Hello!
A cheap watch today, a typical aliexpress buy, a Borman.
Borman is one of the Chinese ‚German’ brands with fake history, which some will already find repulsive.
A few years ago I’d not even take a longer look at it, so why did I even buy one in the first place?
The answer is simple. I’m bored…
To be more precise, I’m bored with simple watches that have three hands and date.
Of course, I do appreciate watches like Tissot Powermaric with silicon hairspring, but it’s not something I’s spend my $1000 on. Not like I’m saying it’s not worth it, but I already have a few nice, quality, elegant watches.
If I were to buy a ‚good’ watch,it would be at least Glashuette of the Sixties line. But I can’t spend that kind of money for a watch.
And good watches I can afford? I already have plenty of simple watches.
So how can one buy a more complicated mechanical watch for 180$?
Well… there is only one - China.
First one I bought was my Burgmeister.
Bought it cheap and it turned out - I like it a lot.
It’s a two balance watch in which one of the balances does pretty much nothing, but it does look fancy!
Of course - it’s of mediocre quality at best, nit to mention it’s not any more precise, but at least it’s different.
And that’s how I got caught.
![Image]()
The watch arrived quickly. From the very begining the impression is Chinese, so to say, with the paper „metal” parts on the case.
![Image]()
Genaugkeit Instrumente…
Accuracy Instruments… no, no, no
Typically Chinese as well. Kinda makes sense, but does not sound right at all.
![Image]()
Under the QR…
![Image]()
Q.C.!
Now that’s news… in a Chinese watch?
Things get exciting when you pull the manual out of the box…
![Image]()
Of course - another clumsy attempt to make the watch look fancy, but it gets even better here:
![Image]()
Glashuette! But not on the warranty.
![Image]()
I searched for information about the watchmaking city of Engravers, but never found any.
Considering the fabulous history of this brand, I believe it’s somewhere in Argentina, where Bormann moved his Manufacture after leaving Germany in 1945
Oh well… back to the watch.
![Image]()
The watch is nicely designed.
It’s not superbly complicated, it only has a callendar and 24h indication, but looks good.
The dial is two-layer, and one can choose between many variants of dial and case colors, some with contrasting sub-dials, some with sub-dials in the same color.
Case can be steel or gold-tone.
I’s chose gold, but cheap platings are always a gamble.
Dial…
![Image]()
The overall design is nice. Matt finish is a good choice for this design.
The shape of the hands, the blue (fake, obviously) screws, golden rims - it all makes sense.
A small second ‚hand’ is often found in Borman watches - not very readable, but fancy.
As for quality of the dial itself - looking closely you can see it’s cheap, but no obvious flaws can be seen.
The day of the month is set by the crown, the day of the week and month - using pusher.
The month indication is - oddly - counter-clockwise, I also doubt it advances by itself.
Case…
![Image]()
Matt and glossy finish, not very good, but definitely good in this pricerange . Without close-up, looks fancy,
Also - fancy crown…
![Image]()
I like the design of this case as I like the design of this dial.
Good proportions, no obvious nonsense, no obvious flaws. Good for a cheap mechanical watch..,
Caseback is see-through,held with 8 screws…
![Image]()
…with markings placed under the glass, for fancier ‚feel’.
![Image]()
Don’t know what ‚PINKVENOM’ is
And… the movement.
![Image]()
It’s a Seiko style movement, with very Seiko looks and Magic Lever automatic winder,
Personally I don’t like Seiko looks, and I prefer the Chinese to copy European desings, but at least this should e reliable.
The finish is good, for the price I’d call it very good. Seems accurate, date works, winder works, all good.
![Image]()
On wrist - looks good. The strap is not bad
![Image]()
Verdict? Well - not like it’s something special or fancy, but I guess well worth the price.
Comparing with Quartz watches of more reputable brands, it’s not made any worse, yet it’s mechanical, and I don’t like Quartz watches, so it does matter to me.
If you’re considering buying one - yes, it’s worth the price, but don’t hope for anything more than a cheap, good looking watch
A cheap watch today, a typical aliexpress buy, a Borman.
Borman is one of the Chinese ‚German’ brands with fake history, which some will already find repulsive.
A few years ago I’d not even take a longer look at it, so why did I even buy one in the first place?
The answer is simple. I’m bored…
To be more precise, I’m bored with simple watches that have three hands and date.
Of course, I do appreciate watches like Tissot Powermaric with silicon hairspring, but it’s not something I’s spend my $1000 on. Not like I’m saying it’s not worth it, but I already have a few nice, quality, elegant watches.
If I were to buy a ‚good’ watch,it would be at least Glashuette of the Sixties line. But I can’t spend that kind of money for a watch.
And good watches I can afford? I already have plenty of simple watches.
So how can one buy a more complicated mechanical watch for 180$?
Well… there is only one - China.
First one I bought was my Burgmeister.
Bought it cheap and it turned out - I like it a lot.
It’s a two balance watch in which one of the balances does pretty much nothing, but it does look fancy!
Of course - it’s of mediocre quality at best, nit to mention it’s not any more precise, but at least it’s different.
And that’s how I got caught.
The watch arrived quickly. From the very begining the impression is Chinese, so to say, with the paper „metal” parts on the case.
Genaugkeit Instrumente…
Accuracy Instruments… no, no, no
Typically Chinese as well. Kinda makes sense, but does not sound right at all.
Under the QR…
Q.C.!
Now that’s news… in a Chinese watch?
Things get exciting when you pull the manual out of the box…
Of course - another clumsy attempt to make the watch look fancy, but it gets even better here:
Glashuette! But not on the warranty.
I searched for information about the watchmaking city of Engravers, but never found any.
Considering the fabulous history of this brand, I believe it’s somewhere in Argentina, where Bormann moved his Manufacture after leaving Germany in 1945
Oh well… back to the watch.
The watch is nicely designed.
It’s not superbly complicated, it only has a callendar and 24h indication, but looks good.
The dial is two-layer, and one can choose between many variants of dial and case colors, some with contrasting sub-dials, some with sub-dials in the same color.
Case can be steel or gold-tone.
I’s chose gold, but cheap platings are always a gamble.
Dial…
The overall design is nice. Matt finish is a good choice for this design.
The shape of the hands, the blue (fake, obviously) screws, golden rims - it all makes sense.
A small second ‚hand’ is often found in Borman watches - not very readable, but fancy.
As for quality of the dial itself - looking closely you can see it’s cheap, but no obvious flaws can be seen.
The day of the month is set by the crown, the day of the week and month - using pusher.
The month indication is - oddly - counter-clockwise, I also doubt it advances by itself.
Case…
Matt and glossy finish, not very good, but definitely good in this pricerange . Without close-up, looks fancy,
Also - fancy crown…
I like the design of this case as I like the design of this dial.
Good proportions, no obvious nonsense, no obvious flaws. Good for a cheap mechanical watch..,
Caseback is see-through,held with 8 screws…
…with markings placed under the glass, for fancier ‚feel’.
Don’t know what ‚PINKVENOM’ is
And… the movement.
It’s a Seiko style movement, with very Seiko looks and Magic Lever automatic winder,
Personally I don’t like Seiko looks, and I prefer the Chinese to copy European desings, but at least this should e reliable.
The finish is good, for the price I’d call it very good. Seems accurate, date works, winder works, all good.
On wrist - looks good. The strap is not bad
Verdict? Well - not like it’s something special or fancy, but I guess well worth the price.
Comparing with Quartz watches of more reputable brands, it’s not made any worse, yet it’s mechanical, and I don’t like Quartz watches, so it does matter to me.
If you’re considering buying one - yes, it’s worth the price, but don’t hope for anything more than a cheap, good looking watch
