[ENG] GUANQIN 16212 OPEN HEART

Guanqin is one of the best known Chinese brands in the Aliexpress, DHgate, GearBest markets ... This is due to the great quality it offers at a reduced price. In some of its watches we can find the NH36 and NH36A calibers that we also find in watches such as Seiko and Invicta.

The first thing we find when buying a Guanqin is a cardboard box with similar reptile skin. Inside, they will give us an instruction manual, a rigid plastic card with what should be the guarantee (unsealed), a small suede with the Guanqin logo, a tool to remove straps in the case of wearing it or shorten armis in the case of going with armis and finally, the watch itself.

Focusing on this particular watch, it comes with a stainless steel armis in which the central part along the strap is in a brushed finish while in the rest we find a mirror finish.

Continuing with the finishes of the watch we can see an analog dial with a stainless steel case, which makes it more resistant to wear, and a crown at 3 o'clock without any engraving.

The watch features a 41.5 millimeter case excluding crown and a thickness of 13 millimeters. The distance from lug to lug is 20 millimeters. All this makes the watch without a strap or bracelet to add a weight of 54.9 grams. Although we can say that it is a thick watch, but put on the wrist it is a comfortable and attractive watch.

When it comes to crystal, many sellers claim to offer a sapphire crystal. However, I have not been able to corroborate it because I do not have a machine for it.

Researching online, it has been impossible for me to know the exact movement of this watch. However, I think it is an automatic Seagull caliber because on many occasions we see these calibres predominate in Chinese watches.

Following on the back of the watch, as we are used to seeing in the automatic watches of this brand, we find a back cover where we can see the machinery. Another detail that I have observed in many watches of this brand is the oscillating mass in a golden color with a beautiful engraving in the form of a network.

As can be seen, both on the back cover and in the generic instructions for use that come with the watch, it has a water resistance of 30 meters (3 BAR). This means that it withstands rain and splashes.

Focusing on the dial, we can observe two subdials and the open heart complication. The first subdials (at 3 o'clock) show us a 24-hour analog dial. The second sub-sphere shows us the moonphase complication, although it is only a tile with a moon and a painted sun.

Indices 1 through 12 are applied, unlike indices 2 through 60 which are painted on the dial. The hands of the watch, both the main dial and the sub dial, are applied in a blue that reflects with the rays of light.

Finally, the dial shows a texture that reminds some Longines Master Collection, of which Guanqin has tried to imitate several times, and Tissot Le Locle, which it has also imitated.

It is a watch that offers great quality at a very good price.An automatic watch, with a complexity like an open heart, with construction materials that are not negligible for less than € 20.I think it is a very successful gift for a person who is starting out in the world of watchmaking or even a good gift for a person who is looking for a cheap watch that makes a good impression.

The prices of these watches are continually fluctuating.In this case I purchased it for € 17.22 (March 18, 2020), which seems to me a master purchase for a watch with these characteristics and design.However, I have come to see them up to € 60.I advise, if you are interested in buying one of these watches, search Aliexpress, DHgate and GearBest on specific days like 11.11 (November 11) or when these platforms offer attractive discount coupons.