After [mention]ManOnTime[/mention] ordered his Pierre Paulin Mechanical Chrono, I used the same code to purchase a Red Star Retro Mechanical watch from Merkur for $59. Or more specifically, the Red Army First Chines Watch Homage Handwind Mechanical Retro Dress Watch. I placed the order last Tuesday and FedEx dropped off the box this morning.
This unboxing was also first shared on the MoT Discord #watch-talk channel.
Link to the watch from Merkur:
https://www.merkurwatch.com/Red-Army-Fi ... 45879.html
Shipped in a plain cardboard box in a FedEx mailer:
Inside the item was wrapped in bubblewrap and securely sealed:
From there we have a kind of hard plastic case:
More bubblewrap protecting the watch:
No warranty card, but a general contact card for Merkur and a way to make $ by posting about the watch on WUS:
Here's the watch...finally:
Nice convex dial and applied indices:
Obligatory wrist shot:
The expansion bracelet didn't feel cheap, but it was too big and an expansion bracelet, so it had to go:
Caseback and movement pic:
So for now, I've got it on a leather strap that I had picked up for my Ball. Good match in my opinion:
Overall impressions:
The good:
- Great price at $59 with discount code and quick FedEx shipping from Beijing
- Well packed and protected
- Nice weight to the watch head
- Aesthetics of the 1963 chrono, but a three hander
- Thick, domed mineral crystal
The not so great:
- Large expansion bracelet
- Small crown and difficult to wind
- Non-hacking movement
- Mineral crystal instead of an acrylic or sapphire
- No lume
- A tad too much space between dial and inside bezel.
Worth it?
YUP.
Worth it for $109. Even more worth it for $59.
UNBOXING: Merkur - Red Army First Chinese Watch Homage Handwind Mechanical Retro Dress Watch
UNBOXING: Merkur - Red Army First Chinese Watch Homage Handwind Mechanical Retro Dress Watch
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Far and wide I will find 'em and I ride 'em
Bricks and mortar get my licks just for kicks
AD or authorized I don't analyze
Retail, wholesale never fail
Online or offline, I find I don't redefine
Too big to fail or yard sale they all hale
Run or hide just for fun deals I find
Far and wide I will find 'em and I ride 'em
Bricks and mortar get my licks just for kicks
AD or authorized I don't analyze
Retail, wholesale never fail
Online or offline, I find I don't redefine
Too big to fail or yard sale they all hale
Run or hide just for fun deals I find
- Landed_Alien
- MoT Member
- Posts: 368
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 2:53 pm
- Location: CA
Re: UNBOXING: Merkur - Red Army First Chines Watch Homage Handwind Mechanical Retro Dress Watch
Just an FYI for those considering, I was about to break last night and order this but they're now charging an additional $20 for the fedex delivery (only shipping option to the US). The "watchmaniac" coupon still works, so the watch is still only $59, but $79 to get it in your hands.
I know, it's only $20 and that's fair for quick international shipping considering the watch is only $59, but it's caused me to pause again.
I know, it's only $20 and that's fair for quick international shipping considering the watch is only $59, but it's caused me to pause again.
Re: UNBOXING: Merkur - Red Army First Chines Watch Homage Handwind Mechanical Retro Dress Watch
I just ordered and there was $10 China post option as well. I don’t know how long that is going is to take, but I don’t need that watch immediately so I went with $10 option. There was $3.20 insurance as well. So total was $83.20 out of doorLanded_Alien wrote:Just an FYI for those considering, I was about to break last night and order this but they're now charging an additional $20 for the fedex delivery (only shipping option to the US). The "watchmaniac" coupon still works, so the watch is still only $59, but $79 to get it in your hands.
I know, it's only $20 and that's fair for quick international shipping considering the watch is only $59, but it's caused me to pause again.
Re: UNBOXING: Merkur - Red Army First Chines Watch Homage Handwind Mechanical Retro Dress Watch
Interesting to hear your experience with the China post option.bobusa wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 4:43 pmI just ordered and there was $10 China post option as well. I don’t know how long that is going is to take, but I don’t need that watch immediately so I went with $10 option. There was $3.20 insurance as well. So total was $83.20 out of doorLanded_Alien wrote:Just an FYI for those considering, I was about to break last night and order this but they're now charging an additional $20 for the fedex delivery (only shipping option to the US). The "watchmaniac" coupon still works, so the watch is still only $59, but $79 to get it in your hands.
I know, it's only $20 and that's fair for quick international shipping considering the watch is only $59, but it's caused me to pause again.
Let us know how long that takes to get to you for comparison.
Click Icon To Contact Me
Far and wide I will find 'em and I ride 'em
Bricks and mortar get my licks just for kicks
AD or authorized I don't analyze
Retail, wholesale never fail
Online or offline, I find I don't redefine
Too big to fail or yard sale they all hale
Run or hide just for fun deals I find
Far and wide I will find 'em and I ride 'em
Bricks and mortar get my licks just for kicks
AD or authorized I don't analyze
Retail, wholesale never fail
Online or offline, I find I don't redefine
Too big to fail or yard sale they all hale
Run or hide just for fun deals I find
Re: UNBOXING: Merkur - Red Army First Chinese Watch Homage Handwind Mechanical Retro Dress Watch
Will do John.TheJohnP wrote:Interesting to hear your experience with the China post option.bobusa wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 4:43 pmI just ordered and there was $10 China post option as well. I don’t know how long that is going is to take, but I don’t need that watch immediately so I went with $10 option. There was $3.20 insurance as well. So total was $83.20 out of doorLanded_Alien wrote:Just an FYI for those considering, I was about to break last night and order this but they're now charging an additional $20 for the fedex delivery (only shipping option to the US). The "watchmaniac" coupon still works, so the watch is still only $59, but $79 to get it in your hands.
I know, it's only $20 and that's fair for quick international shipping considering the watch is only $59, but it's caused me to pause again.
Let us know how long that takes to get to you for comparison.
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- Landed_Alien
- MoT Member
- Posts: 368
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 2:53 pm
- Location: CA
Re: UNBOXING: Merkur - Red Army First Chinese Watch Homage Handwind Mechanical Retro Dress Watch
I'm just wondering if your watch landed [mention]bobusa[/mention]? That'll be about 6 weeks. How are you finding it?