Cheap Chinese Watch Review #3: Megir 3046 Quartz Chronograph

This is a KronoReview of the Megir M3406 quartz chronograph. This is my third review of a budget-minded Chinese watch. This watch is in my current EDC rotation of between 5-7 timepieces. The Megir M3406 is available in three color options: 1) Black SS Case/Black Dial/Black & Silver SS Bracelet 2) SS Case/White Dial/Khaki Leather Strap. 3) Black SS Case/Black Dial/Dark Brown Leather Strap (the version I tested). The watch was supplied by GearBest. (Note: GearBest lists this as M/N 3778, which is incorrect).



GearBest Pics

GearBest website pics are pretty nice. The Megir M3406 is a cushion shape, Panerai (High-end, Italian Watchmaker) style homage watch. Normal price is in the $30 range, and GearBest routinely has this and other Megir watches on sale.

Here is the GB website, the Megir website, and Sunon’s website (movement mfr.):

http://goo.gl/nacxck (On sale now for $22.77)
MEGIR Watch official website (Model M3406 is not on their site).
Sunon International Group Limited

I mentioned this in my previous Megir M2002 review, but it bears repeating. Accurate information is difficult to come by on the Megir company/brand. Internet website claims place them in London, while reality seems to place them in Guandong, China. There are also claims that they are a supplier for Citizen and Fossil watches. Current internet lore also speaks of lawsuits from Guess for claiming the same thing. Nevertheless, the internet marketplace seems to be covered up w/Megir watches. There is also talk of some of their watches (Megir 2713?) with higher-end Sea-Gull (Automatic 2525) movements, which might be bargains if found for low prices. Their website only has a limited number of their watches listed there. It could be that there are many manufacturers, as seems to be the case with many of the mushroom brands…as well as Swiss knockoffs.

Here is my first glance of the actual watch, straight out of the package:


The watch inside was bagged, cellophane-wrapped around the case/crystal, and also included a Megir tag.



The Megir M3406 came in a padded envelope sans box, wrapped securely and well protected.

I have to start out saying this is one nice looking watch! I had my doubts about what it would look like, but it looks just as good as the nice pictures on the GB website. I feel the size of the watch is perfect for a cushion shape/style…not too big…and not too small. The crown protector does protrude a bit at the 3 O’clock side of the watch, but I never noticed it unless I bent my wrist back in an extreme position. I do prefer that this style watch have the stem/pushers at the 9 O’clock position, thereby eliminating this potential dis-comfort. However, I must say that discomfort was mostly a non-issue. The strap itself is attractive, but probably not for everyone. It is a dark-brown, nubuck leather. IMHO, it matches the watch nicely. There are two loops/strap keepers…one static and one loose. If you have a very large wrist, you might have to get a larger strap. The second strap keeper barely covers the end of the strap on my medium-sized wrist. The pin/buckle is stainless steel and coated in a brushed satin-black with the Megir logo in an off-white that matches the dial numbers.




The watch has a chronograph function, 24 hr. function, so the subdials/pushers do work, although they are somewhat stiff. Sub-dials are located at 3 O’clock (24 hr clock), 6 O’clock (Chrono-seconds) and 9 O’clock (Chrono-minutes). I noticed that the minute dial sweeps instead of ticks when in operation. The watch was zeroed when it arrived, and it has no fly-back operation.

The dial is satin-black and has large, easy to see, off-white, Arabic numeral hour-markers, with larger numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9. They look as though they are ‘cut-out’ (like a stencil) of the dial, which give it a nice effect. The blue-gray hour and minute hands are sword-shaped with center lume. The minute hand is also blue-gray and thin, with a sword shape on the back-end. The date window is at the 4:30 position, and somewhat difficlult to see with a bit of shadow and ever-so-slightly off-center. ‘MEGIR CHRONOGRAPH’ appears directly under the 12.



The case is an attractive gloss-black coating over some type of metal (Stainless Steel is what Megir claims). I don’t know how it will hold up over time. The lugs extend in a curved fashion towards the strap. However, like the M2002 I previously reviewed, there is not enough curvature to them to make the case wrap comfortably around the top portion of the wrist. To be fair, neither is it on the Panerai that this watch mimics. The case-back is a SS pop-off/press-fit style, and has an hourglass circle design. Removal reveals a Chinese Sunon PE902 Chrono movement with plastic gear and a Sony battery.





PROS:
Panerai Luminor style and looks.
Attractive, gloss black case and black dial.
Protected crown with working latch.
Working sub-dials (Chrono).
24 hr sub-dial.
Watch has a nice, solid, feel to it.
Date Window.
Decent, budget-minded nu-buck leather strap.
Domed glass crystal.
Lume on 5 watch hands.

CONS:
Strap could be longer.
Unproven Sunon movement.
Limited lume.
Not enough curvature of the lugs.
Date window difficult to see.

DIMENSIONS:
Width: 51.2mm
Case Diameter: 43.75mm
Lug to lug: 52.7mm
Strap width: 24mm
Crystal: 37mm
Height (top of crystal to caseback): 16.5mm
OAL: 25cm
Weight: 92gms

RATING:
Cost: 4
Looks: 4
Durability: 3
Function: 4
Comfort: 3
Average: 3.6/5

In conclusion, the Megir M3046 is a very attractive cushion-shaped watch that gets you the Panerai look at a miniscule fraction of the cost. It looks as good as the pics. The concerns are the longevity of the movement as well as the coating. Overall, a good value for the cost.

Thanks,
krono

Nice review
Aren’t those Hindu-Arabic numerals instead of Roman?

And how easy is it for that latch to latch onto something?

Arabic yes…did I put Roman? Silly me…but Hindu-Arabic?

Yeah that is how I think they are called, but Arabic will do :wink:

That green is bright in the dark!

EDIT
Here Hindu–Arabic numeral system - Wikipedia
Fascinating stuff check “The story of 1¨
Fun, educational and just fascinating
ha it is available on youtube
- YouTube

Sorry for the OT, back on track
that latch, looks like it can get snagged, does it?

Hasn’t snagged yet. I think it would be somewhat difficult, but possible.

Hey guys.

I would appreciate some feedback on the watch reviews. This would increase manufacturer attention and increase the opportunity to do a unique, Special Edition watch for those that are interested. :slight_smile:

Thanks,
krono

Thanks krono. Love the review and your thoughts.

Feedback is also nice for the reviewer himself! Thanks Krono, nice review! :slight_smile:
(this is not my style of watch though…)

That’s a very nice looking watch, and my favorite of the ones you’ve reviewed so far… Keep the reviews coming!

I like the option with the metal band, but unfortunately, I have no need for the chrono function. I would much rather have an improved date indicator. The luminescence is most disappointing on this model. The coloration/photos make it appear that all of the numbers, as well as the hands, are the same GITD, which would have made this an awesome watch. The presumed-gitd numbers is what I noticed about it previously on the GB site, but as your photo shows, I would have been disappointed, with only the hands glowing…

@krono - how about putting links to your other watch reviews at the foot of each review, so we can easily click through to compare with your previous reviews:???:

Good lume on these budget watches is hard to find. I would prefer more as well, but it is hard to argue with a chrono-watch that on sale goes for less than $23.

Good idea about linking my other watch reviews. I’ll try to edit that in later.

I also have an Megir automatic Panerai homage en route that I will review in the near future. :slight_smile:

Very nice review, suppliers would be well inspired to liberally provide watch samples to the aptly named Kronological.

Nice watch for the price, and a great review - considering getting one of these myself.

I’ve read your reviews with interest, but have tried to limit my criticisms.

:wink:

That bad, huh? :person_facepalming:

I am a watch enthusiast, but far from an expert. I have done many an easy battery change, and even a crystal replacement…as well as other very minor repairs. Yeah…pretty much a novice.

But, I want to get better…in knowledge of watches and my reviews. So…constructive criticism is always appreciated! :slight_smile:

Thanks for the comments!

Not your style? I assume you mean the cushion shape of the watch? That was my response when I first saw a Panerai watch. I thought…hmmm…kinda odd looking. I have grown to appreciate them though, and they really look much nicer in person.

But yeah, not for everyone.

Oh, the review is fine. Better than fine, I think it is spot on in highlighting the pros and cons. :beer:

It’s the watch itself that isn’t my cup of tea.

Keep the reviews coming. I love reading them and seeing opinions on the different watches.
I have tried buying a couple of cheapies from China, but have managed to throw them out. They were “Yazole”. Not worth the effort. Complete junk.

I’ll keep the reviews coming.

That watch name always cracks me up when I see it. I can only imagine it in a conversation:

Dude 1: “Hey, what kinda watch is that?”

Dude 2: “Yazole”.

Dude 1: “What’d ya call me?”

Dude 1: “YAZOLE”

Dude 2: “No need to get snippy!”

Using a quartz watch and call yourself a watch enthusiast is an opposition in itself.

Mechanical handwind or auto. And it can be still budget there are 2 chinese brands do movements close to the eta ones.

But I guess not sold by gearbest and therefor not good for third party advertising sorry but I see it that way.

And jack is back to troll.

To think I was once satisfied with the simple truth that jack had cornered all wisdom concerning what people should like about flashlights.

Now, a bonus. I am indeed honored, once again, that jack speaks for all watch enthusiasts as well. How gracious of one with such high status that he alone defines the category for the lowly, horologicaly challenged.

Thanks for saving the unwashed masses…yet again. I’ve missed ya, buddy.