Baltany 1926 Oyster Tribute - Vintage Looks. Modern Reliability. Full Review 

Totally agree!

I am glad you feel the same as me, when i first saw this one I was amazed. So many nice features and the price makes you consider it as an option.

Thank you David. Nice to get feedback on the production., it takes me ages to edit videos

Thanks for watching! I can only agree with your comment.

Yes I have had my eye on those too especially after Jody raved about one on One More Watch. Might have to order one now!

It’s definitely a nice watch . I also have a 1918 Vario. Absolutely love it.

Pleased you enjoyed this episode

Quite a few of you have asked to look at the movement so I will have to schedule it in. My list of “to do” on the channel is huge

Thanks Alain . I really do like this model !

Well as we all know the sales come along before you know it. I do wonder what reduction would be offered on this one.

Thank you for watching both! I am new to Baltany but like what they are doing so far just hope they dont make a submariner homage like everyone else does.

@@MyRetroWatches Actually they do make a Submariner Homage. And it’s probably the only one I would consider getting because it’s a vintage version, and they put their own touch to it.

Thanks Clive, I plan to put linier brushing on the back at some point to "mod" the watch to my liking. Its thin enough on the wrist to not get scuffed too much by wear as I will be hard pressed to catch this one on a door handle! (something I do all the time, followed by many expletives )

Yes sounds like you need triple Baltany in your life now

Sounds great. Those Vario bunds are really good. I do like the quartz version too.

Thank you very much your the only person to comment on the intro!

@@MyRetroWatches I can't believe it! It's superb 👌🏻

I’m in engineering too, run a company that grinds and supplies steel. We are connected to a gauge making company too so microns are the order of business that and Tho’s “. I didn’t even realise I sad reflections from the camera! What I meant to say was reflections of the camera in the crystal 😂😂

Its a hard decision to decide which is better.

I think the movement will be okay. Looks pretty basic and that’s to it’s strength. Less parts to go wrong ! Personally love this watch and looking at what Baltany are making they have other really nice models that if are on a par with these quality wise is a brand to be considered.

There are other versions too with a mother of pearl dial. This black one does it for me but the quartz version on my second channel for me at least is equally impressive. Thanks for watching.

They are a great watch. On a fine mesh bracelet they stand out even more

Thanks, the into was a bit of fun and Struss just seemed to fit well with the timing ! as for investigation not yet. It still shows good timing just a weird beat positional error. It could be a bit of gravity playing a part. Had the rate changed in the opposite direction this would be much more concerning. Beat just means in basic terms that the tick is slightly longer than the tock or via versa.

Thank you for such a good reply. From what I see on the original Rolex they are in their 1000's now. 36mm is a nice size for this. Plenty of wrist presence but still small enough to look vintage. I love the subdial and its probably why they chose that movement to position it right. Shows some thought was put into its conception which impresses me. I am sure I read in my research the Rolex had a screwdown crown so I am now going to look again as its spiked my interest.

@@MyRetroWatches At that late 90's peak the very early ones were hitting the five figure mark. They got oddly popular very rapidly and then just as rapidly.. Mad how it can go. The Oysters originally had a screwdown crown alright. Other watches had screwdown type crowns before them and waterproof watches went back to the Tavannes "Submarine" in 1917(which was also the first antimagnetic), but Rolex's innovation was to buy in an existing patent on a screw type crown and add a clutch. The next problem was how quickly the crown tube wore down with daily winding as materials weren't as good back then, so taking a leaf from Harwood who'd invented the first automatic wristwatch, they came up with their own but with a 360 degree rotor, so you didn't have to unscrew to wind it every day. They're the so called Bubbleback Oysters because the back bulged out to make room for the auto bits and bobs. Funny enough and contrary to their image in many folk's minds, Rolex are one of the least innovative of the Swiss brands, but the Oyster Bubbleback was a true innovation, mainly by cleverly putting existing ideas together and realising a market existed for it. The fluted bezel on watches like their Datejust today are a nod to the fluted front that screwed the original Oyster crystals in, as are their fluted casebacks.

most mechanical movements are between 26-28mm diameter. in case for subsecond movement, any watches with dial bigger than 29mm will make the subsecond dial placement looks odd.

@@MrGrentch thanks for such a great and detailed reply. I’ve learnt something. I didn’t realise the first autos were in this model too.

There are 3 types of this watch , maybe 4. Some are all stainless.

@@MyRetroWatches Choice is always good!

@@ShogunTen they do one but in a salmon colour I reviewed that on my second channel my watch reviews

@@MyRetroWatches yeah I know I'm planning on buying this one too but that one with roman would be fire

Thank you for subscribing. It’s more watchmaking on this channel than watch reviews. I have another channel for reviews normally. Pleased your here and enjoy the back catalogue!

I have to agree!

I want to look at that Seiko style of winding so possibly in the future. Thing is for this channel the project are mounting and I cant see this one being featured for quite some time.

You will find this one is homaging the Rolex oyster from 1926. Rolex first attempt at water resistance

@@MyRetroWatchesYou are probably right but it just looks more like the 1935 Longines. 😊

One day I will.

@@MyRetroWatches thank u... ❤

Hi, from what I can see on Google photos it had an equally large crown but does not appear to be an onion one, that said they are practically 100 years old so can all be on "new" crowns by now too.

Sorry to hear you had to sell it. At least you can have the flavour of that watch with this new one

Sorry I forgot to mention that! no it does not hack unfortunately.

They certainly are picking some good models to tribute.

@@MyRetroWatches I wonder if those little Bulova 21Jewel 7AK "tank" watches will ever make a comeback? No doubt if they do Baltany will be in the forefront.

@@MPiKMS72 maybe they will be reading the comments.

That would not work. You need a movement with a sub seconds hand position which Seiko does not do. As this is also a smaller watch you need a narrower and thinner movement. This will be the reasons for using the Sea-Gull 1701

Absolutely love Fred! Years ago I ground a massive casting for a steam engine owned by his son. What makes me laugh now here on RU-vid land is there are reaction videos to his steeplejack work. Usually Americans who can’t get over how crazy it was . Have a look at Fred Dibnah reactions !😂

@@MyRetroWatches That's a really cool connection and yes I agree Fred was a great character and a brave one.

Born in a different bed Fred would have been an engineering graduate, but would he have achieved what he did?

Haha! Maybe. Yet to know how good this movement will be long term but I would surmise it will be okay.

Good man, like I said it’s the right arm!!😂😂. Thanks for watching

Hi Wim, thanks for watching. I like that extra detail on the subdial as its more in keeping with the original. We all have different tastes and its probably why Baltany have launched a few versions to cater for everyone.

The bezel is a great feature.

Sorry to hear this. I can’t speak for Baltany but they do seem more considerate when I have been dealing with them. I would have been interested to know what was wrong in the keyless works as ultimately that issue would lie with the manufacturer rather than them but granted receiving something that’s not right is very disappointing. I hope they come back to you soon. Think they will if they have gone as far as they have. Might take some time getting back to them no doubt

@@MyRetroWatches I'm sure they will. It's just a bit frustrating having to wait this long and going through a return just to get a working watch.

I finally received the replacement watch from them about 2 full months after first making the purchase. It did not help that the Chinese New Year was in the middle. The replacement looks like it won’t have the same issue. I might have been unlucky but the whole thing cooled me down on Aliexpress watches. The prices are amazing but the QC is sub par. Make me wonder how long the watch will last.

@@DotanSaguy sorry to hear of your continued problems, especially from Baltany. Hopefully yours is a one off . The watches I’ve had from them have generally been fine .

I have absolutely no experience with them, I’ve not had one in hand to see how two balance wheels actually work in unison. Might be something I have to buy one day just to take a look.

@@MyRetroWatches thanks for the answer.. have a great succes!

It’s a homage yes. But as rhetoric originals were mid 1920s I think this sort of copy is fine.

completely agree. very few out there that look like that. Bulova had a model similar a few years ago but a bit larger.@@MyRetroWatches

Only auto and quartz. Quartz is a different dial. There are many variations.

Sticky ball. Opens just about any case

@@MyRetroWatches great

18mm

@@MyRetroWatches I mean the distance from the top lug to the bottom lug.

@@turnbasedtoddy7664 my apologies, 43.3mm

Thanks for watching.

Define free? Yes they sent me the watch but I have spent 4 - 5 hours to produce a video using all my equipment, cameras and software that is all paid for with my own money. Time to produce a video is out of my spare time as this is not my job. I have not sold the watch and the ad revenue for this video is at £15. So yes the watch is free but is everything else?

@@MyRetroWatches Just asking. I don't believe I implied anything with my question. There are so many channels with similar content it makes me curious about what can be added to the watch conversation. Best regards in your endeavor.

@@rodg2335 fair enough. Some companies send you them others you have to pass onto the next reviewer and some I would just buy. This was my last watch review on this channel as I now review on a second channel to keep this one all about watchmaking

Bad guts? You mean the movement? Are you talking from experience or just because it’s Sea-Gull. The way I see it is they are working to a budget given how cheap the watch is, they require a thin movement with a sub second function. I’d guess that requirement it’s more limiting. Perhaps Miyota might have a movement but I’d have to check their catalog

Just would rather have non copied stuff. I'd pay the difference for a movement from the developers if its technology....

They do a version without sub seconds on 4hz miyota. On the MOP I think it looks awesome and will pick that one up. Thx for the review. Baltany quality I have found to be amazing for the price…

I own multiple vintage Omega, Seikos and some Russian watches and I really see no problem when Chinese manufacturers make vintage inspired homage watches. We are talking about watches from the 20s-30s with this Baltany, they are basically not obtainable now and western manufacturers don't revisit these designs. I think it is great that the Chinese keep these designs alive, they look incredible. Also Chinese watches came a long way over the last 10-20 years. They have some 150-300€ watches that rival my new Seikos or Microbrands in quality that cost twice as much.

Thats fair enough Ian. I was wondering what had happened to you. One day I will join you at the coast mate, living so central can be depressing sometimes.