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Which MM is the best value?

8.3K views 63 replies 32 participants last post by  jarnould  
#1 ·
Hey everyone,

Well I've gotten a bit interested in the MM style watches, and have thus started looking around for a fairly affordable one. Sellers that seem to come up a lot are Helenarou and M*******T*** (apparently banned? Sorry for having to mention him!). Helenarou's MM's are a bit more expensive, and I was just wondering if it'd be worth the extra ~$40 to pay for Helenarou's? Or does anybody have any other suggestions?

On the side, I know this is a bit unrelated, but has anybody bought one of Helenarou's B&R homages? I've been thinking of getting one of those too eventually, and I was pretty set on Invicta's versions, but I just noticed these couple other ones and I was wondering if anybody has any experience with them?

Thanks in advance to everybody who posts!
 
#3 ·
Ok, I think it would be a good place to post my question.
The MT site has these variants of asian 6497 movt:
1. no second hand at all manual
2. second hand at 9 manual
3. second hand at 9, date at 3 auto
etc including power reserve+date and even some chrono functions.
Interesting fact, all the manual versions have a display back, all the autos don't.

The question is, how can it be the same movement? Or it's not?
I couldn't find any versions of the original 6497 that have, say, date or power reserve indicator.
 
#5 ·
My two Helenarou watches were in cases of higher quality than my Rolings, but I have not handled a Militar*t*me yet. On the other hand, my 1936 homage from Helenarou had its movement just die on me so it's not all great.

Ok, I think it would be a good place to post my question.
The MT site has these variants of asian 6497 movt:
1. no second hand at all manual
2. second hand at 9 manual
3. second hand at 9, date at 3 auto
etc including power reserve+date and even some chrono functions.
Interesting fact, all the manual versions have a display back, all the autos don't.
The only 6497 is the manual handwinder with small seconds at 9, crown at 3 (or 180 degrees around if destro). If the seconds hand is removed, you can also have it without the small seconds. All the movements with further complications are tiny auto's that fill about 1/4th of the case - which is why there's no display back.
 
#4 ·
I'm very happy with my MM from Helenarou. Brushed SS, sandwich dial, small seconds at 9:00, no date. I look at it and there's nothing that makes me say, "Gee, if so-and-so, I would be much happier." It just works for me.

That said ... the first one I got was DOA. I had to return it for a replacement. But I only had to send it to an address in California, not back to Hong Kong.

And the strap was pretty crappy ... I don't think it was leather. I replaced it.
 
#6 ·
I bought a MM Ti from Roling and love it. The sandwich dial in the Ti case is an awesome combo. Paired with a one chunky mofo of a strap from Mr Delaurian, it's a beauty! Keeps great time too.

As with the other 'cheaper' homages, the lume is not the greatest.
 
#8 ·
Normal cases are made of stainless steel, usually the 316l variant. This can be finished by polishing, making it a steel mirror, or brushing, which makes it less reflective.
They can also be made with titanium, which is a stronger and lighter substance. Or it can be coated through PVD, where a thin layer of substance is deposited upon the stainless steel case. Usually this is used to make the case black.
 
#10 ·
another newbie qn.. is a swan neck regulator an important feature? is it a standard feature in all the MMs?
Theoretically a swan neck allows for more accuracy of the movement, but so far the swan necks I've seen on MM's have been so badly finished that to say they help anything is improbable. It's not a standard feature on all MMs and it's not a feature I'd be very interested in on these models, unless you like the look of the swan neck through the displayback of a watch.
 
#13 ·
The best value is the Naples, a little nicer than the Helenarou.
I've held a Naples fiddy and I was impressed. What I especially liked, though it has nothing do with quality as such, was the font used for the Marina Militare text. I'm not sure what it was, but it was... neater. Smoother. Better. I hate non-sterile dials but on the Naples the text looked good.
 
#32 ·
If you mean the blue coating, that sadly seems to be just blue coating. While looking quite funky, it still reflects light quite happily (figured that out while making watch photographs of a radiomir with the blue coating).
 
#33 ·
Hi Guys,

I got myself into homage watches or MM late last year, after reading tons of postings from WUS, with good & bad experiences.

Good
First purchase was a Titanium 44mm luminor from Davidsen b/f Christmas.
Rating: Solid built, good AR on sapphire with Swiss eta 6497.
Tested on the WR but not to 3ATM just the pool and it surived !

Bad
2nd purchase was a 47mm pilot series from Al**a on ebay this year
When I received the package, everything looks fine but upon inspection on the display caseback, found this !!! refer to pic.

I'm considering a 3rd MM but a lefty PVD with sterile dial and swiss 6497,
any suggestions besides Davidsen and Helenrou ?


Ryan
 

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#36 · (Edited)
Hmm...well it doesn't sound like anybody has really given much of a reason not to go with the cheaper M*******T***, so I guess I'll be going with him/her since it sounds like I can get more features for the money (sapphire crystal for $25 more).

So, I think I'll be going with the MM54 with a sapphire crystal, orange letters, and no swan neck. Would you all suggest going for a titanium case for $20 more or a deployment buckle for $10? Does anybody have any experience with M*******T***'s deployment buckles? And how does the "sandwich" dial make a difference? Would you recommend having one or not?

Also, does anybody know if the "anti-reflective" coating on M*******T***'s watches are the good kind, or just the bad blue kind?

Thanks everybody!
 
#39 ·
I have a MT incoming .... should be here in a week (UK) ...will post some pictures when it arrives.

was only $80 posted to the UK, so I am not expecting too much.

I went for a California Dial Radiomir Style - Orange Markers.
 
#40 ·
My MT has arrived safe and sound in the UK - 1 week form date of order, so pretty damn quick !

Very happy with it, the strap is a bit cheap and I will swap this but the watch itself is great for what worked out as about £53 uk delivered :-0 ... soooo cheap.

it seems to be running bang on as well, I set it to the time on the GMT website and 24 hours later it is still bang on. Impressive.

I will definatley be ordering more watches from M*****T*** ...

Cheers

Russ
 
#46 ·
My MT has arrived safe and sound in the UK - 1 week form date of order, so pretty damn quick !

Very happy with it, the strap is a bit cheap and I will swap this but the watch itself is great for what worked out as about £53 uk delivered :-0 ... soooo cheap.

it seems to be running bang on as well, I set it to the time on the GMT website and 24 hours later it is still bang on. Impressive.

I will definatley be ordering more watches from M*****T*** ...

Cheers

Russ
Hey Russ, I was just wondering, how is the "blue coating" on your MT watch? Is it really anti-reflective or is it just blue?

Also, could anybody tell me what a "sandwich" dial is and how it affects the watch or its appearance? And if anybody would suggest going for a titanium case for $20 more?

Thanks everyone!

Matt
 
#41 ·
Anyone buy from exclusive_watches_inc on the bay?

If yes, why pay more there than for Helenarou or MT?

Pining for a 44mm Ti....

IS there a quality difference? :thanks
 
#42 ·
I bought a 44mm Pam homage from Exclusive_Watches_inc. Yes, I paid a little more for it than the rest of the MM's on ebay at the time but I desired a sterile dial. I couldn't find a sterile dial watch from any of the ebay sellers at that price point. Overall I am very pleased with the watch and the shipping and customer service was pretty quick.

Anyone buy from exclusive_watches_inc on the bay?

If yes, why pay more there than for Helenarou or MT?

Pining for a 44mm Ti....

IS there a quality difference? :thanks
 
#44 ·
Actually... I asked Jackson TSE (Military Time) if he'd do a sterile dial, he said yes for the handwound for another $10. Food for thought.

(I am strongly considering MM39 chrono, looks really really nice, price is $180 for Chinese "Valjoux", don't know if it'll wobble, plus best of all... No Cyclops!)
b-)
 
#45 ·
(I am strongly considering MM39 chrono, looks really really nice, price is $180 for Chinese "Valjoux", don't know if it'll wobble, plus best of all... No Cyclops!)
Considering one myself just to play around with an Asian 7750 :)
 
#52 ·
the Ti was my first MM... absolutely love it... light and a nice sheen thats a little different... i didn't really appreciate the weight until i got the MM chrono... thats a heavy watch (i put a nice beefy leather band on it though and now its super comfyb-))

with my clumsiness i also find that the Ti pays off in durability... very hard material = scratch :-!less