Monster of the Deep: Phoibos Great Wall Review (PY022D) 

Thanks! It’s been a slow process. Always trying to get better and improve at some aspect. Macro shots are a little more recent. Still trying to think of what I should work on next.

Thanks! This one ran a little long, so took a bit more work, but I wanted to get it right. Especially looking at the lume.

Awesome. Hope you enjoy it, I still love mine.

Thanks! I was thinking about the grey blue one, but I think I would prefer this one.

haha, was waiting for someone with that quote!

LOL. I actually thought about naming the video that as a joke...

That’s one of the great things about micro brands. Lots of variety. Submariner type watches are great looking, but in many ways boring. Just so many.

They did a really good job on this one. Price is pretty good considering it’s an ETA, I’m curious to see how well it sells. Although I’m also curious if they raise the price. Got an email from VAER (they sent it to everyone who was interested in their new Auto). They mentioned that the cost of the ETA movement they wanted to use has risen 40% from their last email update. Thus having to raise the price a little. Evidently prices on ETA is very volatile.

I am with you on this....I fail to see the connection too. The quality looks to be there for the price; however, the theme (or lack thereof) is confusing. I hope Phoibos posts something to explain their choice. Based on specs alone, I am considering this watch for myself.

Exactly. I like it more everyday.

Well said. The Great Wall is still my favorite Phoibos, there really isn't anything else like it. Plus it's the best lume I've seen so far.

Thanks. I'ts an interesting watch. So far it seems evenly split on who likes it and who can't stand it. Just like Monster. 😎

Sorry for the late reply. The blue and orange is different. I wasn’t sure what to think about it from the computer images, but so far I like the real pictures I’ve seen.

@@RelativeTime Just as a followup, the blue and orange one is the only one of the models that is sold out at Longislandwatch. Could be that he didn't buy many of them, but they were clearly desirable to more people than just me.

Perhaps. An as alternative I was thinking they could of integrated the octopus’s logo onto a shield at the 12. As if it as an emblem on it.

Not quite. Blue and Orange. phoiboswatch.com/products/phoibos-great-wall-500m-automatic-diver-watch-py022b-blue.html

Michael Testerman LOL

Best comment by far! 😎👏

Inner facing cyclops would be a great idea.

Some point soon I'll start looking at some G-Shocks. Just not sure which ones.

@@RelativeTime I have two G-Shock, both squares which I really like because they aren't too big. I love the one I mention in my comment as you can use it casually but it works if you need to dress up. Enjoy

My thoughts exactly... The dial looks off.... I like everything else though

I’m way behind on my comments. Always good to put a face to a name and another name. 😎

I get the dial. It's brick...like the great wall. The bezel is like the top of the turrets. The indeces are shields. It's a cohesive design for me. its the colors I am having trouble with

Very true about the ETA. It's more desirable, more expensive, but doesn't mean it's better than others. I've also heard that prices can be very volatile. Vaer sent out an email to those that were interested in their automatic a few days ago. Mentioned that from the last communication prices of the ETA movement they were wanting to use shot up 40%. Sometimes I wonder if it's just Swatch Group playing games to mess with the rest of the industry.

@@RelativeTime Hi Shane, speaking from a historical point of view it could be argued that the Swatch Group is a monopoly. Other companies are now (as you are probably aware) copying their movements since the patents have expired. They are not exact copies/clones, as several other brands have made alterations in materials and have flipped around bridges in several movements (here's looking at you Sellita). Only time will tell if these copycatted movements will be reliable. I am all for a watch manufacturer developing their own movements. This failed miserably with Breitling and a few other luxury brands in the recent past, fortunately they are improving as time progresses. They took steps to develop their own movements as a reaction to what Swatch was doing in the 90s. Yes, this takes a lot of research, testing, and money. However, if you are like me I am sick to death of the common ETA, Miyota, and Seiko movements as just about every watch will be using them in the sub $1,000 market. Most of these have remained unchanged for over a decade, and some since the 1950s. Yes they are reliable, but where is the innovation? This is not 1950 or 1960, it would be nice to see a new movement in affordable watches that has enhanced shock protection, longer power reserves, or anti-magnetism protection (higher than the laughable 4,800 A/m). If I see another Micro-brand use the Seiko NH35 movement I will probably be sick. Orient (EPSON) seems to be on the right track with their F6922 and 40N5A type movements with small innovations in an affordable watch. In closing, I do hope that the Swatch Group's hold upon the watch industry will turn the tide and that we will see some new movements surface in the affordable watch market.

That Could be.

Yup. I believe Chinese born and based.

Glad you like them.

That's a great point. This is still my favorite Phoibos.

It's a little different.

Thanks. I don't think it's iso certified. Otherwise I think it would say Divers 500m. Although at 500m should be good for almost anyone to dive with. I think the world record for a dive is just over 300m, so plenty of room to spare.

@@RelativeTime you make a solid argument, the watch is capable! Much about this watch is tugging at me! Thanks again!

I’ll have to see if I can find that. Thanks.

Camera's looking to the left, it seems. Still doesn't matter. It's a wall dial. Where's the windows and the door?

It might be. I noticed it when editing, but it’s really hard to say if it is. Camera might be shifted just slightly, or some distortion from the angle of the crystal. I can say that without any magnification it’s looks great. So always take anything odd in the macro shots with a grain of salt. Although the more expensive the watch, the more details like that matter.

If they sell enough they might.

That’s a good comparison.

So far this is the best I've seen. With Phoibos's other watches coming close, as well as Helm. At least the ones I have. Supposedly Lum-tec is pretty good. Maybe even better than this. I think they might use the X1 grade superluminova as well.

Kinda weird how hes gunna have to pay for it tho

"Orange Hand Bad"

Someone mentioned that it’s just a huge cultural icon in China. And symbol of pride and strength. Which is what they wanted to convey. So perhaps it’s something lost in translation.

I’m really behind on comments. Just saw this. Shoot me an email at shane@relative-time.com. I’m out of town for the next week and a half though.

The wavemaster looks very cool, but haven't seen one in person. I'm a sucker for a sandwich dial. I have seen the Traska Freediver. Love that mint dial. I was in contact with the owner shortly before they sold out. If I had known they were that close to selling out I would of bought one. Supposedly he is working on a new project, but haven't heard much about it.

Well, I guess we can share the sorrow of missing out on the Freediiver then. I'll send them an email to see if they have plans to run another batch of them. But if you like sandwich dials you might also like the Nodius Retrospect. It is another one I missed out on but it was the first one that actually made me think I needed a diver in my (modest) collection. They do pop up on the second hand market regularly though.

@@storm3016 Nodus is definitely on my radar. Some point I'll get one if nothing else because they are assembled in Los Angelos. I'm starting to have a nice collection of American assembled watches.

Nice I envy you! There are many great deals to be had from these micro brands imo, but shipping and import taxes to my country will add at least a 130 bucks to a 400 dollar watch which kinda kills those deals for us Europeans. Hopefully more brands will set up a European website in the future, like Phoibos does. This really helps a lot. Cheers, have a great weekend!

Perhaps they are Pink Floyd fans. 😎

I like to think it's a kraken, but not sure. I keep meaning to ask Phoibos. I just thought it fit better and sounded cool. So I've been calling it that since February. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--z6hAPgqZdg.html

Is it the dual color, or the vibrant dual color? Personally I've never been a fan of a Pepsi dial, but I've always like a Batman.

Shane I think it is the vibrant colors on the bezel, I too like a Batman, with my Helm I purchased a second bezel, don’t know why Phoibos can’t do that.

I think someone mentioned that they just said they wanted to do something to honor their heritage. So the Great Wall is one of the most well known things across the globe, and not a common theme for a watch.

This is true. Phoibos hasn't been lowering prices much recently. Usually, because they have been selling out. However the great wall never did, and they still have some in stock. So there is a good chance.

Very true. It’s a love hate relationship for many. Sorry for the late response

Not on tubes. But Tritium in general. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZqJx1nCpnC4.html

That it is.

Australia?

@@RelativeTime I have no idea how I managed to mess up this question so bad. Was supposed to be on the Melbourne Watch Company review.

@@dimman77 that makes a lot more sense. I don't think much if anything is made in Australia. I think it's just assembled there. But it's enough that it comes with a made in Australia tag.

@@RelativeTime Thanks.

That's more the wave master with the giant version on the caseback. 😎 I wore it the other day and my arm swelled a little from the heat. When I took it off the Logo was imprinted on my wrist.

The Miyota 9015 is a great movement. I think it's thinner and cheaper, and a great price for what they are selling them at. I think the Wave Master with the Large logo on the case back is more the "Hail Hydra" watch. I wore it the other day and my arm swelled a little from the heat. When i took it off the Logo was imprinted in my arm for a bit.

I think a lot of the ones that are out of stock are the Seiko NH35 models. When I last talked to Helm they mentioned that one of the reasons they are always out of stock was a huge demand for the movement. Which was resulting in a 6 mo lead time from when they ordered new watches from their manufacturer.

I think that might be more of the blue and orange version. 😆

Nope. I don't think any of the Phoibos are. Usually will say Divers before the rating if it is. So it's probably more comparable to a 300m iso rated watch.

@@RelativeTime Ok,thanks

I think I heard that they are planning a bronze version of the eagle ray. Which I think will get a lot of attention.

Thanks. Like I said, it's going to be polarizing. I might start counting the comments, right now I think it's about 50:50. Which is better then I thought it was going to be.

One of the reasons they changed the screws in the Wave Master was that some people were braking them from over tightening. So that was on my mind when I was saw these. One watch I saw that comes close to this price is Zelos Mako 500m diver. I think it’s around $550, but it uses a Selitta not an ETA. Functionally the same (I believe), but costs less.

Relative Time Mako is really nice. I actually have the Version 1 Steel. It’s a little smaller at 40mm. It’s also seems thinner, about as then as a 500m watch gets. I they were $550 on rubber with leather in the package. Zelos has more experience with the mid range, and the Mako is simiiar to this is some ways, in others it’s very different. ETA vs Selitta would make for an interesting video. Selitta will sell to anyone who is interested while the Swatch Group wants to limit and have total control over who they sell there movements to. I’m most interested to see how The Selittas, which are very similar to ETA movements, are in the long run, how reliable they are on the first five years.

If I remember right, Selitta used to be subcontracted to ETA to make movements or maybe components for the Eta movements. So they already had the experience with it. Would be interesting to have a detailed comparison. I was in contact with Zelos to see if they would lend me a watch to review. Had a good conversation with the owner, but haven't heard anything for a while.

Relative Time Selitta was basically a subcontractor for ETA. At some point ETA stopped producing partial movements. Selitta then decided to make there own movements. They eventually found out that The ETA patients expired and they basically made a clone movement, the SW-200. Only real difference is the Jewel count. They have recently came out with other Clone movments.

A window for the window might be too meta. 😎 Although someone on Instagram commented that it reminded him of the stage of a comedy club.

That would of been interesting, and also in theme with celebrating their heritage.

@@RelativeTime It actually might have presented well here in the U.S as well as in China? To the Chinese these colors represent good luck and fortune. The grey color is bland?