Wrapping up - 15 Days with the Chinese Timekeeper CTK08

So even with the benefit of "extra innings" it is now time to wrap up my review of the Chinese Timekeeper CTK08.

It is safe to say that at first blush, given the current climate of the watchmaking world - most specifically Swiss watchmaking - the very notion of a luxury Chinese luxury watch seems more than a bit counter intuitive.  Considering that no small number of Swiss companies' watches are to some extent "hatched" in the far east before being brought back to the rarefied climbs of the SWISS Jura to "Incubate" and "become" SWISS - not unlike a certain puppet crafted by Geppetto craving to be "REAL", I wanted to lay hands to something that was an unapologetic Chinese watch by nature, and really get a handle on it.

And a lot of the questions of quality and provenance are answered quite quickly when you lay eyes on, and actually try on the CTK08.  The case itself is substantial and solid - not "tinny".  A robust 44 mm in diameter, and it is a completely original design.  The dial is well laid out, and very pleasant to look at - with the sub dial at 5 o'clock.  The finish work is first-rate.

This case design is, in fact, a wonderful multi-layer affair - not a simple, mass produced, stamped shell.  No, it is rather more complex than that.  The CTK08's case's design is intentional - intentionally designed to not just look cool, but to characterize the very story of the world's first time keepers - in this instance the pagoda that housed the clock tower that Su Song constructed in the ancient city of Kaifeng, China.

Four "stories" in all - but this also provides a beautifully conceived and wonderfully executed design.  Alternating layers of stainless steel and pvd.    The bezel is secured by four screws that enter at the top, and finish at the base, or bottom of the case.

The strap and clasp are very well thought out - once again paying respect to the past, while very functional, comfortable and beautiful.

The strap is a work of art - it is at once secure, and comfortable.  The quality of finishing on the strap itself is first rate.

The clasp is beautiful and wonderfully original -

The movement is 25 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour, with 36 hours of power reserve.

This movement is proudly advertised as MADE IN CHINA.  So owing to that, let's talk a bit about performance.  The performance was quite good.  The greatest deviation I experience was + 10 seconds.  Now it is important to understand that when I do these reviews, they are not done in the rarefied confines of laboratories.  I do not "crack" the case open, and I seldom track down a timing meter.  I do (what I hope) is the MAXIMUM of what "normal" people would do - on day 1, I set the watch to "atomic time", and I check daily from there.  I reset every day after the check to get a fresh 24 hours. 

I only got a +10 one day - overall the average was +6 seconds per day.

So the overall impressions -

This has been a truly wonderful watch to wear.  It (at least for me) passes one of the most important tests - it tells a story!  But it also fires a clear warning shot to the SWISS - A high-quality Chinese made watch not only can be produced - it HAS been produced.   

So EMBRACE something different and fun!  One of the great joys of watches - and of owning them - is having something different - and not different for the sake of just being different - The Chinese Timekeeper is a full-blown, for real company producing desirable watches!  I for one expect great things to come!