on average.
@@johnleonard3951 Pretty much all spinnaker watches have a retail price of 300 plus for a new watch. Cannot speak for the other brands.
U obviously didn't watch this video
Thank you for the great information. I appreciate the effort put into the comparison values. Good to know... Keep up the videos.
Glad it was helpful!
There are so many nice watches that are available, I could never let some service pick them for me. The MSRP on a lot of these are jokes, so it wouldn't enter into my personal math. The fact that WG can pick these up from the manufacturer and sell them to their members at $300 and still make a profit suggests to me that these are the ones that the manufacturer are having a tough time moving through their normal business course. Thanks for the video describing your experience. Subscribed to see how you make your straps!
Now I'll have to get on to making a strap video!
Their MSRP is specially inflated just to be sold at a steep discount, even over 50%. This is basically their sales strategy.
The quality of this video is super high dude keep it up you just gained a sub
Thanks for the sub!
3-4 oris, a Tudor or a near new omega Seamaster for the price of 12 x 300. At least it got you into the hobby!
Why 12?
@@bikesarebest 12 is a years worth
@@bergman963 he did quarterly, not monthly
@@bikesarebest I do see he said quarterly….still could have bought other better options for the money he spent on this
I'm never going to wear $2400 on my wrist at one time, let alone $3600, so this is the right speed for me. Other folks can do what they want, and that's OK, but I'm not willing to risk that much value on my wrist.
Youre one of the few people I can see this working for. Good review and good luck on you watchmaking journey
I appreciate that! Thank you for watching!
I appreciate you making this video. I'm not terribly a big fan of any of those watches. And if I were to join Watch Gang, it would've been the Plat. Tier that I would've chosen. I'm familiar with those watches and their movements and I think for the amount I'd spend in a year -- for me, it may just be better to buy the couple of Seikos I want (mod them) and get the Omega I want.
Thanks so much for this video! 👍🏼
I appreciate that. My hope with the video was to give people enough information to decide on their own.
I’m gonna make my own collection. Probably gonna be a bunch of Tag Heuer and Omega and Tudor.
That will be a sweet collection
I was subscribed to WG about 3-4 years ago or so. I was subbed for around a year, hit the wheel a number of times as well. I still have most of the watches I received. I did give a few away as they just weren't my style.
However, as time went on, the appreciation for the watches they were giving out dropped drastically. Seemed like everyone was kinda on the fence and unhappy, myself included. They started banning people on their FB group if you started criticizing the watches they were sending out.
Their listed MSRP is such a wild joke. You can find just about any one of their watches listed for much less on ebay.
I agree with all of your points. I've moved on from the WG subscription and sold about half of the watches in this video.
I didn't even know there was a subscription service for watches. Sounds like a good introduction for new watches, but I'd rather have a few that I really like myself.
-Says the guy who has dozens of Casios. I love Casios, regardless of price point.
Casios are great. I personally enjoy the excitement of getting a mystery watch each quarter, but I also understand not wanting to give up control of a purchase like this.
Can't go wrong with Casio; great value watches for a fair price, even if you buy at MRSP.
Nicely detailed video, thank you. You confirmed that I would hate Watch Gang, so you saved me the trouble. The MSRP's used are fantasy-land, so you're usually paying street price for a watch you don't get to select. I imagine they make deals with the various small microbrands to buy out their overstock and unpopular models for a good deal (for them, not so much WG customers).
I think you're right. Since I made this video, I've dropped my subscription, based on the many comments that are similar to yours. It was a fun way to be distracted during the worst of the pandemic, but I've moved on now.
I’m not a watch guy and I never have been, but lately I got the bug. Thank you for sharing your experience. By the way, I like that AV8. Shortly after you opened the box at the beginning, it was the first one that caught my eye, haha. Funny how it is one of the ones you dislike. Very cool collection.
It really is different for each person. I try not to yuck anyone else's yum. I hope you find an AV8 that makes you happy! Thanks for watching!
Heard of Watchgang. Was on the fence. Most of these brands I've never heard of, MSRP in watches are almost always highly over inflated except for some Swiss brands. (Invicta being the worse) The only reason I decided not to was that most of these 300 dollar watches all probably have NH35/4R36 movements in them at best, not going to get a Miyota 9015 for $300.00, some of these watches you have might have the very old Miyota 8215 movement. I just didn't want a collection of watches all with the same movement in them (wanted a better variety of movements) Rather spend closer to $1,000 range for a Swiss automatic or higher Japan grade like 6R15 or 9015. And also better bracelet and case quality near $1,000 price point. The NH35/4R36 is a good workhorse movement though, most come out of factory with a good +/- variation, which is good cause Seiko's guaranteed tolerance on the movement is atrocious. Hopefully none of these watches have Chinese automatic movements in them, I have personally never had much luck with Chinese made automatics.
Your analysis is correct. Most are NH35, with a few Miyota. No Chinese movements so far.
Just spun my first watch gang wheel earlier this week! I didn't realize there was any strategy to it. Would definitely be interested in a follow-up video!
I'll do one, once my budget recovers from all of the Jeep parts I've been buying.
Really enjoyed the video! Your details and price comparisons were much appreciated! Sub👍
Thanks for the sub!
Would love to see a wheel watch strategy video!
I'm getting close to enough interest that I may do a strategy video soon.
@@DrPronghorn that’d be great
I like what you did with the strap on the yellow one. That and the orange are realistically the only two I’d pick up since they’re so sporty looking. That first one must feel like a dinner plate on your hand
The yellow and orange get the most wrist time from this bunch, so I agree with you! I sold on the dinner plate one...
I tried the watchgang subscription but I didn’t continue with it. If they have anything that you want you can buy a wheel spin and a few times I have won a much more expensive watch than what I was buying. You can select 3 choices from the first tier then 2, and then 1 for all the high end. You can win watches like Rolex’s on the spins.
I agree, that seems a better strategy
Very clear introduction that tells us what to expect 😎
Glad you liked it! Thanks!
The Woolbrook/Douglas is the only watch here that is objectively a good watch. I read in other comments you would never wear a $2,400 watch but you could have some really nice Seikos or in my opinion the best watch you can buy for $300, the Zelos Swordfish. I'd assume some of those watches are sold out because WG bought them all. Also, that Woolbrook shouldn't run out of power half way through the day
It only ran out of power halfway through the day because I wound it the way I wind an automatic to get it going before I wear it, so only about ten turns. Once I knew it had no rotor and started winding it fully, it had the power reserve you would expect from that movement.
It's interesting how taste can be so different between people who are still enthusiasts for the same hobby. I don't find the Zelos Swordfish to be as attractive as the Spinnaker Hass or my Out of Order Automatico, but that doesn't mean your love of it is invalid. I'm not a big fan of the date at the 6 o'clock position, and I also like the rotating bezel to have minute marks all the way around the dial.
I appreciate your comment, and I appreciate that you took the time to watch my video. Thanks!
I have had the watch gang subscription for a little over a year now, was fairly happy with the watches I was getting under the black tear, so I bumped it up to the platinum, I have been nothing but disappointed in every single one of those an absolute waste of money at that subscription level.
That's disappointing. I was happy with Platinum when I was doing it, but that was a couple of years ago now.
@@DrPronghorn I have gotten three from the platinum level so far and none of them have been worth the cost.
Definitely please do a wheel strategy video. I have been wanting to know about that.
I'll think about it. Maybe this summer, but right now my money is tied up in Jeep projects
Something about the number of watch brands that have a "website" with high MSRPs but are conveniently "out of stock", doesn't pass the smell test for me. I could have a garbage product, create a website as a front, and then sell all of my products to a third party which appears to sell them at deep discounts, making consumers feel like they've gotten a great deal.
I think you're on to something. It seems a likely interpretation of the situation.
I just won the Duxot in their summer wheel spin. Mine is black/blue though. It came out to about $310 after tax and shipping. Seems to be about what they’re going for lightly used. Didn’t realize it was so thick when I added it to the wheel. Still a nice looking watch though. Thanks for the video
Thanks for watching!
Can someone explain to me how helium release valves work? How does the helium get in there in the first place and why would decompressing blow the crystal off the watch? Wouldn't the valve then backfill with air once you let the helium out?
They use helium instead of nitrogen in the air mixture for extremely deep dives. When the diver is in the decompression chamber, the helium can make it past the otherwise airtight seal, leaving the inside of the watch pressurized with helium when the pressure is equalized around the diver. Without the valve, this can cause the crystal to pop off. So it's really useful only for folks doing specific kinds of extreme deep sea diving; for the rest of us, it's a curiosity.
This is what Platinum will get you? I've spun the "Wheel" twice and have gotten an NTH Barracuda and a Gevril Vaughn both of which I like. The NTH is listed at $700 and the Gevril is listed on the Gevril site for $3,400. I do have a OOO automatic that I didn't get through Watch Gang, that I like as well.
Gevril lie about prices, I won one and they say its worth 3700, you look around and its about 800
@@lukewarrington756 I've noticed that. I've seen their Wall Street model discounted heavily along with others. Nice watches though, and better than some of the other stuff Watch Gang has.
You have to be a bit selective. It's a bit about waiting and a bit about knowing movements and microbrands.
Excellent review! Thank you good sir!
Glad you liked it!
I am so happy I found your channel and this video. Huge fan of horology, (love the double entendre of the word as well,) and just getting back into collecting after I liquidated my collection after the 2008-2009 meltdown. I've been thinking of doing the wheel, so please make a video. I believe I came up with a winning strategy for the 5th wheel. There are some pleasant surprises in price points and what I found on eBay. I figure I can stack multiples of the same watch/ different styles of which I know I cannot purchase for less. Works in tier 1 and 2. Most likely that is what I would receive, so having 3 of the same watch in tier 1 would guaranty me that watch, in different colors or bands. Let me know if you had similar thoughts or what your strategy is?
You're thinking along the same lines as me. A lot of the strategy for the wheel is waiting to see what shows up there and not being impulsive about making spins.
Any fan of horology wouldn't like this trash.
I would buy a rotor and screw for the backup moon watch and install it and make it an automatic. Also nice leather work. The straps look really nice.
I'm still thinking of doing that. I haven't seen just the rotor and screw for sale, though, and it seems a shame to buy a whole movement just for that.
Thanks for the compliment and thanks for watching!
Think id prefer to save the monthly fee and buy a high end swiss watch. But love your passion for watches.
I understand. I've dropped my subscription since this video because my interest changed to higher end pieces
Just started watching. They advertise " you might get a Rolex.." lol. Thanks for sharing.
Welcome! I don't think the chance of winning a Rolex is worth it...
I'm not interested in a WG subscription but it's interesting to see what they are offering.
I'm glad I can give folks some insight.
I can't spend $300 on a watch and not be sure whether I'm going to like it. There are far too many watches at that price point that I love. Then factor in the pre owned market on eBay and I can often get a gently usedd watch that's hardly been worn and is worth more than $300. Unfortunately, people get themselves into financial situations where they have to part with watches and take a loss. That's the best way to acquire watches as far as I am concerned.
I agree.
Usually when some watchmaker says "Japanese movement" it's a miyota 8215.
6$ movement that powers many "fashion watches" not bad, not good.
Good to know, thanks.
The Coronagraph is super cool, like a barebones Speedmaster
Regarding OOO, i cant speak to their watches, but they've been harassing me with their newsletter since i gave them my email, and no unsubscribe procedure seems to work.
You mentioned elsewhere that you are eyeing higher end piece currently, whats on your mind specifically?
Higher end for me... I got the OOO 10th anniversary watch. I asked Ricci very nicely and got #42.
th-cam.com/video/-Xq9tb1JKII/w-d-xo.htmlsi=osVRscJot06cHBQP
i would say this close to pricing you may as well buy your own so you can take the random factor out and get what you know you like.
That's what I've decided, too, at this point.
Feels like money! Love it
Thanks!
This video is SO helping me decide what I want out of WG.
But there are certain things I MUST have out of a watch, and somethings I absolutely do not want...
Looks like WG won't let me customize my options for those things. (Example: I ONLY want white, black, blue, or gold dials and it MUST have a Date complication bare minimum.)
Hey doc. I'm gonna add that this video Won you a subscriber.
You could always use the watch wheel to try to get watches you want... Or just save your money and buy them on eBay or other resale platforms...
Thanks! I appreciate the support!
I would save the money and buy one good watch a year myself.
I understand. I'm thinking about going that direction now, having had fun exploring the watches at this level.
Thanks for the great review. These all look like one week affairs to me. Nothing id be happy with for a lifetime.
I can understand that. I've sold off half of them now. Thanks for watching!
I like the fact you made your watches and straps yourself. For the other watches, you have to wonder should I biy these watches in the forst place? Or do I save up money for a "grail" watch.
It was a fun thing to do while we were all locked down, but I'm saving up to be able to build my own better watches now. And for Jeep parts...
got just 1 black tier Oceneva watch, used bonus offer to get Spinnaker, and played the wheel once to get James McCabe. Canceled right after that and never regretted :)
Sounds like you got a good deal out of it.
Look into 'white label' brands/factories and the inflated MSRPs central to their MO. I'm afraid that ruse is what WG are mostly about.
I'd also wager the vast majority of those eBay like pieces youi saw were also of WG origin.
I agree, I think most of the eBay pieces were originally WG purchases. It's clear that the MSRPs on these watches cannot be trusted, and one should look at prices on eBay and other resellers to get a good idea of the value of the pieces.
I opted to points subscription and just use it for watches that I like on wheels spins.
That seems like a good idea
the question even if you saved money off of MSRP, would you actually buy the watches they sent you and do you wear the ones you don't really like? that's the real determinant of if it's worth it
I ended up selling most of these watches after making this video. I took a slight loss on most, too, but it was a fun diversion, and I've made enough on this video to make up for my losses....
@@DrPronghorn nice, I think most watch collecters are willing to spend quite a lot to wear a fun piece even though we know it could be better spent on a house, a car etc...
I sense a pattern here. Lot of watches that are discontinued. I assume WK buy out the remaining stock of discontinued watches for cheap cheap from the manufacturers trying to move the last of their stock and ship them out.
That makes sense.
I’d like to see a wheel strategy video. Thanks!
I'm going to do one as soon as my budget recovers from all the Jeep parts!
Strategy video of wheel of watches please. I'm not trying to beat the system, I just want to get the ones I like that will have atleast some worth of I need to sell them later on
I've only heard comments from about three viewers that they want the strategy video. I'm waiting until there's a real clamor.
What is on your wrist? Very, very nice looking effect watch.
It's the Spinnaker Bradner. I got it on the Wheel of Watches, and it's the only Wheel of Watches purchase that I've ended up keeping and not reselling. You're right, it's a very nice looking watch, and the color combination I have seems to be sold out now. Here's the listing:
spinnaker-watches.com/collections/view-all/products/bradner-olive-sp-5062-02
Love the variety. May not be my flavors, but you have an imagination.
Thank you! Cheers!
I would like to know how to work the wheel of watches
I think I'll be able to do a video in August, if my budget holds out.
Stumbling watches were priced 200 to 300 but in their website they price it at 1000 dollars.
Fair enough
Do you use listed ebay or recently sold?
If I could find it, I used recently sold, so I could be sure someone actually paid the price.
I liked the watches you made the most. Also the douglas. cheers
Thanks! Be sure to check out the build videos if you haven't already. I also really like the Douglas.
A lot of negativity in the community can understand the fun aspects of this. Wheel of chance. Most are decent. Definitely not worth entirely the money for many but hell it’s fun right ? And during covid seems like the community gained a cool bloke.
So positivity all around thanks for sharing :)
Thank you! I've been having fun, and that's what matters the most, I think!
I'm sure there is the element of the box arriving as being an unknown watch that adds some sort of value for the member, with that said it seems with money spent versus knowing companies like zelos, raven, gruppo gamma with some models , and on & on & on where dollar for dollar would easily be purchased with perhaps a higher personal value held then the grouping this membership offered up over that time. But I'm sure for some this is just the bees knees & again perhaps the surprise/ unknowing element is truly valued by their members. Either way enjoy your collection.
Thanks! In the end, the surprise is worth a lot to me, and I think I showed that the watches generally hold their value in the resale market. No one will be making a profit from Watch Gang, but you can be confident that you can resell the watches for around $300. Of course, the price has gone up to $400 now, so it may be a different calculation for new subscribers.
I mean for that point if its all nh35 movements i might as well just make my own watches for like 250 fully custom
That's kinda where I ended up. I'm just collecting Out of Order now, and making my own custom watches
Save you money and by some quality microbrands you love with better specs. Zelos dorezo phoibos so many great options .
Best watch you have in that entire collection is the spinnaker . Pretty sad
I also really like the Out of Order
How much is it!?
I think this tier is $400 a watch now...
I think the watches ended up being a bit similar. All dive watches, which is an issue if you wear a suit a lot.
To be fair, I selected the "all dive watches" option. I also wear dive watches with my suit almost every day...
Where did you get your watch case from?
I bought it on eBay.
i’d love to see a strategy video. maybe you did but i’m new here : you are talented too
Thanks! No strategy video yet. I've been moving into a new place and have to wait for my budget to recover... Look for it in August
I would never join the Watch Gang because I love the process of selecting the watch that is right for me. And I allow myself to buy it only if I like the watch at least a few months. Also many of these "microbrands" just don't speak to me (I would rather buy some Seiko or real microbrand like Lorier). BUT I have to say I can imagine myself wearing that Spinnaker, Duxot, Archon and OOO. They are pretty unique. And your straps are really nice. I would be pretty upset about that Wolbrook though. I heard many stories about broken automatic movements that were wound every day. They are just not made for every day winding action, so removing rotor from automatic movement is just a bad idea.
I think I'll end up purchasing a rotor and adding it to the Wolbrook. It's a cute idea, but I would have been happier if they had actually sourced a manual-wind movement for it.
The Chronograph Needs Adjusting, As The Minute Hand, Doesn't Line Up With The, 12 O'clock Position...
Unless It's Just The Angle Of The Video!
The minute hand lines up, but the stopwatch seconds hand doesn't return to the top position when it's reset. I'll fix that when I have it open again.
@@DrPronghorn That's the one I ment! 👍😉
Not for me, I love the research process and forming my own collection.
I understand. It was fun to do for a couple of years, but I'm focused on finding my own watches now.
I just joined Watch Gang today and I am not sure if I will keep the subscription. I guess I just wanted to try the concept. All of these watches are not worth investing in, to be honest. A good watch should be in the 2k region, Omega maybe... Oris isn't worthy of your money, to be honest. I think it's better to have one nice swiss watch in 2-3k region than a box of bottom crawlers. What do you think?
I can understand that perspective. I've dropped my WG subscription because I feel happy with the watches I have now. I also sold off about half of my watches to pay for Jeep parts, because I found I wasn't wearing them. In the end, I would worry wearing a watch that costs as much as a project car; I would rather have the car than the watch. For now, I'm going to refocus on learning to clean and repair vintage watches. I bought several that looked interesting but didn't run, so I'm going to have a go at making them work again. I find that I enjoy that more than buying them new.
I think the Caronagraph makes you a watchmaker! Enjoyed your video. Thanks. If you can't be safe, then be free.
Thanks for watching! I appreciate your support!
the best thing in the collection is the hand made strap,
Thank you! I think...
Very interested in your strategy.
I'll get to it in November, I think
beautiful watches
Thanks!
I paid $300 with a discount for two watches and got Melbourne Watch Company - Chelsea and Cadola Galathea - Limited Edition . Both watches look good but if you look at them closely you will find some issues with bezel or movement . I thnk it's not worth it . They are big lots version of watches you will do better buying seiko, citizen or orient watches .
I haven't had any problems with my watches, but I appreciate that you have, so thank you for sharing. In my experience, WG has been very responsive to complaints (even when I was wrong!!), so it's worth reaching out to them.
You sound like they have you on payroll 🤨
Wheel strategy video please!!
Maybe when I get some free time this summer...
Why wouldn’t you just buy the watches you want? For what you spent you could have two, or three really nice horological significant brand watches.
its the thrill for luck
Exactly. I enjoy the surprise, and I'm never going to wear a watch I paid thousands of dollars for: that's too much money to have on my wrist.
@@DrPronghorn That makes absolutely no sense at all, so you’d rather spend the same amount of money on a bunch watches you may not like at all?
@@troller3155 So far, I’ve liked all but one of these watches, so it’s working out for me. I understand it may not be the same for everyone else, so I made this video to help people make that decision. If it’s not for you, I understand and value your opinion.
These microbrands are fun, but way overpriced most of the time for the quality you're getting. Most of them have dropped in msrp since this vid.
Also fun fact: NH35 movement is originally from Pulsar. It's technically not a Seiko movement.
Interesting. Good to know, thanks!
Sooooo for 2 years you only got 8 watches?
Yes, I was only subscribed quarterly, not monthly. I'm not made out of money: I'm only a professor.
Those watches come from solar time limited, all from china, nh35 is a great movent but if they say the value is $650 it should be a much better movement. You can get a real swiss watch for that money with a ETA movement for what the charge for platinum tier. Look at tissot prices, real swiss watch for $300. Watchgang is a ripoff. 8215 movement is what you find in a $40/$50 aliexpress watch, ok for a budget watch but definitely a budget watch movement. 9015 a better movement, but myself its not a $300 watch movement, but at least its a high beat movement.
I take your point. I've been learning a lot from folks in the comments, and I've stopped my subscription as a consequence.
@@DrPronghorn I you search the trademarks on most of those watches they will come up owned by solar time limited, they are not horrible watches but they are over valued for sure. I did watch gang for 3 months and watched a lot of you tube videos, followed the people I like and learned tons. If your watch budget is $300 a month you could buy some serious quailty watches at that budget, Don't be afraid to try some ali express watches, once you buy a few ali express watches you'll really understand what a ripoff watch gang is. You can get some great seikos watches which won't lose value and some will gain value. Good luck with the hobby dude !
$300 for a watch from a random unheard brand is crazy.
I guess it's not the right choice for you... it isn't for me anymore, but it was fun for a while!
I can bet every paycheck I have for the next 10 years that watch is NOWHERE near 500m water resistant. The Rolex Deep Sea is rated for 3900 meters. It’s too expensive for a $300 watch to be tested that deep. No shot in hell. Also, Out Of Order watches are garbage. They should be Out Of Business.
I agree about the 500m water resistance, but we're going to have to agree to disagree about Out of Order watches. I love their style, and I love their attitude as a company! Out of Order is the only watch brand I'm buying now...
Looks like a dozen $5 Temu Chinese breitling automatic watche knock offs. Maybe some from Alibaba but all are knock offs of Breitlings
I could probably buy cheaper watches, but these were of a quality to match the price I paid. That said, I'm not still a subscriber.
Duxot & Spinnaker are both made in the same Chinese cheapie factory in Hong Kong...LOL
I had gathered as much. The packaging really suggested they were made in the same place.
rather have one good watch then a bunch of crap, but if you like the thrill of getting whatever then have at it.
Pretty much
The absolute worst way to buy watches for uninspired people who have no idea what they want 😂 If one of my friends would tell me they subscribe to this service, I would instantly lose a bit of respect for them.
That about describes me, uninspired and with no idea what I want. I guess it's a good fit for me, then.
@@vik574 Getting the watches from WG has given me a better idea of what I want. I’ve discovered some other brilliant designs by Spinnaker and Out of Order, and the Wolbrook confirmed my love of watches with crunchy, complex bezel markings. I’ll sell the ones I don’t like and if I loose a little bit of money on the deal, I’ll feel OK because of what I learned from both the watches I like and the ones I don’t.
Shitters for the amount of an entry level Rolex, good Omega, Tudor etc.
Hey look everybody it's a wannabe Paul Pluta!
@@gunot5407 Sorry if I offended your Alibaba collection.
I don't think you can get a decent Rolex for 3600$ anymore. Definitely a nice used omega, Tudor or grand Seiko. My sbgr069 was 2104$
I'm never going to wear $2400 worth of watch on my wrist at one time. $300 is about as much as I'm willing to risk out in the world, so this is just fine for me. I understand if other folks want to save up their money and buy more expensive pieces, but this works for me.
Its 400 dollars a watch now
So it is! I just checked their website. I'm still getting the $300 per watch rate, so I didn't realize they had raised the price for new members.
I wouldn't pay that much for Seiko/Miyota movements. They are becoming very overpriced.
Fair enough.
No one has ever paid rrp any of these watches
I have come to understand that since I made this video.
Note to self shop ebay
Not a bad idea.
Mugs game you could have a much better collection if you had done it yourself and none of them are morth MRSP thats fixed high just like that Invicta junk and the auto movements from seiko are 60 bucks total CRAP
I agree. I've sold most of these and I'm taking a more measured approach to collecting now. I'm actually more interested in getting non-running vintage watches and restoring them at this point. All of my horology is on hold until I can get a place with a better workshop for it.
My main complaints is the possibility of getting a quartz watch.
I don't see the point of paying 300 bucks for a cheap ass chinesse movement.
They guarantee an automatic watch for Platinum, so there's no chance of getting a quartz. All of the watches I got had Japanese movements.
Spinnaker watches are Europes , Ali express watches, ..lol cheap and not always cheerful
I agree that most Spinnakers aren't great. I've only kept my yellow Gen 1 Hass.
They say on their website Swiss and Japanese watches, I don't see one Swiss watch in your collection nor anyone else's collection while researching this company . I am not trying to be an ass when I say I don't see anything I would value over 100CAD , Only one watch looks half decent but it looks too much like an Omega speed master knock off something no respectable collector would even consider buying. The companies who are setting the MRSP are over valuing these cant see paying more than 25 CAD for any of them used let alone 200 , none of the brands are tried tested and true nothing unique no interesting features at best they are functioning. Once again where are the Swiss watches promised or even a German or Russian made ? Not one brand I recognize ( I know lesser but very valuable brands like Bur, Doxa Valjoux and Zenith ) Seems this club is picking mushroom watch brands who hike the MSRP and try and make you think you're getting a deal , Only someone who is not an experienced collector would fall for this . Thank you for you video you have helped me in my research into this company,
@Drpronghorn : One question and no one has been able to answer this question , How about those Rolex and Omega giveaways WG keeps yacking about not one person doing these videos has claimed to have received that free Grail watch . Only video I have seen of a Giveaway Rolex was produced by WG themselves, and it appeared like they were all paid actors .
I agree, I think there is a lot of MSRP inflation for the WG brands. BTW, the speedmaster knock off is a watch I made myself from spare parts I bought on eBay. I have another video documenting that build. th-cam.com/video/BfmzmHLPQoM/w-d-xo.html
Another good question. I, for one, never had any hint of getting a giveaway. I don't want to suspect bad faith, but it seems strange that the unboxing videos of the Rolex and Omega giveaways are so rare.
Watch Gang is a great way to waste your money
So everyone in the comments is telling me. I'm not a subscriber anymore, in part because of the arguments I've had in the comments of this video.
They're all ugly. You could save all that money and buy one that YOU really like.
I really like most of these, but I appreciate your point.
So garbage micro brands for the price, no thank you.
They're not garbage, but they are all relatively unknown brands, and that affects their re-sale value, for sure. Except maybe the Out of Order, which has a bit of a following.
All obscur brands,,,no thanks
Fair enough!
Those watches are garbage 🗑
I guess Watch Gang isn't for you, then?
Watch Gang is an outlet for irrelevant micro brands
I dunno, I got that Out of Order Automatico...
Out of Order watches are garbage.
Technically, yes. They are damaged goods. That's why I love them so much!
watch gang is a known scam. Only reason you promote it is because you get paid. SHAME
I didn't get paid. And I don't subscribe anymore. I just wanted to document what I got in my two years.