This Watch Is Broken... But The Brand Owner Claims It's A 'Feature'.
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- Опубліковано 11 жов 2024
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ANOTHER big shout out to Mr P for the loan of his gorgeous Serica and for allowing me to moan about it. But I mean, come on! That movement is clearly not great, and rather than dropping it like its hot, they have doubled down on it. Not what I would have done. What would you have done? Cheers, Jody
I set my watches daily and am not particular about accuracy. I’m also pretty patient but this would drive me absolutely crazy! On top of that $1350 for a brand to tell me I’m the problem just adds insult to injury.
Absolutely. Especially the inconsistency when trying to set it was just painful to even watch. What a shame, because apart from the movement the watch itself looks stunning. Calling this a feature is a joke. In comparison, a wobbly Vostok crown actually is a feature with a reason behind it, and it behaves consistently when i set it. But for a +1000€ watch that feels broken when you use it, and then call it a feature? Embarrassing.
@@MinefighterLP Hell, it's less consistent than a 60 year old Timex M24 0 jewel Pin-lever movement.
🤣
Even if the damn thing has quartz level accuracy, there's very little that's worse than a mushy crown operation. It simply doesn't inspire confidence and is extreme unpleasant to use
Have a 25yrs old Seiko licence built-working! Day, date, included. ~20$...
I'm not willing to accept that dodgy a crown on my AliExpress watches, nevermind on one costing as much as this. As you say it's a real shame, as the watch looks great. They definitely need to switch movements before they do permanent damage to their brand reputation.
Switch movements and cut $500 of that price would repair the damage easily.
Jody, thank you for actually shining a light on this. I have seen watch media outlet after watch media outlet heap nothing but praise on this watch while completely glossing over these issues.
I purchased one of the very first batch of 200 that was released in October 2021. All these issues were present in my watch. In fact from day 1, the watchuseek forum was filled with people with the same issue. All of us have followed, with disappointment, the developments in this situation; hoping that Serica might eventually have some sort of plan to remedy the problem.
It saddens me that Serica (and Jerome), despite actually being very pleasant to deal with, have put such a dismissive spin on what most people would consider to be a serous mechanical issue. Being an early adopter Im ok with the fact that my watch had some growing pains, but it actually angers me that Serica still choses to send these watches out to new customers in the same state.
All that to say I really do love the watch, and would never sell it. There are so many things it does incredibly well, and the visual design is perfection... BUT i would also seriously re-consider buying another Serica again as a result.
Thanks JODY!!!
I am having exactly the same issues with my 5303 which I bought a couple of months ago. I have received the same response from Jerome and I have to say I wasn't happy.
I love the way the watch looks, but setting the time is a nightmare.
I am keeping the watch because I would loose the import duties + tax if the watch was returned.
Serica has a terrific design and excellent execution however the movement is very disappointing. I would only consider buying another Serica if they change the movement or at least offer a fix for the problem. It seems the Newton is inherently flawed.
I bought a Serica 4512 just before last Christmas. First the company didn't acknowledge my order and so did not send the delivery tracking number (which they had stated would be emailed to me). When I contacted them, they emailed me back to reassure me that the watch had been dispatched. Sure enough it eventually arrived and on time for Christmas. However, when I opened the box, the watch was dead on arrival. The crown was broken and the watch would not wind. Clearly the item was faulty. So I emailed the company once again asking about the returns/replacement policy. This time they just ignored my email. When I tried to reach out, I never heard from them again. I now own a dead Serica watch. It looks lovely though.
(I do plan to bring it to a local watchmaker and take the hit and pay for it to be repaired.)
For $1350 a dodgy crown is unforgivable, regardless of how nice the dial is. It is a looker though.
I’m an owner of the 2nd batch of the Serica 5303. I've pre-ordered the Serica 5303 silver dial on 8 Jun 2022 and received the watch in Sep and only took it out of the box on this Friday, 7 Oct to wear for my birthday celebration. However, when I was adjusting the time, the hour hand jumps when I pushed the crown in to set the time. When I can finally set the time properly after numerous tries, I noticed that the minute hand doesn’t always correspond to the time correctly (set time exactly at midnight and when it’s supposed to be 12.01am, the minute hand is pointing halfway between 12 to 12.01 while the second hand is accurately tracking). The issue is disappointing and takes away the joy of owning it.
I’ve written to Jerome and he claimed that the latest batch of 5303 does not suffer from the previously, well know and fixed « stem issue » from last year, that I can guarantee you.
This was a loss of « click » between positions due to the stem’s thickness that SoProd since updated.
That said, it is true that time setting on the Newton is and has always been « lighter » than on other mechanical calibers. Which might be surprising at first, but not a defect per se.
It sometimes, indeed, can lead to the minute hand jumping slightly when the crown is pulled to time setting position or pushed back to winding position. By doing it gently though, it should not prevent you from setting the time precisely.
A known feature of the Newton, that I hope won’t prevent you from enjoying everything the 5303 has to offer.
Sounds like you had a similar but different set of issues with yours. I think I'll give the Soprod Newton a wide berth from now on. Cheers mate!
Definitely unacceptable and will probably send it back for repair but after going through your video, seems like Serica ain’t offering this option. Such a shame cause I really like the watch but can’t live with its defects.
I wouldn’t accept this from a Chinese movement on an Ali Express £60 homage let alone at the price they are charging. Looks to me that they had a a whole batch of watches to shift and needed to get some revenue in. Then hoped no one would notice and concocted the ‘feature’ reply when it all went tits up!
I make you right...
I also own a silver dial, ordered in June, arrived in Sept and I have experienced the same exact issues. Still love the watch but it’s a shame that a Sellita or ETA would have made this watch a real ten out of ten
I own a 5303-2 from their second run, mine has all the issues Jody described. I agree, it would have been an easy pivot to switch the movement on the second run after the initial failures. That said, I still love the watch, it’s fit and finish are top notch, the bracelet is great and it’s a fairly original design. If only it had a 2892, then it would be on my never-sell list…
I'm in the same boat as you. Mine is a second batch and still behaves in this glitchy way as well, plus the minute hand won't hit the minute markers reliably. I got the same response from the brand as well unfortunately.
@@shanreetan sorry to hear that. I hope Jody’s video jolts them into action before they lose too many customers
I think if Jerome is up to it, Jody should give him the forum to explain their position. It really is a great watch and it seems unfair when so many have said they won’t buy because of this video, but those who have bought, say they are happy in spite of the glitch
This looks pretty much cut and dried to me.
Serica puts out new watch with a new movement that is design defective and admit it but then do a 360 and deny that there is a problem.
That is not a company that stands behind its $1350 product and then tells the customer that it is that customers lack of knowledge that is to blame.
Uh,,,, no. Would you ever buy another watch from Serica?
Definitely not me.. 1:26
Interesting! I owned and reviewed and did not have the “non-hacking movement” but no question the crown did not feel great and a tad imprecise when setting the hands
What a gorgeous paper weight! A $1500 one at that! If the owners had simply acknowledged their failure, and switched to a Sellita, I wouldn’t hesitate to add that gorgeous piece to my collection. Doubling down on the Soprod is a deal breaker. I recently bought a second hand RLG Atlanticus, the one with the wobbly inner bezel. I thought I could look past it but I find that I don’t wear the watch because of it. At $150 I’ll live with it, at $1500 I’ll just buy an Omega or Squale.
No you wouldnt buy one even if it was a selita coz you broke af
Great video, Jody! I just got my 5303-3 in last month and was rather chagrined to discover all these issues cropping up as other owners got theirs. I have not had any problems with the crown that I can notice but I did see some strangeness with the movement, like the minute hand jumping as you re-engage the crown and that kind of thing. I've been wearing it a ton though and it's keeping bang-on time for the last month and a week, maybe +1 second a week or something. Incidentally, I also have their 4512 manual wind for about a year now and have not had a single issue with that one. It is a shame that Serica is fumbling this issue as I really appreciate their design language and think they have a lot going for them. I did reach out after receiving the 5303-3 and inquired about other customers' issues and my own experiences and... did not get a reply. Concerning.
Here to say I'm in the same boat. I have a silver dial, all these issues (although I agree, the actual timekeeping is pretty solid). I did get a response from them, but now I recognise it was basically in the same form as what Jody describes here.
I am not a specialist on watch movements etc... But I changed one quartz movement to a mechanical one (Junkers Baumuster) and I had to match case internal size (to fit the new movement inside the case) and I had less than 1mm difference between the steam hole to the case hole.(the steam and the crown are slightly not alligne with the movement). That made the very same problem that we see on this video. So, the problem is the Serica project and dimensions inside the case and not a proper movement problem. I am just guessing, but my Junkers acts like that and I know the source of it.
I bought a 5303 last year and didn’t have this issue. Sent it in for the stem repair and didn’t notice any difference. I really enjoy this watch and it keeps great time. I just ordered the 5303 with the light blue bezel. I also have an IWC Mark XX with the new movement and the minute hand jumps backward when the crown is pulled out. IWC says this isn’t a defect.
I’m happy you made this video. I have the 5303-1 from the second batch and it has the movement issues. Here I wait naively for serica to own up and handle this.
Why anyone would buy a watch from Serica now or in the future is beyond me. That response is pure BS and they’re lucky they don’t have a class action lawsuit on their hands. Selling a $1000+ watch with a known problem is criminal.
Much the same with Horus straps. I'm looking to upgrade my rubbers after an alien aliexpress one bike on me and killed one of my favourite low end watches.
I can't find a decent review anywhere so they have lost me.
Agreed
Why any company would seem to “promote” a watch with these issues is indeed BS.
No thanks, I’ll spend my money elsewhere.
As a French person myself, I must say this is embarrassing.
I had a similar experience with Time Factors. I purchased on of his Speedbird GMT quartz watch. The hours and minutes worked fine but GMT function was totally erratic. It would run accurately, some times for a days at a time then be off by 4, 5, 6 hours or more. I contacted Eddie and his reply is a "charastic of the movement" due to "backlash". After much back and forth, he agreed for me to send the watch back (my cost) so they can look at It. I got the watch back in the same condition. I asked to return the watch for a store credit (did not ask for refund) and the answer I received was "I have no use for used watches". This is supposed to be a well liked and reputable micro brand? It turned me off on micro-brands in total.
Just be be clear this was the PRS-22 with the Ronda quartz movement. I just checked and it's still for sale on the website with the same movement with the same issue. To be fair with micro-brands, I think you need to determine if its a proper business and not someone's hobby or side gig. Do they have a proper distribution and customer service in place and look for reviews from customers and sources other than watch channels.
Soprod has a good reputation usually (the GMT is quite widely used) and the Newton looked like an interesting new proposition. I'm quite shocked to hear about the issues.
I bought a 5303 about 6 months ago. I immediately took off that factory bracelet and I swap around various NATOs and other straps. I find myself grabbing this thing more than my 5 digit sub. Love it. FYI, I haven't experienced any issues at all, especially the ones mentioned here.
That movement issue is straight-up embarrassing, I would have trouble buying a future release after they doubled down on that kind of an issue.
After you cross the 1k mark all flaws are unforgivable.
Agree
Mines fine and know 3 others with same watch. All happy and runs at +2 a day. Not so sure if this has been blown out of proportion.
There's a knock off on Ali express for about £200. It's not like I've got any loyalty to serica as I hadn't heard of them before this release 😂
I would argue after $500 any flaw is unacceptable considering you can get pretty flawless watches for $300 from Seagull.
@@dannyfree1120...or there's the Tandorio version for £60 with an NH35 ( few quid more for a PT5000).
Cheers for mentioning the 1953 Zodiac Sea Wolf. It's very often overlooked when people discuss the original divers as being just the FF and Sub. You couldn't even buy the FF in 1953 as a consumer, it was a military watch. Pretty balanced bridge, but this is completely unacceptable when the workhorse SW200-1 exists and has been used in countless watches with few issues (after the -1 revision anyway). I have no idea why you'd use a completely unproven movement in such a relatively expensive watch. It's just asking for trouble. Reminds me of the original Monta Oceanking with the Eterna movement. That had so many problems it nearly bankrupted them. They learned a very hard lesson, and use Sellita movements now.
I just see no upside here. At least with the LGP G100 you're getting 68 hours of PR, that might be worth a bit of potential risk for a big selling point. This though is barely any different than a Sellita other than the fact that it doesn't work properly.
Please stop using acronyms as not everyone knows what you're talking about.
@@postmortemspasm Watch Channel + Watch People = Watch Acronyms. What did you expect?
Please continue to write comments as you see fit. I will feel free to read or not.
@@postmortemspasm
FF = (Blancpain) Fifty Fathoms;
LG[sic]P G100 = the La Joux-Perret Caliber LJP-G100 watch movement;
PR = power reserve
I got a Serica 5303 recently and the movement hacks perfectly, but the other issues that you point out seem to exist. That said, the watch is keeping very good time so I think I’ll be keeping it
I have a Vostok Amphibia that used to act exactly like that! I took to working on regulating it to at least dial in the accuracy a bit. After opening it daily for a week to adjust (being VERY careful in terms of avoiding dust/contaminents), when I removed the caseback there was a large "gob" of black polyester fuzz sitting right on top of the movement. I had no earthly idea where it had come from, but obviously it didn't belong there, so I pulled it out. Now the watch works perfectly. A shrug and a win!
Thanks Jody, I've been seriously considering this one, but the issues have been a worry, I believed Serica when they said it had been resolved...deal breaking issue now!
I purchased this watch in 2021 & was part of the 1st batch which had this issue. If I pulled the crown out to set the time & turned it in a clockwise direction, nothing happened. I could only set the time by turning the crown in an anti clockwise direction. It was sent back twice to the nominated repairer in the UK to have the supposed fix kit fitted. I could not see any improvement from the original fault after the repair. I have now given up & will just learn to live with it as I love the look of the watch, rather than pay a 3rd set of postage & additional long waiting time. It will be an issue if I decide to sell the watch. I think it is unacceptable for a watch at this price level to have this problem & I am very surprised to see the issue still remains in the current model. It should not just be dismissed as a characteristic of the movement.
Thank you so much for this Jody. I was about to pull the trigger on one of these, as I saw that they said they addressed this issue. The fact that it apparently isn’t fixed has put this brand off my list for good.
Also experiencing the same. Havent even worn the watch really due to issues. Starting to get worried that Jerome and Serica will ignore the problems with my watch. Hope they do the right thing & offer a resolution
I have one of Serica's 4512s and I've had no issues with it. Very happy!
The 4512 doesn’t use the Soprod Newton . According to Serica’s website, it will come with either a Soprod P24 or a STP. Owners won’t know which unless they open it up. The first batches came with ETA I believe
Wow seems average. I have one of the first batch and yes there have been occasions when the minute hand has moved slightly when pushing in the crown and the screw down crown is perhaps not as smooth as preferred. But I must say it’s been a cracking watch in every other way, nice winding mechanism, keeps excellent time, bezel functions nicely and isn’t loose at (if anything requires some effort to get it moving and then as sweet as you like) and bracelet - great in all weather including Aussie summer given the on the fly quick adjustment. I also have the original field watch they produced another cracking piece - though screw down crown on that is irritating as it is a manual wind. Perhaps I should lend you that one to review.
Its hard to argue with your suggestions Jody as clearly there are issues with the movement and for the price you expect better! A real shame as looks nice with a great mesh bracelet but they should've stuck with a trusted movement and accept responsibility for the quirky behaviors instead of selling customers porkies! Great review and here's hoping Mr P gets it sorted or better yet a refund. 👍
for 1200$ euros you could get fine-tuned eta2824, sw200 or miyota 9015, all higher beat movements, i don't know why one would ever throw that much into a microbrand with such an untested movement...
I have the very first Serica with a manual wind ETA movement and I love it. I love this watch too but it's movement has prevented me from pulling the trigger on buying one. I'm just not familiar with Soprod and I'm glad I waited to see how the movement behaves over time.
I have a 5303-3. Caliber is very accurate and consistent (+1 sec a day when worn). The crown operation for winding and time setting is great, no issue whatsoever. The screw-in action could be just a bit better, but not worse than some others, and I wouldn’t call it bad. That said, the one featured here would drive me crazy. QC anyone? If it’s a feature, my Serica is lacking it. A bit frightening. Very bad answer by Serica. Not too late to correct course.
4 weeks ago i sent a nivada grenchen watch to repair with a soprod movement with exactly the same problem. So clearly soprod needs to look into their movements, nivada took the watch back without problems and repairs it free on warranty at least.
I got one from the second batch and I've had no problem whatsoever with the watch. I absolutely love mine!!!
Thanks for the look, I must say, unless something comes out to refute your assessment, I am likely to avoid avoid ALL Soprod movements going forward. I appreciate you putting your channel on the line by making these bold assessments.
My Serica 5303 experience is also in that Watchuseek thread. Unfortunately my unit also had mangled lugs (which I believe is a sign of cheap manufacturing with no QC) but due to that I was able to push Serica to reimburse my customs duties. So maybe I was lucky to receive a particularly terrible watch.
Across social media and forums I've seen many reports of movement issues, at the same time there are probably just as many owners reporting having absolutely zero issues. This tells me that it's a manufacturing inconsistency rather than any kind of inherent characteristic. The "feature" spin is just an attempt to avoid taking responsibility for faulty units, and judging by the number of "the movement is quirky but I still love it" posts... it's working.
So if someone's watch isn't displaying this Soprod "feature", shouldn't they be complaining, too? LOL
What’s that called when you paid so much you can’t admit you made a mistake?
I’m among the “quirky but love it” owners and there is definitely some buyers denial going on lol I love my watch and the shortfalls of the time setting operation have been adjusted to and forgiven
@@brianyparraguirre6977 that's great that you can be able to enjoy it. The way my brain works would make it really difficult for me to not be annoyed when I looked at it, but there is no doubt it's a gorgeous piece.
I had a 4512 Field with the Soprod P24 I believe. Sent it back as there was a very noticeable drag when winding. Not through the whole rotation just at the same spot. Soured on it but beautiful watch.
Appreciate your candid comments on this movement "feature". Hoping that this will gain more traction and the company will change its stance. Pity that it looks like a stunning watch.
I got my 5303-1 near the end of last year 2021 and part of the first batch(es). The crown issue was noticed upon arrival and initial inspection. It also seems the fix and later batches with supposed fix still had this "feature". So, I decided not to send it out to get"fixed". What was the point? Other than the fiddly crown, the watch is excellent. This really could have been a perfect watch, otherwise. But, goes to show there is no such thing as a (100%) perfect watch.
Long story short, I am part of the later camp you asked. As such, I still own and greatly enjoy the watch dispute it's supposed "feature". It's just too good looking and wearing. I love the design aesthetics. And, it continues one of my most accurate watches at barely a 1 s/d deviation. I've learned a way to work with the crown "feature" and it's not a big deal for me.
I agree, Serica should have replaced movement ( a long time ago as soon as issue acknowledged) with the ETA equivalent to avoid any future confusion, anger, and disappointment regarding the movement.
And, I recognize the strap combination, background and thumbs in the video you referenced.. you're welcome.😉
I have the silver/white dial variant (the 5303-2) from the 2nd batch and I've fortunately not encountered a problem with the stem. I do have a 4512 Commander as well, and I do sometimes have an issue with the threading of the screw-down crown. You really have to be careful with it. Stunning watches however, and favourites in my collection.
I'm in the exact same boat as you. Got the white (silver) dial in the second run and, while the crown isn't buttery smooth to operate, it does work as it's supposed to and keeps excellent time. And I also got the 4513 WMB variant prior and same deal - the crown works but it's not smooth by any means. I've had one or two times where it didn't quite hack but an extra pull on the crown stopped the second hand. I love the Serica design aesthetic and thoroughly enjoy both pieces but I do wish they would address these issues. They are unique, beautiful designs.
Your observations on the crown/setting/hacking issues exactly mirror my experience with a 5303 from the second batch. In our email exchanges, they acknowledge it's a problem, but deftly refer to it as a "feature". Hmmm....I don;t see it that way. The cheapest Chinese ETA clones or the Seiko NH movements all hack and set essentially without issue. This is a $1300 watch, with a Swiss movement. Inexcusable. I returned mine to France, which was expensive and not easy - rather than selling ti someone without explain what the issue is. Very disappointing to say the least
I've got a 4512 WMB (their field watch) and I've had no issues. It's beautiful and a daily wear for me.
It's hand wound, though. Not the auto found in the diver. STP1-11M or SOPROD P24 MANUAL so perhaps I have the STP movement
I have the 5303-3. I do not have any of the issues except the slight jumping minute hand when you press the crown in quick. If I simply pop my crown in, the minute hand slightly moves but does not jump. I can set my hack without issues and the crown pops out one as it should and no ghost date that I could find on mine. So for mine, I am happy with. Sorry for the people with the said features. I really enjoy wearing mine. Even without wearing the bracelet, which does not fit my 6.25 inch wrist. I knew this buying in the watch. I am a serial strap swapper so that was ok and not a deal breaker for me.
Interesting issue with the movement, I have a watch with almost those exact issues where I do consider it to be a native "feature" - it's a Vostok Komandirskie (24hr dial). About 1/10th the cost of this.
I have the same watch and that's exactly what I was thinking: acceptable and even a little charming on a Soviet-inspired 'novelty' watch, but not on something being sold for over £1000.
I purchased a 5303 in the first batch. I had mine repaired by a watch maker in Adelaide and it was much improved but not perfect. I don't have all of the issues described by Jodie...I don't have any issues hacking the watch for example. The only issue mine has is that there appears to be a bit of slack in the minute hand and so I have to set the time backwards to get the minute hand to move accurately to the next marker in 60 seconds. I have decided to live with mine for the good looks. The bracelet is gorgeous but the clasp has popped open for me on a few occasions which is a bigger issue for me than the movement. The watch looks great on leather or sailcloth though...hence I've decided to keep mine and to be honest it's the watch I seem to wear the most. I don't think I'll ever sell it
Great review, Jody. These are beautiful watches and I was tempted but no more. Even if the issues with the movement are corrected, the latest dialogue with customers is atrocious. The asinine, patronizing explanations are incredible especially when considering this is not a cheap watch. Would never want to have a problem with this company. Which won't happen, because I'll never buy anything from them. Much appreciated.
My friend had Steinhart watch with Soprod caliber and there were similar issues. Steinhart replaced whole the movement with ETA caliber, since then no further problems.
After watching you demonstrate the vagaries of setting the time I'm rather certain the issue is w/ the crown motion-works mechanism (thanks to Marshall and his Watch Restoration channel). Assuming that Soprod supplies an OEM stem w/ each movement uncasing it from a 5303 and checking the crown & motion-works/clutch would answer (HOPEFULLY) where the issue lies.
Glad you brought this up. The problems with this brand has been brought up a lot for flaws on forums. A thousand dollar watch with these problems? Goes to show you can sell anything.
As far as looks, its a copy of omega.
Fantastic video Jody. The Soprod movement in this watch is quite interesting spec wise, and has been tested by Dubois Laboratory and was given the Chronofiable Certificate.
When you read the stats it’s quite a rugged movement, which leads me to believe the fault with this watch is with the case architecture, crown and dial placement.
It would be interesting to open one up and see how it was put together. These movements do look like they come with a quickset date, so the feeling of a ghost position would make sense, and the intermittent hacking. I would think that the dial is on quite tight which is causing excessive friction on the hour and minute wheels leading to issues with precise setting of the hands. All something that should be spotted at QC.
Sad as this has the potential to be a very good watch indeed.
I recently received my 5303 from Serica. Only a couple of weeks ago now.
I don't have any of the problems Mr P. has shown with his.
This is a shame, as my initial impressions are, 'this is a quality item. $1350.... that is a lot of Aussie gold coins, but definitely feel the Serica 5303 is up there with any watch in my collection.
The stainless mesh bracelet goes a long way to making this feel like a classy achievement.
I understand the SOPROD movement is becoming more and more popular, with ETA becoming harder and harder to source for these more independent manufacturers.
For a relatively new brand this is a great way to commit commercial suicide. I moved my BB58 on last year and when I felt the need to scratch the retro diver itch again, I did look at these when they popped up on Facebook. Lovely design but the price tag for an unknown brand put me off and for similar money I'd have been looking to Oris or Longines. Glad I picked up a box fresh 2nd hand Lorier Neptune with a cheap Miyota 9 series now.
That's disappointing on many levels. Seen other reviews which haven't mentioned these issues and was tempted...not now! Thanks for the PSA!
Hi Jody,
Thank you for this review! I ordered this watch on the 12th, and just cancelled my order. I can not by the life of me reconcile their explanation with the way this watch is behaving on the video. It would drive me crazy. Thank you for sharing. I owe you one😊
I did a few reviews on SERICA watches the 5303 and the Commando. Lovely watches and at 38mm they wear fantastic. The S671 on the dial is a French Sub!
Yes mate, gorgeous but..... How's the crown action on yours? This one is a shocker!
@@JustOneMoreWatch the crown action is definitely not the best but because it is only used to set the watch I could over look it. I have a Zeno Zex homage to the Rolex 1016 with the new old stock AS 6704-A1M automatic movement that feels even worse but again I can forgive it.
They could opt for an STP. I have one in a microbrand called Echo-neutra (the Cortina 1956) and it runs as a COSC certified movement would, has an extra jewel on the arbor and is far cheaper than the Serica). I have another of their watches, the Averau 39, a real looker, but the stem fell out. I got back to them and they sent a free return postage slip while also promising a repair or replacement which came back faultless within a few weeks and included a free quality strap. This is what you expect from a brand that is proud of its reputation rather than one from a company that isn't.
How desperate have the Serica guys be to allow a customer to get so frustrated to send the case to Jody, so 250k+ of potential buyers can be confronted with such embarassing arogancy of Serica...
I received a 5303-1 in September 22, and have barely taken it off since. I’ve had none of the issues described in this video, despite their obvious frequency for other owners. It’s a huge shame, because I can assure everyone that without the movement issues, this watch is an absolute joy that punches way above its price tag. As a collector of vintage skin divers, this watch is a wonderful thought experiment in what could have been released in the 50’s, and executes it perfectly -in my watch’s case!
I had the 4512 field watch which was absolutely stunning but i just couldn't put up with a screw crown on a hand wind watch so it got flipped. I was VERY excited to see this release and came sooooo close to buying but the issue not being resolved and the responses to customers put me right off. Shame because as you say, it's a cracker. Come on Serica - short yer sh*t out!
I love this watch.....but the little white mintue tag fell off. I wrote them and they never responsed after they wanted pictures. I sent them pictures and nothing. Pretty sad.
I can't imagine the thought process that turns a fault into a feature! Like Samsung telling their customers the exploding batteries is a firework feature!
i received my Serica 5303-3 back in december and its been the most worn watch in my collection. The issue that most people are facing with the newton movement doesnt seem to be present in my watch luckily. It has become one of my favourite watches since its arrival to my collection.
Wow thats really not ok. Thank you for the warning. For me at least this is a total dealbreaker. Not because of the issue but because of how they handled the customer claims.
This watch has definitely caught my eye and I was seriously considering it because of its beautiful and unique design aesthetic. But, this would drive me insane. I'm way too OCD to be able to handle it. You just saved me an enormous, infuriating headache. So, thank you!
Jody, I really appreciate your video on this. I agree that it is a beautiful watch. But, with the problems with the movement, and Serica’s lack to fix it or address it, I will not buy one. And because of Serica’s actions, I will never buy any of their products, ever. If this is how they are starting out, they will only get worse. They should have taken a clue from Baltic. This is why I appreciate videos like this. It lets me know the pile of crap is there and not to step in it.
I own two Serica Watches, the 4512 and lately the 5303, this last one I too still have issues with the crown, I’ve manage to get around it and will explain how, the issue is too much play, meaning you cannot set it correctly because the minutes hand doesn’t move until the seconds hand goes to around the 25 second mark so what I did was place the minutes hand 30 seconds ahead or at midpoint so when the seconds hand came around then it would catch and start to function normally, the watch is beautifully done no doubt baring aside this minor inconvenience, keeps immaculate timing, mine runs constantly at around +2s per day, I considered returning it but ultimately the beauty of it caught me, I’m now in the process of ordering the new 8513 GMT, this watches are flat out beautiful and at a very competitive pricing.
I have the new COSC edition, everything works fine.
Thanks Jodi, I had a very similar problem with the STP 1-11 movement - seems like a QC issue with some of these smaller Swiss movement manufacturers.
Serica has replaced the Newton movement with a M100 COSC certified !
Too much too late. What about all the buyers stuck with that horrible movement?!?
Thanks for the great review. The watch is a looker but if the movement is as bad as that, then it’s not worth buying, especially if they think it’s a feature of the watch.
Unrelated story: The ‘it’s a feature’ comment reminded of a Festina ‘dive watch’ I bought years ago before I knew anything about watches. It has superb lume on the hour markers but NONE on the hands. When I asked Festina about this on their FB page, they said “it’s an innovative design feature”😂 I won’t even talk about the bezel.
Cheers, Jodie!
This is why I watch reviews before I buy. This brand needs better management. Its hard to recover from bad publicity.
remember, no one outside of the SWATCH group is getting anything from ETA as of January 2022.
Sellita and SOPROD are the only two easily accessible Swiss mechanical movements these days and the SOPROD C125 is well regarded
I'm guessing they bought a ton of soprod movements, they can't afford to ditch them and are doing their level best to stay with their initial error.
Honestly, even if it were functioning perfectly I wouldn't pay $1300 EU for it.
I don't know about direct replacement for the 2824, to me that hacking situation means it is broken, something in the keyless works or hacking lever is not working right, i don't know eta 2824 has like 50 years of excellent use, i just made a 36mm diver with a first gen 2824 out of a rotary square watch from 70s i serviced it and it's fitted, nice douphine hands matt black dial gold date wheel i love it if i do say so myself, this is the third watch i have put together first eta other two are Seiko's which are excellent too, it's really nice on a J bracelet super accurate too, had to tell someone nobody in my family are interested in watches their eyes glaze over when i mention anything, cheers Jody. Dave from UK
Wow that is complete failure on qualification of these movements as well as customer service. I will steer clear of anything from Serica. Your reputation is as good as how you manage your failures. Too bad since I love 38mm watches. It would be really interesting to see if this Soprod issue is only seen on Sericas. Has any other watch reached production with a Soprod? Would be an interesting video.
I regret a saw this late. I had similar problems a year ago with a Serica, but with their model 4512, also powered by the same subsidiary of Festina - Soprod. First, the movement just broke, dead after a week of use. I sent the watch back, asking by the way to reverse the mechanism while recasing it, since I ordered the crown at 9 and got it at the usual 3. I also asked to check the Bonklip bracelet, which opened loos at the slightest shock, like when casually riding my city bike. After a few weeks, the movement was fixed. The crown remained on the wrong side. I did not notice any positive change on the bracelet.
I also asked why that purely hand-wound Soprod did not block the crown when correctly wound, and let the crown spin on and on as with an automatic ? I was told it was an intended feature, and that I should feel a change in the torque needed to turn the crown (nope, no way) ! When I replied this felt like a cheap Vostok Amphibia watch with the rotor removed (a basic mod to make them slimmer), I had no response. I do wear the watch, seldom and grudgingly, and bave already unadvised the brand to a few friends, notwithstanding their good looks. And excellent hype.
I bought the exact same from the 1st Batch. Great looking watch but apalling Crown setting action. It was officially "modified" by Serica's authorised watchmaker which took 4 weeks and made no difference. It had to go.
Took this guy 15 mins to accurately set his new 5303... ua-cam.com/video/9OM9bSjQJ00/v-deo.html (from around the 14:00). Mine also took around 30 secs before the minute hand would start to move from its set position. Additionally, it was very difficult to pull-out or push-in the Crown without the minute hand jumping.
I have a 5303-3 (blue dial) and have none of the issues referenced in the video. The watch is beautiful. Watch hacks and sets as expected. My experience during the order, build, and shipping process was smooth. Fortunately I have not needed customer service, and am a bit disheartened by what I hear on the video and read in the comments. If my watch has the very same movement as the watch in video, have they progressed?
I own the 5303-3 light blue edition and no issues with the crown and stem, the movement stops as expected and moving the hands forwards or backwards works perfectly. Love the design and bracelet of this watch. There’s a tiny spot on the ceramic part of the bezel but its quite unnoticable unless you use a 10x loupe and in a certain light. I would still recommend this watch honestly.
You got lucky I suppose but alone how they have treated their customers after parting with their hard earned cash to me is a deal breaker. Also I expect and demand better quality control at that price
It's great that you got a good one, but a lot of the rest of us weren't so lucky unfortunately!
I got myself a blue one in late 2022 and my son a white destro one. I did send the blue one back for refunding after a couple of weeks - mission impossible to screw in the crown - like if there was a bucket of sand in the movement (the thread was ok on both case and crown). The white one seems to work better, although operating it is far away from what you’d call smooth. Setting the time wasn’t an issue on neither of both. Shame, because I really like the looks of that watch. The refunding process was a piece of cake, Serica support was quick and kind, thx for that guys.
It's French, Jody. It only works when it wants to!.
JB, I can't make comments like that, but I can 'heart' yours ;)
I had the same issue with Glycine Combat Sub back in 2020 when they first released the vintage looking GL0261 . TWO separate occasions i ordered the same watch, 3 months apart, received the watches with the exact same issue where the stem refuse to push back in place after pulling out the crown and therefore stuck in the hacking position. i had to jam the crown back in by pushing it at an angle. It made the watch unusable consider if you're counting on the hacking function and need to push the crown back in to sync the time. both occasions I sent the watches back and on second return, i contacted the authorized distributor and told him about the problem. of course they assured me that it was an isolated rare incident. The Glycine Combat Sub basically used a modified SW200 with custom Glycine engraved rotor. But many other SW200 movement watches i've owned outside of these two Glycine purchase experiences never encountered this type of problem. which tells me that there's something lacking in Glycine's internal casing assembly process. somebody likely just didn't know how to put it together right. I also had a Hamilton Kahiki Field Mechanical in 2021 with the 80 hour power reserve that often refused to hack when pulling out the crown. After sending it to my watchmaker, they found that one of the gears needed to be replaced. After they replaced the gear, it never happened again. So the problem with Serica is likely a combination of poor movement QC AND the lack of casing assembly expertise. Since most movements arrive at the brand without being cased. it is up to the brand to case them and install the stem. If i were Serica's owner, i would look into their own casing assembly AND a new 3rd party movement.
Been super interested in Serica! Stoked to see JOMW with one on hand! Cheers
Let me know what you think after the video Jonathan! I'm conflicted....
@@JustOneMoreWatch agree on the aesthetics. It's a looker. But so glad you raised the issues in detail. Happy to keep my $ to myself for another day.
I've got my $75 Vostok Amphibia for whenever I get in the mood for a sloppy crown. :)
@@EggsOverSleazy thats 1000$ less spent, id take vostok anyday
Kudos Jody for highlighting not only the blingy side of watch owning but also sharing the less unvoiced side.
Have a look at Ball Roadmaster Pilot GMT. Supposedly a modified Top grade ETA 28xx but looks suspiciously Elaboré or Standard grade. Shock absorber is Etachocs (vs Incabloc in Top) & balance wheel has slanted spokes, which looks like nickel in Std /Elaboré (vs flared spokes Glucydur in Top).
In their promotional ads, it is showing all Top parts. Not as bad as the Serica case above, but. spoiling the hobby nonetheless.
Almost bought this looker 5303 but the lack of date kept me away. Got caught in the Roadmaster snare tho😥. Lesson to be more vigilant before handing over our hard earned cash.
that response is really bad in terms of customer service/rep.
I doubt anyone who cares about accuracy down to the minutes(which is like 90% of watch buyers) would ever consider this.
Its one thing to just admit "its broken/flawed" and its another to seemingly "admit" and claim that they still insist on using it because the good outweighs the bad, its clear that they use this movement cause its cheaper with supposedly higher specs...
Serica changed the movement from the newton to a M100 COSC. Looks like they listened.
So a not so cheap watch is known to have cheap watch problems, and it comes with a “let me explain how this problem is a native feature that we and you should love” excuse email ( he is writing a book there) When that happens then you know it’s a watch to avoid, they’re spending more time justifying the issue rather than fixing it. Imagine Rolex or Omega playing that game! No thanks!
I'm glad I saw this... I was considering one of these until I read of the movement/crown problems. Totally unacceptable in a $200 watch much less one more than 6 times that. I was pleased, however, to find the IX & DAO 5303, an 'almost' Xerox copy of the Serica with a very well sorted PT5000 in it for about $260... I got one, and it's an incredible watch. I feel for all the people who jumped on the bandwagon with Serica. There's no excuse for their infernal response to their customers. They could have made it right for them, but all they evidently did was piss them off. That's not a good way to stay in business.
I have the 5303-3 light blue bezel and it is stunning. It was a long time waiting from when I initially bought it to when it arrived, around beginning of November. It is a stunner, the bracelet at first was a bit weird to put on but you get use to it and now i have no problems. I am glad i don't have any issues with crown and setting the time. I did see that spelling mistake when i first opened the box but it happens to the best of us.
Its a great watch, too bad some people have had some issues but over all its amazing.
It happens to the best of us? They couldn't get the spelling right on a product that costs that much? It's unforgivable
Based on these comments it seems the blue dials have been unaffected, I own a silver dial from the second run and it has these issues… interesting
Thank you! I was planning to pick this watch up at some point. You saved me a lot of grief and aggravation!!
Perhaps the French watchmakers have an issue with customer service? I've heard horrible experiences with Yema as well.
This and their 4512 are my favorite watches. Yes, I'd like them to have less manufacturing inconsistencies, but man i can't take them off my wrist. Such beautiful and thoughtful design, feels familiar yet new and with it's own personality. When you love (as i do) a watch brand and design language as this, you kinda HAVE to forgive it haha. Either way, hope that this video doesn't make everyone hate them. Jérôme (the brand owner) really is passionate about his little proyect of this brand, and i think they're very much worth it, still.
Same here, my 4512 Commando is awesome.
Agreed, I quite like Serica myself, although I don't own one, yet. This video certainly hasn't muted the enthusiasm.I'm hoping to pick up a commando sometime in the new year.
Jody showing QC issues with seiko was enough to keep me away from the steel master and 62mas. This is such a bummer as this was on a shortlist for me based on looks alone.
Really love the looks of this one, but it’s hard to justify what Serica is doing here. In a market where plenty of microbrands offer stellar customer service, it’s difficult to part with your money when a brand doubles down on their mistakes like this.
I'm curious what Soprod has to say about that. As I understood it previously they had quite a good reputation.
Some in the comments are missing what the representative (owner?) almost certainly meant by the word "feature." Think "characteristic." This is a French person, not a native English speaker.
Anyway, I actually think it's slightly more concerning that some of the movements behave this way and others don't. At least if they all did, it'd be safe to assume they're not on their way to breaking.
This is a really good point. If it's 'quirks' of the movement, then why do some units have them, and some don't? If it's just a quirk we should learn to accept, why did you try to fix it a year ago, told the public it was fixed, but in fact it wasn't? Also, it's not just a single quirk, is it? It's a small menagerie of odd behaviors that sometimes show up and sometimes don't.
Lastly, calling this 'youth issues' is deliberately conflating things. Is it 'youth issues' for this particular unit, implying it will 'grow out' of it over a short time, or is it 'youth issues' of the calibre itself, meaning it might/ought to improve over time, but this particular owner is still stuck with the hardly-much-better-than-a-prototype?
Feature or characteristic, still doesn't change the fact that the watch is defective. And the effort by the company to make it sound normal in an attempt to deflect criticism from customers, is shameful. Any way you look at it
Lovely looking watch but I can see a willy in the 12 baton with the double dots. Problem is keyless work related. could be the yoke spring or setting lever is not doing its thing properly. could be as simple as not been lubricated or not having the right lubrication. would be interesting to take it apart and have a look. Think the double bridge balance is nice. Not a new thing but it works very well. Vintage Seiko 6139 & 6138 have that setup from 1969 onwards. Shameful that they will not fix the issue given the cost of the watch. Bet the watchmaker was getting fed up with repairing them too.
Sad though because its a really good looking watch.
Jody, I think it's now fair to take a look and review the IX&DAO IPOSE 5303 which homages this SERICA.
I think the whole thing is hilarious slap in the face for Serica, when we take into consideration that IPOSE gives you the option for 3 movements, two of which are SW-200 and ETA2824.
The Ipose had the same crown issue which they fixed. I'd imagine the ipose isn't as much a copy as is exactly the same watch by the people that actuqlly make it just without the serica branding...
Many thanks, Jody for bringing this to your reach. Been eyeing this, and the usual YT reviewers are giving it a praise. Guess, you’re one of the few who we can rely on for a proper review.
I almost purchased the blue bezel LhD version and the company owner was very nice in correspondence. A friend of mine has one and he’s happy. The new nature of the soprod along with the omega rip offs (leaur lugs, broad arrow hands, and inverse phalic symbol) turned me off. Good to know now the movement sucks.
Seiko: if it's misaligned, it is authentic.
Serica: if it's faulty, it is authentic.
Rather have a Seiko then.
I own one of these, second batch, and knew the problem on the first batch. Fortunately, I don't meet it (yet?) But indeed, if it's related to the new movement, they should switch to ETA. The worst is that the prices are now further increasing, for their latest model is COSC certified and reaches 1800EUR... With this price tag, there is 0 room for mistakes