For today’s review, I am reviewing the OLEVS OUW-S-G2856GB-BL Stainless Steel Chronograph Quartz Watch. A watch that was released on October 30, 2024.
I am a watch guy but while I tend to go for more higher end watches, I like to try different watches at different price points and watches made in different countries.
OLEVS is a Hong Kong brand that I’m not so familiar with but I do know that they signed Indonesian martial arts celebrity Iko Uwais (“The Raid”) to promote their brand.
The brand has been around since 1999 and has branches in several countries and has registered trademarks in more than 40 countries.
So, what does this watch offer and what are my initial thoughts.
First, it comes with a tool, so you can adjust to your wrist size. Typically from certain Asian watches they are 2-3 segments that I have to remove to fit my wrist (I have a bigger wrist) and so I need to adjust, but this one, I just needed to remove one and it fit perfectly. The stainless steel band is really easy to adjust, but I do recommend having a watch tool set because while it does come with a tool, it helps to have that small hammer to strike the tool for the pin to come out and to adjust really quickly.
One thing to know about this watch as well as it’s a Sun & Moon chronograph watch, which is pretty cool! This watch features 24H moon phase and the left chronograph displays minutes, while the bottom decorative portion is for seconds. I wished the bottom portion actually showed the gears instead of an illustration, but then again, it’s a $30 range watch. Can’t really complain.
Pull out the crown to rotate clock hands to set the time, top button is start/stop timing and the bottom button is for resetting the time.
For the blue version I am reviewing, I will note that because it’s so shiny, there is a glare on the chronographs, so the small type may be hard to read at times.
The watch is 30M (100 feet) water resistant but my feeling as a watch collector and owner is one should never wear a wristwatch underwater or showering. Especially for a cheaper watch which probably may end up in fogging.
The watch is luminous but I had to use my UV flash light to charge the luminosity.
Now the OLEVS 2856 is a watch that features a Quartz Movement (requires batteries). While I am a mechanical watch person, for the price that these watches sell for, in this case, the $30 range, you expect these watches to be Quartz.
And it features a 42mm case diameter, so it’s not so huge and not so small.
Now my thoughts on this watch. It’s a beautiful watch no doubt. I think many men would receive compliments of this watch because of its luxurious look. It’s no doubt a watch that can compliment’s one fashion.
Granted, it’s not going to impress any watch erudite but most watch erudites look to more expensive watches.
This is probably one of the coolest $30 range watches you can buy in terms of look and feel. With that being said, it is a Quartz watch and how long the battery will last, you may get a year.
So, if you notice the time being off, you may want to get a screwdriver (flathead) and prop up the back cover (there are no notches on the rear of the watch, so a smaller flathead will do) or visit your local repair shop.
Last but not least, you may be wondering if it’s worth purchasing this OLEVS OUW-S-G2856GB-BL Stainless Steel Chronograph Quartz Watch? If you like the look, then go for it. If you don’t mind Quartz movements, go for it. It’s no doubt one of the cheaper alternatives to obtain a moonphase (sun and moon) watch and you can get it in a variety of colors that suits your taste and it’s in the $30 range, so you’re not going to put a dent in your wallet.
Don’t expect anything huge, it’s a $30 range watch overall!
While I can’t tell you if it will last five years or ten years, I will say that for the last few days I have worn it, time has been good on its original battery so far. And whether or not you get what you pay for, who knows how long this watch will truly last? But like any watch, you take care of it, they can last you a long time.
So, for its price range in the $30s, I definitely give the OLEVS OUW-S-G2856GB-BL Stainless Steel Chronograph Quartz Watch a thumbs up.
