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Сообщение от AlekseyF
thunderdome
You know, I hate to admit that but... Astrodea are simply the best Celestial watches out there. That's why you cannot buy them anymore, $500 price tag was kind of underestimation and timepieces got out of stock shortly -- I was really lucky buying one of the latest.
Some thoughts on what can be realistically found on the market: - - Campanola Cosmosign is worth considering only in JDM versions -- US/International has a bold metal frame that covers the star map
- - Accurist Celestial has ugly labels on the glass, shape of besel/crown/lugs on the downside too -- I wonder whether it is possible to re-pack them with the clean and shiny sapphire and better body
- - Other imitations are just coarse copies, their listings within last few pages are rather anti-examples of what Celestial watches should be...
JDM Cosmosign is my choice. Even $3,500 looks somewhat fair to me -- can you recall any other Celestial watches that would match their highest notch, huh? ![Cool](http://forum.watch.ru/images/smilies/cool.gif)
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Thanks for the english reply. This forum is great, it's rare to be able to discuss these kind of specific watches elsewhere.
![Smile](http://forum.watch.ru/images/smilies/smile.gif)
This is going to be a long post, sorry.
Actually Astrodea is not even the original watch but a remake. The original are the Cosmosign series from Citizen (afterwards came the Campanola luxury sub-brand). These watches exist since the 80s!
Let's start with Accurist vs Astrodea.
http://forum.watch.ru/showpost.php?p...&postcount=203
Here you can see the comparison between both. Accurist is known to assemble very good mechanisms (Citizen usually) into good packing (sometimes better than original). The price is usually adequate, making a great quality/price ratio (this is how the brand is actually known). Example: they have 3500€ perpetual calendar + repeaters that use the exact same mechanism as the Campanolas for <500€ (and gold plated!). Amazing but true. They are not handmade, but still very impressive.
There are 2 Accurist Celestial versions. The first one is actually from the same time as the Astrodea series and is EXACTLY like the Astrodea!
This version you see for sale is the second, recently released, more refined version.
The only flaw is the accurist logo in the glass, but the dial is too busy for you to see it (Campanola has a larger white logo on the glass!). On your wrist, the watch looks expensive, the astrodea looks like a round planisphere with a strap in every picture I see. And you can't even compare the metal bracelet on both, totally different leagues.
Astrodea has the kind of bracelets you find on low end watches, quite thin. When I saw in the official Accurist pictures I had the same reaction as you, but when I saw the watch and specially put it on my wrist all changed.
It's a matter of taste actually, since their price is the same when they were both released. And they are both limited (but only the Accurist is actually numbered).
It's important to notice that Astrodea did not have 50º Latitude. Accurist has this.
And that the dial, mechanism (4P92) is absolutely the same, casing on both is stainless steel and saphire. Only the shape of the watch changed. With a leather strap maybe I would prefer Astrodea, with a metal strap by far the Accurist. (Why not have both?
![Big Grin](http://forum.watch.ru/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
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But you read correcly: 4P92 mechanism. I LOVE the Cosmosign. But the merchanism is the same. I actually had to email Citizen Japan for this. It took them quite some time and effort, due to the rarity of this mechanism, but it's confirmed. The mechanism in Astrodea and Accurist are the SAME. The first edition of Cosmosign (with the metal on the dial) also is the SAME mechanism, smaller dial an pointers. The latest Cosmosign as the SAME mechanism as the 38 mm Astrodea (with moon central indicator). You can actually see that very well, the dial is not 42 mm, but 38 mm planisphere with numbers around it.
So, actually, you only have ONE mechanism for quartz planisphere watches: Citizen.
You actually are choosing between:
- Cosmosign: hand made, better craftmanship, 3 versions - square with metal on the dial, round with metal on the dial and the recent larger dial one (I prefer the more recent one)
- Astrodea: low-cost version of Cosmosign, many versions. Blue/yellow, 38 vs 42 mm, southern vs northern hemisphere. Only 1 version is 42 mm northern hemisphere.
- Accurist Celestial: UK edition, different design (2nd edition) and 2 latitudes. The packaging is superior, some Astrodeas came in cardboxes instead of wood boxes. Warranty is also better, technical support too if you live in Europe.
- The rest are cheap imitations that do NOT have the planishphere movement.
- Or then you have mechanical: the Pateks, Van der Klaauw, IWC... but add many zeros on the price tag.
In the end it's just a matter of personal preference.
Honestly I would gladly buy the Cosmosign besides the Accurist. But... I won't even get a different mechanism, eco drive or anything. Just a better casing (but not gold) and croc strap, for a >2000€ price difference.
![Frown](http://forum.watch.ru/images/smilies/frown.gif)
Is it worth it?
PS: Those pictures of the 2nd edition Campanola are watch porn!
![Big Grin](http://forum.watch.ru/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
But the more you look, the more you see it's just the casing that changes. I can make pics of the Accurist so you can check closely every detail.