Alpha Chronograph.

[padi56]

The reason I bought this watch off flea-bay was mainly for the movement.The movement appeared to be a Venus 175,but looking closer its a Chinese made copy but they bought the tooling rights.The claim of chronometer on the dial of the Alpha must be for marketing,more about that later.And yes it's styling looks a bit like the Rolex Newman Daytona but thats where it ends,it just looks a bit like it, and its not made to deceive in any way. Its a 40mm watch Movement: 17 jewel manual wind chronograph with quite well finished Incabloc protection,running at 21,600 Bph,and the Crystal is good quality Acrylic.over-all weight 140 grams power reserve is 42 hours on a full wind,alla JJ.


Watch case and dial.


Now lets talk about quality, over-all I'm quite impressed with the quality for $65 plus $15 for postage.The dial is very crisp even under a 10x loupe,the fonts are very sharp and crisp.The watch comes on a solid link oyster style bracelet with screwed in links.That is very well finished and even lock-tight on the screws.And the case is well polished to a high mirror finish,and all the brushed work is nice and crisp, all the edges are sharp and clean.

Move,ment

Now the movement is a Column Wheel chronograph, and nicely decorated with blued screws, pearlage and Geneva stripes,(Hong Kong stripes).All the levers have been polished to a high luster and show little signs of any roughness under 15x loupe,plates and bridges seem to be plated.The gears are brass and have a high smooth finish. I would have expected to see a cheap plastic spacer ring holding the movement in place.But I was totally shocked to see the more traditional case clamps used, like on very much higher priced watches.


Movement.


Now off to my watchmaker friend and his timing machine.This will sort the men out from the boys.Well the first position he timed was dial up.The graphs banking was pretty well even, and showing + 5.07 seconds per day. Now this is a good sign, he only ran 100 beats for each run since after 100, the principle of cancelled returns starts to take effect.Next position was logically the dial down position. Notice now that the balance is running very slightly erratic and showing + 8.01 seconds per day .Now crown up, probably the least important position showing + 7.25 seconds daily, and a very even graph.Now the most important position crown down, now in this position gravity has it's greatest effect on the balance wheel.I would expect it to speed up a bit,in this position graph shows + 10.21 seconds daily,with a perfect strait line graph,this is excellent considering price of watch.Overall its running at just over Chronometer spec at + 7.65 seconds daily,with excellent isochronous.So out of the box its been tested and running very close to COSC specs.Now new watches tend to run a bit fast till the oil circulates around all the moving parts.But all the tests say this movement can quite easily be tuned to run well within COSC specs,but for how long,thats the $64000 question.But even my watchmaker friend made a comment that it looks and performs as good as the ETA equivalent.And after a week of wearing has settled down to +3 to +5 seconds daily,very good for a $65 watch.

[Rockrolex]

But where's the battery, Peter? And do the subdials actually work or are they just for show?

Seriously, nice pick up for the price. Not my style because I'm not fond of the Paul Newman look; and it's mechanical - that's two strikes in my book. But enjoy it, mate.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

But where's the battery, Peter? And do the subdials actually work or are they just for show?

Seriously, nice pick up for the price. Not my style because I'm not fond of the Paul Newman look; and it's mechanical - that's two strikes in my book. But enjoy it, mate.

Yes Ed the Chrono fuctions all work crisply,and the reset goes back exactly to the 12 oclock position.My only gripe and I am being really picky,its only a two subdial proper 30 minute Chronograph.Just like the now out of production Venus 175.The subdial at 9 oclock acts for seconds,the one at 3 the 30 minute timer,and the one at 6 just a hour timer,same as the main hands.But for $65 perhaps I am a bit too picky.

[Uncle-AJ]

I think you got a bargin Peter, well done.

[mike]

Outstanding review! I've read several reports that state Alpha gives you a whole lot of watch for the money.

[C.J.]

Congratulations, Peter Great watch and review

[colemanitis]

Sorry, but they look too much like fake Rolex watches to me. The red/blue GMT Alpha cracks me up everytime I see it on eBay.

[JJ Irani]

Excellent value for the price, Padi. Enjoy it to the fullest!

[mailman]

Nice pick up Peter. I had an Alpha for a little over a year and for $42 US, I had no complaints with it.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by colemanitis

Sorry, but they look too much like fake Rolex watches to me. The red/blue GMT Alpha cracks me up everytime I see it on eBay.

Well you could say that of the Rolex Sub.Perhaps is that a homage to Blancpain, which is the original,rotating bezel dive watch.And was in production a full 14 months before the first Rolex Sub.But the Alpha watches are not meant to deceive,there is nothing printed Rolex on dial not even Swiss on dial. So how can they be like fake Rolex,and the Alpha GMT case is 44mm.



Blancpain 50 Fathoms tested in 1952.

[/QUOTE]



But the first 1953-4 Sub is very very similar to the Blancpain 50 Fathoms,and the first Rolex models had plain stick hands,and not the Mercedes hands in picture, these were a little later.

[colemanitis]

I don't care what the dial reads, the rest of the watch screams Folex.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by padi56

But the first 1953-4 Sub is very very similar to the Blancpain 50 Fathoms,and the first Rolex models had plain stick hands,and not the Mercedes hands in picture, these were a little later.

[/QUOTE]

The ball was on the bottom of the second hand also, wasn't it master?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by mailman

The ball was on the bottom of the second hand also, wasn't it master?

Correct Paulie but only for a short time.

[padi56]

Just a update on the Alpha its running a constant +3 daily quite remarkable for this priced watch.Have just won another on fleabay for $77 this time, but a black dial version for my grandson.

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by padi56

Just a update on the Alpha its running a constant +9 daily quite remarkable for this priced watch.Have just won another on fleabay for $77 this time, but a black dial version for my grandson.

That's great, Peter It's a great looking watch, I'm sure he'll love it

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by padi56

Just a update on the Alpha its running a constant +9 daily quite remarkable for this priced watch.Have just won another on fleabay for $77 this time, but a black dial version for my grandson.

Congratulations, Peter. Post some pics when it gets in.

[mailman]

That's good time for the watch. I hope your grandson appreciates it when it gets in. Please post some pics of it when it arrives.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by mailman

That's good time for the watch. I hope your grandson appreciates it when it gets in. Please post some pics of it when it arrives.

And would agree its proved to be a accurate movement by the consistent timekeeping, which is the most important consistency.But for how long well thats in the land of the gods.Just a update the Alpha is now running well inside COSC standards fantastic for a $65 watch.Been wearing it almost daily since bought,thought there was a blemish on acrylic crystal .Tried to remove it with Polywatch,but guess what.I had not removed the plastic protection sticker that was on the crystal.

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by padi56

And would agree its proved to be a accurate movement by the consistent timekeeping, which is the most important consistency.But for how long well thats in the land of the gods.Just a update the Alpha is now running well inside COSC standards fantastic for a $65 watch.Been wearing it almost daily since bought,thought there was a blemish on acrylic crystal .Tried to remove it with Polywatch,but guess what.I had not removed the plastic protection sticker that was on the crystal.

Even the protective covering help up well

[amanda]

Their other models do resemble the Rolex quite alot too.... air king or what?




And this one is interesting too - http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPHA-REVERSO-2-...QQcmdZViewItem

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by amanda

Their other models do resemble the Rolex quite alot too.... air king or what?




And this one is interesting too - http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPHA-REVERSO-2-...QQcmdZViewItem

What!!!!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Amanda

Their other models do resemble the Rolex quite alot too.... air king or what?

Well Amanda perhaps very loosely resembles the explorer,with the Arabic's,but so do many other brands out there..The most important thing they are portraying themselves as a Alpha,and not a folex.

[mikey]

I recently purchased this watch and the review was excellent. I purchased the same watch and its incredible. The manual winding correlates to a manual transmission of a sportscar. This watch is accurate timekeeper and finely tuned!

[Hellcat65]

Wow...some really mixed feelings here about this watch. I agree with padi though they are portraying themselves as "Alpha" not Rolex. Ive been eyeing them up myself and contemplating one for quite sometime, thanks to Padi Im gonna go ahead and get myself one!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Hellcat65

Wow...some really mixed feelings here about this watch. I agree with padi though they are portraying themselves as "Alpha" not Rolex. Ive been eyeing them up myself and contemplating one for quite sometime, thanks to Padi Im gonna go ahead and get myself one!

Myself have not got any promlems with homage watches all brands.Fakes I hate full stop,but the Alpha is a fine watch in its own right,and recommend by myself.

[kingblackbolt]

Paid,
Can I ask your opinion on this Alpha?:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MakeTrack=true

Why is it called the Paul Newman watch? Seems like a good deal and I don't even mnd the hand winding, it reminds me of my Speedmaster!
Thanx,
Ren

[padi56]

Originally Posted by kingblackbolt

Paid,
Can I ask your opinion on this Alpha?:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MakeTrack=true

Why is it called the Paul Newman watch? Seems like a good deal and I don't even mnd the hand winding, it reminds me of my Speedmaster!
Thanx,
Ren

Well it does look a bit like what the call the Paul Newman dialled Daytona.Now I have both the black dial and the white dial.Bought of same seller as your link a 100% good guy,now a little tip if you say come second in auction.He will sent you a message via Ebay if you want to buy at your bid price.I got both mine like this,and the Sharkman the same.From the time I payed my money via Paypal took 9 days to arrive to the UK.The movement are a copy of the old Venus 175, 17 jewel M/wind VPH 21600 both mine are running fine and keeping excellent time.

[BruceS]

I just picked up the white dial version Padi. My winning bid was a bit more though. Cost me a whole $90

[padi56]

Originally Posted by BruceS

I just picked up the white dial version Padi. My winning bid was a bit more though. Cost me a whole $90

Well Bruce swings and rounabouts,I was lucky both mine I was second highest bidder $85 and $77 including the shipping fee.Myself prefer the white dial over black but for the money cannot fault them.Dont forget to remove the bezel and crystal protective plastic.Not like me try and remove a mark with polywatch from crystal only to find out it was on the protective plastic sticker what a dipstick.

[BruceS]

Dont forget to remove the bezel and crystal protective plastic.Not like me try and remove a mark with polywatch from crystal only to find out it was on the protective plastic sticker what a dipstick.

RFLMAO I've almost done that, but never gone as far as the polywatch