Updated date:

Nov 2, 2019

Review of the Lige Fashion Automatic Watch

Author:

Walter Shillington is an avid collector of mechanical watches. His reviews focus on inexpensive but often intriguing Chinese timepieces.

LIGE Fashion Automatic Watch
Walter B Shillington

I’m a minimalist at heart. When purchasing a watch, I normally gravitate toward one with a large, easy to read dial. A window displaying the date is the only feature that holds my interest.

This month I decided to try a fancier timepiece. After scanning a selection of low-priced mechanical watches on eBay, Amazon, and Gearbest, I ordered a Lige Fashion Automatic watch.

Description

This watch came enclosed within a cardboard watch box and strapped around a large white pillow. The package included a plastic tag, international guarantee card, polishing rag, and one of the nicest instructions guides I’ve come across.

The Lige fashion automatic weighs in at 152 grams (5.36 ounces). It spans 45 millimeters, when you include the crown, and is 13 millimeters thick.

A flat mineral crystal hovers over a silver dial inscribed with Roman numerals. The window at the 12 o’clock position provides date information. Below that, two subdials display the day of the week and the month. Decent quality luminous paint marks each hour, and a generous coat is applied to the watch’s hands.

At the bottom, a cut-out reveals a rapidly oscillating timing wheel.

The movement, an Asian automatic, is protected by a stainless-steel case. This timepiece’s crown is flanked by two pushbuttons. The top one advances the date, and the bottom adjusts the month. An inset button on the opposite edge of the case is used to advance the day of the week.

A window incorporated into this watch’s caseback, allows the user to view the movement.

Lige equipped this timepiece with a good-quality stainless-steel strap.

Specifications

Brand: LIGE
Model: Fashion automatic
Condition: New
Place of Origin: China
Gender: Male
Display: Analog
Movement: Asian automatic with complications
Features: Full calendar and cut-out displaying timing wheel
Band material: Stainless-steel
Band color: Silver
Band width: 20 millimeters
Clasp type: Fold-over clasp
Dial color: Silver with Roman numerals
Dial window material: Scratch resistant mineral glass
Case material: Stainless-steel
Case diameter: 45 millimeters, including crown
Case thickness: 13 millimeters
Weight: 152 grams (5.36 ounces)
Water resistance: 30 Meters. (Unsuitable for swimming)

The Manufacturer

Lige timepieces have been available for sale since April of 2016. This brand was trademarked by Zhongshao Huang of Pingxiang City in July of 2017.

Lige watches are manufactured by the Guangzhou Lige Watch Co., Ltd. This company is based in Guangdong, China, and employs between 101 and 200 workers. Although Lige timepieces are sold worldwide, their top three markets are Central America, Western Europe, and Southern Europe.

The Guangzhou Lige Watch Company is a division of the Shenzhen Kaiser international trading company.

Visual Appeal

For this timepiece, Lige promotes a low-key conservative atmosphere despite the multitude of functions and spinning timing wheel. This effect is accomplished by matching a shiny stainless-steel case to a silver dial and silver subdials. For those that prefer a more striking appearance, Lige automatics are available in several different colors.

This watch gains points by including a relatively large date display window. I need not squint to read the date. The subdials are readable but a bit cramped, due to a lack of space. I appreciate the use of large Roman numerals, and the spinning timing wheel adds movement.

Durability

A solid stainless-steel case and scratch-resistant, mineral glass crystal offer decent protection. The crown and pushbuttons work properly, although I suspect the rod connecting the date pushbutton to the movement is shorter than ideal. This button must be pushed firmly in order to advance the date.

The movement appears to be of good quality, and I expect it will provide yeoman service for several years. Then, like all mechanical mechanisms, cleaning, and a fresh application of oil will be required.

I like the stainless-steel band. Its nifty fold-over buckle is unnoticeable when engaged, fitting almost seamlessly into the overall strap. This buckle opens easily at the touch of a button.

Accuracy

Over a seven-day test period, the Lige fashion automatic gained an average of six seconds a day. That is an excellent result for a timepiece in this price range.

All three calendar-related functions advance properly.

Overall Assessment

This automatic is a handsome watch with a full calendar and luminosity strong enough for use at night. It is equipped with a comfortable and sturdy stainless-steel strap. The Lige Fashion Automatic is recommended.

The dial of this timepiece is pierced to allow a view of the movement’s timing wheel. I am conducting a survey to determine if my readers like this feature. Please fill in the poll below.

Questions & Answers

Question: I have a Lige without the open back. It appears standard. But is there a clear sticker over the info ( specs of watch ) or is the info printed on the vinyl? I started to peel it off thinking it was there to protect, not serve as the label. Any thoughts?

Answer: The sticker is probably meant to protect the surface of the watch during shipping.

Comments

Walter Shillington (author) from Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada on July 04, 2020:

Hi Harvey,

My Lige automatic still works really well. If yours does not function properly, you should contact your vendor and ask for a refund.

Harvey Rabiner on July 04, 2020:

Absolutely do not buy the Lige automatic eatch. It stores zero energy and will actually die on your wrist if perchance you happen to be reading or watching TV.