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Parnis "Power Reserve"
Automatic, Chinese mvt
By: Luis G.
Specifications
Dial Size: 43mm
Spring Bar (Strap/Bracel) size: 22mm
Seagull Mvt, caliber ST2505 38 Jewels 21600BPH
Stainless Steel 316L
Leather Strap, Black
Decorated Movement
Mineral Crystal face, and exhibition caseback
Fuille Foglia minute, and hour hand with regular seconds hand
Description
Let's discuss some general info of the watch for example the style, the brand, origin of manufacture and where to buy them. First the brand, or more appropriately name. Parnis does not refer to a company or an actual entity who manufactures the watch it is simply a name some vendors use, and they often use the same exactly the same watch parts. This also means that what matters is who you buy from since these watches are likely assembled by the vendors themselves.
The origin of manufacturer for all the parts is of course China, the manufacturer's are relatively unknown apart from the movement everything else seems to be fairly generic Chinese factory parts, so it's difficult to say who made the cases, crystals, and watch bands.
There are a few places whom you can buy Parnis from, Mabushijie seems to come recommended the most since he does accept returns on defective watches. However your mileage will vary. However there are other places like Parniswatch.
The Style of the watch is of course a copy of an IWC Portuguese with the difference in this watch being the open heart configuration which the IWC does not sure in there line up, the only thing watch IWC has in that line up that resembles but of course surpasses is their Tourbillon IWC Portuguese. However these are not counterfeit watches as they do not share or claim to be IWC's, they have merely copied the style. Often copied exactly.
Fit and Finish/Issues
The quality of the watch is of mixed opinions, some people loathe Chinese watches while others like Martin or Albertatime seem to cherish them.
First off the bad: date function button does not work and there was a small speck of dirty inside which was blown out using a jeweler's tool. I was able to get rid of the dirt speck. I thought there was a scratch in the case back crystal but that turned out to be just the small dirt speck. The date button not working was an inconvenience however ........... offers to replace the watch, and also compensate me for shipping costs. I decided to keep the watch because the accuracy. It's good to know the vendor backs up his product!
The way I grade fit and finish is by magnification using a microscope of 40x and 100x. The polish is then graded in different ways, the size of the scratch which indicates grit size, the consistency of the spacing between the scratches, and of course the consistency in the direction of the scratch marks. All of these make up for a polish of good or bad quality when dealing with this particular method of polishing. Polishing can be a high polish, a brushed look, or a satin finish. I guess one can call it a finish instead of a polish. But the grading will be called consistency. How consistent is the polishing or finish.
Consistency is measured as I said by the scratch direction (pattern), spacing between scratches, and the size of the scratches (thin) (there is also pressure but difficult to gauge with so many curves and I do not proper equipment to check- better preferably digital microscope is needed). The higher the grit the better the reflection but also the harder it becomes to polish as any minute change in direction or pressure can cause a blemish in the polish, this isn't as relevant until you get to about 10,000 grit in my opinion but one with good eyesight may be able to tell even before that.
The watch is finished in two stages, and 3 different parts. The bezel, the casing, and the case back. Both the bezel and case back are given a high polish, to give a mirror like finish while the sides of the casing are given a fine brushed finish with the top part of the casing (ex: Lugs) is done in a high polish.
The polish of the bezel is done fairly well, in fact I would venture to say the people polishing have some experience. The polish I would estimate to be done with polishing compound, likely in the 5,000 grit range however since it is compound it can be tricky to indicate grit. It is consistent and good.
The high polish on the top of the casing (ex: lug) is consistent but only one of the lugs as not as consistent and produced a small blemish difficult to see with naked eye. The grit size appeared to be different but i would say at 3,000 grit. Keep in mind compound is different than sand paper or even stone, with the use of a buffing wheel it can give a greater reflective finish than say a sand paper or stone finish could.
The fine brushing on the sides is quite consistent and fairly well done for the price range I expected less skill. I cannot tell the grit size since they are all scratches going one direction but if I had to guess, I would say 1000~ grit maybe 2000 grit?
The final piece is the case back which is done also in a high polish, similar to the bezel but I can see pressure differences in reflection, but looks good anyways. I'd say maybe not as good as the bezel but still for $50 very much enjoyable, no doubt about it. Grit looks to be the same as the bezel 5,000.
Oh yes the watch strap? No I refuse to review the crappy strap, it's crap. While it serves it's function and maybe is real leather it's just nasty looking imho that is of course personal taste.
Movement/Accuracy
The movement is a Seagull ST2505, while I can't find direct info on the Parnis watch if it indeed is a ST2505 (which I am fairly certain) it is a movement with an Automatic system, hand windable, hackable, has 38 jewels (Seagull watch, see video), and has an open heart configuration.
I dont know much about movements, I am still learning, so please see the video for more info.
The movement is indeed decorated with blued screws. The rotor and most of the movement has perlage decoration, and brushed look (adouice?), and has what appears to be Colimaçonnée on the outer ends of the movement.
The decorations are done so so, and consistency imho is meh at best, absolutely nothing spectacular. But the fact it's decorated at all is a nice surprise for the price range, and only adds to the value.
The accuracy of the watch is on hold for now. I have numbers for two watches of the same model/movement, from the same vendor (...........) but until I get another month with my new watch I will keep accuracy. Let's just say for now it's keeping very very very good time.
Enjoy the video I apologize for the book written here!
Feel free to pm or comment if you want more info.
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