I own a Ginault Silent Service and absolutely love it. I’m wearing it right now actually. I’ve been getting the runaround from Rolex for two years, despite having a very good purchase history at my AD. I’m not going to compare the SS to a Submariner but it’s a very high quality watch and I’m extremely satisfied with it. The finishing is outstanding. While it takes cues from the design of the sub, it is not a direct homage, and has its own style. The bezel is outstanding. The clasp is great and I can wear it all day comfortably.

Let’s also keep in mind that the Rolex costs literally 12x as much as the Ginault. Is the Rolex 12x better?!

This review is spot on! I own the Silent Service, and the OR2 and they really do represent almost Rolex level quality at 1/10th the price. I have never experienced another microbrand with this level of bezel turning goodness so close to what Rolex is doing. Ginault's dial hands and indices are also finely made and well assembled, you can tell the watchmaker puts pride and quality into making the watch. The bracelets that Ginault has is about 85% of what the oyster bracelet is which is already above and beyond what many other brands are doing, keep n mind Rolex bracelet alone is $2500!! I honestly think what Ginault is doing is amazing, superb quality and craft at a very affordable price!

I have the Silent Service and a 116610ln-I wear the Ginault as my nice beater. I’d recommend the Ginault to anyone who can’t or won’t spend 10-12k for a Rolex. I love mine 😎!

A couple things having no part in my views... how the bezel sounds and branding. The bezel sound isn't important to me and never has been. While branding is even less important. It doesn't add or take away the beauty of a watch. I like the ginault and would definitely buy it.

The Silent service is the best 1k watch. You can always pick one up pre owned somewhere for around that price and its a killer piece

Another great video. I don’t think this takes many design features from the Sub any more than any other modern diver. It has different bezel knurling, sapphire bezel instead of ceramic, different slope on the bezel, no crown guards, different hands, bigger crown, different case shape, etc. If the watch is said to be a sub homage because of the hands being similar to the milsub, then so is the Omega 2254.50.00 and others. There are only so many things you can do to make a unique diver, and all divers share some of the same DNA, just like us. This same conundrum for design and originality also exists in other manufacturing arena such as knives, firearms, 2-way radios, shoes, bags, pens, etc-unless a radical and unconventional design is utilized. In my opinion the bezel action is better on the Ginault; it feels tighter and more refined. Although I have the ability to see how you arrived at your conclusions, I am just respectfully offering my differing observations to add to the discussion. I always appreciate your expertise and great videos. I hope you are blessed with happiness and continued success.

Great job! Both are nice watches. I understand the lure of Rolex, but the Ginault has something the Rolex doesn't... it's not a Rolex, which I find more interesting and alluring. Subscribed.

I own a silent service and I agree with your assessment.

I agree with all your points! The Ginault is truly excellent and holds its own against the sub in more than one way. Thank you for your comparison of these two awesome watches!

That ginault is so good it really makes the rolex look overpriced. Would like them to offer a sw300 option for a small bump in price. This level of finishing deserves better than a 38 hour power reserve.

Handled both. The Sub is clearly better but not $10k more better. I’d rather have a Tudor BB than a Sub. Imagine misplacing $11k, or having your face bashed in on the street for thieves to take your easily identifiable Rolex. Tudor is the more sane option, under the radar. And this Ginault is a fun option as well if you appreciate good design and quality. Where that design comes from who knows, but a watch can only be done in so many iterations. At some point you’ll have to redo design cues again. I’ve see. What smaller brands try to do with their designs to be “original” but they’re just ugly, original but ugly. You can’t beat old school classic design…it’s why it’s the most popular and the best.

As always for the top brands, when you buy a Rolex you pay for the brand status more then the object itself, take this in mind!

I‘d like to weigh in on the Hommage issue. The term, often intentionally, I think, is used far too loosely. In the true sense, a Hommage IMO is a watch that honors a long out of production and hardly available watch by bringing it back in a modern form with updated technical and some own style features. That is a good and morally defensible thing, I would argue. Which is different from a watch that calls itself Hommage but is nothing but an inexpensive copy of a popular model, that brings nothing of its own to the table, and derived its entire appeal from being a lookalike at a cheap price. Here I am firmly in the disapproval camp that has no love for that. What about the Ginault? To begin with, borrowing some isolated design element is not a Hommage. For example, the Rolex Milspec of old was not a Hommage to the Omega seamaster just because it used its hands. The Silent Service, while incorporating a case design similar to a Sub without crownguards, and a dial design that seems derived from a vintage Seamaster, to my eye is a much improved design over the Seamaster that by virtue of its outstanding aesthetics stands on its own feet, with a bezel entirely its own. Add to that the superb logo design which adds to the quality of the watch by virtue of its beauty and execution (as opposed to copy watches where the entire appeal is the copied design, and the logo a boring add-on). So no, the Silent Service is neither a copy nor a Hommage in any sense of the word but a great watch in its own right. What about the OR and OR2 from Ginault? The similarity to the 5 digit Subs is undeniable. Yet, I would argue, many of the models are not primarily a copy. The no date OR model with golden sand lume IMO is a true and deserving Hommage to the Rolex Milspec. The golden sand lume OR model with blue bezel and golden bezel numbers adds design features that no Rolex had. The bezels of the OR2 do heavily borrow from that of the current Rolex Seadweller, yet by combining it with a Sub case, having that highly appealing own logo design and, which applies to all Ginault models, adding another quality of its own, namely offering superb materials and finishing qualities at a very good price, these watches have convinced me based on their own merit. IMO, Ginault offers what Rolex offered 50 years ago: superior quality/price ratio with a highly appealing design, overall creating a package that stands on its own feet. I am a fan.

The other thing is just peace of mind. Your not walking around with a target on your wrist for thieves to spot, which may or may not be an issue where you live. It’s also not such a big deal if you lose it. I think there are lots of people who would just be more comfortable wearing a watch at the Ginault price point.

Ginaults costs reflects the tolerances and quality of finishing that are required to make a super high quality diver at the most impressive price possible.

Great transparency at the start. Well done.

What is the warranty on the Ginault Silent Service? I don't see it on their website.

How is the winding action on the genault? I hate the grainy hard resistance of the sw200-1.

No logo on the clasp is a miss by Ginalult. Shame about the ghost date too.. Does that movement come in a no date variant? Power reserve is no big deal. We buy automatics to interact with them, otherwise we would be all wearing quartz with its improved accuracy.

How about a Ginault vs TC submariner ?

congrats on the sub!

Great comparison! Your cat is cute!

Especially for the price, the Ginault is just insanity. But if I am going to have to buy one for myself. I think I'd still go for the submariner. There is something about that design which makes it more versatile. It just eyes classy enough to still wear it under a suit.

Love my Ginault Ocean Rover.

This should be good 😊

For the price, I think I would be looking at Monta instead

I prefer my high end Seiko or Tudor bezel sound that’s for sure. What mechanism do Rolex and Ginault use?

Ginault is a nice watch. Don't ever compare to the SUB though. No comparison.

Not easy to find preowned.

This is like comparing Mercedes and a Fiat. Rolex outperforms the Ginault in every aspect including better value for money if that is possible.

Rolex bezel isn't "coin-edged" it's scalloped.

Looks more like the Omega Seamster 300 ref 165.024 than a Rolex.

Shame that Ginault warns against any hand winding.

You are a rolex fanboy clearly.

Never liked Mercedes hands . Wouldn't buy the Rolex .

You should compare the San Martin Rolex homage against the silent service you will be surprised especially how much you pay for a San Martin quality is top notch

Crazy… what? You know it’s not even close. Glad you like the watch but come on. You know it’s not a Sub.

Can't believe my comment has been erased so much for being able to speak the truth I understand most people can't handle it guess that's why my channel is growing so fast. Also can't help but say bueller bueller has anybody seen Ferris bueller lmao

When i dont want to rolex and higher end omega I prefer my breitlings as my beater lixuries. This just doesnt have an appealing look.

Kinetic Continuous is the funniest example of "copy my homework but make it look different" I've ever seen. Ginault really did a good job making Rolex look like the fools they are. Rolex watches are $3000 affairs at best with the lackluster fit and finish they offer. Branding once again "justifies" selling a kidney. Fun fact: Many claim Rolex invented 904l Steel, while in reality all they do is produce the alloy in their own foundries. Omega used the alloy in the seventies under COMEX's suggestion, about 15 years before Rolex first did.

You're shilling for Ginualt too, huh?

When you look close on the ginault there are just too many tool marks on the watch, around the bezel and on top of the case lugs. They are small but for the price that is unacceptable. The Rolex is much more refined watch overall.

No lume pip and unsigned clasp is disappointing on an otherwise stellar watch. As for the Sub, its legacy speaks for itself.

Yet again. Comparing a cheap blatant copy of the Submainer with the real thing. I wonder why people always belittle Rolex and at the same time worship a COPY?

So basically a copy... a mix between submariner and omega planet ocean... of course is gonna be cheaper. They didn’t spend the money or the time for design and movement development. Please, if you want a sub buy a sub. No need to buy substitutes. Your itch will not be satisfied.