Wearing this watch for a few months now and it's a great watch for the money. Ordered the unbranded version because i liked the white/yellow dot more than this branded one with a white/blue dot. Changed the basic strap for another nato strap. It's accurate and i love wearing it.
.... I ordered one the moment I saw it on pre-order from Rdunae ( it came with an extra strap ) and so have had it a while , it is a superb watch and looks wonderful with that white hand set ..... I have a passion for Fifty Fathoms style watches and given its price I think this is the pick of the bunch ........
I have it too. It feels like acrylic, and it's pretty amazing since the bezel markings glow whenever the watch is in a darker place. The bezel barely dulls the glow.
I went to their website. You can order a sapphire crystal version. So I did. I was trying to get a Tornek-Rayville TR-660 re-issue, but a $600 watch being sold for $2000+ on the grey market. Yeah, na. I ordered the sterile dial, which changed the moisture indicator from a bluish color to a light shade of orange. Whatever. It’s a nice looking watch, for around AUD$200. 😊Imwas wondering if it’s possible to improve the accuracy though.
Thank you for the review. I've had my eye on this for a while, However the thickness is too much for my liking, as is the 40mm width. Nice to see a quality review so I could make an informed choice.
Oh, and the bezel on mine is loose enough that it changes on its own. The Mil-Ships cannot be changed without pushing it down whilst turning. Yes, the crown is tiny!
I got my sterile dial version; I'm disappointed by how pale the "fauxtina" is. Not as warm and tan as on their website, it's really more of a warm off-white color. The lume blows doors on my LTD edition Bulova Mil-Ships, but it's not nearly as handsome in daylight. I'd hoped it would be so I could wear it instead of the Mil-Ships, but I cannot.
Couldn't get hold of the Tornek for love nor money so settled on the Bulova Mil-Ships, although not a fan of its v skinny lug width, this seems a decent alternative, not a fan of the brand name though
It needs sapphire, an exhibition case back, and 20mm band vs. 19 which is hard to come by for a SS bracelet. In it's current state, $159 on sale is hoo hum....
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR not necesarily chinese but watches in general from what you experienced . is wicked watch company a good lasting lume. ibelieve i saw you testing one of those ones. i am searching for watches qith at least 12 hours of lume . preferavly mechanical at least 10 bar, saphirw crystal glass. hard to get a decent one witbout tritium in the 400-600 euros price range. vostok is one but no saphire crystal.
Sterile version is even nicer; it's back in stock. The spherical water indicator is in white/fauxtina instead of white/blue. I have one and recommend it.
Blancpain make a plastic version of their watch. These guys make a homage watch that’s better than Blancpain, in my eyes. And how funny is this, the Tornek-Rayville , TR-660, that sold for US$332 is for sale on Chrono24 for 10 times as much. Watch flippers must think we are desperate idiots. 😂
Devo fare una precisazione alla recensione video. Questo è L'UNICO HOMAGE al MONDO del TORNEK RAYVILLE TR900! quello del 1960 per intenderci, non e l'homage al moderno TR600. Per quanto possa sembrare strano ai non addentrati negli orologi MILITARI, questo è il SANTO GRAAL degli orologi militari, ne esistono solo una cinquantina al mondo di Tornek, tutti distrutti dopo il Vietnam. Uno mi sembra battuto ultimamente all'asta per 50.000$ Sono un appassionato di orologi militari, e ho i disegni strutturali d'epoca con tutte le misure originali del Tornek Rayville, e possiedo il RDUNAE. Posso affermare che l'orologio HA le IDENTICHE misure sia di anse, corona, altezza, dial, lancette e bezel UGUALI UGUALI all'originale, quella CORONA PICCOLA da 6mm. sul Tornek E' COSI'! Non è un difetto! Le anse erano da 19mm. sull'originale e 19 sono sul RDUNAE.. Il bezel insert sull'originale era di bachelite, sul RDUNAE è di cristallo ma ci sta bene. UNICHE NOTI dolenti la cassa 1mm. più piccola e il fondello che era in due pezzi sull'originale e sul RDUNAE in un solo pezzo. Infatti ho scritto alla RDUNAE ed ho chiesto se nella versione V2 potessero fare la cassa da 41mm. ed il fondello in due pezzi. Se poi guardate quel cerchio bicolore a ore sei, quello, sull'originale era un igrometro, per vedere se entrava acqua nell'orologio, dato che era impiegato dagli uomini dell' Underwater Demolition Team in Vietnam. Sul nostro orologio e solo pitturato, ma io sul mio ho riprodotto la cartina di tornasole, e la dicitura U.S. sotto il marchio, cosi da farlo sembrare un pò più simile.. La RDUNAE ha fatto un GRANDISSIMO lavoro! Se cambia alcuni particolari, sarà una riproduzione al 100% del vecchio Tornek Rayville900
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR oh god no. Never seen that thing before. It's a little weird that they have 19 mm lugs but supply you with 20mm springbars. Overall quirky for a homage.
@@PeepingTime when issued watches came back, the brand name was scraped off along with the radioactive lume before being relumed and reissued, so sterile dial is historically accurate :p
I made a bit of a mistake when I said that the bezel is ceramic... It's actually a mineral crystal.
no mate, it’s mineral crystal! It says clearly in the description on AliExpress!
@@cosmodoc They must have updated it. Thanks for letting me know.
RDUNAE in latin "Roma Die Uno Non Aedificata Est" : translating to "Rome isnt built in a day". I found this explanation on their website.
Ah ok. Very interesting.
Just to let those interested know, that I contacted RDUNAE and they said they will offer Sapphire crystal within a week or two
Now available in Sapphire!
Wearing this watch for a few months now and it's a great watch for the money. Ordered the unbranded version because i liked the white/yellow dot more than this branded one with a white/blue dot. Changed the basic strap for another nato strap. It's accurate and i love wearing it.
I'm glad you're enjoying yours. They are very nice watches.
What strap did you change to ? I bought the THORN version I'm thinking of ordering a strap from Tornek Rayville they have a one $35
Acrylic domeage would have been nice on that. I like it. Great review 👏
If they were going for the full on homage yeah. I'd personally prefer sapphire myself though. Thanks 👍
Sapphire now available!
I bought the THORN homage of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms $100 very happy with it if i had one complaint it would be the size 42mm .
That is a cracking price.
.... I ordered one the moment I saw it on pre-order from Rdunae ( it came with an extra strap ) and so have had it a while , it is a superb watch and looks wonderful with that white hand set ..... I have a passion for Fifty Fathoms style watches and given its price I think this is the pick of the bunch ........
That's high praise indeed.
Tornek Rayville is an awesome watch with a very interesting history.
I have it. I think the insert is some kind of glass. Not ceramic. Nice review!
You could be right there actually. Thanks.
I have it too. It feels like acrylic, and it's pretty amazing since the bezel markings glow whenever the watch is in a darker place. The bezel barely dulls the glow.
@@bensynewsshoedown4999 It is a cool effect.
I went to their website. You can order a sapphire crystal version. So I did. I was trying to get a Tornek-Rayville TR-660 re-issue, but a $600 watch being sold for $2000+ on the grey market. Yeah, na. I ordered the sterile dial, which changed the moisture indicator from a bluish color to a light shade of orange. Whatever. It’s a nice looking watch, for around AUD$200. 😊Imwas wondering if it’s possible to improve the accuracy though.
Nice. They must have added that option since I did the review.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWRSee the watch on HODINKEE? A 1965 Tornek-Rayville original, with the sterile dial. Sold for $65K. 😅
I've heard of Tornek Rayville before, quite well known in vintage dive watch circles. This looks good, be good to do a dial and crystal swap on it
A crystal swap to sapphire would be good.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR Tornek Rayville are still trading now, but obvs the name has been bought by someone else, much like many other brands
@@shanephillips8735 That does always seem to be the way.
@@shanephillips8735 I completely agree.
From what I hear these watches are incredibly comparable in quality wich is Kinda infuriating.
S'up with the teeny weeny crown? I thought it was quartz when I first saw it.
It has similar dimensions to the original... For better or worse.
I have bought this watch and looks great, even on my 6.3 inch wrist! I have combined it with a black vintage leather strap…
That's good to hear. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
Good review. Thanks! This is one I like, but I think I will wait until they do a version 2, hoping they enlarge the crown and go to a 20mm strap size.
Now available in Sapphire!
Thank you for the review. I've had my eye on this for a while, However the thickness is too much for my liking, as is the 40mm width. Nice to see a quality review so I could make an informed choice.
I'm glad the review was helpful. Thanks for watching 👍
Oh, and the bezel on mine is loose enough that it changes on its own. The Mil-Ships cannot be changed without pushing it down whilst turning. Yes, the crown is tiny!
That does look lovely. Nice, clean and simple.
The Black Friday Sale price is pretty good too isn't it?
Stop trying to get me in more trouble. 🤣
@@sweetcorn1968 I don't know what you're on about 😜
Sapphire crystal version available now. Fair bit more expensive though.
That is quite a bit more isn't it?
Can the movement accuracy be improved?
Another sapphire update, they are back in stock again today (14th sept 23)
Has a few issues but very glad to see more vintage Fifty Fathoms homages
I completely agree.
I got my sterile dial version; I'm disappointed by how pale the "fauxtina" is. Not as warm and tan as on their website, it's really more of a warm off-white color. The lume blows doors on my LTD edition Bulova Mil-Ships, but it's not nearly as handsome in daylight. I'd hoped it would be so I could wear it instead of the Mil-Ships, but I cannot.
I like that boogie woogie intro mate, suits the watch haha
50's style music, for a 50's style homage 😉
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR good point
Couldn't get hold of the Tornek for love nor money so settled on the Bulova Mil-Ships, although not a fan of its v skinny lug width, this seems a decent alternative, not a fan of the brand name though
They do have a sterile dial version as well, which might appeal to you more.
Agree, it's a very beautiful watch.
Thanks for the review 👍
Are you tempted to get one then Thanks for watching 👍
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR sincerely, no. I'm tempted by an other watch 😊
@@XjohnjohnX88 What is it that you've got your eye on?
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR the Seestrn Sub hommage (because of Steve's review 😅)
@@XjohnjohnX88 I've not tried that one out, but based on watches of theirs I've reviewed, I'm sure it'll be great.
Happy Thanksgiving
Which would be the best fit standard Nato strap for this. 20MM or 18mm?
Well I measured the lug width at 19.4mm, so you're probably better with a 20mm strap.
Awesome looking watch! Really like this one. Yeah, that logo is a no for me but good stuff overall.
Cheers!
I think so too. You can always go for the sterile dial version instead.
It needs sapphire, an exhibition case back, and 20mm band vs. 19 which is hard to come by for a SS bracelet. In it's current state, $159 on sale is hoo hum....
I'm with you on the sapphire and 20mm lug width. But I prefer a solid caseback, unless you've got a good looking movement inside.
As a homage to the Tornek Rayville the mineral crystal and the 19mm lug like the original I think is the right choice.
Sapphire now available!
hi. which watch has the longest lume besides tritium watches?
When it comes to Chinese watches San Martin in my experience is the best
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR not necesarily chinese but watches in general from what you experienced . is wicked watch company a good lasting lume. ibelieve i saw you testing one of those ones. i am searching for watches qith at least 12 hours of lume . preferavly mechanical at least 10 bar, saphirw crystal glass. hard to get a decent one witbout tritium in the 400-600 euros price range. vostok is one but no saphire crystal.
@@george-danfulger Yeah that Wicked watch is still the best lume. That Lumicast is just next level.
and some of the Zelos watches
@@cosmodoc I've not been lucky enough to try out any Zelos watches. But they do look impressive.
Nice watch. Bizarre name.
Yeah it's a weird one. But at least they do a sterile dial version too.
Sterile version is even nicer; it's back in stock. The spherical water indicator is in white/fauxtina instead of white/blue.
I have one and recommend it.
Have you done an under water test
No I haven't tested the water resistance beyond wearing it in the rain. At most I'll maybe go swimming with it at some point.
Blancpain make a plastic version of their watch. These guys make a homage watch that’s better than Blancpain, in my eyes. And how funny is this, the Tornek-Rayville , TR-660, that sold for US$332 is for sale on Chrono24 for 10 times as much. Watch flippers must think we are desperate idiots. 😂
Devo fare una precisazione alla recensione video.
Questo è L'UNICO HOMAGE al MONDO del TORNEK RAYVILLE TR900! quello del 1960 per intenderci, non e l'homage al moderno TR600.
Per quanto possa sembrare strano ai non addentrati negli orologi MILITARI, questo è il SANTO GRAAL degli orologi militari, ne esistono solo una cinquantina al mondo di Tornek, tutti distrutti dopo il Vietnam. Uno mi sembra battuto ultimamente all'asta per 50.000$
Sono un appassionato di orologi militari, e ho i disegni strutturali d'epoca con tutte le misure originali del Tornek Rayville, e possiedo il RDUNAE.
Posso affermare che l'orologio HA le IDENTICHE misure sia di anse, corona, altezza, dial, lancette e bezel UGUALI UGUALI all'originale, quella CORONA PICCOLA da 6mm. sul Tornek E' COSI'! Non è un difetto!
Le anse erano da 19mm. sull'originale e 19 sono sul RDUNAE..
Il bezel insert sull'originale era di bachelite, sul RDUNAE è di cristallo ma ci sta bene.
UNICHE NOTI dolenti la cassa 1mm. più piccola e il fondello che era in due pezzi sull'originale e sul RDUNAE in un solo pezzo.
Infatti ho scritto alla RDUNAE ed ho chiesto se nella versione V2 potessero fare la cassa da 41mm. ed il fondello in due pezzi.
Se poi guardate quel cerchio bicolore a ore sei, quello, sull'originale era un igrometro, per vedere se entrava acqua nell'orologio, dato che era impiegato dagli uomini dell' Underwater Demolition Team in Vietnam. Sul nostro orologio e solo pitturato, ma io sul mio ho riprodotto la cartina di tornasole, e la dicitura U.S. sotto il marchio, cosi da farlo sembrare un pò più simile..
La RDUNAE ha fatto un GRANDISSIMO lavoro!
Se cambia alcuni particolari, sarà una riproduzione al 100% del vecchio Tornek Rayville900
Grazie per averlo chiarito. Ora ho modificato il titolo di conseguenza.
Would love to see yours with the changes you made.
Yeah it does look like a knockoff fifty fathoms. So that's pretty good!
Had you heard of the Tornek Rayville before then?
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR oh god no. Never seen that thing before. It's a little weird that they have 19 mm lugs but supply you with 20mm springbars. Overall quirky for a homage.
Yeah it is a bit weird isn't it? Did you manage to see your name at the end of the video mate, it wasn't too quick was it?
I like it, but who thinks up these brand names, there’s something Pythonesque about it
According to their website this is where the name comes from:
Roma Die Uno Non Aedificata Est. Translating to "Rome was not built in a day".
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR maybe the sales were a bit Sluggish. They should have called them TF, tempus fugit
@@gorillasinthewrist That would be good 😆
The sterile dial version looks better
It's definitely good that they give you the option.
👀
Nice isn't it?
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I prefer the no logo design
@@PeepingTime I think quite few people might.
@@PeepingTime when issued watches came back, the brand name was scraped off along with the radioactive lume before being relumed and reissued, so sterile dial is historically accurate :p
No drilled lugs. 19mm strap. That's a no for me.
Sorry, but I hate that blue and white circle on the dial.