PerpetuaL Watches Watch Reviews - 12&60 https://12and60.com/watch-reviews/brands/perpetual/ Watch Reviews & Blog Wed, 13 Sep 2023 11:00:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 224535848 PerpetuaL Watch C-08 mechanical chronograph review https://12and60.com/perpetual-watch-c-08-mechanical-chronograph-review/ https://12and60.com/perpetual-watch-c-08-mechanical-chronograph-review/#comments Wed, 13 Sep 2023 11:00:24 +0000 https://12and60.com/?p=41118 PerpetuaL Watches has earned a well-deserved reputation for delivering exceptional timepieces that offer unbeatable value for money. As a longtime fan of their offerings, I have consistently recommended PerpetuaL Watches...

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PerpetuaL Watches has earned a well-deserved reputation for delivering exceptional timepieces that offer unbeatable value for money. As a longtime fan of their offerings, I have consistently recommended PerpetuaL Watches to anyone seeking an affordable yet beautifully crafted timepiece. Today, we delve into the PerpetuaL Chronograph C-08 to see if it lives up to the brand’s stellar track record.

Design and Dial

The PerpetuaL Chronograph C-08 immediately catches the eye with its deep blue dial adorned with a mesmerizing waffle texture. This intricate pattern adds a touch of uniqueness and sophistication to the watch, setting it apart from the crowd. The dial is further elevated by steel applied Roman numeral hour markers and Breguet-style steel hands, both exuding a timeless elegance.

At 3 o’clock, a 30-minute register stands ready to record elapsed time, while a small running seconds hand resides at 9 o’clock, maintaining perfect balance on the dial. One of the most striking design features of the C-08 is the pointer date indicator positioned beneath the 12 o’clock marker—a departure from the ordinary and a testament to PerpetuaL’s commitment to innovative design.

Adding to the watch’s charm, a moonphase indicator graces the 6 o’clock position, imparting a touch of celestial beauty to the ensemble. The overall design is elegant and classy, with the deep blue dial beautifully offset by the polished indices and hands.

Case and Strap

The C-08 features a sensible 41mm diameter case with a thickness of 13mm, making it an excellent choice for a dress watch. The case is fully polished and impeccably finished, showcasing PerpetuaL’s dedication to craftsmanship.

The strap lugs, measuring 20mm in width, seamlessly integrate with the case and allow for easy strap changes. The included deep oak brown leather strap is a highlight in itself—thick and of high quality, with sturdy stitching that signifies its craftsmanship. The standard tang buckle is highly polished to match the case, with the PerpetuaL logo discreetly engraved in the center of the top bar.

Screw-in strap pins with large feature screw heads on either side of the lugs ensure a secure fit and add a touch of robustness to the watch. With a weight of 93g, the C-08 exudes a sense of quality that’s instantly noticeable when worn.

Functionality and Features

The PerpetuaL Chronograph C-08 boasts a respectable 30 meters of water resistance, suitable for daily wear and protection against unexpected splashes. Its detailed push-pull onion-shaped crown, complete with the brand’s logo engraved at the end, is a delightful touch that demonstrates PerpetuaL’s commitment to detail.

The chronograph pushers are precise and reliable, allowing for precise timing without any fuss. An anti-reflective coating on the domed sapphire crystal provides excellent visibility and reduces glare, ensuring that the dial remains easy to read in various lighting conditions.

Behind the transparent caseback, the ST1908 movement reveals its intricate beauty. This hand-wound mechanical chronograph movement may garner mixed reviews for its accuracy and reliability. However, PerpetuaL Watches stands by its performance. Founder Alex reassures customers that, when properly checked, adjusted, and maintained, the ST1908 can be highly performant and durable. This movement features a manual-winding mechanism, a 2-register chronograph with a column wheel, operates at 21,600 beats per hour (BPH), boasts 22 jewels, and offers a generous 48-hour power reserve. While it may not be the most renowned caliber, its beauty and functionality shine through when set up correctly.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the PerpetuaL Chronograph C-08 upholds the brand’s tradition of delivering sensational build quality and meticulous attention to detail, all while remaining incredibly affordable. Concerns regarding the ST1908 movement may arise, but in my experience, I have never encountered any issues. Furthermore, PerpetuaL’s rigorous testing ensures that each watch performs at its best.

The C-08 offers a remarkable combination of elegance, functionality, and affordability. With its innovative design features, exquisite craftsmanship, and transparent caseback showcasing the ST1908 movement, this timepiece is a standout in its category. If you are seeking a mechanical chronograph that doesn’t break the bank, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option than the PerpetuaL Chronograph C-08.

PerpetuaL Watches continues to prove that luxury and affordability can coexist in the world of horology, and the C-08 is yet another testament to their dedication to providing exceptional watches for watch enthusiasts of all backgrounds.

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PerpetuaL Watch SC-03 Watch Review https://12and60.com/perpetual-watch-sc-03-watch-review/ https://12and60.com/perpetual-watch-sc-03-watch-review/#comments Mon, 22 Jul 2019 06:41:04 +0000 https://12and60.com/?p=31112 I have been a fan of PerpetuaL Watches since 2013. Every watch I’ve handled of theirs always proves to be exceptional value for money and if anyone ever asks for...

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I have been a fan of PerpetuaL Watches since 2013. Every watch I’ve handled of theirs always proves to be exceptional value for money and if anyone ever asks for a recommendation for an affordable watch brand to check out they’re one of the first I suggest.

Alex, the brands’ owner, is a refreshingly honest guy to talk to and is the main point of contact for the company. They make rather limited quantities of each model, which sell out pretty fast when they do become available.

It’s been a little while since I reviewed a watch by PerpetuaL, so I was very excited to get my hands on the brand new SC-03 (SC stands for Simple Classic). Just considering the specs alone tell you this is going to be good: enamel dial, thermally blued hands (not painted or chemical which is the norm), sapphire crystal and an ST1701 mechanical movement; all for $180 seems pretty insane.

Let’s check it out.

The specs

  • Dimensions: 40mm diameter x 12mm height x 48mm lug to lug
  • Weight: 84g
  • Water resistance rating: 3ATM / 30m
  • Movement: Seagull ST1701
  • Accuracy: +2.0 sec/day
  • Lug width: 20mm
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Price: $180 / ~£140
  • Buy here: http://www.perpetual-watch.com/SC.html

The video review

The case

The case of the SC-03 is fully polished to a high degree. It looks fantastic, especially with the rounded shape of the case providing an array of reflections – just be careful of the inevitable scratches that come along with a polished case.

I’ll admit, the 40mm diameter is larger than I was expecting (I was probably thinking more like 38mm in size), but in all honesty, it doesn’t wear that large due to the flowering case. When you look at the watch from the bottom lug, you can see it’s bulbous and larger at the top; so even though it’s already a comfortable size at 40mm, it feels smaller on the wrist due to a smaller surface area being in contact with your wrist.

The wide polished bezel may not be for everyone; I know I would have preferred a slightly thinner, more elegant bezel visually (if I was being picky). However, despite this, I do like the ridge which breaks it up and provides different angles of reflections.

The push-pull onion crown provides great grip and is easy to use. It’s the ideal size and features the PerpetuaL logo neatly and deeply engraved on the end.

The lugs are thin and rather traditional in design, especially with the large screw heads either side. Alex explains that he does nothing for decorative purposes; and the screws are real, keeping the strap pin in place. Another thing that I wasn’t expecting or see very often for $180.

The caseback features an exhibition window, which showcases the movement well. Various details and specifics are lightly engraved around it. Interestingly, you can also see how the movement is kept in position, aka the “movement holder”. On cheaper watches, these tend to be plastic and can be a bit unsightly. However, as another example of the quality of the watches by PerpetuaL, only metal holders are used.

The dial

The dial material on the SC-03 is enamel. Similar to ceramic, it possesses a beautiful dull, reflective nature to it making the entire watch look luxurious. The colour isn’t a stark, sterile white – but rather a gentle, warm and inviting one; which oozes class and elegance.

The fact that the SC-03 features heat-treated steel hands is quite remarkable for a watch costing $180. If you ever see blue hands on a cheaper watch, they’re most definitely either painted or chemically blued – which you’d expect to be honest, as it’s the cheaper way. First, the hands need to be constructed of steel, and then they’re heated to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Heated hands provide a deeper, richer blue which a much more luxurious. As the entire piece of steel is blue through-and-through, rather than just the surface, it appears so much more ingrained within the metal.

The shape of the hands are also more traditional: the hour hand is a spade shape, whilst the minute hand nips in at the middle, to make it look as if it’s been twisted. Very elegant, and the perfect length too.

The subdial at 6 is for the running seconds hand, which is ever so slightly indented into the dial. The seconds track is similarly designed to the main track and is neatly designed and sized.

The printwork is all crisp and fine, the black creating a striking contrast against the white enamel. The style of it is all rather conventional (aka in the style or fashion of a vintage piece, think 20s – 40s era). The font chosen for the numerals are particularly vintage-inspired and stand out; an Art Deco style serif. The double-track around the edge has two rings to it: it’s busy in a classic way which is interesting to the eye and looks the part.

The strap

It’s always the same with PerpetuaL Watches – the leather straps are lovely quality for the money. Usually, I’d find the straps on a watch under $200 / £150 to be nothing too special, but here we have lovely soft, thick leather that’s very comfortable to wear. It’s high enough quality for you not to have to replace it until it wears out.

The finish is a dull, matte black, which I prefer to a patent finish and think it works particularly well here. A patent strap would end up making the entire watch far too blingy when alongside a fully polished case and a reflective dial. The contrasting white stitching is thick, sturdy, and compliments the dial.

The butterfly clasp is fully polished and is pretty much the same as you see everywhere. However, I’m particularly impressed by the detailing on the top bar. Yes it’s polished, so it’ll pick up some scratches easily and quickly, but the logo and name are deeply engraved and accurately done so.

The movement

The Seagull ST1701 movement powers the PerpetuaL Watch SC-03. Whilst Seagull movements are not quite as highly regarded as Miyotas, I’ve always found them to be perfectly suitable.

The key feature of this movement is the running seconds subdial at 6, and other specs include hand and automatic winding capabilities, a beat rate of 21.6k bph (6 ticks per second). It does not have a hacking second, and if you’re concerned that it doesn’t run at the smoother 28.8k bph rate, then don’t be; the small hand makes it appear a lot smoother.

It’s nice to see that there is a measure of customisation to the movement, with a small sticker added to the rotor. It’s not much, and the movement isn’t the best looking in the world, but at least it’s something.

Another thing to note is that every watch that is sent out is regulated. This movement certainly has been; as it’s coming in at a rather insane +2.0 seconds a day.

Final comments

Specs-wise, there’s nothing you can knock here. The PerpetuaL Watch SC-03 is a fantastic example of impressive watchmaking at an affordable budget. There’s a reason why they’re always the first I recommend for an affordable watch, and this watch has reaffirmed my thoughts towards the brand.

When you consider what you get: enamel dial, thermally blued hands, sapphire crystal, ST1701 mechanical movement – all for a simply ridiculous $180.

Visually, it may not be for everyone. From a personal perspective, it’s taken some getting used to the wide bezel, plus the general theme is quite vintage which may not be to everyone’s taste. However you feel towards how the watch looks, it doesn’t stop the fact that it’s a staggering watch for the money.

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Perpetual R-01 Regulator Watch Review https://12and60.com/perpetual-r-01-regulator-watch-review/ https://12and60.com/perpetual-r-01-regulator-watch-review/#comments Wed, 29 Jan 2014 12:51:58 +0000 https://12and60.com/?p=1618 In our previous review of the Perpetual PR-02 power reserve, we explained the set up of the watch company Perpetual Watch. They are based in Hong Kong, and are made...

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In our previous review of the Perpetual PR-02 power reserve, we explained the set up of the watch company Perpetual Watch.

They are based in Hong Kong, and are made up of only 4 people. They make just 100 watches a month, but due to the low output they can guarantee optimum quality control.

We’ll be looking at the Perpetual R-01, which means that it is their Regulator model, with a white face (02 means a black face). This is one of their most popular watches, and due to this I had to wait a number of months to get my hands on one. Now I have it, I can see why it is constantly sold out.

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Let’s see why the Perpetual R-01 is such a well selling model and if it’s good value for a mere $150.

Perpetual R-01 Regulator Watch Review

The case

The case of the R-01 is 41mm wide, and is all polished 316L stainless steel. It is a very distinctive rounded “bubble” shape. The top is larger than the bottom, and you can really see this when you look at the watch side on. This is a nice change from the usual plain cylindrical cases you see so often.

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The R-01 is 12mm thick so is reasonably sized, especially for a dress watch. Yet, it still fits under a cuff snugly, and in fact the extra depth increases the wrist presence.

Throughout the whole case, the machining is impeccable. The polished finish is spotless and there are no machining or tool marks to be seen. Very impressive for the price.

The case is of 3 piece construction – that’s is of the bezel, main body and case back. They all match up and join together flawlessly.
The lugs have a very rounded down turn and feature screw-in pins – which do look unusual, but pleasant too. It means changing the straps will be easy and will stop any scratching to the polished lugs trying to get the pins out!

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The push-pull crown is a large onion shape, with deep grip which is uniform and well machined. There is no sharp edges on the crown, it is very comfortable In the hand when you are using it. The Perpetual logo is deeply engraved in the end, which is another nice touch which you wouldn’t normally expect with a watch this price.

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The R-01 does have a thick bezel – maybe a bit too thick according to my personal taste. I think that it would look a lot classier if it had a very thin bezel, but it still looks great nonetheless.

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There is a lovely domed sapphire crystal sitting on top. This crystal follows the curve and lines of the case immensely well. I am very very surprised by the accuracy of the fluidity of the case and crystal and the seamless feeling they provide. They are joined together perfectly.

There is a single layer of anti-reflective coating on the underside, which is reasonably effective. You don’t notice it that much with a white face anyway, but you can tell it’s there.

The screw in exhibition case back features a mineral crystal in the centre to display the movement. The crystal is the same size as the movement so you get the whole view of the rotor. It has the watch details lightly laser etched surrounding the crystal. The etching could be deeper, but that’s just being picky. The caseback, like the bezel, provides a graceful finish to the flow of the case.

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The dial

In my opinion, the dial is the main feature of this watch. It’s not very often that you come across a regulator, let alone at this price. A regulator is when a watch has a separate dial and hand for hours, minutes and seconds. In the R-01’s instance, the hour hand is in the top subdial, the minutes is situated in the centre and the running seconds is located in the bottom subdial.

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The hands are all blue steel, and are all different designs. The blues effect is only really visible when the light hits the hand right – usually it get look black. So it’s a nice dash of colour when you do see it. The main minute hand is twisted which is beautiful and so classy. The top has a large base and a wide onion point. The running seconds is a little more elegant, with a thin, long diamond shaped tip and counter balance with a circle on the end.

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Personally, I am a real sucker for textured dials. And the R-01 does not disappoint. The appearance and completely of the dial is very impressive for this price, especially being that it is so immaculately done.

It’s hard to explain exactly what’s going on with the dial, but I’ll do my best. It’s also important to note that pictures do not do it justice – you need to see this in the flesh to really be able to appreciate it.

On the outer rim is a minute track, with concentric circles within. The printing is flawless and subtle. Numbers every five minutes and between them is a marker for each minute. The serif font chosen is very classy, and suits the watch well.

The subdials have an outer rim with the markings and numerals within, which also feature a concentric circular pattern. Within the subdials is a very light cross-hatched/square/checkered texture. Hard to explain, but check out the pictures to see what I mean. The top subdial is the hour hand, and the printing is in roman numerals – which emphasises the classy appearance.

Then the rest of the dial has a beautiful sweeping and looping texture, with lines going both directions. I am so deeply impressed by this I honestly don’t know how they can do this at $150. I love it!

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The Perpetual logo is situated at 3, and “regulator” is at 9. Both of these printed items are positioned on a raised flat table so they can be seen properly and are printed on well.

A very elegant dial, Perpetual have done a good job of making it very intricate and well designed.

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The strap

With all Perpetuals, you have the choice of 3 colours for your strap – black, dark brown or light brown. I went for black on the Regulator R-01 as I thought it would compliment the dial perfectly. And I was right! The contrast between the strap and the watch makes the dial really stand out – and enhances the classy looks.

It is 20mm wide, and it is made of calfskin leather – which is beautifully soft. It feels very high quality leather, not the usual rubbish “leather” strap you’d usually find on an affordable watch. It has black stitching on the top, which is white on the underside of the strap. So it’s actually white stitching which is painted black on the topside. It also has a very well made butterfly clasp which is all polished stainless steel. It clicks together with a very satisfying and reassuring click. It feels very secure, which is always good for the clasp of a watch. You release the clasp by pressing the buttons on either side of it, which hook onto small loops on the underside when it is closed. The top of the clasp is also polished, which suits the rest of the watch perfectly. It has the Perpetual logo deeply etched into it. The quality is evident and nice to see.

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The movement

The movement powering the R-01 is the Sea-Gull ST1711, also known as the TY2708. It is automatic, houses 20 jewels, and has a 42 hour power reserve.

You know what you’re getting with Sea-Gull: a dependable workhorse of a movement, whilst still being affordable. This is why so many affordable brands are choosing either Sea-Gull or Miyota. The movement has the usual Chinese cotes de Geneve finishing (Geneva waves), which are light but make the movement look more pleasant to the eye.

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Unfortunately you can see the plastic movement holder in the far corner of the case through the exhibition back, but only if you look hard enough!

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When winding, the movement can feel a little scratchy in the hand, but nothing to worry about. It feels solid and dependable in the hand when you change the time. Accuracy wise, the movement is very accurate – this is because Perpetual regulate all their watches to +/- 15 seconds a day before sending them out. The fact that they go to this much trouble on every watch is amazing – especially on watches that only cost $150!

It’s nice to see that Perpetual have gone into the extra effort of adding their logo to the rotor too. Not something you would usually see with a watch this price.

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Final comments

This is the third Perpetual Watch I have had the pleasure of reviewing. As was the case with the C-01 chronograph and the PR-02 power reserve, the R-01 regulator is a hell if a watch for the money.

I just love the whole ethos of the company, who are determined to provide the customer with the best watch for the least amount of money. This fits in perfectly with what Watch It All About is about too, hence the reason why we like them so much.

My honest conclusion? There is literally no reason why you should not buy this watch if you are after a classy dress timepiece. The quality and specs are punching way above their weight for $150.

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Perpetual PR-02 Power Reserve Watch Review https://12and60.com/perpetual-pr-02-power-reserve-watch-review/ https://12and60.com/perpetual-pr-02-power-reserve-watch-review/#comments Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:18:47 +0000 https://12and60.com/?p=1554 The main aim of Watch It All About is to find brands which offer the best quality and high spec’d watches for the least money. I’ll be honest, I strongly...

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The main aim of Watch It All About is to find brands which offer the best quality and high spec’d watches for the least money. I’ll be honest, I strongly feel that Perpetual Watch have hit the nail right on the head.

A small outfit based in Hong Kong of only 4 people led by a very pleasant man named Alex, Perpetual offer some of the best value watches I’ve ever bought. The only problem is that they only make 100 watches a month, so there’s usually a wait to get one.

All watches have sapphire crystals, Sea-Gull movements, 2 year warrantee, beautiful calfskin leather straps and an additional silicon strap, accuracy to +/- 15 seconds a day, and free 3 day EMS speed post worldwide delivery. Now that’s a lot of good things for any watch manufacturer to deliver. Now think that their watches start at just $150!  Trying to think how they manage it? Me too. Don’t ask questions though, do what I did and just buy one.

This review is looking at the PR-02. The PR stands for power reserve, as it has the addition of that complication, and the number represents the dial colour. 01 is white, 02 is black.

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Let’s take a closer look to see if it’s just too good to be true.

Perpetual PR-02 Watch Review

The case

The 316L stainless steel case is 41mm in diameter and 12mm thick. It looks smaller than that though on the wrist thanks to the thin bezel – which is actually thinner in the flesh than it looks in pictures.

The actual construction of the case is rather simple, and is elegantly designed. It is very well machined.

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The finishing of the case is mostly brushed stainless steel, bar the bezel  and a thin outer rim of the caseback which are polished. All the finishing is very high quality, the polished being spotless and mirror-like, and the brushed being uniform without any out of place markings.

There is a neat button on the side of the case positioned at 2 to advance the date. It is very small, smaller than the tip of a ball point pen – but that’s ok, as you are provided with a tool to use. A nice touch which helps you appreciate the time and effort that is put into these watches, even though they are so cheap.

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The top section of the case is the bezel, which has an interesting indentation in the centre, breaking up the width if it well.

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The exhibition caseback has a mineral crystal, with the watch details lightly etched surrounding it. These could be a little deeper, but it really doesn’t bother me at all.

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The push-pull crown has very a thick and deep toothing as grip, which again attests to the high quality machining for the price. It features the logo embossed on the end, which is deep and again is a pleasant surprise.

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The lugs are well rounded at the end of the case and nicely shaped too, offering a very comfortable wear which fits the wrist well.

Another thing that is staggering for the price is that every Perpetual Watch features a sapphire crystal on the front. This really impresses me, as it is incredibly clear and perfectly cut too – the high quality is evident. A new option they now offer for their black dialled watches is double sided anti-reflective coating. This is very unusual for affordable watches. Usually you’d just have the choice of it on the underside, if at all. For my watch, I decided to go for it. And you can really tell the difference. The clarity is so so good – better than watches many times the price. However, there is a draw back. It’s not quite as high quality in terms if durability. I’ve been wearing it a lot of course, but I can see it very very slightly rubbing off around the edges on the top side if the crystal. I know that this will really annoy some. So I can only really recommend the double sided anti-reflective coating if you plan to not wear the PR-02 too often. I know Alex is currently working hard to improve the durability, so hopefully soon it’ll become harder wearing.

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So the case has really impressed me for the price – it is perfect machined, and is very surprising quality – you’d expect some marks or sharp corners here and there but it is flawless and looks and feels great.

 

The dial

The dial is very well designed and beautifully balanced to include the special feature of the power reserve indicator.

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It is a dark charcoaly matt black, which makes the watch look very classy.

One thing that sets it apart in terms of looks is the PR-02’s unusual dial placement. You have the power reserve at 11, date (in dial form rather than window) at 2, and small seconds at 6. Although it may seem like a lot’s going on, Perpetual have done a good job designing the dial and the subdials in a subtle way. You’d barely even notice they’re there.

The dial also has very gentle layering to it, which is a nice touch. There is an outer ring which is the width of the hour markers, which then steps down into the centre of the dial. The date and seconds subdials have a indented outer ring with the numbers in, and the power reserve indicator (which is a rounded triangle shape) is all in a deeper level.

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All three subdials have same hand style – they’re long and very elegant, with a round base and a long thin point.

The big hands (hours and minutes) have a skeletonised centre, and a lumed triangle at the tip. I think these work well as the width of the hands are quite large, resulting in good visibility. But the fact that they are skeletonised means they don’t overpower the rest of the dial, and in fact add to the classy looks.

The lume strength is average, but lume is not completely necessary with a dress watch.

The lumed hand tips aren’t the only helping of lume on the PR-02 though. Within the minute track there are round lume dots on a stainless steel base at every hour. The precision and attention to detail on these are astounding for the price.

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The hour markers are perfectly applied 3D stainless steel batons. These are very well machined, there is no sign of any marking on them and the polished finish is spotless. When the light hits the dial just right, these hour markers as well as the polished hands all catch it in a beautiful way.

The Perpetual logo is positioned at 9 and is well suited for this style of watch. It has the word Perpetual with a capital P and L, and above that it has an icon of a column-wheel, the part which disengages the chronograph function from the rest of the movement when not in use. I think it’s a decent logo to have for a watch manufacturer.

All printing on the dial is again flawless, the overall execution of the watch is so impressive. Perpetual excel in the usual places where affordable watches fall.

All in all, the dial is extremely well designed and also well refined. The attention to detail and all the small bits you wouldn’t expect at this price help to demonstrate how great value this watch is.

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The movement

The PR-02 is powered by the Sea-Gull ST 1780, which is also known as the TY2714. It is a mechanical automatic movement, and runs at 21.6k bph (6 ticks per second), but due to the small seconds hand it looks smoother than that.

It houses 28 jewels and boasts a 42 hour power reserve. With Sea-Gull, you know you’re getting a well made workhorse movement, which will do you very well and serve you for a good amount of time before needing any maintenance.

Due to the hard working nature of the movement, it’s not the most beautiful, but Perpetual have done their best with it by fitting a their logo on the rotor. Although it looks as if it’s only a stick-on logo, it’s another nice touch which would usually be overlooked by other affordable watch brands to save money.

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In my time of having it, it has proved to be a reliable timekeeper. This is because every watch Perpetual send out is regulated to +/- 15 seconds a day. Another pleasant surprise.

 

The strap

With every Perpetual, you get a choice of colour strap – you can choose from black, dark brown or light brown. I decided to go for the dark brown strap on the PR-02, and I’m very pleased that I did. The colour is a beautiful dark brown which accompanies the charcoal black dial beautifully. It also features high quality white stitching around the outer edge which is a refreshing colour contrast. The strap is 20mm in width so a reasonable and comfortable width.

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The quality of the leather is surprising for the price you are paying. Usually the strap is where a manufacturer of affordable watches would skimp on, and it’s usually cheap and very poor quality, but not Perpetual. It is thick, supple, and very comfortable.

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Not only is the leather good quality calf skin, but the butterfly clasp is excellent too. It is all polished stainless steel, matching the classy looks of the watch perfectly. It is machined very well, and is comfortable to wear – nothing sharp or badly designed digs into your wrist. It does a fine job of what it’s supposed to – keep the watch on your wrist with minimal fuss. On top if the buckle is the Perpetual logo, which is etched with good precision and depth.

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It really is staggering to have such a lovely strap on a watch that only costs $150. You do also get a free black silicon strap. To be honest, I think this is a bit pointless, as it most definitely wouldn’t look right on a watch like this. But hey, it’s still a free rubber strap which can be used on another watch! With the strap(s), the value for money of the PR-02 continues to excel.

 

Final comments

I like to think that Perpetual Watch are a little gem in the affordable watch market. Whereas so many manufacturers try to offer bad specs at high prices, Perpetual offer the opposite – high specs and quality for a very sensible price.

Let’s not forget that you also get a 2 year warrantee and free 3 day worldwide shipping. I honestly don’t know how they manage to do it for just $150.

The quality and price has resulted in very high demand too. I have also bought the regulator, which I will be reviewing soon. I had to wait over half a year to finally get my hands on one! Obviously many people are realising that you would be hard pushed to find a better watch for the money. And I agree. Not only does the power reserve PR-02 look great, it feels great too, and you can sit there feeling pleased with yourself for getting the best bargain available today.

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Perpetual Watch Chronograph C-05 Review https://12and60.com/perpetual-watch-chronograph-c-05-review/ https://12and60.com/perpetual-watch-chronograph-c-05-review/#comments Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:15:59 +0000 https://12and60.com/?p=435 Who isn’t interested in affordable watches offering surprisingly high specs? I had seen and read about Perpetual Watches a number of times on Watchuseek. It appeared that they offered very...

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Who isn’t interested in affordable watches offering surprisingly high specs? I had seen and read about Perpetual Watches a number of times on Watchuseek. It appeared that they offered very high specs such as sapphire crystals, Seagull movements, 2 year warrantee, and deployment buckle with a decent quality leather strap for very reasonable prices. Rather surprisingly, though, there can be little found on them. When one came up for sale I had to try one out for myself to see if they are worth all the hype.

 

Initial Impressions:

This is a lovely unique looking watch, and the quality is immediately apparent. As soon as I opened the box I knew that this was no normal Chinese made watch. It was far superior to all others in this price range.

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The Case:

The stainless steel case is 41mm diameter and 13mm thick. It has a sapphire crystal at front AND back. This is very unusual – usually a watch maker would put in a mineral crystal at the back to save costs. Perpetual have decided to go for the far more expensive option. The caseback has laser etched text around the crystal – sadly it is not engraved.

The case is made of polished 316L stainless steel. It really is a lovely shaped case. As you can see from the pictures taken of the side, it is wider at the top than the bottom. Unusual but really works. There are hidden buttons on left side for quick date and moon phase change. You even get a cool little tool for using these buttons so you don’t end up damaging the buttons by using a pen or something!

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The chrono pushers are high quality, with a large cylinder top ensuring a good size. The crown is an onion style with good grip, with the Perpetual logo deeply engraved on the end.

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The Movement:

The watch uses a Seagull 1901. This is a Chinese version of the Venus 175. It has a star shaped column wheel – which makes it a robust high performance chrono. It has 22 jewels and runs at 21.6k bph – 6 ticks per second. It is hand wind only, not automatic.

The movement is very nicely decorated. It is a shame about the plastic movement holder though. It’s not easily noticeable, but when you do spot it lying on the edging around the movement it is a shame to see a bit of white plastic there.

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The Strap:

The watch is fitted with a high quality 22mm calfskin leather strap with a decent deployment clasp. Not very deep engraving on buckle though. The leather is comfortable and not squeaky at all. You can tell that it is better than your usual cheap leather found on Chinese watches. It’s colour is a very nice deep brown.

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The Face:

As you can see, I got the white faced chrono. This also comes in a black faced version. It has lovely blued subdial hands and big seconds hand. When these catch the light it makes it look very expensive. It has large sword hands for the time hands – some people think the hands a a tad too wide. I must admit, on the pictures, they do look rather large. But in the flesh, they suit the watch quite well and you don’t notice it as much as you do in the pictures.

The steel baton hour markers have a chamfered edge and are incredibly well machined. Another little extra bit of quality that you don’t necessarily notice, but it really makes the Perpetual stand out among similarly priced watches.

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The watch has a proper moon phase. Sometimes a standard day/night dial can be confused with a moon phase dial. It has 59 teeth to replicate the real lunar cycle – two cycles of 29.5 days.

The subdials are as follows: The top dial is the date. Left dial is running seconds. Right dial is the 30 minute chrono counter. Bottom dial is the moon phase. They all have a nice concentric circular pattern.

The big seconds hand is the chrono seconds. It is blue like the other subdial hands, and  has a nice touch of a small circle on the bottom of it.

The logo is situated at the bottom of the dial, it is well proportioned and printed well. There is also a minute track around the outside of the dial with every 5 minutes printed. The font used on the dial is a good choice, it really suits the classy design of the watch and is subtle, yet easy to read.

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Final Thoughts:

It really is a shame that there is not much out there regarding Perpetual Watches. If you are like me, and are always looking for a great priced and high spec and high quality watch, then look no further. I cannot fault this watch for the price. Plus you get a 2 year warrantee with it! I will definitely consider getting another Perpetual. In fact, the Regulator R-01 is in my sights and has been for a while. I know that it will also be of great quality at a great price.

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Alex, the owner of Perpetual, has a great thing going here. Make sure you buy one of his watches before he realises the prices are ridiculous and raises them all!

I hope this review has helped anyone who, like me, was considering Perpetual Watches for some time. I would highly recommend them.

The Perpetual Chronograph is available at http://www.perpetual-watch.com/chronograph.html and is $430.

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