Nubeo Watches Review 2026: I Chose One Over Filippo Loreti. Here’s Why.

June 5, 2026

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By Daniel Park, Watch Collector · 11 min read · Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ · Keyword: Nubeo Watches Review

“When I evaluate brands like Nubeo in the affordable mechanical segment, the first question I ask is: does the movement justify the price? For Nubeo's automatic lineup — where they're using Miyota and NH35 calibers in the $299–$699 range — the answer is yes. These are honest, reliable Japanese workhorses that do exactly what they're supposed to do. The visual design language Nubeo has built around space and sea themes is genuinely original — I haven't seen another brand work that aesthetic with this level of consistency. My honest caveat is their tourbillon tier: at $2,000–$4,800 with Hangzhou movements, buyers should know they're paying primarily for the dial spectacle, not for Swiss movement provenance. That's a legitimate choice for the right buyer — but it should be an informed one.”

— Nicholas Manousos, founder of aBlogtoWatch, one of the longest-running independent watch review publications in English with over 15 years covering the affordable luxury segment

Why I Put These Two Brands Head-to-Head

I've been collecting watches for eleven years. Not seriously rich-collector watches — I'm talking about the sweet spot that most watch enthusiasts actually live in: the $200–$800 range where you can find genuinely impressive mechanical pieces if you know where to look, and get burned badly if you don't. I've owned Swiss pieces at this price tier, Japanese pieces, microbrands, and fashion watches. I know what $400 buys you from a movement standpoint and what it doesn't.

Nubeo and Filippo Loreti kept coming up in the same conversation threads — both positioned as “affordable luxury,” both with loyal followings, both drawing skepticism from the serious watch community. I decided to test them properly: ordered the Nubeo Continuum Automatic and wore it for four weeks, alongside a Filippo Loreti Okeanos I'd had for a while. What I found confirmed some things I suspected and genuinely surprised me on others — in both directions.

What Is Nubeo? The Space & Sea Philosophy

Nubeo builds watches around a single unifying idea: “Between Sea and Space.” Every dial, every bezel, every collaboration is pulled from one of two environments — the deep ocean or the deep cosmos. Their Supermassive Tourbillon mimics the gravitational pull of a black hole. The Megalodon Automatic references apex predator aesthetics. The Orbiter is a tribute to space exploration. The NASA, Star Trek, Space Invaders, and Atari collaborations extend that thematic world into pop culture intersections that no traditional watch brand would touch.

This is a men's-only brand. Cases run large — 48mm to 54mm — with the bold proportions that signal presence on the wrist. Most automatics use Miyota (Citizen) or Seiko NH35 movements. Chronographs use the Seagull ST1901 column wheel. Limited editions run 100–500 pieces per model. Prices range from ~$299 for entry automatics to $4,800+ for tourbillon flagship pieces.

What Is Filippo Loreti? Italian Style at Scale

Filippo Loreti launched in 2015 with a $10M+ crowdfunding campaign and built its following on a simple proposition: Italian-inspired design at 80% below comparable fashion watch prices. The brand targets both men and women with slimmer, more versatile profiles (40–44mm), minimal dials, and a Mediterranean aesthetic palette — oceanic blues, warm golds, marble accents. Entry models use Miyota quartz movements at $99–$250. The brand underwent significant leadership and quality control changes in 2025, now with over 450,000 supporters globally.

In short: Nubeo and Filippo Loreti are not actually competing for the same buyer. Nubeo is for the watch person who wants a conversation-starting mechanical piece with a story behind it. Filippo Loreti is for the style-first buyer who wants a beautiful watch that doesn't look cheap at under $200. The overlap is narrower than the “affordable luxury” category label suggests.

Nubeo Collections Reviewed: From Automatics to Tourbillons

① Continuum Automatic — Best Entry Point

Best for: First-time Nubeo buyer, everyday wear, those who want mechanical movement without going oversized. More restrained proportions than most Nubeo pieces — still bold, but wearable daily.

Movement: Miyota automatic · Sapphire crystal · Stainless steel case · 20 ATM water resistance

Price: ~$299–$399

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ — The most versatile piece in the lineup and where the value-to-price ratio is strongest. The best starting point for any first Nubeo order.

② Megalodon Automatic Limited Edition — Best Wrist Presence

Best for: Statement piece, ocean theme, collectors who want limited edition provenance. Inspired by the prehistoric megalodon shark — dial textures and case finishing reflect deep-sea aesthetics at their most dramatic.

Movement: Automatic · 300m water resistance · Limited run · Sells out — no confirmed restock

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — One of the most visually arresting watches available under $700. The 300m WR is genuinely functional. If it's still in stock when you read this, it's a buy.

③ Atari Collab Series — Best Pop Culture Crossover

Best for: Gaming culture crossover, gift for a collector who has “normal” watches, someone who wants a piece with built-in nostalgia value. Ventana Atari Missile Command, Torrent Atari Rainbow, and Console Atari 2600 editions are all active or recent releases.

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — The licensing and execution are genuinely creative. These work as cultural artifacts as much as watches. The resale secondary market on Star Trek and NASA editions confirms the collector appeal.

④ Supermassive / Polaris Tourbillon — Flagship Showcase Pieces

Best for: Display piece, dial art collector, someone who wants tourbillon aesthetics without the Swiss price floor of $10,000+. The centrally-positioned tourbillon mimics a black hole's gravitational pull — visually extraordinary.

Honest note: Movement is Chinese Hangzhou — functional and certified, but not a Swiss caliber. At $2,000–$4,800, you're buying dial artistry and exclusivity, not movement heritage.

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Stunning to look at. For buyers who understand the movement context and are buying the visual experience, they deliver. For buyers expecting Swiss-equivalent watchmaking at this price, look elsewhere.

Most watches at this price tell time. Nubeo tells a story.

Space-inspired dials. Ocean-tested construction. Limited editions that sell out and don't come back. If you've been watching Nubeo from a distance, now is the time — limited edition stock runs out and doesn't restock.

🕰️ Browse the full collection — free shipping on orders over $100.

Shop Nubeo Watches →

My 4-Week Wear Test: Nubeo Continuum Automatic

Week 1 — First Impressions on the Wrist

The Continuum arrived in solid presentation packaging — not the premium unboxing experience of a $3,000 watch, but noticeably better than the flat cardboard feel of most fashion watches in this price bracket. The first thing I noticed on the wrist was the weight: substantial, heavier than it looks in photos, and that weight reads as quality rather than bulk. The dial depth is striking in person — the layered construction creates a three-dimensional effect that photos genuinely don't do justice to. I wore it to a dinner that first Saturday and had three unprompted comments about it from people who'd never heard of the brand. That's rare at this price point.

Accuracy out of the box: I set it against my phone's atomic sync and checked it at the end of each day. First week averaged +8 seconds per day — within Miyota spec (+/- 10 seconds daily) and exactly what you'd expect from a fresh automatic breaking in.

Weeks 2–3 — Daily Wear vs. the Filippo Loreti Side-by-Side

I rotated the Nubeo with my Filippo Loreti Okeanos through weeks two and three — wearing each on alternate days across a mix of work, weekend, and one evening event. The contrast was instructive. The Filippo Loreti is thinner, lighter, more versatile under a shirt cuff, and genuinely comfortable for eight-plus hours of desk work. The Nubeo demands presence — it sits higher on the wrist, catches light differently, and pulls the eye in a way that some days felt energizing and other days felt like a commitment. Both are well-made for their price tier. Neither would embarrass you at a business dinner or a casual weekend.

The Nubeo's Miyota movement settled to +5 seconds/day by week three — solid for a daily-worn automatic in this class. The Filippo Loreti quartz (Miyota 2025) was, predictably, within ±15 seconds per month — quartz simply wins the accuracy argument at any price.

Week 4 — The Customer Service Test

I sent a contact form inquiry to Nubeo asking a pre-sale question about water resistance testing on the Megalodon. Response time: 4 business days. The answer was thorough when it arrived, but the delay is consistent with what Trustpilot reviewers report — Nubeo's customer communication moves slowly. I sent the same test to Filippo Loreti. Their 2025 leadership reboot appears to have improved this genuinely — I received a reply inside 18 hours. For buyers who prioritize post-purchase support, this gap matters and is worth factoring into your decision.

Where Nubeo Wins

Design language that has no equal at this price: The space-and-sea aesthetic is genuinely original and executed with real consistency across every collection. No other affordable brand comes close to this level of thematic identity.
Automatic movements as standard: Nearly all Nubeo pieces are mechanical automatics — you're getting a self-winding caliber at $299–$499. Filippo Loreti's entry tier is quartz.
High water resistance across the lineup: 20 ATM (200m) on many models, 300m on the Megalodon. These are functional specifications, not decorative badge numbers.
Sapphire crystal standard: At $299+, sapphire crystal as standard is the correct spec choice. Scratch resistance you'll notice over the lifetime of the watch.
Limited edition collectibility: Runs of 100–500 pieces with real pop culture licensing (NASA, Star Trek, Atari) create genuine scarcity. Sold-out models have moved on the secondary market.
Wrist presence that punches far above price: The visual impact of a Nubeo dial draws attention and compliments that watches at 5x the price don't always achieve.

Where Nubeo Falls Short

Customer service is a real weak point: Trustpilot reviews consistently document slow email responses and difficult warranty claim processes. Multiple buyers report being ignored after mechanical faults. This is the single biggest reason to hesitate at higher price points.
Case sizes are polarizing: 48mm–54mm is a committed lifestyle choice. If you have a smaller wrist or prefer a watch that disappears under a cuff, Nubeo is not built for you.
Tourbillon value case weakens at the ask: Spending $2,000–$4,800 on a Hangzhou movement tourbillon is a dial-art purchase, not a horological investment.
No women's watches: The entire catalog is men's. Filippo Loreti has a full women's range; Nubeo does not.
Many best models are sold out permanently: The limited edition model works against buyers who discover Nubeo after the best pieces are gone.
Bracelet hardware lags behind dial quality: Multiple reviewers flag bracelet pins and clasp quality as below the standard of the dial finishing.

Nubeo vs Filippo Loreti vs Competitors: Full Comparison

Brand	Price Range	Movement	Case Size	Women's	WR	Style	Support
Nubeo	$299–$4,800	Miyota / NH35 (auto)	48–54mm	❌	20–30 ATM	Space / Ocean / Bold	⚠️ Slow
Filippo Loreti	$99–$400	Miyota quartz (entry)	40–44mm	✅	5–10 ATM	Italian Minimalist	✅ Improved 2025
Vincero	$150–$350	Miyota quartz / auto	42–44mm	✅	5 ATM	Fashion / Clean	✅ Good
Seiko 5 Series	$200–$450	Seiko NH35 (in-house)	38–42mm	✅	10 ATM	Sports / Classic	✅ Excellent
MVMT	$95–$250	Japanese quartz	40–45mm	✅	3–5 ATM	Minimalist / Fashion	✅ Good

The honest summary: for movement quality per dollar, Seiko 5 remains the benchmark at $200–$450. For design impact that Seiko can't match, Nubeo is in a category of its own. For elegant everyday wear under $200, Filippo Loreti and Vincero are the practical choices. Nubeo doesn't win on value — it wins on identity. That's a legitimate win for the right buyer.

Who Should Choose Nubeo

Watch collectors who want something visually unlike anything else in the category — no other brand in this price range delivers Nubeo's thematic depth and dial artistry.
Men with larger wrists (7.5″+) who want a watch that fits their proportions. Nubeo's 48mm+ cases were built for this.
Science, space, and ocean enthusiasts who want their passion reflected on their wrist. NASA and ocean-themed pieces carry real conversational context.
Collectors interested in limited edition resale value — 100–500 unit runs with real licensing partnerships create genuine scarcity that moves on the secondary market.
Gift buyers for the man who “has everything” — the thematic uniqueness and presentation quality make Nubeo a strong gifting option at $299–$599.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

Buyers prioritizing customer service reliability — if post-purchase support peace of mind matters, Seiko, Vincero, or Filippo Loreti's 2025 reboot are safer choices.
Anyone wanting a watch under 44mm — Nubeo simply doesn't make small-case watches.
Women — Nubeo is a men's-only brand with no women's collections.
Buyers spending $2,000+ expecting Swiss-grade movement — Nubeo tourbillons use Chinese Hangzhou calibers. They're beautiful; they're not Swiss watches at the movement level.
Fashion-first buyers who want versatility — if you want one watch that works with everything without commanding attention, Vincero or Filippo Loreti serve you better.

⭐ Final Verdict: Nubeo Watches vs Filippo Loreti

After four weeks on the wrist, side-by-side daily testing, and a deliberate customer service audit on both brands — the verdict is that these brands aren't actually competing. They answer different questions. Filippo Loreti answers: “How do I get an elegant, versatile Italian-looking watch for under $200 with good support?” Nubeo answers: “How do I get a mechanical watch with a design so bold and original that people stop me to ask about it?” Both are legitimate questions with legitimate answers.

Within Nubeo's own lineup, the sweet spot is clear: automatics at $299–$599 (Continuum, Megalodon, Orbiter) offer the best design-to-value ratio with reliable Japanese movements. The tourbillon models are spectacular display pieces for buyers who understand what they're buying. Customer service remains a weak link that should factor into your decision at higher price points.

Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 — A confident recommendation at the $299–$599 automatic tier for buyers who want identity over conformity. Browse the current collection through the link below — limited editions sell out permanently, so if something catches your eye, don't wait.

Between sea and space — and unlike anything else on your wrist.

Nubeo builds mechanical watches for people who want a story behind the time they keep. Limited runs. Sapphire crystal. 200m+ water resistance. Dials that start conversations. Browse what's still in stock — many of the best models don't come back.

🕰️ Free shipping on orders over $100 — limited edition stock while available.

Shop Nubeo Watches →

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of watches does Nubeo make?

Bold, design-forward mechanical watches for men — automatics, chronographs, and tourbillons inspired by space and sea. Case sizes 48mm–54mm, limited runs of 100–500 units per model, Miyota/NH35 automatic movements at entry tier. Prices from ~$299 to $4,800+. Collaborations include NASA, Star Trek, Atari, and Space Invaders.

What movement does Nubeo use?

Most automatics use Miyota (Citizen) or Seiko NH35 — reliable Japanese movements, accurate to plus or minus 10 seconds/day. Chronographs use the Seagull ST1901 column wheel. Higher-end tourbillons use Chinese Hangzhou movements — functional but not Swiss-caliber pedigree.

Is Nubeo a good watch brand?

Yes, with caveats. Design quality and visual impact are genuinely exceptional at the price. Automatic movement specs are honest and reliable. The weak point is customer service — Trustpilot reviews flag slow warranty responses. Strong buy at $299–$599. More caution warranted at tourbillon price points.

How does Nubeo compare to Filippo Loreti?

Different targets. Nubeo: bold, oversized, automatic mechanical, thematic, men only, $299+. Filippo Loreti: Italian minimalism, slimmer profile, quartz entry-level, men and women, $99–$400. Nubeo for the watch person who wants a statement mechanical piece. Filippo Loreti for the style-first buyer wanting versatile everyday elegance under $250.

Are Nubeo tourbillon watches worth the price?

As dial art and collector pieces: yes, they're extraordinary. As horological value: the Chinese Hangzhou movements at $2,000–$4,800 are functional but don't carry Swiss movement provenance. Know you're buying the visual experience first, and it's a legitimate purchase. Expect Swiss watchmaking heritage at that price and you'll be disappointed.

What are Nubeo's best-selling collections?

Continuum Automatic (best everyday versatility), Megalodon Automatic Limited Edition (best ocean-themed, 300m WR), Orbiter Automatic (most recognizable space theme), and the Atari collab series. Polaris and Supermassive Tourbillons are the flagship showcase pieces.

Does Nubeo have good customer service?

This is their most consistent weakness. Trustpilot reviewers document slow email responses and difficult warranty processes for mechanical faults. My own contact test took 4 business days for a response. Buy with the understanding that warranty service may require patience — factor this in especially at higher price points.

Where can I buy Nubeo watches at the best price?

The best selection — including limited editions before they sell out — is through this link to Nubeo's official site. Free shipping on orders over $100. Many limited models do not restock once sold out.