Це відео не доступне.
Перепрошуємо.
A Solid 36mm Explorer Homage! Cronos L6019 Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 4 сер 2024
- Thanks to Cronos for gifting the watch to the channel:
36mm: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Deg...
39mm: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFW...
Cronos also mentioned that if you message them and mention Relative Time they will give you a coupon.
It's been some time since I last looked at anything from Cronos, but a friend of mine recently got an Explorer. He's raved about it ever since, so I decided to check one out. Expect I opted for the smaller and possibly more relevant 36mm version.
----To Support The Channel Check out the Relative Time Amazon Store:
www.amazon.com/shop/relativetime
Some of the links are affiliate links that will earn me a small commission.
-Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links, I am an Amazon affiliate so I would earn a small commission on qualified purchases. But most of the time Amazon is just the best source to link something just to get a look. I always encourage you to shop around and find the best price.
In Addition, I'm also an affiliate with Aragon, AVI-8, Aliexpress, Spinnaker, eBay, Jomashop, Meranom, and Phoibos.
00:00 Warning!
00:22 Intro
02:00 Specs
02:41 Build Quality
03:12 The Dial
04:19 Sizing & On The Wrist
05:04 Case
05:42 Bracelet
06:45 LUME!
07:03 Value
07:56 Final Thoughts
Thanks to Cronos for gifting the watch to the channel:
36mm: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Deg7XON
39mm: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFWyjIV
Cronos also mentioned that if you message them and mention Relative Time they will give you a coupon.
What do you think of the tisell explorer ?
@@mdivito11 I've heard good things, but haven't seen it in person. I do like that it has a 9015 in it.
Good to know that I'm not alone when it comes to Mercedes hands. I really don't know why I never liked them. Cathedral hands are ok though.
I can't explain it either, or why I like cathedral hands at times. Maybe they just look to round, or too short. Or too much like a bird beak.
It's because they are overdone. Many brands use them, especially those thar make homage watches.
It is a pretty good homage watch Shane. Nice, honest review that covers the bases. I like the idea of buying a homage to really see if investing in the real thing on the wrist is worth the expense. My Ali-express, 'Thorn' BB58 homage is on my wrist as I write and looks and feels like I would be comfortable with the Tudor original. Continue to show us the great variety of watches that you do. It is all part of the learning curve we need to grow our appreciation of time keeping.
Accurate assessment as usual, Shane. I'm a big fan of the "Explorer" design. Subjectively speaking, I think it's one of the most functional, classy, and overall cohesive, styles ever produced. Oddly enough, I'm wearing my Pagani 39mm rendition, of said design today. The black dial variant, absent the "3, 6, & 9," designations. I must say that personally, I think the watch fits you exceptionally well. Which, being that we share similar wrist dimensions, has made me second guess, my assumptions about 36mm pieces, in general. Please keep up the great work, and wear the watch, in good health. All the best....cheers🥃
Nice review as always Shane. I love the thumbnail and intro. As someone who reviews a lot homage watches I know exactly what you're on about 😉
I've not checked out this one, but I have reviewed a few different ones from Bliger, Matic and San Martin. A mixture of 36mm and 39mm.
Been waiting for this review !!
Brilliant comments on Homages. Definitely a good way to see if the grail is worth aspiring too. Still better than buying a fake.
Wore my 39mm today. Great watch. One of my favorites
I have the 39 Explorer homage from Pagani and I gotta say, it’s pretty great. You make a good point about how it helps you decide about a real Explorer, because it has. It helped me know that, One: I want one, particularly the new 40. And Two: this homage is easily good enough to wear in the mean time. It’s honestly shocking how much of a quality watch it is. I would venture to say that, except for the movement, the rest is 90% there for all intents and purposes. Great vid 😎👍🏼
I own the Pagani variant myself, and have been shocked as well, at just how good of a watch it is. Especially for the price. It's most definitely an affordable way, to "test drive" the design.
Great approach to not focus too much on the design. Anyone who isn't new to watches is well aware of the Rolex Explorer. And yes, it is a grail watch for many, myself included. But I am in the market for 40mm options. I recently tried on the Long Island Watch/The Urban Gentry collaboration watch and while it is gorgeous, at 38mm, it is just too small for me. I enjoyed your review very much and you covered all of the points I look for and then some!
Love the warning, this really applies to some UA-camrs as well!
A few... LOL
I have this watch and it's awesome. Easily my favorite and most worn watch.
I like this perspective of using homages to get a feel for the watch it’s influenced by. I have homage burnout for sure but this perspective is pretty dang cool
Nice review Shane.
MIne arrived yesterday and its a great looking watch, size is just perfect as well - not been into homage watches, but have to say this is something else my first and not last Cronos thats for sure. Their logo is interesting as in the video depending on which angle you look it its very hard to read, I had a BB36 and have to say this feels just as good as that did.
Ive had this exact watch for about a week. I bought it because i wanted to understand the hype with these explorers. I can honestly say... i get it now. This watch goes with everything!
Is it worth getting?
@@Bellaciaao it is! Unfortunately I sold mine. But only because I'm trying to grow my non homage collection. If you don't cate about that, this is the perfect all around watch.
@@tirrelldaveport3671 i think i’ll buy it! Thanks bro💪🏻
The first thing I noticed on theis video was the "missing" logo on the dial and it bothered me. Three weeks ago I received a BB36 homage I ordered to see if I'd like the real thing. I've decided the homage is good enough so I can save the $x000.😊
Great video, the watch delivers value, that appears to be the objective.
I am up to 150 watches in my collection. There are so many homage styles in my collection for exactly what you noted. I have tested them out to see if I wanted to buy the watch they mirrored.
I sold 13 of these recently. While I only made about half my money back on these models, I like that there are people that got like new watches cheap, and they served me very well. I certainly got my money's worth.
I've also been very happy with every high end watch I have bought, and I think that is directly related to the fact I tested the homage first.
150 watches, 1 wrist. Makes sense.
@@roybrolsbeak haha zero sense of course.
you can wear a different one every two days for a year...
Awesome review! Do you know what size clasp would be needed to replace the one that comes with it? Thanks!
I have one Rolex and this is it. It’s the 39 mm ‘full Lume dial’. I purchased it used in very good condition just before the price seem to jump up quite a bit. It’s one of my favorite, and most Worn watches.
It has been a while since I've seen a Cronos reviewed ....good to see them back.
While it is good to move on and upgrade our collection it is also important to know where we came from/ where our collection started ... it is also important to remember that not all of our collections are at the same stage ... this is a lovely watch for someone whose collection may be at a different stage.
That thumbnail is awesome, why do I get the feeling you just came back from Schlitterbahn or something 😂😂
Hi Shane. Great review as usual. It's a good looking piece. But have you checked out the Tisell Explorer? I feel that's a much better proposition even though it's twice the price. But you do get a much better Myota 90s5 no date movement.
It is a very well put together piece with a Rolex style glide lock adjustment. My favourite Explorer homage.
Absolutely great option material to dollars!
Great review as always. Cronos seemed to have fallen off a bit. They were neck and neck with San Martin for a hot minute. They still make great watches though. You’re absolutely right about Aliexpress. I’ve have one great interaction. And one terrible interaction. I guess I’ll try it one more time as the tie break. I’ve had more luck ordering directly from the China based companies versus going through Aliexpress. You pay a little more though.
I was waiting for a review of that precise model. Glad you did it quickly. Great video!
How case side thickness would compare to San Martin 36mm explorer? I have the Addies
dive 2112 and Islander ISL-145, which are both on the thick side. I'm looking for that slim explorer 36mm look and feel.
Thank you!
You should check the Addiesdive with the SEIKO VH31 movement (mechaquartz) - Really nice grab-and-go watch! It homages the 1953 model.
Love the thumbnail
Love the intro lol
My 6.25” wrist loves the size though the colour is a bit meh! That lume though, you had me at lume! ❤
... wunderschöne Uhr!
Just subscribed your channel. Would love to see a comparison of the Pelagos options...Tudor, Octopus, San Martin, and ??
Thanks and welcome! So your looking for pelogos homages?
It's a nice watch. Cronos normally have good quality as far as I know. 36mm is not really my size, maybe 39mm would be better. However, I'm not excited about the watch, even if it was a real original. Excellent review Shane.
Thanks!
Just the watch I have been eying for a while now. Of all the explorer homages I have seen this one has the most pleasing proportions. I'm just unsure if 36mm will be too small for my 6.5" wrists... but then again I do like small watches.
I have a little bigger wrists than you (I think). Trust me, this thing is perfect.
I think it would be ok. Especially on the bracelet, it seems to have a bigger presence when it's on that.
I like how the logo with its black polish seems to disappear and appear on the dial.
Good review Shane. Nice little watch for the money. Since you brought up the Mercedes hands, I have the same issue with snowflake hands. I always wonder why so many people dislike the Mercedes hands as they are tied to Rolex yet I don't see the same disdain for snowflake hands on homages and their tie in to Tudor. Tag Hueuer uses Mercedes hands a lot as well. I've even seen them on a vintage Omega, but maybe they were changed out from the original for some reason. I think they were used across the industry more in the 60's-80's than now. Personally, I'll take Mercedes hands over Snowflake hands any day.
For some, I think it's because it is tied to Rolex, for me I just like the design. There is something that bugs me about it. Yet for some reason I like cathedral and snowflake hands. Can't really explain it. Maybe I just don't like how round they are.
To me, the snowflake hands are more purposeful, being very visible and a good platform for lots of lume.
My reaction to Mercedes hands is always negative. Also, they are just so overly used by so many cheap watches.
I find the snowflakes just more appealing aesthetically.
@@P_Ezi Understood. I can see what you're saying. Appreciate your feedback!
@@RelativeTime Appreciate the response! Actually, I like the hour hand more when a company removes the "Mercedes" logo and it's just a circle filled with lume, but that's just me lol. Totally see what you're saying though.
I'm not against homages for all the reasons you mention. It's why I now know I want a Seiko marine master - someday..
Nice bucees cup I have the same one
The dial is really nice. Not a fan of the mercedes hand. First thing I noticed was the disappearing logo. Did you touch on that in the review?
The 2nd thing I noticed Oliva Serie V 👍
Yeah, watch about 3:52 . It's actually a cool shot and you can see it disappear. That wasn't planned, I got a new camera slider I was playing with and that shot just happened to show it.
I've got the 39 and I really enjoy it😎👍 nice vid Shame👍
Thanks!
Sorry predictive text 😂 Shane
@@twitchyjambo yeah I figured 😁
The best way to purchase an Ali's watch is to buy one from the companies that run their own web sites, they usually carry a supply of stock in Europe and America. Or buy from an importer like Wacthdives that offer stock from a US based warehouse, that gives you much faster turn around if you have an issue.
Would you recommend watchdive as a good website?
I wantt one!! Badly!
I like the brown leather strap with the big vent holes. Does it come in a 22mm? And do you think it's thin enough to fit on a Brew Retrograph?
It might be thin enough, but haven't tried it. Unfortunately, the Brew is 19mm.
@@RelativeTime are you sure? I thought it was a 22mm. I went six months without buying a watch. Went to the watch wind up to see some UA-camrs, and came home with a 8 bit chronograph. Now I'm interested in strap options. I think the addiction is growing. I used to be a bracelet guy.
@@drbobsnightmare2521 unless something changed. The bracelet seems to flare out to maybe 22, but the lug with the smaller. I tried putting a number of 20 mm straps in there and they were all just a little too big.
However, I tried my 19 mm strap for my zodiac and it seemed to fit fine.
Wait... Sorry. I thought you meant the brew metric I had in a few shots of this video.
Never seen a retrograph, so can't say.
There is a problem with both Pagani(es). One lacks original design elements, but the other one goes "all in", not with the best results. either...
Thanks for the review Shane, i was never interested in this particular design, thus i pass. Still your review is spot on, as always.
Cheers.
Would you happen to know what the lug to lug length is, when including the male endlinks? Or does the 43.4mm L2L measurement you listed already include the male endlinks?
It doesn't. I'm actually out of town right now, but I'll try to measure it as soon as I get back home.
But if I had to guess, I'd say it be closer to 46, but that's just a guess. I usually refer to that as effective l2l. It's one of those measurements that can be useful, but also doesn't always give you the full story as it doesn't take how aggressive the endlinks are sloped down.
@@RelativeTime thanks so much for the reply, I really appreciate it! And it's no rush!
@@whiterice9881 little larger than I thought at 46.8
@@RelativeTime thank you!!
Great review. They now offer an updated version of this watch with new logo and PT5000 movement at 4hz. I have a quick wrist roll on my channel.
Really like this watch….but same as all the others
Watch not for me, and I've tried this style of homage watches before. But,I always give a 👍 for your videos as I do a great job
That logo is weird how it disappears and pops when the light hits it in certain angles
I picked up this very watch from AliX about a month ago. The Cronos logo has never faded in and out like that to my eyes. It looks like Shane had a polariser on his lens with the way it dropped in and out with changing the angle. It is a really nice little watch though, very close in quality and feel to my Smiths Everest PRS-25.
It is worse in this video, than in real life. I think I did have a polarizer on, but I think the bigger influence was how I set up the room to shoot these videos. I have the studio lights on at an angle, but the rest of the room is dark. The polished edge winds up reflective of whatever is opposite of it, and in this case it's a dark room. The same thing happens when I try to shoot flat polished hands.
@@stumpyjock I have a Chronos Sub with the same logo and I agree it does not fade the same way in real life.
Does anyone know the effective lug-to-lug for this watch with the male end links. I realize the lug-to-lug is 43.4 but I would love to know the effective lug to lug with the oyster bracelet. Thank you in advance!
Great review Shane! Love your content! I hope you keep pumping it out!
Thanks! It's 46.8mm. Someone else asked a few days ago.
@@RelativeTime Thank you!
Would you recommend this over the baltany?
mine shipped to america in 3 days as well. I entered wrong email on my order and they corrected it pretty instantly with an email contact. Im very impressed with this purchase.
Oliva Serie V Melanio…nice!
I have this one and love it, I bought a glidelock style clasp at the same time, didn't even bother using the original clasp
Can you tell me where you bought the clasp please?
Hi, I would also very much appreciate if you could share the details of your new clasp. Thanks a lot!
@@danxxize I did put a comment, but it was deleted, I got it from aliexpress, but I cant add a link
@@shanephillips8735 Oh I see. Could you perhaps share the name of the listing and of the store, so we can find it ourselves?
@@danxxize making a watch band store
“Fresh brisket on the BOARD!!!”
It's not just a gas station... It's a lifestyle. 😂
I have three 39mm San Martin version and in comparison i think the bezel shape and indices size on this Cronos is more like the origiilnal watch than the San Martin. Perhaps the 36 size San Martin dial is more similar to this one. However the dial logo on this and other Cronos watches just disappears too much and appears sterile. Though that clasp style, like Pagani may be mimicking the original they all seem to be sharp. The San Martin bracelet and clasp are much more pleasant. So if getting an homage to test for the real thing, Cronos may give more authentic look but San Martin may give more authentic feel.
Thats a good take. Plus SM seems to be using their on-the-fly adjustable clasp more.
Correction to my comment. I have THE San Martin 39 not three San Martin Explorer watches. I'm crazy but not that crazy.
Lovely watch. The perpetual motion desk ornaments distract from the watch in your wide shots, though.
Good to know. I've been using them in some shots for a while. Peoples attention spans are so short these days I was hoping it would just add more visual interest and keep people from skipping ahead as much.
@@RelativeTime Well I don't know if it would stop the skipping, but the "money shots" would be more focused on the watch that's the hero of the shot. Watches themselves are perpetual motion machines, so I get the relation, but the eye is naturally drawn to the faster moving thing in the frame.
I plan to buy this for my wife’s birthday.
I’m sure you’ll love it when she throws it at you 😂
@@ThiHambrook She loves it, been wearing it for over a year now.
“Generic” is a understatement!! Vanilla, maybe??!😜😅😂
I have two pagani design watches, they seem well crafted and a bargain for what I paid, that said, I prefer my Casio and Seiko watches.
I like the Explorer but i despise Rolex. I generally avoid homages but this one wouldn't make me feel "guilty" about having it. Besides, homages are great to reconnoiter the road towards a possible (or not) luxury acquisition.
thats a very close homage ,, I wear a 36mm explorer as a daily on an 8 1/4 wrist , with a couple of half links in the bracelet from a gmt I think , genuine rolex links , and its a perfect all rounder ,,,
off to look and see if chronos do a 6538 or mil sub homage thats as close ,,, if so , Im shopping.
It's really nice and I'm ok with homage watches
Polished applied logo isn't a great idea. Makes it disappear from the front in most lighting conditions.
I think they should of used a matte, or used a white paint.
I had the 39mm version and couldn't fault it. Especially the Miyota movement which was +-1sec/day accurate. Keen to try this one despite the Seiko movement.
P.s. I've been on the wait list for a 36mm Explorer for over 2 years. I expect they'll stop making them and only do the new 40mm before I get offered one.
2 years? Ouch. Does that automatically include you for the wait-list on the 40 now?
@@RelativeTime No Idea, I've pretty much given up. Last time I went in and asked it was suggested that buying a few Tudors in the meantime would bump me up the queue.
Own a Smiths Everest PRS-25 and it’s a fine homage. But I don’t feel it’s worth what it costs. I may have to pick this one up solely for the disappearing brand logo.
An Explorer is the only Rolex I would ever consider buying. But I’m not paying stupid gray market prices or participating in AD BS. Wait lists are for fools. Especially for a mass produced watch like the Explorer.
Start a relationship with a Specific Sales Agent, at an AD. Keep in touch, by texting and visiting the store monthly. Buy other jewelry items you need, from the AD. Eventually, you will get the call, to come pick up your Explorer. I did that, for the Rolex I wanted, and a year later, I got the call. It’s the game you have to play, if you want a Rolex, without paying gray market pricing.
I was in great hope that Cronos was following San Martin. Built up a operation capital, that allowed them to start doing their own designs. This is disappointing to me. I love the Explorer. I understand why people want the design without the price. I just think Cronos and others are missing out with trying new original designs.
It'd have been perfect if it had a seiko nh35 movement
Nh38.. no ghost date.
Since it’s a 1:1 copy I bought it to see if it wears well before I put down my money for the Rolex. That’s assuming they will allow me to buy one. I don’t play stupid games and am not going to buy other watches just to get the one I want. I will put my name on the waitlist, which is complete BA for a mass produced watch, and buy when they “allow” me to.
Who knows, the economy may take a real turn for the worse and then I can pick one up on the grey market for what they should actually be selling for.
You never know whats going to happen these days. I have heard that prices are coming down. How do you like it so far.
@@RelativeTimeBeen about a month and I realized very early that it had a feature I don’t like, a polished bezel. I know better than to buy a watch w/ one. That’s personal preference.
Other than that it didn’t leave my wrist for the first three weeks. Very comfortable, but I did put it in a strap. For the price it’s hard to beat. Looks the part, workhorse movement that will run for a very long time and the dimensions are spot on.
I will not be buying the real deal due to said polished bezel. Going to sell a few watches and pick up a Sinn 556i RS. Always been on my want to buy list. And while they aren’t the deal they used to be they are still priced accordingly to make them a good value. Just have to hope the top AR coating stays intact.
@@Bob_Smith19 the sinn is a great looking watch. Hope you enjoy it!
My personal opinion is that the word homage is dubious. I don't think homages exist. The design either has some originality to it, or it's a copy, regardless of the branding placed on it. Talking about the Explorer, I see this design as "circle with a polished bezel", which Rolex hardly invented, and isn't particularly special. There are much fancier and ornate trench watches from WW1... The watch you are showing is what I would just call "straight up copy".
If its a 1-1 then its not a homage, its a clonage aka a copy lol we should stop normalizing this term for a copy. Nonetheless good review like always!
Yeah they messed up with that logo. Should have been white.
That probably would of been better.
Maybe in titanium..
That would be intersting.
Ok, so basically a submariner is a homage of a blancpain and other brands sell watches with their brand name such as longines, orix, etc with very similar design to rolexes and famous/popular models. each watch is a homage to the very first mechanical watches with 2-3 hands and so on. Take two watches: new rolex explorer and this watch or a baltany etc. This watch costs 170 euro and a brand new rolex costs around 8000 euro if you can get one (new). There is a 47x price difference. If you are very thorough then you can hardly find any significant difference in quality, maybe 2x ? I don't think so that there are 2x but let's 2x difference. Accuracy? Of course: real time accuracy of the new rolex movements on average +-4 seconds a day, and with the japanese movements let's say it's -+8 seconds a day which is manageable with resting the watch in different positions and check the time against an atomic clock once a week after you got used to it. So there is a 4x difference in accuracy. Same look, the 316L is a bit harder and not that bad compared to the 904L which contains much more poisoning nickel. Sapphire glass, etc. Where is the 47x difference in price? I think a good homage watch looks exactly like the original and not trying to pretend the watch itself, but "pays homage to the original with respect". And when you consider that you have invested the 7800 EUR with a 20% cagr for 10 years, that would have been much better from a financial point of view instead of parking your money in a watch which is collecting more and more scratches and degrades, not to mention the service cost. I would buy a homage instead, with a seiko like quality - which I think is good enough for constant use with the sense of the respectable original and the lack of constant worry about your holy grail.
ps: ... and after 12-15 years when the movement dies you can swap it for 40 bucks and that's all.
An opinion from the Average Joe who sold his grand seiko for a baltany explorer homage with customized dial - and who happy with that.
I will never buy another pagani design watch.
What happened?
@RelativeTime i bought the pd1718 and the second registry hand fell off after 3 days of wear. I fixed it myself, but not even a week later the 12 o'clock indice came loose. There is a reason those watches are that cheap.
Why did you have to show it on a holster.
Didn't have to, but like all the props in the video it's there because I wanted to show it off the watch next to different materials, colors, and textures. Plus along with the multi-tool, knives, and occasional pen it works well with some of the EDC themeing.
@@RelativeTime its just that with all the gun violence. Texas one day before, children getting shot in the head along with her family, dam. Sorry just have to vent. Maby a belt or a pair of shoes.
Armada 36 mm is better watch Swiss movement AR coding just a better watch
After a design has been out for over 50 years, how can you call it a "Homage" ? ALL the Patents have worn off the original Design. So in ALL fairness, and according to most Laws, it is Open Season for other manufactures.
That is part of the discussion. For me the sub is a better example of this. Where in some ways it's become more of a type of watch... A sub class of diver than a single watch. As there are so many out there.
I'm not sure why, but the brand name "Cronos" is rather unappealing to me. Slap it on the dial, and the watch suddenly becomes unappealing as well. All brands should strive for nondescript monograms, shields, crowns, and maybe even unicorns. 😂
I think it's one of the better names, although the competion is not strong.