Це відео не доступне.
Перепрошуємо.
Affordable Class for that... Wrist: Baltic HMS 003 and Bicompax Chronograph
Вставка
- Опубліковано 29 сер 2023
- A look at the latest watches from French watchmaker Baltic: a time-only watch and a chronograph. Both mechanical, both under $600.
Music: Acid Jazz by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
My friends, please pray for my children. I saw the back of the chronograph and immediately thought "huh...that looks like my Seagull". It's too late for me, but there's hope my kids can avoid this sickness.
You’re not wrong 😲🤔
I was in Paris this summer and had the chance to visit the Baltic showroom. It was wonderful. And of course I couldn't leave without a watch. Preferring smaller watches, I ended up choosing the MR01 in salmon, though I have always been drawn to the silver dialed HMS 002 with blued hands. But at 38mm it's a little big for a time-only watch for me. Then, like three days later, Baltic announced the HMS 003, and not only is it 36.5mm, but the hands, numerals, and makers are all blued. I guess I have an excuse to visit again...
I still haven't owned anything from Baltic, but they look amazing!
A Baltic Love Affair
I got my first Baltic watch a month ago, and the second one yesterday... that tells something. Yes, I see the quality, I appreciate the design, and I hate the hype.
The first purchase was the Tricompax Peter Auto powered by a Sellita Swiss movement - a lovely watch that took a lot of wrist time from serious competitors [Speedmaster Mitsukoshi, Carrera Montreal, 60th anniversary or Hodinkee Dato 45]. There is something special about this French chronograph, perhaps that's the "je ne sais quoi" factor.
The second one, another limited edition, was the 5th Anniversary Aquascaphe Dual Crown powered this time by a Miyota movement. Man, this watch does have the wow factor... while my Seiko Turtles are collecting dust, this funky piece will see the beaches as often as the Submariner will do!
And for those trashing the Seagull, keep in mind that is a very solid movement. And yes, my next watch will be powered by it, since I'm getting a Studio Underdog very soon.
Say no to hype and the buy watches that make you smile, not others!
Baltic is moving up in this world (unlike me).
I guess I'll have to jump on one before the prices move up in this world as well 🤷🏼♂
Thanks for sharing young man (I'm just buttering you up so you feel you DO have friends).
I have the Baltic HMS 002 in silver. I think it is a great looking watch with awesome proportions. Could do with or without the open caseback but I did end up getting it. 100% would agree to have an open caseback for the Seagull Chronograph movement. I also ended up buying the MR01 in Salmon and Silver. It looks great, the applied Breguet Numerals are my favorite part and the movement looks awesome. The microrotor is NOT smooth however. Gets kinda stuck here and there and you can hear it and feel it a bit. Totally not a deal breaker and not an issue at that price by any means.
What I would like to point out (and it is subtle)... there was something that was just off when I wore my MR01. It wasn't the 36 mm size compared to the 38 of the HMS 002 but I think it is the proportions. Primarily the issue I had was with the lugs. With a 36 mm watch and then still 20 mm lug width and then also a 44 mm lug to lug, the lugs to me look short, fat and stubby and spread too far apart. They do not have the typical elegant taper from the widest part of the case to a narrowing to the strap which continues down to the eventual tang buckle. It just looks more like a tool watch in its blockiness... whereas my other dress watches have narrower, longer, drawn out lugs. I think if they did an 18 mm lug width or maybe even a 19 mm lug width and lengthened the lug to lug just a bit, it would appear more elegant.
This is less of an issue with the HMS 003. It still is present as the lug width remains 20 mm despite the drop in case size, but at least the lug to lug is now 46 mm. So that is better than the MR01 in terms of the elegant taper, but still... compared to the HMS002 with a 38mm case, 20 mm lugs and 47 mm lug to lug. It is still a bit off in my mind. Again... I think the remedy is to drop the lug width. What I will say about these HMS 003s is that the dials are nicer. Not having a bunch of unnecessary numbers in the sector dial and only at the 90 degree spots with beautiful markers at the other hours just makes more sense and looks better and looks more like the watch I really want which is the JLC master control sector dial date (but goodness... why did the add the date... would've been perfect otherwise). Final thing that makes the HMS 003 look better than the HM002 is that the blued the seconds hand as well. Do not know why they made the second hand white in my silver dial.
Anyways... you asked about the comparisons. Those are my unrequested opinions that nobody will read about and the ridiculously neurotic critiques of subtle aspects of design, but like you said... what is the difference between 36.5 and 38 mm? Not a heckuvalot. Unless you are like me and also do not have any friends and only show off casebacks to my coworkers... who are now less likely to befriend me after I get excited about antiquated technology.
Great work brother! Keep up the amazing production and fun, thoughtful, self-deprecating reviews!!
Wow 36mm chrono! That is exiding! There is something about the thin case around the movement that gets me going. Great job Baltic
Thanks a lot for this review Evan! 😃
Thanks for sending them over.
🎉🎉🎉 PUMP UP THE JAM 🎉🎉🎉 4:22
Lovely looks, lovely sizes (although a bit long, i think). But i have the impression that watches with Seagull movements are getting more expensive, the opposite of what the movements are all about.
I have friends... They just kinda disappear when it sounds like I'm about to talk about watches. Which is often. Love pretty much everything from these guys, but the new salmon dials are awesome, gotta get me one. Excellent video as usual o7.
that friends joke was too real
Wise makes more modern designs with more interesting materials and they do nice different interesting dials , they have great watch straps aswell my favorite under a grand brand that rhymed 😅
Enjoyed the Cunk shoutout, surprising, well done.
My salmon 003 Bicompax, open back (of course) will be arriving om Mon. Cant' wait :)
I'm buying this only to have more terrific friends... like you.
But in all seriousnesss... time only piece is my jam. Size too.
Great review!
Btw... is this gonna look good on a 7 inch wrist?
Just got the HMS 003 in Salmon. First, the quality is just okay. The dial is probably the best finished part with the rest being just average. The beads of rice bracelet looks good but feels a bit cheap. I guess you get what you pay for but I wouldn't consider this brand hitting way above it's price. Overall still happy to have it in my collection, but it's one of those watches that looks better online than in your hands.
keeping an eye on this one. in EU the hms is 432 eur + beads of rice takes it up to 500... Americans, while your healthcare system might be (or not be) a nightmare, you definitely get bargains on the watches across the board. Hamiltons, G-Shocks, this beauty - prices are just not so sweet in the old country.
Yes I agree. The HMS 001 was one of my first microbrand watches and the 38mm one was just a bit ungainly. It was hard to put my finger on, so I returned it. I'd try the new one though? That Bi Compax looks great on you.
Really hope they make the 003 with a black dial.
Given that not all of us are in the same tax bracket, $400 for a watch with a plastic (that's right, plastic) crystal and inferior entry-level movements is preposterous. This brand seems most adept at marketing itself as having some as yet unearned prestige and/or heritage. The quality control on their pieces is spotty at best, and their prices don't align with what's on offer.
I was obsessed with the MR01 for a few months, until a friend tried on different models at the Paris boutique. Told me they feel cheap, is this some other peoples experience too?
I dont argue they look great.
I have an MR01 - I don’t think it feels “cheap”, but it doesn’t feel substantial either. It feels more like a vintage watch, which I think is appropriate this style of watch. Not sure about whether their divers are the same way, but I feel like those would probably be more substantial
Why would they mark 1/5 seconds on the dial with 4hz movements? Might as well just mark the seconds--it will only line up on full seconds.
Baltic should give us a GMT with that style.
beautiful watches, my only issue is the reliability of the Seagull chronograph, they've been known to be less than reliable and how much is that gonna cost to repair, probably at least $200
Anecdotally, I have a Seagull 1963 and a Lorier Gemini, and haven’t had any issues with the ST19 while I’ve had them (a few years). If it did break though, you’d probably have to replace the movement with a new one, which is not very ideal 😂
I have a watch with the ST19 movement and the winding mechanism broke after 6 months.
@@MichaelWilliams-mo1vv damn that sucks
Wish they'd come out with a model that achieves lume using tiny tritium-filled tubes. Could finally have a Ball-ish Baltic.
A Ball-tic if you will.
Awesome video as usual, and your sense of humor is not mid-century btw. It’s solidly 1980’s to 1990’s mix of Woody Allen & Jerry Seinfeld…
🎯
Pretty cool. Wish they had sapphire.
Looks so good. Damn!
Great video! Do you know if the BLRO GMT 2 jubilee would fit on the Explorer 214270 mk2?
No. Different lug widths.
I wish they offered a saphire option. The hessalite looks nice but I wear my watches and I I prefer something that doesn't scratch. I get so paranoid about it I put gorilla glass screen protectors on my mineral glass watches. 😂😂
I have one of those MR01's and I've been relatively underwhelmed with the quality, even for the price. I also have a Seiko Prospex Cocktail Time and I think it's superior to the baltic in pretty much every way. It's a case of a watch photographing extremely well but not actually living up to that standard in the metal. The beads of rice bracelet is especially mediocre.
I have a BOR bracelet too, on my MR01.
What do you find underwhelming about it?
Funny, I had a cocktail time myself (the blue sunray dial) and found that to be underwhelming including the dial which turned out to be flatter than it appeared in photos. The fully polished case was soft at the edges and bracelet endlinks did not fit well.
These new Baltic watches are lovely but too small for me. It's a shame.
“Be careful what you wear”😜💥
I kind of wish you would have shown these watches on a woman's wrist. The 36.5 mm dial sounds like it would be a good fit for a lady's watch, but the lug length is a little iffy. If, because of the lug length, the watch fits your 7 inch wrist; would it overhang on a woman's wrist?
Size matters!
The title 😂😂
Oh Baltic. It’s……complicated. They look so nice, but….. Actually ‘BUT”. Always big BUTs with Baltic. The price just about justifies the BUTs, but…..yeah, it’s complicated. Also now “but” isn’t a word.
Mercury in retrograde made me spit my food out.
Nice content but you really need to tag these as ads if they are sponsored.
I doubt this was a sponsored video, keeping in mind he clearly said he won't buy one :)
At 00:00 TMI, just pull them off, don’t announce it to the world. This may be the earliest I have taken issue with a video. Congratulations?
I had a friend with a ball tick, it caused swelling.
DON'T buy any baltic watches, they are garbage. I ordered their MR01 for 605 euros, paid in full, in advance. I received the watch 7 months later. It ran 9 MINUTES fast per hour (not 9 seconds). The b.o.r. bracelet was very cheap, I have $100 watches with vastly superior bracelets. And the return process was a nightmare. They couldn’t: find my address, couldn’t send a prepaid return label. Wanted to refund my money to paypal when it was not used for the purchase. So I paid for the return shipping
and they committed in writing, to refund the shipping cost. Then they refused to pay for the return shipping cost after receiving their returned watch. This company is wildly incompetent, and massively dishonest.
yuk. thats all.
its just so thiccccc
Sorry, I can't get passed the Chinese parts.
Past*
chinese movement?
The chronograph has a Chinese movement. The three hander has a Miyota 8 series which is arguably the best movement of all time - precise, easily regulated, easily serviced by any watchmaker on Earth, extremely reliable and one of the most affordable serious watch movements in the market.
The miyota 8 series is one of the worst movements miyota made, it's very loud and with very low accuracy. Miyota 9 series movements are way better but Baltic usually uses the worst and cheapest movements on the market, they're french so it's not surprising. Don't buy one unless you see them in person, they look good in pictures but they feel cheap in real life, you're better off with a Seiko or Citizen in this price range.
@@Sam_D No. The 8 series is probably the most reliably accurate affordable movement in the world. The 9 series, created to rival the 2824-2 by ETA, are great movements, thin, accurate, and high-beat, but they are also more expensive than 8 series movements, and in a vast majority of cases they are installed in MUCH more expensive watches and therefore cannot rival what the 8 series movements have done for the watch world. 9 series are the better movements, but the 8 series are by far the greater movements.
@@kresimirpleic even NH35, which I don't like, is better than miyota 8 series, they have too many issues beside the ridiculous loud noise the rotor makes, some of them don't have hacking system, some have second hand stutter issues, the list goes on and on. There are watches with 9 series that are around $400-500. It's not cool to give people wrong information when they're new to this game, not even as a joke. Please don't @ me again.
@@Sam_D No misinformation on my part. Absolutely none. The Miyota 9 series movements are are surpassed by both ETA 2824 and Sellita SW200 (and their subsequent modifications) in it's class. On the other hand, the Miyota 8 series remain unsurpassed in their class. It is rivalled (but not matched) only by Seiko 7S/4R movements, and that is it. Hacking is found on some 8 series movements, while it is absent on others. Exactly like 7S (no hacking) and 4R (hacking). Not to mention that many of the very finest hand made, hand finished and hand assembled movements don't feature hacking at all. However, that's not the point. The point is that this video features two watches, and a viewer asked a question if the movement in them was Chinese. I answered that one of the movements is a Chinese chrono, and the other movement is an absolute LEGEND of a movement. Both statements are factually completely correct!!! Your statement that the 8 series is one of the worst movements Miyota made implies that that they are bad movements, yet they are the best in the world in their class and unsurpassed by their main rivals in everything from availability to accuracy to price to serviceability to the ability to be regulated.
You're horrific for reviewing these.
Looks like a jaeger lecoultre ripoff.
Baltic = pretty in press photos. Overly mediocre in real life....
as a owner of two Baltics, I beg to differ...
I too can end my sentences like this...
Let me explain the relevance of the 1.5mm so everyone understands.
Watches are like penises - hear me out.
The closer a watch gets to being too small, the more important an additional 1.5mm less becomes and you hold on to that last 1.5mm for dear life. You might even end up saying things like, it is not a small watch it is just a very big wrist.
See EXACTLY like penises, 1.5mm matters.
Why is the hms003 at 360 euros in your screen record ?!?!!? 🥲