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Topic: ARA watch review (Read 3161 times) |
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bbaskette
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ARA watch review
« Thread started on: Nov 23rd, 2005, 11:23pm » |
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I finally recieved the ARA dive watch on Monday. I was extremely impressed with the looks. The pictures do not do justice to the overall quality of the watch. It looks as good as an omega or oris watch. The accuracy out of the box has been within 2-4 seconds per day(compared with atomic time) without break in. I had no idea that automatics could be this accurate. I wear my watch in very abusive enviroments and hope the sapphire crystal will eliminate scratches that my Seiko diver had. Not having to replace the battery every 4-5 years is also a plus. The Seiko was
damaged beyond repair when the last watch repair service failed to properly seal the watch and it was exposed to salt water. The lumes are not as bright as the seiko but the hands are clearly visibile in total dark conditions. The watch does not have a day date but the day is magnified allowing tired aging eyes to easily pick out the day of the month. I carefully researched many watch brands including the Seiko kinetic drive and the various swiss watches from oris, omega, hamilton, and doxa. The cost and the Swiss ETA 2824-2 movement/sapphire crystal of the watch sold me. The price pleased me in comparison to the others. The feedback and customer service from ARA other than delivery has been excellent.
I highly recommend this watch for people that want to experince a quality automatic watch without having to sell the farm to get one.
bbaskette
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Wobeck43
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Re: ARA watch review
« Reply #1 on: Nov 25th, 2005, 7:46pm » |
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I too, wish to express my satisfaction with the ARA Diver. Richard and Arthur hung in there with each of us, and treated us more than fairly when problems developed beyond their control with the international post. It simple added a story that can be shared with those who admire my new watch. The watch is excellent in quality, and mine is keeping time within 2 seconds during a 24 hour day. My Rolex didn't, nor did my older model Omega. ARA, you have a winner!
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cofetym
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Re: ARA watch review
« Reply #2 on: Jan 31st, 2006, 10:56am » |
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Richard & Arthur this watch is excellent.
Christmas came early at my house yesterday 
I just can't stop looking at my new yellow ARA diver.
I'm very particular when I purchase things and notice problems immediately.
The Lupu's are just as fanatical and detail oriented as I am and I can't find a single fault anywhere.
The Lupu's are a class act with a class act product.
Don't be afraid to order one for yourself 
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Michael
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Re: ARA watch review
« Reply #3 on: Feb 6th, 2006, 9:29pm » |
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I just received my watch today. What an outstanding instrument! To indicate that this watch was “as advertised” would be an understatement. The photos on the website did not do justice to the actual watch. All the characters on the watch face were resolute, the colors were robust, and the markers were vivid in darkness. The case and bracelet are strong, and stylish. I can’t objectively comment on the movement or its accuracy as the watch has only been on my wrist for a few hours. Nevertheless, the watch in running just fine and setting was a breeze. Furthermore, I would like to remark on the service. I have seen fine porcelain shipped with less enthusiastic packaging. My watch had no problems on its journey to Kansas, and would have made it to Timbuktu on the back of a camel without difficulty either. My confidence in the integrity of the Lupu clan was not misplaced during the whole course of this transaction. I will certainly recommend this watch to all my close friends without any reservations. Thank you.
Very Satisfied Customer,
Michael H.
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| « Last Edit: Feb 6th, 2006, 9:31pm by Michael » |
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Scott
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Re: ARA watch review
« Reply #4 on: Feb 8th, 2006, 6:29pm » |
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I was originally going to write a review immediately after receiving my ARA watch but decided instead to wear it a while and then post a response. Wanted to do it a little sooner but life happens and it took me awhile to get back here to post my review.
So here goes
First of all let me state that this is my first automatic watch. I always liked the look of the “Tag Aquaracer” and was bound and determined to get me one someday. Went to two different stores one day as one had the automatic model the other had the quartz version.
After talking with both salespeople I was “lost” as to which way to go (quartz or auto). I was given a price of 880.00 for the automatic. Needless to say I left without buying either watch, not to mention I had a hard time justifying 880.00 for a watch.
The next morning I “googled” automatic vs quartz on the internet and came up with a bunch of stuff, I wanted to learn the advantages, the disadvantage of each watch.
Within this search this website was found, and if it wasn’t for that I probably wouldn’t be wearing my Nice ARA watch today as I type this.
Even though I was somewhat skeptical at first about the watch & the company, I posted several questions on this site before I decided to ever order and Richard answered every question to my satisfaction. Although I think there was still some reservation about ordering something like this off the internet.
The question was always in the back of my mind.
What am I missing, a $379.00 watch vs a $880.00 watch. ??
Well I now know that the answer to that is….. Nothing…. but the name. You are paying extra for that Tag name and that’s it. I doubt even that if I would have bought the Tag that it would have been adjusted and checked before I left the store.
I ordered on 10/19/05 and at the time they were out of stock and awaiting delivery of their stock. They did have some issues getting restocked but Richard kept us all up to date with what was going on. Seemed like forever getting the watch and I finally received it on 11/22/05, well over a month after I ordered. However Richard and Crew made things right with us though and gave us a free additional watch band for either the ARA watch or one to fit a watch we may already have had.
The watch was worth the wait…
PACKAGING….Nice job, Very well packaged, shipping address written on 2 sides of the Paper wrapper around the box. Open the box up and its packed with Shipping kernels which held another box with the watch inside. If the package was going to get thrown around at the post office the watch wasn’t going anywhere, very well protected and packaged... EXCELLENT PACKAGING.
THE WATCH…Ok so its my first automatic so im probably a little out of my league when comparing it other automatics. There are people that really know watches and could probably really tear this movement apart in comparison to others.
Theres a lot of people concerned with the accuracy of the watch, (will it be accurate within 1 or 2 seconds). At first I was to, however I hate to admit im not sure as I really haven’t paid much attention. I spend more time admiring the watch itself. I do have to reset it every once in a while but I was expecting that. But I haven’t really paid that much attention to it to determine just how accurate it is. There are times that I don’t wear it for several days also, so its quit running and needs to be reset anyway.
No scatches at all except one on the link at the bottom of my wrist, the others are on the clasp itself and are more or less rub marks from the desk or something.
So comparing it to what I was looking at, In my opinion its better than the Tag, as the warranty is longer, it got inspected by a person who knows watches, has the same movement as the tag, and left me with approx $530 extra in my pocket……
Wears well and takes daily wear well…..EXCELLENT WATCH
WATCH FACE... Oh I remember when I just about craped, it was just a week or so after getting my watch and I was sitting at a outdoor fiberglass table. My arm was under the table and when I brought it up to the top I remember being aware of the Noise of the watch face being drawn across the edge of the table top edge, it didn’t sound good at all. I cringed, prepared myself for the worse as I thought I had really scatched the crystal. Looked at my watch face and there wasn’t a Scatch on the lens or the rotating dial . After a little over 2 months worth of wear off and on, there are no scatches on the lens or rotating dial….
THE COMPANY... These people in my opinion are first rate. They had some issues getting restocked when I ordered and had a lot of orders to process. Even though they were at the mercy of someone else they made it right by offering a additional watch band. They always kept us up to date as to what was going on during the restock process, so we weren’t left wondering.
I haven’t had to do a return or and kind of service work, but I feel comfortable that if I need service that im going to be treated fairly and its going to be fixed right. ….EXCELLENT..
Assuming this is the type of watch you are looking for. I don’t believe that you could find a better value anywhere for a watch like the ARA dive watch. This watch is just AWESOME. Well worth the money and is, to my opinion, just as good as the Tag. Im glad that I didn’t buy anything that day and decided to google the internet.
If I hadn’t, well who knows…..
.....The Tag now seems pale in comparison to my ARA watch.
Richard and Crew……THANKS..
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Michael
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Re: ARA watch review
« Reply #5 on: Feb 19th, 2006, 6:16pm » |
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I have now had my watch nearly two weeks and still quite proud of my acquisition. I can now somewhat objectively comment on the accuracy of the movement. Initially the watch was running approximately six seconds fast against UTC(NIST) on the internet. This has settled to just under four seconds as of today. The result is the most accurate precise mechanical watch I've owned. Prior to this purchase, an older Glycine Airman held the record of about 8- 10 seconds fast. Unfortunately the Glycine is no longer with us, a result of tragic washing machine accident. I do believe my new ARA would have survived a similar event, but certainly don't wish that upon my new purchase. I also own an Omega Seamaster Deville which regardless of attempts to regulate has always been about 20-30 seconds fast. Nevertheless, thank you for an honest "No Regret" purchase.
Michael H.
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Michael
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Re: ARA watch review
« Reply #6 on: Oct 6th, 2009, 12:20pm » |
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Again I have received an excellent Watch from ARA. This is the second Diver I have purchased. The first being ARA's earlier model. My most recent purchase was a new grey dial. Watch is running two seconds fast, and is awesome in every detail. I have been a frequent customer of ARA, and can attest to their service. I have purchased two Divers, a vintage watch, and one repair. I have ordered everything on their menu, and have never been dissatisfied. Awesome work. I can't figure out how you can deliver the quality of watch you do. For less than the price to clean a Rolex, ARA delivers you an actual watch that is near the quality, and absolutely the greater value. Oh, and by the way...my other ARA Diver Watch is three years old, and running fine. I wear it nearly daily, and the case and bracelet are worn, but it has been awesome in everyway. ARA is the real deal. I will comment more later as I settle into my new purchase.
Michael H.
Kansas
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$415
