Today I got to review for you... a Moranbong watch bought on Aliexpress.
First - for those of you, who never heard of Moranbong brand before - Moranbong used to be a North Korean brand that made mechanical wristwatches in Pyongyang back in the old days.
Hardly any detalis are known, there are few watches in private collections outside of DPRK, most of them worn and torn.
Rumors say that the factory was closed a long time ago.
Currently one has to have at least 500USD to get a mechanical Moranbong, if he gest it at all, as even with money prepared, it's very hard to actually find one for sale.
Way easier to get a modern quartz Moranbong, but... as the factory no longer exists... it's said this is just Chinese fake.
Now the seller claims these are souvenirs for tourists, but he does not mention the origin of this watches.
Most are marked PYONGYANGKOREA (written like that no space), some are even marked MADE IN D P R K, but fake Omegas are also marked Swiss Made, so obviously that does not change anything.
The price is almost 100USD, so one should say it's still a lot for a simple quartz watch like that, but... I believe the seller takes most for himself
Most are just simple 3 hand watches, while one even has a date indicator (!)
I wanted to go for the date model, but eventually I chose the no-date one, because it also has the original steel bracelet (the other one is on a leather strap), and I read the bracelet is well worth buying as well.
Now for those of you who already think I've gone insane, well... one f the guys who already bought one said 'a fool is easily parted with his money', which might be true in this case, but the real reason...
I'm bored. And I look for some new stuff just to touch it, to feel it. And reading al about how bad these are, how fake these are, I just had to take a look myslef.
Just because. Just for fun. Just so that I could write a review here.
Smart? Nah. But I'm still looking for an original vintage mechanical piece for myslef, so I thought I'd check out modern stuff for now. Why not?
![Image]()
Let's see what we have. At first I'd like to say, there is no box, papers or stuff, because... there was nothing but a watch in a small plastic bag.
Also no protective foil on glass or caseback - nothing. Just the watch.
What one sees first - it's very 'Asian' in style, reminds one of cheap Seiko or even more Orient watches... or vintage Chinese pieces. Asian.
It also looks vert 'eighties' so to say, even more with it's thick cut crystal. The bracelet is made of brushed and polished steel, the case is brushed on top, with brushed caseback and polished on the sides and around the crystal.
The size is also typical of a standard looking Asian watch.
The overall shape of the case and markings on the dial are similar (but not identical) to vintage Moranbong watches.
So far so good, let's check out the details.
1. The case...
![Image]()
I'm sorry for my cellphone pictures, this phone just don't make closeups sharp
Shame, as this review is all about details, but... I cant help, crappy camera it is.
What I do like about the case is it's shape, size and proportions. It's a classic design, that's never stunning, but always works.
The circular brushing on the top is far from top-notch, could have been done better, but I also think it looks good, polished surface here would be more boring, so definitely a pro. Even despite mediocre execution.
The crown is small, as it's a quartz watch and the crown is seldom to be used. I think it could be bigger, as this looks a tad too small for the case, but that's my opinion only.
It's very difficult to pull out, but - like I said - one will not have to use it often.
![Image]()
The caseback is screw-down with some laser engravings. All edges are bevelled, except the ones between the lugs which are sharp.
One will also see a super nice, thick, mineral crystal, with a 3 plane cut, that makes it way more eye catching than a simple dome.
One more downside - the caseback screws down leaving a minor slit on one of the sides, barely visible, but it's there no doubt.
Once again - low quality crafting.
![Image]()
But all in all I'd say 3/5 for the case with a + for the crystal. It's not crafted very well, but also no major flaws visible from distant look.
The bracelet you can already see, so...
2. The bracelet
Now I know why someone decided to mention it before.
It's frighteningly bad. So bad, I seriously doubt I've ever seen a bracelet so bad, or even close to that.
Now you can already see it's made of bent metal strips (not full links), which is quite fine for the price, but the finish of the edges is simply speaking repulsive. It's not even crude, it's like someone filed it down with rough metal file and left it that way. It's just unfinished!
Also there is black residue on the polished parts and serious marks (again - like rough metal file marks) on the other parts of the brushed bits.
![Image]()
![Image]()
And even more - the metal excess left after machining have not been removed - they stick out and can scratch!
Really - I did not take a file and damage it for purpose to make a laughing stock of this watch, it came like THIS!
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
Clasp so bad, snaps open when you accidentally simply rub the watch against your shirt, but at least it's marked with a logo...
I mean really - this is just unbelievable, the bracelet is like junk. The only good thing I can say about it is that it can be easily removed and replaced with something else. It's absolutely terrible. Junk.
And...
3. The dial
Back to the first photo again.
![Image]()
The dial is actually... good. Especially for the price. It has nice 'sunburst' pattern, the paint is nice, the markings are nice as well, if one forgets PYONGYANGKOREA does not have a space between the two words (and on some watches it's misspelled as PYONSYANGKOREA), the hour markings appear to be applied (!) and the lume is nicely placed in the right spots and ammount.
The hands are alligned properly, look good, the polishing good enough and - all in all - but for the very weak lume - the dial is - in fact - good.
One can choose silver, blue or green dial to his liking.
Not like it's something high end or sophisticated, but it's still a well done and nicely designed dial. I like it. I really do! Even more under the 3 plane crystal.
![Image]()
BTW - that's a piece of lint and it's inside. Another 'quality' feature of my watch...
And last...
4. The movement.
The movement is quartz (sadly) and that's all we know buying the watch.
Normally I do not open brand new watches, but tuis is exactly what I bought this one for - to check it out, so off goes the back!
![Image]()
On the underside there is a stamp. And under the caseback...
![Image]()
...a basic MIYOTA.
Now that's... not bad. Not like it's a great movement or something, and I really would prefer a simple mechanical 7120 Tongji I could wind and enjoy, but it's not like worst crap available on the market. It's a... MIYOTA after all.
![Image]()
Thoughts?
Well. On a nice strap - a very nice, vintage looking watch with super cool 3 plane crystal and nice, eye catching dial.
Is that enough to pay $100 for it? No, I suppose not. But still, if you remove the disgusting bracelet (or just get one with a leather strap) it definitely is a good looking piece.
And the movement used should be reliable.
The barcelet ruins it all, but the watch itself is kinda nice. Yes, I like how it looks.
And I will keep the bracelet just to keep this piece all original. But discarding it would surely be wiser.
Oh and... it's quartz. I don't like quartz watches, so... we'll see if it stays for long. I usually part with quartz pieces quickly.
Like I said - I wish it had a Tongji inside...
First - for those of you, who never heard of Moranbong brand before - Moranbong used to be a North Korean brand that made mechanical wristwatches in Pyongyang back in the old days.
Hardly any detalis are known, there are few watches in private collections outside of DPRK, most of them worn and torn.
Rumors say that the factory was closed a long time ago.
Currently one has to have at least 500USD to get a mechanical Moranbong, if he gest it at all, as even with money prepared, it's very hard to actually find one for sale.
Way easier to get a modern quartz Moranbong, but... as the factory no longer exists... it's said this is just Chinese fake.
Now the seller claims these are souvenirs for tourists, but he does not mention the origin of this watches.
Most are marked PYONGYANGKOREA (written like that no space), some are even marked MADE IN D P R K, but fake Omegas are also marked Swiss Made, so obviously that does not change anything.
The price is almost 100USD, so one should say it's still a lot for a simple quartz watch like that, but... I believe the seller takes most for himself
Most are just simple 3 hand watches, while one even has a date indicator (!)
I wanted to go for the date model, but eventually I chose the no-date one, because it also has the original steel bracelet (the other one is on a leather strap), and I read the bracelet is well worth buying as well.
Now for those of you who already think I've gone insane, well... one f the guys who already bought one said 'a fool is easily parted with his money', which might be true in this case, but the real reason...
I'm bored. And I look for some new stuff just to touch it, to feel it. And reading al about how bad these are, how fake these are, I just had to take a look myslef.
Just because. Just for fun. Just so that I could write a review here.
Smart? Nah. But I'm still looking for an original vintage mechanical piece for myslef, so I thought I'd check out modern stuff for now. Why not?
Let's see what we have. At first I'd like to say, there is no box, papers or stuff, because... there was nothing but a watch in a small plastic bag.
Also no protective foil on glass or caseback - nothing. Just the watch.
What one sees first - it's very 'Asian' in style, reminds one of cheap Seiko or even more Orient watches... or vintage Chinese pieces. Asian.
It also looks vert 'eighties' so to say, even more with it's thick cut crystal. The bracelet is made of brushed and polished steel, the case is brushed on top, with brushed caseback and polished on the sides and around the crystal.
The size is also typical of a standard looking Asian watch.
The overall shape of the case and markings on the dial are similar (but not identical) to vintage Moranbong watches.
So far so good, let's check out the details.
1. The case...
I'm sorry for my cellphone pictures, this phone just don't make closeups sharp
Shame, as this review is all about details, but... I cant help, crappy camera it is.
What I do like about the case is it's shape, size and proportions. It's a classic design, that's never stunning, but always works.
The circular brushing on the top is far from top-notch, could have been done better, but I also think it looks good, polished surface here would be more boring, so definitely a pro. Even despite mediocre execution.
The crown is small, as it's a quartz watch and the crown is seldom to be used. I think it could be bigger, as this looks a tad too small for the case, but that's my opinion only.
It's very difficult to pull out, but - like I said - one will not have to use it often.
The caseback is screw-down with some laser engravings. All edges are bevelled, except the ones between the lugs which are sharp.
One will also see a super nice, thick, mineral crystal, with a 3 plane cut, that makes it way more eye catching than a simple dome.
One more downside - the caseback screws down leaving a minor slit on one of the sides, barely visible, but it's there no doubt.
Once again - low quality crafting.
But all in all I'd say 3/5 for the case with a + for the crystal. It's not crafted very well, but also no major flaws visible from distant look.
The bracelet you can already see, so...
2. The bracelet
Now I know why someone decided to mention it before.
It's frighteningly bad. So bad, I seriously doubt I've ever seen a bracelet so bad, or even close to that.
Now you can already see it's made of bent metal strips (not full links), which is quite fine for the price, but the finish of the edges is simply speaking repulsive. It's not even crude, it's like someone filed it down with rough metal file and left it that way. It's just unfinished!
Also there is black residue on the polished parts and serious marks (again - like rough metal file marks) on the other parts of the brushed bits.
And even more - the metal excess left after machining have not been removed - they stick out and can scratch!
Really - I did not take a file and damage it for purpose to make a laughing stock of this watch, it came like THIS!
Clasp so bad, snaps open when you accidentally simply rub the watch against your shirt, but at least it's marked with a logo...
I mean really - this is just unbelievable, the bracelet is like junk. The only good thing I can say about it is that it can be easily removed and replaced with something else. It's absolutely terrible. Junk.
And...
3. The dial
Back to the first photo again.
The dial is actually... good. Especially for the price. It has nice 'sunburst' pattern, the paint is nice, the markings are nice as well, if one forgets PYONGYANGKOREA does not have a space between the two words (and on some watches it's misspelled as PYONSYANGKOREA), the hour markings appear to be applied (!) and the lume is nicely placed in the right spots and ammount.
The hands are alligned properly, look good, the polishing good enough and - all in all - but for the very weak lume - the dial is - in fact - good.
One can choose silver, blue or green dial to his liking.
Not like it's something high end or sophisticated, but it's still a well done and nicely designed dial. I like it. I really do! Even more under the 3 plane crystal.
BTW - that's a piece of lint and it's inside. Another 'quality' feature of my watch...
And last...
4. The movement.
The movement is quartz (sadly) and that's all we know buying the watch.
Normally I do not open brand new watches, but tuis is exactly what I bought this one for - to check it out, so off goes the back!
On the underside there is a stamp. And under the caseback...
...a basic MIYOTA.
Now that's... not bad. Not like it's a great movement or something, and I really would prefer a simple mechanical 7120 Tongji I could wind and enjoy, but it's not like worst crap available on the market. It's a... MIYOTA after all.
Thoughts?
Well. On a nice strap - a very nice, vintage looking watch with super cool 3 plane crystal and nice, eye catching dial.
Is that enough to pay $100 for it? No, I suppose not. But still, if you remove the disgusting bracelet (or just get one with a leather strap) it definitely is a good looking piece.
And the movement used should be reliable.
The barcelet ruins it all, but the watch itself is kinda nice. Yes, I like how it looks.
And I will keep the bracelet just to keep this piece all original. But discarding it would surely be wiser.
Oh and... it's quartz. I don't like quartz watches, so... we'll see if it stays for long. I usually part with quartz pieces quickly.
Like I said - I wish it had a Tongji inside...
