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RedHerring Guest
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Greetings everyone. I was hoping to get some more advice, as well as some "schooling". My first venture resulted in a fantastic Omega Seamaster GMT, for which I'd like to again express my thanks for all of the great advice and comments I received here. I am now looking for a big, heavy duty dive watch. I've been perusing all of the watch forums I can find and have become intrigued by "Fricker" divers. I am a bit confused by the whole subject of "Fricker" cased watches, and have a few questions. I have observed that there are quite a few watches from different manufacturers that share identical or very similar cases. Several are touted as being Fricker cases. Are all of these made by Fricker, or have some simply been copied? Secondly, what is the significance of a Fricker case? Lastly, are some better than others? I have learned that some of Fricker style dive watches contain ETA movements and some contain Asian movements. I am looking for an ETA movement. Does anyone have any suggestions? Finally, how does "Longio" fit into the equation? I found several models that look almost identical to other brands. I never thought there would be so much information to digest. It's fun, but somewhat confusing. It sure is a lot different than going to the mall and buying a Seiko quartz chronograph from a jewelry store. Thanks again for all of your help. Regards - "Red" |
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BOSCHETT 3T WIS 
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Hello Red, Fricker is a German based company and are generally renowned as one of the top case manufacturers in the industry. They assemble watches under a private label arrangement to their customers specifications. As you have seen there are a number of companies out there that used them. I'm not aware of any that use a Fricker case and an Asian movement. There are members here who can better answer this. Longio is an Asian based case and PL watch manufacturer and can say from direct experience that they do excellent work. I must be clear my Cave Dweller is made by them and I am more than please with the watch, as I believe Ralf (Benarus) is too. If I may read between the lines, you'd be getting an awesome watch if you were to choose one made from either company. Keith |
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RedHerring Guest
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Wow, thanks for the fast reply. I might have been mistaken when I paired Fricker with an Asian movement. A lot of the dive watches look very similar to me, albeit I am much the neophyte at this stage. A seasoned watch collector could probably rattle off a half dozen stark differences at a glance. Would I be wrong if I said that there are Asian (Chinese ?) cases that look exactly like Fricker cases? Granted, there may be subtle differences as I have not seen any of them in person, nor have I seen any pics where Frickers are represented side by side with their Asian counterparts. Regards - "Red" |
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oagaspar Site Founder 
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do you have an example of what you believe to be a Fricker cased watch with an asian movement? face4.gif |
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Rhino-Ranch Guest
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Love your AVATAR -- Jimmy Buffet is great. I cover Margarittaville and Pirate Turns 40 in my band. I can't help you with the specific details of your question regarding Fricker versus Longio and such technical questions are best answered by those with actual knowledge. But I can offer some suggestions re BIG HEAVY DUTY DIVE WATCH. In my opinion the watchmakers / forum sponsors shown on the left side of the screen offer incredible designs, value and customer service. Specifically: Dievas Aqualuna, Orsa Monstrum, Boschett Reef Ranger or Boschett Cave Dweller, Benarus Moray or Benarus Sea Devil or Benarus 1km. I personally own ORSA Monstrum, Boschett Cave Dweller, and have on order Benarus Moray. Based on my recommendation, my friend back East bought a Boschett Reef Ranger and he is extremely satisfied. If you search 3T threads, you will see pics, reviews, and very satisfied customers regarding all the brands featured at 3T. I am not affiliated with any brand. The most difficult decision is deciding which one to buy first, because like potato chips, no one can have just one! |
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RedHerring Guest
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Well, probably not. Like I said, I'm very new at this and have been attempting to absorb in a few weeks what many of you have been doing for years. I guess my main question is ... "What watch brands use Fricker cases, and what brands use Fricker (for lack of a better term) look a like cases? I've looked around on a few of the other forums and have seen the following watch brands, which all (to me) seem to share common similarities in design. Forget I said anything about specific movements, I don't want to speak incorrectly at this point. Are these Fricker cases or Asian Fricker-like cases? Kenzo Enzo Ocean 7 Benarus Boschett Deep Blue Korsbeck Kremke Longio Am I making any sense at this point, because I think I am starting to confuse myself. Regards - "Red" |
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Nabco 3T WIS 
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Red, I think the bottom line is buy what you like and what you can afford....I have watches in both Fricker cases and the Longio cases, IMHO for the difference in price I don't see much difference....there is a difference but to the average person it is not noticable. I will take Keith's statement a little further....in other words I'll blow his horn for him. I own a Cave Dweller and it is one of my favorites, an awesome case...I also own two Benarus Barracudas and two Sea Devils and these are also at the top of my list...I believe these are all Longio cases and I have no complaints on any of them...my guess is these same watches in Fricker cases would be $800 to $1200 more expensive....I can certainly afford to buy the Fricker cases and like i said i own a couple...I just don't see the point to spend the money if the others, again IMHO, are as good or close to it. |
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oagaspar Site Founder
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Kenzo=Fricker/Germany/Swiss Enzo=Asian Ocean 7=Asian and some Swiss but not Fricker Benarus=Asian except for the new KM1 which is a Fricker made watch/Germany Boschett=Asian Cave Dweller Deep Blue=Asian Korsbeck=Fricker Kremke=Fricker Longio= an Asian casemaker that makes most of the Asian cases/watches you mention above Fricker=casemaker/Swiss,German and no you are not making sense and I have no idea where you are reading this stuff to make this kind of assumption...never heard of a Asian Fricker like case?:? Fricker is a very high end case/watch maker that produces Kobold,MarcelloC,Kazimon to name a few ....Longio is the most popular Asian case/watch maker responsible for most of the forum watches popping up and make a very high quality watch using miyota movements at a great price but add an eta and the prices go up substantially in most cases.hand6.gif |
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handie 3T WIS
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Hi, how about schaumburg lindbergh and benson? do longio made them? or is the case are tru germany case..? ths for your answer :) oagaspar wrote: Kenzo=Fricker/Germany/Swiss |
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oagaspar Site Founder
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my understanding is they designed the case everyone sees being used ....below is the original L&B Nauticfish 04'-05' .... Longio in HK manufactured it and still does and therefore had the right to sell it to whoever wanted to use it or build on it...Longio also has a Swiss affiliate to accomadate "Swiss Made" for a higher price as well as Asian at the lower prices...it is the most recognized case in forum watch history imohand6.gif ..a watches components do not have to be made in Swistzerland or Germany to qualify as Swiss Made or Made in Germany...especially not the latter but to be Swiss Made 51% of the total cost to manufacture and final assembly must be in Switzerland to qualify watch2.gif...this is an age old question with many opinions and will continue to be discussed by WIS for years to come :D  handie wrote: Hi, how about schaumburg lindbergh and benson? do longio made them? |
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handie 3T WIS
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so the schaumburg case are made by longio? about the design, i heard that enzo mechana was actually the designer. but somehow schaumburg get their watches out first to the market. is that true :) |
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oagaspar Site Founder
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handie wrote: so the schaumburg case are made by longio? according to Enzo he helped design the case with Lindbergh but that has been debated as no one has heard this from Lindbergh and Schaumburg lays claim that Longio did not manufacture the case for them but hey apples are apples is what I say as I own or have owned every version and they are identical ...the Deep Blue is identical to the L&B Nauticfish only with a miyota or quartz and if I wanted to make an exact copy of the L&B/Schaumburg using Longio I could ...well anyone could hand6.gif ...the "Swiss Made" watch companies and major brands do not want you to know their cases or other components are made in China or that they have facilities in HK but they are and they all do it but this not mean they are not high quality as long as the QC is there and many bring them back to their own facilities for final QC and finishing .... a small % that don't and still make everything in Switzerland are like Patek Philipe for example which you will pay the premium to own one :D |
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Rhino-Ranch Guest
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GERMANY=FRICKER HONG KONG=LONGIO Some of the confusion, is that often times I read posts refering to any case that resembles the original L&B Nauticfish [i.e. Ocean7 LM-3, Bali Hai, Deep Blue, Enzo] as a Fricker case. Obviously this is a mistake. So, in order to avoid further confusion, the question is, what exactly do we call the popular case design? Thanks, Jim oagaspar wrote: my understanding is they designed the case everyone sees being used ....below is the original L&B Nauticfish 04'-05' .... Longio in HK manufactured it and still does and therefore had the right to sell it to whoever wanted to use it or build on it...Longio also has a Swiss affiliate to accomadate "Swiss Made" for a higher price as well as Asian at the lower prices...it is the most recognized case in forum watch history imohand6.gif |
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handie 3T WIS
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thanks for the info, i actually wanted to ask that(how it compares side by side enzo and schaumburg). well you answered it before i asked :) BTW have you ever tried to swap enzo's bezel into schaumburg case? a friend of mine wants to sell his schaumburg aquamatic for 450usd, i'm thinking about buying the enzo emv bezel cause i loved that bezel.. people may ask...why did i didn't just buy the enzo?? well i cant actually afford enzo as they are now 950usd NEW.(quite expensive especially if compared to benarus barracuda :) ) oagaspar wrote: handie wrote:so the schaumburg case are made by longio? |
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oagaspar Site Founder
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I never said Enzo was the same quality as Schaumburg...I said they use the same case and that is where that ends imo :D....for much less my money goes with Benarus or any of the vendors here on 3T but if you want a sweet watch that has the similarities to the above mentioned buy a Bali Ha'i ....that is a sweet watch imho and very well built...plus it is larger,Swiss Made, with a top grade eta coupled by amazing CS hand6.gif handie wrote: thanks for the info, i actually wanted to ask that(how it compares side by side enzo and schaumburg). |
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handie 3T WIS
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i actually considered buying a balihai, but guess what?? I live in Indonesia, and BALI is one of the continents in my country :) if i have a watch with "bali" on the dial. it will like it was a private label by indonesian(which is kinda WEIRD) imagine if you have a watch with "TEXAS" or even "Las Vegas" on the dial, if you now what i mean :) so balihai case made by longio but. assembled in swiss?? and so swiss made it is.. |
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RedHerring Guest
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oagaspar wrote: Kenzo=Fricker/Germany/Swiss Last edited on Fri Jun 19th, 2009 07:22 pm by |
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oagaspar Site Founder
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"On a side note ... What does "mid case" mean? I'm not sure I understand what exactly it refers to." I have no idea what a "mid-case" is unless it is referring to a part of a multiple layered case Wyler and a few other watch companies are using :? ....let me 1st explain what a watch case is as many have different perceptions: a watch case is simply the base of a watch which all the components are attached ie: bezel,crowns,crystal,caseback,movement and dial....remove all these items and you are left with a block of SS ...this is your watch case...and in many cases even the lugs are attached and not considered part of the case itself....so when Enzo claimed he helped design the L&B case that is what he helped design....the case itself and not the watch persayhand6.gif |
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handie 3T WIS
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what actually differentiate them quality? is it the bracelet(it is not part of the case right?)? but it looks the same... same movement also...for the dial, i guess enzo is better, the lume also.. oagaspar wrote: I never said Enzo was the same quality as Schaumburg...I said they use the same case and that is where that ends imo :D....for much less my money goes with Benarus or any of the vendors here on 3T but if you want a sweet watch that has the similarities to the above mentioned buy a Bali Ha'i ....that is a sweet watch imho and very well built...plus it is larger,Swiss Made, with a top grade eta coupled by amazing CS hand6.gif |
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oagaspar Site Founder
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the lume is the same ....both use C-3 superluminova ....it would be preference to which you like better imo....I have had my L&B for a few years trouble free ....can't say that for my Enzos which I have sold all except for 1 that still suffers from the Enzo wobble at the crown to the point it can only be wound on a winder now....I have not tried any of the new Enzos if there are any so I can only comment on the ones I have ownedwatch2.gif ...$450. for a Schaumburg Aquanautic is a super deal imho hand6.gif handie wrote: what actually differentiate them quality? is it the bracelet(it is not part of the case right?)? but it looks the same... |
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handie 3T WIS
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yes, ive heard of the wobble thing. what kind of wobble actually? can you still arrange the time on the watch? BTW what type of enzo that you still have left? |
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