I’ll be honest—I had no idea who Tandorio were, and to be fair, I wasn’t particularly interested. If I want horological heritage, there are plenty of other brands to turn to. But let’s face it, Tandorio is another Aliexpress brand, and so far, my experience with watches from that platform has exceeded expectations in terms of quality for the price.

Tandorio follows a similar path as brands like San Martin, Addiesdive, and Steeldive—offering a wide range of homage watches inspired by iconic designs, along with a few original models sprinkled in. Over the past few years, particularly during the COVID era, these brands have cultivated strong followings. Much of that popularity can be credited to reviewers like Jody from Just One More Watch, and the fact that these watches manage to be both affordable and surprisingly well-made.

I’ve been meaning to try out a few of these microbrands for a while, and thanks to Tandorio, I now have the opportunity to review several of their pieces. The first one on the table is a Doxa homage—though for some reason, they’ve dubbed it the “Turtle Diver” with a model number of TD269. It comes in a variety of dial options: some mimic Seiko’s style in orange and blue, while others channel classic Doxa aesthetics in orange, blue, yellow, and even MOP (Mother of Pearl), with options for either a sterile dial or Tandorio branding.

I went for the sterile orange dial on bracelet—a nod to the vintage Doxa I’ve always wanted but never quite managed to find in the right condition. At just $110.84, the value here is impressive: 316L stainless steel case, domed sapphire crystal, and the ever-reliable Seiko NH35 movement. It’s honestly mind-boggling how these brands can offer such specs at this price point and still turn a profit.

The watch arrived in a minimalist cardboard box containing only the watch and an instruction manual. Personally, I appreciate the no-frills packaging—it’s easy to recycle and doesn’t add unnecessary cost, especially for a watch at this price tier.

Initial impressions were positive, although not flawless. The case finishing is solid, but the bracelet leaves a bit to be desired—it feels a little rough and could use refinement. The watch head itself is better finished, but I did notice the bezel isn’t perfectly aligned at 12 o’clock and that can’t be fixed as the engraving on the middle part of the bezel is one piece with the case.

The case is a classic cushion-style design, clearly inspired by Doxa, and is made from 316L stainless steel—at least, that’s what the spec sheet claims, and I’m inclined to believe it. It measures 42mm in diameter, 44.8mm lug-to-lug, and 14mm thick. Despite the numbers, it wears closer to a 39–40mm watch on my 18cm wrist.

The finishing is a mix of polished sides and a circular satin-brushed top surface. Overall, I’d rate the machine work around 7 out of 10—respectable for the price, though not without minor imperfections, particularly where the lugs meet the endlinks. At 3 o’clock is an unsigned screw-down crown. I would’ve preferred it to be signed with the Tandorio logo for a more refined look. It’s a bit larger than I’d like, especially compared to the original Doxa crowns, but it offers a good grip and makes time-setting a breeze.

The caseback is solid stainless steel, highly polished, and features simple engraving with basic specifications. On the top side, you’ll find a 120-click unidirectional bezel with a satisfying action and minimal play. However, as mentioned, the alignment issue at 12 o’clock does detract slightly. Topping it off is a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, and the watch boasts a 200m (20 ATM) water resistance rating.

The dial is a matte orange, paired with applied, brushed indices filled with white lume. A printed black minute track frames the dial, with the text “Automatic, Diver’s 200m” at 6 o’clock. The hour and minute hands are black, index-shaped, and lume-filled, while the square, lollipop-style seconds hand follows suit.

I opted for the sterile dial for this one, as my second Tandorio watch will feature the branded logo. The sterile version enhances the clean, tool-watch aesthetic and keeps things understated. Legibility is excellent, and reading the time at a glance is effortless. Lume performance is adequate—it glows for about 30-40 minutes, which is enough for casual low-light use, but not on par with higher-end options.

Movement inside the Tandorio is Seiko NH35. This movement is widely regarded as one of the most reliable and cost-effective automatic watch movements in the market today. Manufactured by Seiko, it has become a go-to choice for many microbrands and modders due to its solid performance, ease of servicing, and global availability. This 24-jewel movement operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (6 beats per second), delivering smooth hand movement and dependable accuracy. It offers both hacking (the second hand stops when the crown is pulled out) and hand-winding capabilities—features that are often absent in entry-level automatics. The NH35 also has a power reserve of approximately 41 hours, which is respectable for its class. One of the NH35’s strongest attributes is its durability. It’s built like a workhorse, capable of withstanding daily wear and rough conditions. While it may not offer the high-end finishing or complications of more expensive calibers, its robust design and time-tested reliability more than make up for it.

Mine example has had an accuracy of +10 to +15 seconds per day out of the box, though many users report better performance with regulation. It’s not a chronometer, but it’s consistent and easily tunable. Overall, the NH35 strikes a great balance between affordability and dependability. It may not impress luxury watch aficionados, but for the everyday user or watch enthusiast looking for a reliable and mod-friendly movement, the NH35 is a smart and trusted choice. It’s the Toyota Corolla of watch movements—simple, reliable, and always gets the job done.

The bracelet is styled to resemble a classic “beads of rice” design, but it’s more of an aesthetic nod than a faithful recreation. The center links are actually one solid piece, so it lacks the articulation and fluidity of a true BoR bracelet. That said, it’s made from 316L stainless steel, featuring brushed outer links and polished inner links as well as polished sides—visually appealing, but not without its compromises. As with many watches in this price segment, the bracelet is often the weakest link (pun intended). It tends to feel like an afterthought rather than a fully integrated part of the watch. I genuinely wish brands like Tandorio would invest a bit more into their bracelet quality—even a $50 price increase would be justified if it meant better materials and construction. I’m confident buyers wouldn’t hesitate to pay a little more for a bracelet that matches the quality of the watch head.

The folding clasp is stamped and finished in a satin-brushed texture. It includes three micro-adjustment holes, which definitely help in achieving a better fit. The links are held together with basic push pins; while functional, I’d much prefer screw-in links for easier sizing and added durability. It’s a small change that would elevate the overall experience significantly. On the wrist, the watch wears comfortably, but there is one notable downside—the bracelet tends to pull arm hair, which can be annoying during extended wear. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s worth pointing out for those with sensitive wrists.

Despite its flaws, I genuinely like this watch. No timepiece is perfect, especially at this price point—but for $110, the value here is remarkable. The misaligned bezel, while annoying, is easily corrected by a competent watchmaker or potentially even resolved by Tandorio themselves with a replacement watch. These kinds of affordable Chinese-made watches are fantastic entry points for newcomers or great beater options for seasoned collectors. In fact, you could build a diverse and enjoyable five-watch collection for under $700 by exploring brands like Tandorio, San Martin, or Addiesdive.

So, would I recommend this watch? Absolutely. Whether you’re just starting out and working within a tight budget or you’re a collector of budget-friendly pieces looking for something fun and wearable, this is a solid pick. It delivers great specs, a classic design, and enough charm to earn a spot in any affordable watch rotation! But be aware that there may be QC issues like on my sample with bezel, but Tandorio assured me they would replace the watch if there are QC issues.

Price 110.84$ at tandoriowatch.com