That's what I thought, someone has noticed how many watches Escapement Time are selling and thought "I want some of that", copied it and undercut the price 😂
Great comparison, Gary. So the Chameri is an homage of the Escapement Time, which is an homage of a King Seiko. Therefore, the the Chameri is an ho-homage of the King Seiko.
Man I could watch you talk all day,I'm just a window shopper ,I make like $15,000 a year ,lol smh. Seriously tho. But thank you for allowing me to see these awesome watches
Six months ago I bought Escapement Time with a yellow dial for $88 (with taxes). When I saw the Chameri watch, I decided to buy it. At the last sale for $55 (with taxes)!!! Almost identical watches, only different names well and on the crown Chameri not the trademark. Escapement Time is better in the number of color choices and sizes (40 and 36 mm), but if you like white color in 40 mm size, there can be only one choice - Chameri. :)
Thanks for another great video Gary. I bought the Chameri and it's nice to know that everything is as advertised. I honestly thought they were the exact same watch, thanks for settling that too.
Well, if you need to replace the strap on the Chameri, but can keep the one on the Escapement Time - there goes the price difference. Especially if you follow ILW's lead and source your straps from Vario, for £40 a pop. OK, you can get half decent straps a lot cheaper, but the price difference of £14 would still be gone; if you just want to spend a 5er you might as well keep the original band.
On my screen the dial colour was going a little more towards custard than on the ET, and it has a sterile crown. Other than this it seems equivalent. However, I'd be prepared to pay a little more for the smaller version of the ET.
While not exactly the best brand name in the world, "Chameri" sounds way less clunky than "Escapement Time". But I'll stick with my 36mm Escapement Time version for the time being...
Very thorough comparison. Great job. Indeed a case of: ‘the same, but different’. Personally I’d go for the chameri. The ‘escapement time’ name on the dial ruins that one for me unfortunately.
I've got the Chameri on the way. Prefer the branding over Escapement Time as it's neater looking on the dial and the extra cost isn't justified in my opinion.
I had also noticed the Chameri on AliExpress & it’s price & also pondered on whether or not it differed at all from the Escapement Time. Thanks for posting this comparison & review video.
It's a bit easier for us when you're comparing the behind the case back if the crown points to either the right or the left not both to the inside or both to the outside at that point you're looking at one in a mirror image of the other it's much simpler to look at it for one to one
I just received the White Birch version of the Chameri today and it's beautiful! It has a little more subtle elegance and I'd be very interested to see it paired with a stainless strap.
Great comparison. I'd probably go for the Escapement Time myself. The slimness, signed crown would probably would be worth it to me. Either way, very affordable dressy watches.
I like this! I really like this! And it is at a price you don't need to worry about... have been looking for an inexpensive dress watch that looks good. Might need to eventually pick this or the escapement time up soon. Very interesting! Thank you Gary!
What a weird thing. You'd think if a company was going to make another similar watch, they'd try to get closer to the original Seiko, rather than clone an homage. Cheers for that Gary
Nice looking watches, but as usual, the polished hands and indices disappear when the light hits at the wrong angle. I really wish the makers would brush those parts, or do whatever it takes to make them visible from all angles. Some higher-end Seikos have a subtle texture on the hands and indices, but it will cost you $1000 to be able to see what time it is.
Gary, please... Pay attention to the new Hruodland (vintage Patek look). Just type "Hruodland VK64" Obviously there is Seiko VK64 movement. Perfect 38mm size. Panda dial option. And nice finishing I guess. Very interested in your thoughts.
Having the ET (... phone home!), i'd get the Chameri too, couldn't care less if a "for fock sake" was writen on the dial... 🤪 Cheers Gary, be well mate.
It looks like the seconds hand on the Chameri is a deeper shade of blue than the one on the ET cream dial. Personally I prefer the ET brand name over a "Chameri". I think I'd stick to the ET even though the price is higher.
Escapement Time seems to be a winner here... but man I wish they had a symbol or logo or something... as the full name just seems to not roll off the tongue very well... or the dial for that matter. Plus I would love to see a version of this watch with a PT5000 movement for that classier touch of a smoother seconds hand.
Really hope the Chameri comes in blue / yellow / green, but I suspect because they use a cheaper strap they're also not going to be able to get color matched straps for the different color dials
Great review Gary! Any cheap alternatives to the tan, vintage Vario strap you showed the Chameri on at the beginning? It looked smoking hot on that one...😀
The biggest difference between the 2 watches?......the price, although there are small differences they are so small as to be essentially the same, and there is nothing wrong with that!....both are plain and classy.
I am awaiting mine just now, ordered before this video and I thought they were the same. Must say I would prefer the whiter dial of ET and its slimmer case. The croc strap also seems thicker, from what I saw in reviews. Oh well..
Hi! Just wandering if you had seen the new escarpment time watch that pays homage to the old grand Seiko 5722. It looks nice and wanted to know if you a review of it planned. Thanks 👍
That colareb strap looks great, nice to see an animal-free alternative to leather. Do you happen to know which model it is? Great vid as always, might just have another watch purchase to justify with the Mrs ....
@@SameerS03 You're right, Sameer, I should have updated. It's quite a nice piece, which I wear almost never, but am glad to have on hand. Thankyouverymuch, Gary!
Thanks for the comparison, Gary! Been wondering since the Chameri listings started to show up. Just a note that the white cream Escapement time version also comes with a similar faux croc pattern strap, but different buckle. Think I would still get the Escapement time as I have previously purchased from them.
Now I have to get a faux lizard strap or another strap with petite pattern for the Chameri I'm getting. Do you have a favourite leather strap with a lizard pattern or similar? Thanks Gary.
I actually prefer the Chameri simply because I don't like the name "Escapement Time". Chameri, which seems like a made up French word, suits the watch more. Honestly, both are killer deals and two of the nicest quartz dress/office style watches sub $100.
With the difference, you can get the Chameri and the Pagani with the VH65. Same 4 ticks per second plus a date. Hopefully, more colors will be added for the Chameri. Great video my man!
Probably not….there are sooooo many watch factories in China producing anything from cases for Swiss made watches to the cheapest watches on AliExpress. All they would need to do is send an escapement time watch to a factory and say please make this but with Chameri on the dial…it’s pretty much that easy.
Look similar? It's literally a copy paste. Even the corner cut lack of polishing between the lugs is identical. You did make a mistake regarding the straps. You have the blue version which is why you have this strap, but the white dial version has the same black croc pattern strap as the one here.