OLEVS 6699 Rose Gold Women’s Watch Review: flashy skeleton style on a budget

I’ve been wearing the OLEVS 6699 Rose Gold women’s automatic watch for a little while now, basically as my main daily watch. I picked it because I wanted something a bit flashy with a visible mechanism, but I wasn’t ready to spend big money on a Swiss brand. This one sits in that cheap-to-mid range where you’re always wondering: is it going to feel like a toy, or like a real watch?

First thing: this is not a subtle piece. The rose gold, the skeleton dial, the fake diamonds, plus the tourbillon-style opening in the dial – it clearly wants attention. On the wrist, people do notice it, especially if the light hits the dial. A couple of friends actually grabbed my wrist to look at the mechanism moving, which tells you it doesn’t look cheap from a distance.

In daily use, I tried to treat it like a normal watch: wore it to work, on a couple of evenings out, some light rain, and a few accidental bumps on doors and desks. So far, no major drama: timekeeping is decent for the price, the glass hasn’t scratched yet, and the bracelet hasn’t randomly opened. It’s clearly not high-end, but it doesn’t feel like a £10 market watch either.

Overall, my first impression is: it’s a bold, shiny automatic watch that feels decent for what you pay. It has some flaws, especially in size and comfort if you have smaller wrists, and the quality is not on the level of more expensive brands, but for a budget automatic with a skeleton face, it does the job better than I expected.

For the price range this sits in, you get quite a lot on paper: automatic movement, skeleton dial, ceramic + stainless bracelet, 30 m water resistance, plus a bracelet and necklace in the box. If you look purely at features per pound, it’s pretty solid. Compared to basic quartz fashion watches at similar prices, this one at least gives you a mechanical movement and a more complex look.

The real question is: are you okay with the compromises? The finishing is not perfect, the movement is not super precise, the lume is weak, and the design is quite loud. If you mainly care about reliability and precision, a simple quartz watch from a known brand might serve you better. If you care more about the look and the idea of an automatic watch with visible mechanics, this OLEVS gives you that vibe without spending a fortune.

As a gift, it actually makes sense: the packaging is decent, the watch looks more expensive than it is, and the included jewelry makes the set feel more complete. For someone who just wants a shiny, mechanical-looking watch and is not obsessed with watch brands, it’s a nice present. For watch nerds who compare movements and finishing under a loupe, it will obviously feel basic, but those people aren’t really the target here.

So in terms of value, I’d say it’s good as long as you go in with realistic expectations. It’s a fashionable automatic with a flashy skeleton design at a budget-friendly price. There is better quality out there if you pay more, but at this level, it gets the job done and looks the part, which is probably what most buyers of this watch care about.

The design is clearly aimed at people who like their watch to be seen. The rose gold tone, the open skeleton dial, and the diamond-style markers all shout "look at me". If you prefer minimal or low-key pieces, this is not it. On the other hand, if you enjoy a bit of bling and mechanical vibes, it hits that mix pretty well. The dial is busy but in a way that matches the whole concept: visible gears, fake tourbillon window, and decorative stones around the face.

The 40 mm case size is on the large side for a women’s watch, which several people will either like or hate. On my medium wrist, it looks bold but not ridiculous. On a smaller wrist, it can look oversized, almost like a men’s watch. The lugs are short enough that it doesn’t hang over the wrist, but it definitely has presence. The thickness also means it sits high on the wrist, so it can get caught on tight sleeves or jackets.

I do like the skeleton aspect. You can actually see parts of the movement working, and for someone who enjoys mechanical watches, that’s fun. It’s not a high-end tourbillon – it’s more of a decorative open-heart style – but visually it does the job. The red/rose dial plus rose gold accents gives it a kind of flashy, slightly dressy style that works well for nights out or dressed-up outfits. For the office, it really depends on how formal your environment is; it’s not exactly discreet.

In short, the design is bold, flashy, and busy, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. If you want something simple and classic, you’ll probably find it too much. If you like watches that look a bit over-the-top and you want people to notice them, this one fits that role nicely, especially at this price point.

Comfort-wise, this watch depends a lot on your wrist size and what you’re used to. The 40 mm diameter and 12.5 mm thickness mean it’s not a dainty piece. On my medium wrist, it feels present but not painful. I definitely notice it more than a slim quartz watch, especially under tighter sleeves. If you usually wear small, light watches, this will feel heavy and bulky at first, even though the stated weight (around 30 g) seems oddly low on paper – in hand, it feels heavier than that.

Getting the bracelet sized properly is key. Out of the box, it was far too loose for me, so I had to remove several links. Once adjusted, it sits more securely and doesn’t spin around the wrist. The inside edges of the bracelet are reasonably smooth, no sharp corners digging into the skin. I wore it for full days at work and in the evening, and while I knew it was there, it didn’t leave marks or pinch my skin. The clasp is fairly flat, so it doesn’t dig into the wrist bone.

In hot weather, the metal and ceramic bracelet can get a bit sticky if you sweat, but that’s true for most metal bracelets. The watch doesn’t feel overly top-heavy, but the tall case does mean you’ll bump it into things if you’re not careful. If you often wear fitted jackets or tight cuffs, you’ll probably find yourself adjusting your sleeve to avoid it catching on the watch.

In short, comfort is okay but not perfect. If you like big watches, you’ll probably find it fine after a day or two. If you have a very small wrist or you hate feeling weight on your arm, this might be too much. It’s wearable for a full day, but it’s not the kind of watch you forget you’re wearing.

On paper, the materials sound quite solid: stainless steel case, stainless steel and ceramic bracelet, Hardlex crystal, automatic movement. In practice, it feels decent in hand, but you can tell it’s not on the same level as more expensive brands. The case finishing is clean enough, no sharp edges on mine, and the rose gold plating looks uniform. How long that plating will last before fading is the big question with this kind of watch, but after regular wear for a while, I haven’t seen any discoloration yet.

The bracelet is a mix of metal and ceramic links. The ceramic parts give it a slightly nicer look than plain metal, and they don’t show fingerprints as much. The downside is that the bracelet doesn’t feel super solid – it’s light, and the links feel a bit hollow compared to higher-end steel bracelets. Still, no rattling or weird noises so far, and the push-button hidden clasp has stayed closed during normal use, which is the main thing.

The Hardlex crystal is a mid-range choice: tougher than basic mineral glass, not as scratch-resistant as sapphire. So far, after daily wear including some bumps on desks and door frames, mine hasn’t picked up obvious scratches. That’s a good sign, but I wouldn’t treat it like an indestructible sports watch. Also, the 30 m water resistance basically means it can handle splashes and maybe light rain, but I wouldn’t swim or shower with it on, despite the "waterproof" label. It’s more splash-proof than true dive-ready.

Overall, the materials are in line with the price: stainless steel, a bit of ceramic, and a basic but acceptable crystal. It’s not luxury-grade, but it’s also not toy-level plastic. If you manage your expectations and don’t abuse it, it feels like it can hold up reasonably well for casual and dress use.

Durability is always the big unknown with cheaper automatic watches. After regular use, the OLEVS 6699 has held up quite well so far. No loose links, no stones falling out, no major scratches on the glass. I’ve accidentally knocked it against door frames and desk edges a few times, and it survived without visible damage. That’s a good sign, but of course we’re talking about a relatively short test period, not years.

The rose gold coating is what I’m most curious about in the long run. On mine, there’s no fading yet on the case or bracelet, even on the clasp where you often see wear first. Still, based on other similarly priced watches I’ve owned, I’d expect some signs of wear after a year or two, especially if you wear it daily. If you rotate it with other watches and don’t wear it every day, it will probably stay decent-looking longer.

The movement itself is a basic automatic, likely not as robust as those from big Japanese or Swiss brands, but so far it hasn’t shown any weird behavior: no random stopping, no strange noises when winding. If you drop it hard or really bang it around, I wouldn’t expect miracles, but for normal office and casual use, it seems fine. Just don’t treat it like a rugged sports watch or a tool watch – it’s more fashion-oriented.

Overall, durability feels acceptable for the price, but I’d be cautious about long-term expectations. If you want something to wear every single day for many years, I’d probably look at more established brands. If you just want a flashy mechanical-style watch to wear regularly but not abuse, this one seems capable of holding up reasonably well.

This is an automatic watch, so no battery, which is nice if you like the idea of a mechanical movement. It supports both automatic winding (from your wrist movement) and manual winding with the crown. In daily use, I wore it around 8–10 hours a day, and it kept running fine overnight. On days when I didn’t move much, I gave it a few manual winds in the evening just to be safe. That’s pretty standard for entry-level automatics.

In terms of accuracy, don’t expect quartz-level precision. Over several days, I noticed it was gaining a few seconds per day, nothing extreme but enough that you’ll want to correct the time every week or so if you care about exact minutes. For the price, that’s acceptable. It’s more of a "good enough" daily watch than a precision instrument. If you just need it to be roughly on time for work and social stuff, it’s fine.

The luminous feature is there, but it’s not very strong. The hands and markers glow a bit after being in bright light, but it fades quite fast. In a dark room after a couple of hours, you can’t really read the time easily. So yes, it technically glows in the dark, but don’t count on it as a serious night-time watch. The 30 m water resistance has been okay for hand washing and light rain; I had no fogging or moisture under the crystal, but I didn’t push it further.

Overall, performance is solid for an affordable automatic: it keeps running reliably if you wear it regularly, time drift is acceptable for casual use, and the movement looks nice through the skeleton dial. Just remember you’re not buying a high-precision or hardcore sports watch here. It’s more about the look and the mechanical charm than perfect technical performance.

When the OLEVS box arrived, I wasn’t expecting much, but the presentation is actually pretty solid for this price range. The packaging is quite compact, and inside you get the watch plus a matching bracelet and necklace. To be honest, I didn’t buy it for the extra jewelry, but it’s a small bonus if you like coordinated sets. The box itself is not luxury-level, but it’s clean and decent enough to give as a gift without being embarrassed.

Inside, the watch is already sized quite large, so if you have a thin wrist, expect to remove several links. There’s no professional sizing tool included, so you either need your own small tools or a trip to a watch shop. The watch is wrapped in plastic films on the case and bracelet, which is standard but also a bit fiddly to peel off around the clasp and lugs. Still, nothing shocking here, it feels similar to other budget watches I’ve unboxed.

First time in hand, the watch has more presence than I thought. The 40 mm case is big for a women’s watch, and the thickness (around 12.5 mm) makes it feel quite chunky. If you’re used to small, thin watches, this will feel like a big step up in size. Some people will like that bold look, others will find it too much. The extra bracelet and necklace are clearly cheaper in finish than the watch, but for occasional use or as part of a gift set, they’re okay.

Overall, the presentation is good value for the money: you get a watch that looks more expensive than it is, plus two extra pieces of jewelry and a box that’s perfectly fine for gifting. Just don’t expect premium finishing or a full-on luxury experience – it’s budget-friendly, and you can feel it in some details, but it’s not sloppy.