This is a really good summary review of both watches….but I don’t think it’s a fair comparison to make when the two watches are so different. One is a fairly new micro brand that has managed to offer amazing value for your money and the other is a hundred year old established brand with solid offerings in a fairly good price range. I would prefer a comparison video between the Stowa and maybe lower end Nomos watches or comparable Junghans. Or a video comparing Baltic with other successful micro brands like Nomos, Traska, Rze etc. To me it would make a lot more sense. BTw, I have ordered the MR01 which is to be delivered in July so I may be a bit biased ha. Anyway, thanks for the video and keep up the good work.
Yes I understand that at first, it's a pretty far-fetched comparison but the point of it was that for around the same price, or a similar price let's say, you could go get a 100-year old brand piece instead of a micro brand, which is why I did not want to compare 2 micro brands because then maybe the Baltic would still win! Like some people would say, for the price of a 41mm Tiffany dial Rolex OP at current crazy market price, you could actually get a new Patek Calatrava 6119G (I'll talk about that in my next video) -- totally different watches but for the same price, I know which one I'd get! Oooh I can't wait for July to hear the feedback of more real owners instead of just watch blogs/reviewers who may not be so unbiased. Hope you love it!
Nice piece, Ben. I have had a Marine 36 for longer than Baltic has existed. They had ETA movements in them then although it makes no difference. Its understated classic looks stand the test of time, there is no fashion or trend here. It also sits comfortably in my collection next to Tudor, Grand Seiko and the like. The Baltic cannot do this. On wrist the Stowa is as lovely today as ever it has been. No contest.
Yes, agree, but I guess Stowa is not cool enough for hype like a lot of German brands. The 36mm hand wound with second subdial still uses the ETA/Peseux 7001, that's actually my preference but only quickly showed it at the end given that version is 1,000 Euros.
@@TOKKANTE Good assessment. The version with the 7001 is nicely decorated too. I wanted to keep it simple so went with the standard version but see the appeal with the sub-seconds. Stowa's limitation is they largely keep to classic designs which they do very well but that is not funky and attention-grabbing. Their divers are pretty interesting but too big for my skinny wrist.
@@chrisgrieves1468 Yeah that's German design for you... they don't exactly take a lot of risks and rarely change their designs, be it Stowa or Sinn and others. Let's call it consistancy!
Same here! I first liked it just like everybody else, and had put it in my cart with the bracelet.... but then my over-analyzing brain took over and as usual, it stopped me as I realized it wasn't the rational thing to do.
The Stowa is different class in every way. I like what Baltic do and I own one of their Hermetique models which is perfectly fine but I do feel they’re a little overpriced for what you get. The Stowa Marine 36mm hand wound is a stunning piece and, even though it’s now over €1,000 including VAT, it’s still an outstanding watch that will last a lifetime and the design is ageless.
Not to that extent no, because you won't find a real ETA movement in a $100-150 watch - the movement itself would cost more than that already, so you'd find a Miyota or NH35 etc. Check AliExpress for watches with the MR01 movement and you'll find several.
I understand that the value of the Stowa is far greater, but don't forget the most important part of owning a watch, which is looking down at your wrist and enjoying what you see. Aside from its tiny, cheap-looking crown, the Baltic's styling is indisputably superior. And as for its case finishing, I don't know why my fellow watch enthusiasts harp on about this incessantly. Who cares about the finishing? If you actually wear your watches, within a week or a month or a year you'll have plenty of scratches and scuffs on the metal anyway. Besides, no one can really spot great finishing vs. mediocre finishing unless they're using a macro lens, and so what's the point in getting hung up on such things? Am I saying that the Baltic is a better watch than the Stowa, mechanically-speaking? No, I am not. Am I saying that it's worth the price? No, I am not. But at the end of the day, it does LOOK one hundred times better than the Stowa, and that's really the most important thing to consider when purchasing a watch in this price range. And ugh...speaking of looks, don't even get me started on that hideous Stowa logo. Why they ever "updated" it from their classic swooping "S" is beyond me.
Yes if you buy it on looks then I agree, you may find the Baltic better looking. Although I would just point out that if one likes enamel dials but can't afford them, then the Stowa looks REALLY good in person and has this very glossy "enamel-like" effect (but of course deep down you know it's not). For the case finishing, well in this case, there's no point to buy a Grand Seiko for its zaratsu polish either then, because you will inevitably scratch it at some point. Or a Royal Oak, because that bezel is a scratch magnet too! But one could say it still shows the craftsmanship and the effort the brand went into making it in the first place. Otherwise just make everything in China. Realistically, how much would you say the Baltic should go for? I think USD400 would make more sense for what it is.
Yes to the idea that a lot is about looking down on your wrist and enjoying what you see. I can appreciate this Baltic (which will join my collection in September) for its design. It can sit in my collection together with pieces worth 10X (like the GO Panomatic Lunar), that bring a different kind of joy.
Well, you will not find the SW200 in a $200 watch! I don't think that exists because the movement itself costs around that price to replace (of course wholesale would be cheaper but you get the idea).
@@stuartcole4845 That's a good price actually and in this case, that's good value! I see those at $600 retail, on sale at $399, so for $300 that's great and with a movement that's actually serviceable. Once watchmaker I use here in Hong Kong told me he wouldn't bother with the movement in the MR01, just replace the whole thing (that defeats the point of having a mechanical watch, no?)
Ive been considering the Stowa for awhile now. I just think I need to see it in person to really decide. I think the marine classic in bronze is nice, with silver dial!
That's the thing with Stowa, it's really hard to see them in person before buying since you can only buy direct. I have a bronze watch, make sure you love the patina but it does makes sense on a marine watch.
@@deansusec8745 I don't own the Stowa, I played with my friend's one but can't buy every watch i like! Yes, you can remove the patina, there are different ways depending on the particular bronze alloy, just that some people don't like ANY change at all so that wouldn't happen.
The Bronze on Stowa are not like most other bronze watches that patina quickly. It will look the same for a long time. It's a special treatment that doesn't change color like other does. Important to know. I have a marine 36mm Roman with the peseux 7001 movement. But I would love a bronze marine with a 925 silver dial as well.
I have the marine 36 , with brushed finishing. It looks and wears great. I did also order the mr01, looking forward to comparing these. Curious which one gets more wrist time.
I have the LLD (in 42mm no date) so I would pick the LLD because it's such a well executed vintage reissue. You could say it's THE ONE that started this whole trend of vintage reissues back when it was released in 2008, before all the other brands started doing vintage reissues. It's so elegant for a diver too. This is the watch that got me the most compliments from people who don't know watches (my boss at work, my friends) who said "oh I like this watch, it looks good." It will also have more presence on the wrist even at 36mm if that's a concern to you.
@@TOKKANTE yes I tried once the 42mm but was too big for me. The 36mm would look better than Stowa you think? I wish they would release a new version around 38-39mm. The only thing I hesitate is that the 36mm version is using an inferior movement.
I think you missed the point and made unsubstantiated assumptions about who is interested in the Baltic MR01. I’ve been collecting for over 15 years and I’ve had watches from many Swiss brands including JLC, Rolex, Omega, Oris, etc. Japanese and German, like Grand Seiko and Sinn and was still very interested in picking up the Baltic. There’s no comparison between Stowa, Lacco, Sinn or Nomos and Baltic. These are very different “beasts” but the truth is that the whole is more then the sum of its parts and there is something very charming about the Baltic MR01 that allows it to stand on its own.
I understand that there is no direct comparison between the MR01 and the Stowa, it was basically just an example of "what else" you can get for a similar amount of money. I just wanted people to open their eyes because I actually know people who bought it eyes closed just because they've heard it's the best dress watch for its price. That, it is not. But of course, for those like you, who have vast amount of experience in collecting, and still choose to buy it, then of course I see no issue!
@@TOKKANTE I understand your point of view and I did enjoy the video very much. Honestly, I don't think any watch can be considered the best "for the money". There are just too many subjective variables.
Beautiful timepiece, minimalist, absolute quality, undeniable pedigree and history, hype free, fantastic accuracy... hmmm Sounds like the Stowa was made for ME. I NEED IT in my life! Thanks - really good content.
I’ve owned two Stowa’s, pilot and marine , but sold them after one year . I lost interest as they felt a little boring and I prefer a 38mm and they come in 36 or 40. I replaced the Stowa with a Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic and I doubt I will ever sell it.
Not sure if I can agree with the stance at all. I guess when a watch does an overwhelming popularity breakthrough on the internet, it does spawn hype and because of this, some people would believe that hype might automatically be a part of the reason to all who buy into the watch, or even associate them with the term "fashion watch". I personally don't find that to be the case. I discovered this MR01 yesterday from Instagram and I was instantly hooked with the look. Not because I'm young and I like how it might pair it with my fashion choices. Rather, it's the effort to make a non-flat dial with good texture choices, the Breguet numbers, offset sub-dial, the leaf hands, the curvy case and lugs. It looks like a round VC Historiques American 1921. Flip it over, the beautiful movement AND a mini-rotor. Look deeper into the specs, 9.9mm thick, 36mm dial. Don't talk about hype like it's the main reason people get drawn into this watch. BALTIC KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH THAT DESIGN. When I saw the price, my jaw dropped. I debated long and hard about whether I should get it, even though I swore to myself late last year that I was done with non-luxury watches. I finally decided to NOT pull the trigger on MR01, mostly because of the finishing of the movement. The movement is still beautifully designed and the manufacturer did put in effort to imitate the finely brushed surfaces that most luxury watches have, but I found it not up to my standards. Excellent for the price, not good enough for my standards. That said, this watch is still objectively amazing looking. Forget about the hype, where can you get a watch that shows taste like this for under a thousand? To get an actually good-looking rotor that's smaller than the movement, the cheapest one I can think of is PanoMaticLunar from GO. That's 10K and the rotor isn't even that much smaller. This watch is cheaper than most of the Christopher Ward line up for crying out loud. This watch is fully packed with features that hardcore dress watch enthusiasts might like. It gives a lot of correct vibes. The only weakness is the movement. Though I'm guessing the price tag made a lot of people look past that disadvantage. Stowa is a great watchmaker from Germany. Personally I'm not too big on most product lines from them but for the Marine or Antea, I like to call them the budget Nomos, great styles at unbeatable prices. It's a respectable brand, but I'm not sure if I would give it that much credit in the history category. I don't personally think history comes into the equation unless you talk about luxury pieces. Stowa's are great, but I see no need to talk down on the Baltic just because "Stowa" deserves a bigger spotlight by itself. It's not anyone's fault that this Baltic caught massive attention. The piece looks fascinating and ticks many, many boxes in the dress-watch checklist. Rolex is hyped, PP is hyped, AP is hyped. This Baltic, has hype around it, but is not HYPED, if you know what I'm getting at.
Thanks for putting in the effort to write such a detailed comment and I think I understand what you're getting at. You know, when I edited the video I regretted not mentioning the VC Americaine 1921 because that was an even better comparison than the Breguet 7147 and I knew that watch but forgot to mention it, oh well... Like I said, Baltic is doing a lot of things right because the CEO actually knows his watches and their history, so he knows, as you mentioned, what appeals to collectors and their design tastes. And in my conclusion, I also said I don't mean it's a bad watch per se, but in terms of value, I don't think it's quite there, although it's for each buyer to decide. Then you said your jaw dropped when you saw the price, was it because it was seemingly too cheap or too expensive? I sense it's because you felt it was too cheap to be true, but my point was that when you look at the details, the provenance of parts, the movement, etc., it's actually quite expensive for that it is. Love the GO myself as well (find it at 6-6.5K though!) but it's not the only micro rotor available: if you actually like the micro rotor in the MR01, you can find it in much cheaper watches in the 200-250 range. Yes, some may not have the golden colored rotor or the painted blue screws but you see what I mean. In terms of history, well, Baltic has none, they just draw from other brands' history and incorporate that into their design, while Stowa's Marine actually comes from their 1938 deck watch design. I know that all brands tend to milk their history to no end for marketing purposes and it's for each collector to decide whether that makes a watch more special or relevant or worth paying more for, but at least Stowa is not making a mix up of different watch designs into their Marine, that's one of their back catalog design. To me, I like that, I like the idea that the design "comes from somewhere" and had an original purpose (like the Speedmaster, the Legend Diver, etc.) but some may just care about a design without its "reason for being." Baltic knows what they are doing, you're right, and they know how to market it (you also found it on IG) and that's why many look past the price and accept its shortcomings because it looks so damn good! That's good design + good marketing that result in what looks like micro brand hype. You know I just saw one selling in Hong Kong for USD2,000? I mean that's crazy... I know that you did not fall for it because as you said, you did your research and found that the movement in particular did not meet your standards, but a lot of people wouldn't look too closely and think this is a very good deal while, for similar money, they could get another watch that brings more value, be it that Stowa or something else all together. Buy it for the good design, don't buy it for its provenance, history, movement finishing or reliability, that's all!
@@TOKKANTE Thanks for the reply and the fair assessment to the watch. One thing I would like to clarify is that I didn't pull the trigger because of the *finishing* of the movement, not because of the efficiency, or quality in general, of the movement. As the infamous Kevin O'Leary once said, I didn't buy FPJ's to tell time, I brought them for what they are, and how they look. Movement is a big part of a watch, but I personally find its significance decreases dramatically the lower the price tag is. Basically for me, what happened was that I came across some highly magnified images of this Chinese movement and find that, even though they tried their best to imitate those finishing patterns, the machinery didn't do a good enough job so the metal plates look a bit blurry/scratched overall, the gears don't look very cleanly golden etc, and I didn't like that too much. Still good enough for the price to me, but I already have a few other watches and I can let this one slide. Due to this one "flaw" it is not "irresistible" as it first seemed, not because of it being a low quality Chinese movement. Back to the grand discussion. I think when we evaluate watches, there are many aspects to consider. History is one (but again, I personally only take this one into account if we talk luxury, maybe 8K or above), brand reputation is one, watch category, dial design, complications, movement quality, display caseback or not, price, case size and thickness, etc etc. Basically, we look at all the aspects of a watch, sum things up and decide whether a watch is worth its price tag. For this MR01, to me it was more than worth it, even with that movement, because its design is simply waaay over the top against competition in the same price range, or even 1-2 leagues above its range. A brand can clone a watch easily, as I cannot count how many black submarine homages there are on this planet, but it is actually quite difficult to take the "good" from a few legendary watches, and blend the features into one coherent watch that looks attractive. It looks like a VC American but it's round and not tilted, it looks like a Breguet or PP because of the numbers but the textures aren't the same. When other brands noticed the trend to make smaller dress watches, most are still testing waters with 38mm, with some not willing to go below 39, Baltic went straight to 36. It copied but didn't copy everything. It still carries its own identity. They really know what's up. Maybe like you said, there are other watches out there with micro-rotors that are as cheap or even cheaper than MR01, but they don't have the other features it has. Same goes for other specific features of the watch. A lot of watches nail one, two or three things. Not many out there ticks as many boxes as this MR01. Personally, it ticked every single box in my list except the brushed finishing on the movement, and I'm personally not too fond of domes. That's pretty much it. I love everything else about this watch and I would expect it to cost upwards of 1000USD, even with that movement and zero history. Maybe for you, the movement quality and history part were too important to let go. I just think that in terms of design and what we see from the caseback ALONE, it's more than worth it. A lot of Easter Eggs going on in one cheap watch. That's how I would sum it up.
They are homage watches pulling designs from famous vintage pieces so yeah, they are beautiful. Still, if 90% of your value is in the looks that qualifies for a fashion watch
@@deansusec8745 Homage by definition is a new watch that pays tribute to a famous watch by closely resembling many design aspects of the ONE watch. This MR01 take inspirations from a lot of features that are known to attract watch enthusiasts who like AN ENTIRE GENRE of watches. No this is not a homage of anything.
Hahaha no!! I don't hate them, that's not the point of the video! I just feel there's better value to be had with other brands for the same amount of money. The MR01 is fine and if one likes it, by all means get it, BUT when reviewers/articles claim that it's the best value dress watch for the money in this price segment, that I don't agree with.
Hi Ben, it's really a one horse race, don't you think? I feel that Stowa customers are justifiably happy with their purchases: I'd be happy to own one! 😀
@@TOKKANTE There's just no accounting for this, unless it's a type of herd behaviour. A psychologist could be kept busy for years trying to make sense of the watch market right now...!
@@robertlock6041 Hahahaha, that could be a new specialty: WATCH PSYCHOLOGIST! Treating watch addiction, buyer's remorse, group mentality sufferers, need for belonging, etc...
Stowa is my favourite brand. I have a marine 36 (with Romans and sub dial) and the verus that are in my profile pic. So obviously I like Stowa A LOT. But with that being said it sounds like you haven't had any personal experience with either of these watches? I wouldn't bash on a watch I haven't seen irl but maybe you have. Also Stowa isn't really "in house" tbh. They outsource the movements (obviously) the dial, hands and maybe more. Also these watches looks completely different, so not a fair comparison imo. And the Stowa is a bit more in price and recently got a price increase. I THINK the Baltic are overrated and overpriced, but I really won't know until I had experience with one. I think there's a reason people like them. Stowa on the other hand are really underrated. But it's a small brand with only around 25 employees. What I like about them are that they don't pay for advertising etc. That makes them cheaper to buy. For example I heard from people that the Classic Flieger from Stowa has the same if not better quality than IWC that costs 4x as much but IWC spends a lot of money on advertising. And I also like that they're not hyped, I agree with what you said that it's an enthusiast brand. But yeah, not a fair comparison with these two watches imo. Stowa is a great brand with great value but Baltic seems to be ok as well from what I heard.
I like when people take the time to write a detailed comment, you really thought about what you wanted to say. I think I should have made it clearer in the video that the point was not to compare the Baltic with this particular Stowa, but more to sow what else you could get (and in my opinion much better) for the price. But you could swap that for another watch, possibly even a pre-owned NOMOS if you look hard enough (there are some here in HK for the price). I saw the MR01, a friend of mine got it and loves it (and he has Patek too) but for him it's a just a fun little thing he wanted and got, so it's ok. But for someone who doesn't bleed money, if 650 Euros is already significant, then I wanted to show that there are better quality watches around for the price, Stowa or others. I realize Stowa is not in-house either (but still more proven than that Chinese movement), but it's also everything you said about them that also makes me like them more, but maybe only enthusiasts like you and me appreciate that? I get that a lot of people love the LOOK of the MR01 and that's enough for them.
Yes, but I feel most others don't try to play on the "made in wherever" while Baltic clearly knows the "made in France" has a certain cachet and they are certainly playing on that by saying "assembled and adjusted in France." Technically, they're not wrong! I would just like them to actually make them in France at some point...
@@TOKKANTE I'm sympathetic to your wish, but they'd have to sell their watches for 5x as much if they made them in France. Plus, the whole "Made in..." thing is rather a myth, as we know from the Swiss watch industry.
I bought the numbered edition of the MR01 at the first launch, and I sold it after 3 months. While the watch is beautiful, the quality is ultimately underwhelming. I also didn't really connect with it and bought it mostly not to miss out rather than because I actually wanted it.
And they're very good at creating that FOMO feeling... they're doing now again with the new batch of MR01 available for pre-order... good marketing I guess?
Nice video. But Baltic made the hype to make it only available for a short period of time. We know how that drives prices and demand up (MoonSwatch) maybe comparing it with another Chinese movement watch would be ideal. And maybe comparing it to another Chinese movement watch that it’s limited time and limited offer would be more fair. If there’s another Chinese watch with smooth design language with a nice limited run which is cheaper - then maybe I’ll consider I’ve wasted my money on this Baltic 🤣🤣
Haha, then yes you got me, I can't think of another super specific comparison like this because I'm not even sure there's a Chinese limited run watch with the same movement. Well, Atelier Wen usually releases limited run watches that sell out right away but given that it's actually owned by 2 French guys I think, based in Shenzhen, I don't know if it qualifies as a Chinese brand either....
Baltic now have many MR01's available on their website as the hype has died down now and people are now evaluating the watches based on their value and not just looks. I forsee a discount coming soon on their website as the new stock isnt selling out.
Nice video. I think it should be noted that NH36A (4R for non Sieko) family of movements used in watches can cost up to $550 is also a throwaway movement. I am trying to repair one and based on information I found Seiko just replaces the $30 movement if it needs repair.
While i appreciate value in all my purchases my primary concern is quality. Of the choice you presented the only logical option is Stowa. The is nothing made in China that i deem as quality so for me there can be no choice. Stowa wins based on quality, longevity and country of origin manufacture and assembly. Now if our budget is higher ( yes of course A. Lange & Sohne ...) One would be quite pleased with a Dornbluth & Sohn. which is my next purchase as i find their ability to customize their time pieces for their customers an appealing service. Thank you Ben for all your research
Ah, Dornblueth yes of course, I also made a video on the brand, but I was looking to compare the Baltic to something in a similar price range. I would even personally opt for the Stowa with the small second subdial (as shown at the end) which makes more sense as a comparison with the Baltic's subdial but that version is slightly more at 1,000 Euros so I picked the base model, which still comes out on top for me by far!
That's quite a generalization. China is a massive country, and their manufacturing is amongst the most technologically superior in the world. This is no longer the 1980's.
I think you miss the point of Baltic's popularity. For an entry level watch you look for a good balance between movement, finishing quality/design and price. Baltic has chosen to put a larger focus on finishing while also having an okay movement and very decent price, and for many people this hits the right spot. Stowa is great, but for them the balance is different; it is more skewed towards a solid but standard design and a better movement, in-house as well. This is great, but it caters to a crowd that cares more for the movement than for an interesting design. In the end you compare apples to oranges. Both strike a different balance between design/finishing, movement and price.
Yes, all true, and I just wanted to point out what else you could get for a similar price point and arguably more watch for your money (yes, if you care about movements and history and service etc etc.), after seeing many a post saying that the MR01 was "the best value in its price segment." I think that's what ticked me off, and maybe that didn't come out well enough in the video. I respect people who love Baltic but am not so convinced it's the "best value in its price segment" that's all.
Actually, more like China stripes as the movement itself is from China and not even from HK (another detail that's left a bit vague on Baltic's website).
It’s really simple for me. Ever since I watched the Hodinkee video with the Italian collector that had 3 vintage Patek Calatravas that had sector dials, Breguet numerals, and small seconds, it became my all time favorite watch. I think the MR01 is the only new watch right now aside from the Calatrava that has most of those features and that actually looks beautiful. That is why I love the MR01 and think that most comparisons that people make with it and other watches with “better value” are improper.
Then that's a good reason enough for you to buy it if you actually love it for its design and not because others say it's good value. I actually know someone who owns both a PP AND the MR01!
Don't buy the hype! I purchased the Baltic and despite a nice dial, it felt cheap in the hand and made weird noise when slightly knocked . The rotor was not turning freely and wouldn't charge on a watch winder. The bezel should be brushed since it attracts dirt and fingerprints. Overall a major disappointment
Yes, for this I totally agree, they should really have kept the old logo at least on the Marine collection since it is vintage inspired! They used to have the old logo and you can still find some pre-owned Marine Original with the old logo. They should do like Moritz Grossmann and let you choose which logo you want on it.
I have a Stowa Marine 36 hand wound, no date, Roman numeral model on order. I can hardly wait. To me, the simpler the watch dial, the better. I went for the Roman numerals over the Arabic as I believe it gives the watch a little more class without affecting its amazing legibility. As for the logo, it seems just like the watch, simple and German-like in its execution, i.e., clean, clear, and concise without any pretentiousness. Note this cleanness is also carried over to the dial which has no, “Made in Germany” marking. Again, very German-like. I also believe Stowa in general punches above its price point and this can’t be said about too many watches these days.
Thank you for the interesting video! IMHO the Stowa is coping a lot (too much) from the Omega 2292 from the 1940s. I prefer the original Omega 2292! They are hard to find in good condition unter 3000€ but I still think that spending 3000€ on genuine Omega 2292 used by the RAF & HS and full of history is better than a 700€ Stowa copy…
That would be true if only the Omega came out first HOWEVER the Stowa came first and was produced starting 1938 (the Omega produced in 1943).... Also, the Omega is a RAF pilot watch while the Stowa was a deck watch used by Captains and other personnel on boats back in the days when they used marine chronometers. Now, I understand that they all use similar aesthetics codes and it's easy to confuse them but in this case, they are really 2 different things for different purposes and the Stowa cannot be accused of copying from the Omega!
Thank You for the educated answer! As in 1938 the Stowa produced a pocket watch and in 1943 Omega produced a wristwatch I still think that person searching for the original wristwatch design will do better with the WW2 Omega. But I get Your point. It is unfair to call the Stowa a copy as they are using a lot of their own pocket watch design! The Stowa ant the Omega 2292 are very similar looking and IMHO very beautiful! Thank You for the great work and for the interesting content!
@@_Peter_. Yes indeed, but we can't expect Stowa to reissue a pocket watch now, can we hahaha. Just like Ulysse Nardin which was famous for making the most marine chronometers can't reissue that dial design in their original boxed form. That Omega is great and I agree with you but it's also more than 3x the price of the Stowa, that's HUGE difference for someone considering the Baltic and comparing it to something in the same price range. For someone with 3k to spend though then yes, there are some real historical gems out there!
Well, for one thing, the finishing for example. Go check out the latest Bark & Jack video (which he just released so I did not get inspired from him), or the article by Sjx. Quite poorly finished and trying a bit too hard to look high-end maybe. Second, the accuracy or lack thereof, which nobody seems to be bothered by, and that's fine if you don't care about it (I made a video about accuracy), but the Selitta will be more accurate. Third, it's a relatively new/unknown movement that the Chinese may just stop making in 2-3 years for all we know (they're not concerned about brand equity), which could be concerning if you're thinking long-term servicing (if you buy it as a throw away watch then no problem). Also, and that's just my opinion, but I've been living in HK for 18 years now, and I've come to experience the unreliability of many cheap Chinese products that look great and work well for like a year and then bam! they stop working and no one will fix them cause they're so cheap and no one cares. Not saying this will happen here, but it's not exactly inspiring confidence since there's no history to speak of on that movement. I would still buy it I think, maybe for around USD300?
@@jonabitstream The movement is "regulated" to +20/-20 sec/day, the top grade Selitta is +15/-4 sec/day. As you know it's preferable to run fast than slow, therefore the Selitta is far more accurate than the MR01. Again, not saying everyone cares, but that's a fact.
@@jonabitstream Because it's always better to be early than be late! If you're catching a train and your watch is fast, you'll be early, but if your watch is slow, you'll miss your train! I didn't make this up by the way, it's a widely accepted standard. IWC for example guarantees that their watches will ONLY run fast (0/+9 sec/day) and never slow. METAS is also 0/+5 sec/day.
I understand, it was not about comparing 2 watches head to head, it was about "what else can you get for the same/similar budget" and you can get more watch if you look past the Baltic hype. You could replace the Stowa with another watch and it would still be valid!
Point taken, sorry about this. My friend also said it seems like the video is playing at 1.2x speed. I'm just worried people wouldn't watch the whole thing and it was still 12 mins long, at slower speed it might end up being 20 mins. I need to work on it though!
Yes, I'm sure if they made it in France, the price would be triple what it is! But I hope that someday, as a French brand, they can manufacture future models in France though.
Baltic and stowa in my opinion are targeting entry level crowd. Today this crowd is more about look than specs. Hence Baltic is perfectly execution on this assumption and optimizing their business. Beverages it is not for me. If I buy I want to have both look and specs hence I have to spend more and maybe work more to get it.
Yes I agree, but I'd say at least Stowa has the real history to back it up and they do offer more specs hence value for the money on top of looks. But I'm the same, once I start researching, I always end up looking at more and more expensive pieces and while researching micro rotors, this week I'm into Chopard LUC 1860. This is a dangerous hobby.
@@TOKKANTE hahaha yes it is very dangerous! Micro brands are fun and I'm very happy they exist since every big brand started at some point as micro brand. Now with new technologies the production line becomes more and more international. Let's see how this will affect them since there are those supply chain issues. Maybe you can make one episode around this topic? How the micro brands are operating?
Obviously that does not exist, but the question is: do you really want THIS micro rotor for that price? Or another better movement, albeit without a micro rotor?
This is a really good summary review of both watches….but I don’t think it’s a fair comparison to make when the two watches are so different. One is a fairly new micro brand that has managed to offer amazing value for your money and the other is a hundred year old established brand with solid offerings in a fairly good price range. I would prefer a comparison video between the Stowa and maybe lower end Nomos watches or comparable Junghans. Or a video comparing Baltic with other successful micro brands like Nomos, Traska, Rze etc. To me it would make a lot more sense. BTw, I have ordered the MR01 which is to be delivered in July so I may be a bit biased ha. Anyway, thanks for the video and keep up the good work.
Yes I understand that at first, it's a pretty far-fetched comparison but the point of it was that for around the same price, or a similar price let's say, you could go get a 100-year old brand piece instead of a micro brand, which is why I did not want to compare 2 micro brands because then maybe the Baltic would still win! Like some people would say, for the price of a 41mm Tiffany dial Rolex OP at current crazy market price, you could actually get a new Patek Calatrava 6119G (I'll talk about that in my next video) -- totally different watches but for the same price, I know which one I'd get! Oooh I can't wait for July to hear the feedback of more real owners instead of just watch blogs/reviewers who may not be so unbiased. Hope you love it!
Apparently Stowa was out of production for 50 years and the Brand bought in the 1990’s and restarted. Small factory. Still qualifies as micro?
It is an absolutely beautiful watch! The Baltic! Also the Stowa! Both on their own merits! I would/will get them both!
Nice piece, Ben. I have had a Marine 36 for longer than Baltic has existed. They had ETA movements in them then although it makes no difference. Its understated classic looks stand the test of time, there is no fashion or trend here. It also sits comfortably in my collection next to Tudor, Grand Seiko and the like. The Baltic cannot do this. On wrist the Stowa is as lovely today as ever it has been. No contest.
Yes, agree, but I guess Stowa is not cool enough for hype like a lot of German brands. The 36mm hand wound with second subdial still uses the ETA/Peseux 7001, that's actually my preference but only quickly showed it at the end given that version is 1,000 Euros.
@@TOKKANTE Good assessment. The version with the 7001 is nicely decorated too. I wanted to keep it simple so went with the standard version but see the appeal with the sub-seconds. Stowa's limitation is they largely keep to classic designs which they do very well but that is not funky and attention-grabbing. Their divers are pretty interesting but too big for my skinny wrist.
@@chrisgrieves1468 Yeah that's German design for you... they don't exactly take a lot of risks and rarely change their designs, be it Stowa or Sinn and others. Let's call it consistancy!
I'd actually go with the Nomos Club Campus. Superb design, in-house movement. No more expensive than the Stowa
You have such good content. I hope your channel grows
Thank you! Very slowly, apparently...
Thermally blued hands always win for me, both gorgeous watches though
Me too, traditional watchmaking right there!
Nice video once again, love the onion crown on the Stowa. I had the Baltic in the checkout cart, ultimately I passed.
Same here! I first liked it just like everybody else, and had put it in my cart with the bracelet.... but then my over-analyzing brain took over and as usual, it stopped me as I realized it wasn't the rational thing to do.
I didn’t need hype to fall in love with Baltic MR at first sight. I only noticed the hype when I couldn’t buy it and did more research into it.
Then that means you wanted it for the right reasons then (you liked it) and that I respect.
The Stowa is different class in every way. I like what Baltic do and I own one of their Hermetique models which is perfectly fine but I do feel they’re a little overpriced for what you get.
The Stowa Marine 36mm hand wound is a stunning piece and, even though it’s now over €1,000 including VAT, it’s still an outstanding watch that will last a lifetime and the design is ageless.
your judgement that the mr01 uses a cheap movement that can be found in much cheaper watches....doesnt that also apply to most ETA movements as well?
Not to that extent no, because you won't find a real ETA movement in a $100-150 watch - the movement itself would cost more than that already, so you'd find a Miyota or NH35 etc. Check AliExpress for watches with the MR01 movement and you'll find several.
I understand that the value of the Stowa is far greater, but don't forget the most important part of owning a watch, which is looking down at your wrist and enjoying what you see. Aside from its tiny, cheap-looking crown, the Baltic's styling is indisputably superior. And as for its case finishing, I don't know why my fellow watch enthusiasts harp on about this incessantly. Who cares about the finishing? If you actually wear your watches, within a week or a month or a year you'll have plenty of scratches and scuffs on the metal anyway. Besides, no one can really spot great finishing vs. mediocre finishing unless they're using a macro lens, and so what's the point in getting hung up on such things? Am I saying that the Baltic is a better watch than the Stowa, mechanically-speaking? No, I am not. Am I saying that it's worth the price? No, I am not. But at the end of the day, it does LOOK one hundred times better than the Stowa, and that's really the most important thing to consider when purchasing a watch in this price range. And ugh...speaking of looks, don't even get me started on that hideous Stowa logo. Why they ever "updated" it from their classic swooping "S" is beyond me.
Yes if you buy it on looks then I agree, you may find the Baltic better looking. Although I would just point out that if one likes enamel dials but can't afford them, then the Stowa looks REALLY good in person and has this very glossy "enamel-like" effect (but of course deep down you know it's not). For the case finishing, well in this case, there's no point to buy a Grand Seiko for its zaratsu polish either then, because you will inevitably scratch it at some point. Or a Royal Oak, because that bezel is a scratch magnet too! But one could say it still shows the craftsmanship and the effort the brand went into making it in the first place. Otherwise just make everything in China. Realistically, how much would you say the Baltic should go for? I think USD400 would make more sense for what it is.
Yes to the idea that a lot is about looking down on your wrist and enjoying what you see. I can appreciate this Baltic (which will join my collection in September) for its design. It can sit in my collection together with pieces worth 10X (like the GO Panomatic Lunar), that bring a different kind of joy.
@@warshauer Yes, we can like both a burger AND fine dining, they're not exclusive!
You mentioned the Baltic movement can be found in much cheaper watches, but what about the SW200?
Well, you will not find the SW200 in a $200 watch! I don't think that exists because the movement itself costs around that price to replace (of course wholesale would be cheaper but you get the idea).
@@TOKKANTE you can find the SW200 is the Glycine Combat Sub that i picked up for $300 so not much more.
@@stuartcole4845 That's a good price actually and in this case, that's good value! I see those at $600 retail, on sale at $399, so for $300 that's great and with a movement that's actually serviceable. Once watchmaker I use here in Hong Kong told me he wouldn't bother with the movement in the MR01, just replace the whole thing (that defeats the point of having a mechanical watch, no?)
Ive been considering the Stowa for awhile now. I just think I need to see it in person to really decide. I think the marine classic in bronze is nice, with silver dial!
That's the thing with Stowa, it's really hard to see them in person before buying since you can only buy direct. I have a bronze watch, make sure you love the patina but it does makes sense on a marine watch.
@@TOKKANTE Are you happy with the Stowa? I dont mind patina, but I can also buff it out once in awhile, right?
@@deansusec8745 I don't own the Stowa, I played with my friend's one but can't buy every watch i like! Yes, you can remove the patina, there are different ways depending on the particular bronze alloy, just that some people don't like ANY change at all so that wouldn't happen.
The Bronze on Stowa are not like most other bronze watches that patina quickly. It will look the same for a long time. It's a special treatment that doesn't change color like other does. Important to know.
I have a marine 36mm Roman with the peseux 7001 movement. But I would love a bronze marine with a 925 silver dial as well.
I have the marine 36 , with brushed finishing. It looks and wears great. I did also order the mr01, looking forward to comparing these. Curious which one gets more wrist time.
Do you need to wait til July to receive it? That's be great to post an update then as it must be quite rare to find an owner of both.
@@TOKKANTE unfortunately, I have to wait untill september.
Because you have seen Stowa please tell me
Should I go for the Marine 36 or save up more and go for the Longines legend Diver 36mm?
I have the LLD (in 42mm no date) so I would pick the LLD because it's such a well executed vintage reissue. You could say it's THE ONE that started this whole trend of vintage reissues back when it was released in 2008, before all the other brands started doing vintage reissues. It's so elegant for a diver too. This is the watch that got me the most compliments from people who don't know watches (my boss at work, my friends) who said "oh I like this watch, it looks good." It will also have more presence on the wrist even at 36mm if that's a concern to you.
@@TOKKANTE yes I tried once the 42mm but was too big for me. The 36mm would look better than Stowa you think? I wish they would release a new version around 38-39mm. The only thing I hesitate is that the 36mm version is using an inferior movement.
Stowa. But what do you think of Muhle Glashutte? I have a Junghans Driver and want another German brand.
Yes, another good choice there! I mentioned the Muhle ProMare Go in my Top 5 German divers as my
Muhle is an amazing brand. Definitely listen to Tokkante and go for the S.A.R. Rescue Timer. It is without a doubt the toughest tool watch in history.
Stowa all day. If only they made it in a 38mm
Ill buy the Stowa with small seconds…. That Baltic is not bad its good looking
I think you missed the point and made unsubstantiated assumptions about who is interested in the Baltic MR01. I’ve been collecting for over 15 years and I’ve had watches from many Swiss brands including JLC, Rolex, Omega, Oris, etc. Japanese and German, like Grand Seiko and Sinn and was still very interested in picking up the Baltic. There’s no comparison between Stowa, Lacco, Sinn or Nomos and Baltic. These are very different “beasts” but the truth is that the whole is more then the sum of its parts and there is something very charming about the Baltic MR01 that allows it to stand on its own.
I understand that there is no direct comparison between the MR01 and the Stowa, it was basically just an example of "what else" you can get for a similar amount of money. I just wanted people to open their eyes because I actually know people who bought it eyes closed just because they've heard it's the best dress watch for its price. That, it is not. But of course, for those like you, who have vast amount of experience in collecting, and still choose to buy it, then of course I see no issue!
@@TOKKANTE I understand your point of view and I did enjoy the video very much. Honestly, I don't think any watch can be considered the best "for the money". There are just too many subjective variables.
Beautiful timepiece, minimalist, absolute quality, undeniable pedigree and history, hype free, fantastic accuracy... hmmm
Sounds like the Stowa was made for ME. I NEED IT in my life!
Thanks - really good content.
I’ve owned two Stowa’s, pilot and marine , but sold them after one year . I lost interest as they felt a little boring and I prefer a 38mm and they come in 36 or 40. I replaced the Stowa with a Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic and I doubt I will ever sell it.
Stowa all the way!
Stowa for the win!!!
Not sure if I can agree with the stance at all. I guess when a watch does an overwhelming popularity breakthrough on the internet, it does spawn hype and because of this, some people would believe that hype might automatically be a part of the reason to all who buy into the watch, or even associate them with the term "fashion watch". I personally don't find that to be the case. I discovered this MR01 yesterday from Instagram and I was instantly hooked with the look. Not because I'm young and I like how it might pair it with my fashion choices. Rather, it's the effort to make a non-flat dial with good texture choices, the Breguet numbers, offset sub-dial, the leaf hands, the curvy case and lugs. It looks like a round VC Historiques American 1921. Flip it over, the beautiful movement AND a mini-rotor. Look deeper into the specs, 9.9mm thick, 36mm dial. Don't talk about hype like it's the main reason people get drawn into this watch. BALTIC KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH THAT DESIGN.
When I saw the price, my jaw dropped. I debated long and hard about whether I should get it, even though I swore to myself late last year that I was done with non-luxury watches. I finally decided to NOT pull the trigger on MR01, mostly because of the finishing of the movement. The movement is still beautifully designed and the manufacturer did put in effort to imitate the finely brushed surfaces that most luxury watches have, but I found it not up to my standards. Excellent for the price, not good enough for my standards.
That said, this watch is still objectively amazing looking. Forget about the hype, where can you get a watch that shows taste like this for under a thousand? To get an actually good-looking rotor that's smaller than the movement, the cheapest one I can think of is PanoMaticLunar from GO. That's 10K and the rotor isn't even that much smaller. This watch is cheaper than most of the Christopher Ward line up for crying out loud.
This watch is fully packed with features that hardcore dress watch enthusiasts might like. It gives a lot of correct vibes. The only weakness is the movement. Though I'm guessing the price tag made a lot of people look past that disadvantage.
Stowa is a great watchmaker from Germany. Personally I'm not too big on most product lines from them but for the Marine or Antea, I like to call them the budget Nomos, great styles at unbeatable prices. It's a respectable brand, but I'm not sure if I would give it that much credit in the history category. I don't personally think history comes into the equation unless you talk about luxury pieces.
Stowa's are great, but I see no need to talk down on the Baltic just because "Stowa" deserves a bigger spotlight by itself. It's not anyone's fault that this Baltic caught massive attention. The piece looks fascinating and ticks many, many boxes in the dress-watch checklist. Rolex is hyped, PP is hyped, AP is hyped. This Baltic, has hype around it, but is not HYPED, if you know what I'm getting at.
Thanks for putting in the effort to write such a detailed comment and I think I understand what you're getting at. You know, when I edited the video I regretted not mentioning the VC Americaine 1921 because that was an even better comparison than the Breguet 7147 and I knew that watch but forgot to mention it, oh well...
Like I said, Baltic is doing a lot of things right because the CEO actually knows his watches and their history, so he knows, as you mentioned, what appeals to collectors and their design tastes. And in my conclusion, I also said I don't mean it's a bad watch per se, but in terms of value, I don't think it's quite there, although it's for each buyer to decide.
Then you said your jaw dropped when you saw the price, was it because it was seemingly too cheap or too expensive? I sense it's because you felt it was too cheap to be true, but my point was that when you look at the details, the provenance of parts, the movement, etc., it's actually quite expensive for that it is. Love the GO myself as well (find it at 6-6.5K though!) but it's not the only micro rotor available: if you actually like the micro rotor in the MR01, you can find it in much cheaper watches in the 200-250 range. Yes, some may not have the golden colored rotor or the painted blue screws but you see what I mean.
In terms of history, well, Baltic has none, they just draw from other brands' history and incorporate that into their design, while Stowa's Marine actually comes from their 1938 deck watch design. I know that all brands tend to milk their history to no end for marketing purposes and it's for each collector to decide whether that makes a watch more special or relevant or worth paying more for, but at least Stowa is not making a mix up of different watch designs into their Marine, that's one of their back catalog design. To me, I like that, I like the idea that the design "comes from somewhere" and had an original purpose (like the Speedmaster, the Legend Diver, etc.) but some may just care about a design without its "reason for being."
Baltic knows what they are doing, you're right, and they know how to market it (you also found it on IG) and that's why many look past the price and accept its shortcomings because it looks so damn good! That's good design + good marketing that result in what looks like micro brand hype. You know I just saw one selling in Hong Kong for USD2,000? I mean that's crazy...
I know that you did not fall for it because as you said, you did your research and found that the movement in particular did not meet your standards, but a lot of people wouldn't look too closely and think this is a very good deal while, for similar money, they could get another watch that brings more value, be it that Stowa or something else all together. Buy it for the good design, don't buy it for its provenance, history, movement finishing or reliability, that's all!
@@TOKKANTE Thanks for the reply and the fair assessment to the watch. One thing I would like to clarify is that I didn't pull the trigger because of the *finishing* of the movement, not because of the efficiency, or quality in general, of the movement. As the infamous Kevin O'Leary once said, I didn't buy FPJ's to tell time, I brought them for what they are, and how they look. Movement is a big part of a watch, but I personally find its significance decreases dramatically the lower the price tag is. Basically for me, what happened was that I came across some highly magnified images of this Chinese movement and find that, even though they tried their best to imitate those finishing patterns, the machinery didn't do a good enough job so the metal plates look a bit blurry/scratched overall, the gears don't look very cleanly golden etc, and I didn't like that too much. Still good enough for the price to me, but I already have a few other watches and I can let this one slide. Due to this one "flaw" it is not "irresistible" as it first seemed, not because of it being a low quality Chinese movement.
Back to the grand discussion. I think when we evaluate watches, there are many aspects to consider. History is one (but again, I personally only take this one into account if we talk luxury, maybe 8K or above), brand reputation is one, watch category, dial design, complications, movement quality, display caseback or not, price, case size and thickness, etc etc. Basically, we look at all the aspects of a watch, sum things up and decide whether a watch is worth its price tag. For this MR01, to me it was more than worth it, even with that movement, because its design is simply waaay over the top against competition in the same price range, or even 1-2 leagues above its range.
A brand can clone a watch easily, as I cannot count how many black submarine homages there are on this planet, but it is actually quite difficult to take the "good" from a few legendary watches, and blend the features into one coherent watch that looks attractive. It looks like a VC American but it's round and not tilted, it looks like a Breguet or PP because of the numbers but the textures aren't the same. When other brands noticed the trend to make smaller dress watches, most are still testing waters with 38mm, with some not willing to go below 39, Baltic went straight to 36. It copied but didn't copy everything. It still carries its own identity. They really know what's up. Maybe like you said, there are other watches out there with micro-rotors that are as cheap or even cheaper than MR01, but they don't have the other features it has. Same goes for other specific features of the watch. A lot of watches nail one, two or three things. Not many out there ticks as many boxes as this MR01. Personally, it ticked every single box in my list except the brushed finishing on the movement, and I'm personally not too fond of domes. That's pretty much it. I love everything else about this watch and I would expect it to cost upwards of 1000USD, even with that movement and zero history.
Maybe for you, the movement quality and history part were too important to let go. I just think that in terms of design and what we see from the caseback ALONE, it's more than worth it. A lot of Easter Eggs going on in one cheap watch. That's how I would sum it up.
They are homage watches pulling designs from famous vintage pieces so yeah, they are beautiful. Still, if 90% of your value is in the looks that qualifies for a fashion watch
@@deansusec8745 Homage by definition is a new watch that pays tribute to a famous watch by closely resembling many design aspects of the ONE watch. This MR01 take inspirations from a lot of features that are known to attract watch enthusiasts who like AN ENTIRE GENRE of watches. No this is not a homage of anything.
@@harrislam Doesnt it look like a calatrava? numbers and sub seconds?
Jesus you really hate Baltic… I understand what Baltic is from but you just sound so bias…
Hahaha no!! I don't hate them, that's not the point of the video! I just feel there's better value to be had with other brands for the same amount of money. The MR01 is fine and if one likes it, by all means get it, BUT when reviewers/articles claim that it's the best value dress watch for the money in this price segment, that I don't agree with.
Similar budget? Since when it's 50% more expensive similar?
Hi Ben, it's really a one horse race, don't you think? I feel that Stowa customers are justifiably happy with their purchases: I'd be happy to own one! 😀
I think so too, and yet orders are flocking to the Baltic MR01!!! I have seen one selling in HK for over USD2,000 I mean that's INSANE!
@@TOKKANTE There's just no accounting for this, unless it's a type of herd behaviour. A psychologist could be kept busy for years trying to make sense of the watch market right now...!
@@robertlock6041 Hahahaha, that could be a new specialty: WATCH PSYCHOLOGIST! Treating watch addiction, buyer's remorse, group mentality sufferers, need for belonging, etc...
I bought a used Stowa!!
Stowa is my favourite brand. I have a marine 36 (with Romans and sub dial) and the verus that are in my profile pic. So obviously I like Stowa A LOT.
But with that being said it sounds like you haven't had any personal experience with either of these watches? I wouldn't bash on a watch I haven't seen irl but maybe you have. Also Stowa isn't really "in house" tbh. They outsource the movements (obviously) the dial, hands and maybe more.
Also these watches looks completely different, so not a fair comparison imo. And the Stowa is a bit more in price and recently got a price increase. I THINK the Baltic are overrated and overpriced, but I really won't know until I had experience with one. I think there's a reason people like them.
Stowa on the other hand are really underrated. But it's a small brand with only around 25 employees. What I like about them are that they don't pay for advertising etc. That makes them cheaper to buy. For example I heard from people that the Classic Flieger from Stowa has the same if not better quality than IWC that costs 4x as much but IWC spends a lot of money on advertising. And I also like that they're not hyped, I agree with what you said that it's an enthusiast brand. But yeah, not a fair comparison with these two watches imo. Stowa is a great brand with great value but Baltic seems to be ok as well from what I heard.
I like when people take the time to write a detailed comment, you really thought about what you wanted to say. I think I should have made it clearer in the video that the point was not to compare the Baltic with this particular Stowa, but more to sow what else you could get (and in my opinion much better) for the price. But you could swap that for another watch, possibly even a pre-owned NOMOS if you look hard enough (there are some here in HK for the price). I saw the MR01, a friend of mine got it and loves it (and he has Patek too) but for him it's a just a fun little thing he wanted and got, so it's ok. But for someone who doesn't bleed money, if 650 Euros is already significant, then I wanted to show that there are better quality watches around for the price, Stowa or others. I realize Stowa is not in-house either (but still more proven than that Chinese movement), but it's also everything you said about them that also makes me like them more, but maybe only enthusiasts like you and me appreciate that? I get that a lot of people love the LOOK of the MR01 and that's enough for them.
A watch designed in the West and built in China. But we can say that about absolutely every micro-brand.
Yes, but I feel most others don't try to play on the "made in wherever" while Baltic clearly knows the "made in France" has a certain cachet and they are certainly playing on that by saying "assembled and adjusted in France." Technically, they're not wrong! I would just like them to actually make them in France at some point...
@@TOKKANTE I'm sympathetic to your wish, but they'd have to sell their watches for 5x as much if they made them in France. Plus, the whole "Made in..." thing is rather a myth, as we know from the Swiss watch industry.
@@chrishennemeyer7276 Yes, maybe because I'm French, maybe I expect more from them lol.
I bought the numbered edition of the MR01 at the first launch, and I sold it after 3 months. While the watch is beautiful, the quality is ultimately underwhelming. I also didn't really connect with it and bought it mostly not to miss out rather than because I actually wanted it.
And they're very good at creating that FOMO feeling... they're doing now again with the new batch of MR01 available for pre-order... good marketing I guess?
Nice video. But Baltic made the hype to make it only available for a short period of time. We know how that drives prices and demand up (MoonSwatch) maybe comparing it with another Chinese movement watch would be ideal. And maybe comparing it to another Chinese movement watch that it’s limited time and limited offer would be more fair. If there’s another Chinese watch with smooth design language with a nice limited run which is cheaper - then maybe I’ll consider I’ve wasted my money on this Baltic 🤣🤣
Haha, then yes you got me, I can't think of another super specific comparison like this because I'm not even sure there's a Chinese limited run watch with the same movement. Well, Atelier Wen usually releases limited run watches that sell out right away but given that it's actually owned by 2 French guys I think, based in Shenzhen, I don't know if it qualifies as a Chinese brand either....
The mro1 looks like a Parisian girl in a summer dress.....the stowa like something that came out from behind the iron curtain....
hahaha, and which one of those two fantasies turn you on?!...
@@TOKKANTEgood question 🙂 the former please...
😆👍
Baltic now have many MR01's available on their website as the hype has died down now and people are now evaluating the watches based on their value and not just looks. I forsee a discount coming soon on their website as the new stock isnt selling out.
Nice video. I think it should be noted that NH36A (4R for non Sieko) family of movements used in watches can cost up to $550 is also a throwaway movement. I am trying to repair one and based on information I found Seiko just replaces the $30 movement if it needs repair.
And that kinda defeats the purpose of a mechanical movement, doesn't it?! It's understandable, but I'd rather have movements that can be serviced...
On point
Glad we agree, I was bracing for a lot of Baltic fans' hate lol.
While i appreciate value in all my purchases my primary concern is quality.
Of the choice you presented the only logical option is Stowa.
The is nothing made in China that i deem as quality so for me there can be no choice. Stowa wins based on quality, longevity and country of origin manufacture and assembly.
Now if our budget is higher ( yes of course A. Lange & Sohne ...) One would be quite pleased with a Dornbluth & Sohn. which is my next purchase as i find their ability to customize their time pieces for their customers an appealing service.
Thank you Ben for all your research
Ah, Dornblueth yes of course, I also made a video on the brand, but I was looking to compare the Baltic to something in a similar price range. I would even personally opt for the Stowa with the small second subdial (as shown at the end) which makes more sense as a comparison with the Baltic's subdial but that version is slightly more at 1,000 Euros so I picked the base model, which still comes out on top for me by far!
@@TOKKANTE Agreed 100%
That's quite a generalization. China is a massive country, and their manufacturing is amongst the most technologically superior in the world. This is no longer the 1980's.
I think you miss the point of Baltic's popularity. For an entry level watch you look for a good balance between movement, finishing quality/design and price. Baltic has chosen to put a larger focus on finishing while also having an okay movement and very decent price, and for many people this hits the right spot. Stowa is great, but for them the balance is different; it is more skewed towards a solid but standard design and a better movement, in-house as well. This is great, but it caters to a crowd that cares more for the movement than for an interesting design. In the end you compare apples to oranges. Both strike a different balance between design/finishing, movement and price.
Yes, all true, and I just wanted to point out what else you could get for a similar price point and arguably more watch for your money (yes, if you care about movements and history and service etc etc.), after seeing many a post saying that the MR01 was "the best value in its price segment." I think that's what ticked me off, and maybe that didn't come out well enough in the video. I respect people who love Baltic but am not so convinced it's the "best value in its price segment" that's all.
Stowa over Baltic all day long, but I'm not one of the cool kids 😄
Reviewers say this movement had 'Geneva stripes'. No, it has Hong Kong stripes, quite different.
Actually, more like China stripes as the movement itself is from China and not even from HK (another detail that's left a bit vague on Baltic's website).
It’s really simple for me. Ever since I watched the Hodinkee video with the Italian collector that had 3 vintage Patek Calatravas that had sector dials, Breguet numerals, and small seconds, it became my all time favorite watch. I think the MR01 is the only new watch right now aside from the Calatrava that has most of those features and that actually looks beautiful. That is why I love the MR01 and think that most comparisons that people make with it and other watches with “better value” are improper.
Then that's a good reason enough for you to buy it if you actually love it for its design and not because others say it's good value. I actually know someone who owns both a PP AND the MR01!
Don't buy the hype! I purchased the Baltic and despite a nice dial, it felt cheap in the hand and made weird noise when slightly knocked . The rotor was not turning freely and wouldn't charge on a watch winder. The bezel should be brushed since it attracts dirt and fingerprints. Overall a major disappointment
Seriously, the more I think about that Stowa logo, the more I realize that it's quite possibly the most generic-looking logo in all of watchdom.
Yes, for this I totally agree, they should really have kept the old logo at least on the Marine collection since it is vintage inspired! They used to have the old logo and you can still find some pre-owned Marine Original with the old logo. They should do like Moritz Grossmann and let you choose which logo you want on it.
I have a Stowa Marine 36 hand wound, no date, Roman numeral model on order. I can hardly wait. To me, the simpler the watch dial, the better. I went for the Roman numerals over the Arabic as I believe it gives the watch a little more class without affecting its amazing legibility. As for the logo, it seems just like the watch, simple and German-like in its execution, i.e., clean, clear, and concise without any pretentiousness. Note this cleanness is also carried over to the dial which has no, “Made in Germany” marking. Again, very German-like. I also believe Stowa in general punches above its price point and this can’t be said about too many watches these days.
Hey there, for update they brought back the old logo when you buy it new from their website now!
Thank you for the interesting video!
IMHO the Stowa is coping a lot (too much) from the Omega 2292 from the 1940s.
I prefer the original Omega 2292!
They are hard to find in good condition unter 3000€ but I still think that spending 3000€ on genuine Omega 2292 used by the RAF & HS and full of history is better than a 700€ Stowa copy…
That would be true if only the Omega came out first HOWEVER the Stowa came first and was produced starting 1938 (the Omega produced in 1943).... Also, the Omega is a RAF pilot watch while the Stowa was a deck watch used by Captains and other personnel on boats back in the days when they used marine chronometers. Now, I understand that they all use similar aesthetics codes and it's easy to confuse them but in this case, they are really 2 different things for different purposes and the Stowa cannot be accused of copying from the Omega!
Thank You for the educated answer! As in 1938 the Stowa produced a pocket watch and in 1943 Omega produced a wristwatch I still think that person searching for the original wristwatch design will do better with the WW2 Omega.
But I get Your point. It is unfair to call the Stowa a copy as they are using a lot of their own pocket watch design! The Stowa ant the Omega 2292 are very similar looking and IMHO very beautiful!
Thank You for the great work and for the interesting content!
@@_Peter_. Yes indeed, but we can't expect Stowa to reissue a pocket watch now, can we hahaha. Just like Ulysse Nardin which was famous for making the most marine chronometers can't reissue that dial design in their original boxed form. That Omega is great and I agree with you but it's also more than 3x the price of the Stowa, that's HUGE difference for someone considering the Baltic and comparing it to something in the same price range. For someone with 3k to spend though then yes, there are some real historical gems out there!
please be specific as to why you think less of a chinese movement/production
Well, for one thing, the finishing for example. Go check out the latest Bark & Jack video (which he just released so I did not get inspired from him), or the article by Sjx. Quite poorly finished and trying a bit too hard to look high-end maybe. Second, the accuracy or lack thereof, which nobody seems to be bothered by, and that's fine if you don't care about it (I made a video about accuracy), but the Selitta will be more accurate. Third, it's a relatively new/unknown movement that the Chinese may just stop making in 2-3 years for all we know (they're not concerned about brand equity), which could be concerning if you're thinking long-term servicing (if you buy it as a throw away watch then no problem). Also, and that's just my opinion, but I've been living in HK for 18 years now, and I've come to experience the unreliability of many cheap Chinese products that look great and work well for like a year and then bam! they stop working and no one will fix them cause they're so cheap and no one cares. Not saying this will happen here, but it's not exactly inspiring confidence since there's no history to speak of on that movement. I would still buy it I think, maybe for around USD300?
@@TOKKANTE what "accuracy, of lack thereof"?
@@jonabitstream The movement is "regulated" to +20/-20 sec/day, the top grade Selitta is +15/-4 sec/day. As you know it's preferable to run fast than slow, therefore the Selitta is far more accurate than the MR01. Again, not saying everyone cares, but that's a fact.
@@TOKKANTE i didn't know that running fast is preferable to running slow. Where do you get that idea from?
@@jonabitstream Because it's always better to be early than be late! If you're catching a train and your watch is fast, you'll be early, but if your watch is slow, you'll miss your train! I didn't make this up by the way, it's a widely accepted standard. IWC for example guarantees that their watches will ONLY run fast (0/+9 sec/day) and never slow. METAS is also 0/+5 sec/day.
It's not a valid comparison because the watch styles are very different..
I understand, it was not about comparing 2 watches head to head, it was about "what else can you get for the same/similar budget" and you can get more watch if you look past the Baltic hype. You could replace the Stowa with another watch and it would still be valid!
Positive criticism, can you slow down your speech a little, its a struggle to take in and hear all your opinions, keep up the good work brother
Point taken, sorry about this. My friend also said it seems like the video is playing at 1.2x speed. I'm just worried people wouldn't watch the whole thing and it was still 12 mins long, at slower speed it might end up being 20 mins. I need to work on it though!
but they have to make money, right? I don't work for free. I mean, Baltic.
Made in mainland China so it can make it affordable.
Yes, I'm sure if they made it in France, the price would be triple what it is! But I hope that someday, as a French brand, they can manufacture future models in France though.
Baltic and stowa in my opinion are targeting entry level crowd. Today this crowd is more about look than specs. Hence Baltic is perfectly execution on this assumption and optimizing their business. Beverages it is not for me. If I buy I want to have both look and specs hence I have to spend more and maybe work more to get it.
Yes I agree, but I'd say at least Stowa has the real history to back it up and they do offer more specs hence value for the money on top of looks. But I'm the same, once I start researching, I always end up looking at more and more expensive pieces and while researching micro rotors, this week I'm into Chopard LUC 1860. This is a dangerous hobby.
@@TOKKANTE hahaha yes it is very dangerous! Micro brands are fun and I'm very happy they exist since every big brand started at some point as micro brand. Now with new technologies the production line becomes more and more international. Let's see how this will affect them since there are those supply chain issues. Maybe you can make one episode around this topic? How the micro brands are operating?
Find me a stowa w/ micro rotor for this price...
Obviously that does not exist, but the question is: do you really want THIS micro rotor for that price? Or another better movement, albeit without a micro rotor?