Review (5/5): This watch is every bit as good as watches costing $2000 and up.
WOW! Where to start? I own lots of watches. Mechanical, electric and digital watches costing from $8 to $8000. This is one of the most impressive watches I've ever owned at ANY price. The quality is first rate and the specs are almost unbelievable. Finding a good automatic/mechanical diver is very easy and you can take your pick from numerous makes and model but, finding a really good, attractive quartz diver is a little tougher. Seiko and others make a lot of decent auto divers but lately I've become disenchanted with mid level automatics. They've essentially become disposable what with labor fees to service them costing as much as the watch itself it makes no sense to own a mechanical watch that cost up to about $500. Unless you do your own watch service it's easier and cheaper to just buy another brand new one. Basically the only mechanical watches that make economic sense to own are the very high end watches that will not only keep their value but actually appreciate so the service costs are offset by the appreciation. I'm in the process of ridding myself of my Seiko and Citizen mechanical divers but I will keep my Rolex Sub because it is already worth far more than I paid for it.
With all that said I was on the quest for a good quality quartz diver and looked at Omega and Heuer. Lots of people look down their noses at quartz movements but remember this, when it comes time to service your $250 automatic Seiko and it costs $200+, you can simply replace the Ronda movement in this Phoibos watch and you're good for another 10-15 years. Most quartz divers use movements made by others (even the higher end stuff) and the movements are incredibly cheap and durable. Even the Omega Seamaster quartz Diver uses an $80 ETA movement. So unlike the high end mechanical watches that use in house movements there really is little difference, at least regarding the movement, when it comes to quartz divers. So the question becomes, do I pay $2000 for an Omega Seamaster with an $80 Swiss quartz movement or pay $120 for a Phoibos with a $25 Swiss quartz movement?
I can say this will full confidence; this Phoibos watch gives up NOTHING to the Omega Seamaster. The finish is surprisingly perfect. I expected the quality to be like that of any mid-level Seiko or Citizen but boy was I pleasantly surprised. The quality really is hard to believe. A sapphire crystal, solid end links on a perfectly polished and brushed bracelet, case polishing equal to ANY watch and a Swiss quartz movement, all for just $120! If you want one of these you'd better get it before someone comes to their senses and starts selling these for what they are truly worth.