$57 STARKING Chrono - COULD this be the BEST Budget PRX Chronograph Alternative?!

This is the new Starking BM1244 chronograph. And I’ll be honest—there are a couple of choices here that made me raise my eyebrows. But at the same time, there are areas where Starking absolutely nailed it—far beyond what I expected at this price. And since this watch costs just $57 including tax here in the UK, it leaves us with a big question: do the positives here really outweigh the compromises? Well have it here. Let’s take a closer look and find out.

Now, this one isn’t just available on AliExpress. At the time of filming, it’s also available on Amazon US. That makes it, of course, a lot more accessible depending on where you’re based. I’ll leave all the relevant product links in the description below, so you can check them out for yourself.

Design

Right away, the design gives off a very familiar vibe. With its integrated case shape, angular lugs, and those square chronograph pushers, this piece clearly leans into the style of the Tissot PRX Chronograph. The PRX chrono is a 42mm mechanical chronograph that retails for around fifteen hundred dollars—and it’s extremely popular.

Now, this Starking isn’t exactly a one-to-one, which is good, but the inspiration is unmistakable. The BM1244 essentially offers a similar form factor in a slightly smaller, more approachable 41mm package, and powered by quartz instead of mechanical. So, for anyone curious about the PRX chronograph look but not ready to spend four figures, this is a very affordable way to experience that aesthetic.

The proportions here are compact, but the integrated lugs and fixed end links give it a broader wrist presence than you’d expect from the diameter alone. It’s an interesting blend—smaller case, but visually it still carries some heft.

Dimensions

Let’s run the numbers. The case diameter comes in at 41 millimeters, with a slim 10.9 millimeter thickness—thanks to the quartz movement inside. Lug-to-lug is 44.7 millimeters, but here’s where things get a little tricky: because the end links don’t articulate, the effective lug-to-lug stretches out to about 50.5 millimeters. That’s quite a bit longer than the raw spec, and it definitely impacts how it wears.

The lug width—or really, strap width—is 26 millimeters, which gives the watch a very wide stance relative to its case size. On the scale, the whole package weighs just 75 grams, so this chronograph is light and comfortable.

Case

Now this is one of the pleasant surprises. The case finishing is much better than I expected at this price point. The top of the case and the flanks are brushed with clean, even longitudinal brushing. Along the top edges of the flanks, there’s a polished chamfer that catches the light nicely without being overdone.

The fixed bezel is polished with a beveled edge, giving the watch a bit of dressiness on top of its sporty silhouette. Overall geometry is good—the machining feels precise, and the proportions are well considered.

The caseback is minimalistic, with circular brushing, engraved specs, and some branding. It’s a simple screw-on back, which also makes battery replacements straightforward when the time comes.

Then there are the pushers—square, highly polished, and tactile. They feel solid to use, which isn’t always the case at this price point. The crown is a push-pull setup, proportioned well, and together with the caseback Starking declares 50 meters of water resistance. That’s plenty for everyday wear, but don’t take it swimming.

All told, the case is a very strong point here—well-finished, thin, and definitely punching above its price bracket.

Crystal

Covering the dial is a slightly raised perfectly flat crystal. Now, it looks pretty good, however What we have here is juxt a standard mineral glass. That said, it performs somewhat better than I expected. Reflectivity is low, and legibility is very good. There’s no distortion, and I suspect there may be even some anti-reflective treatment, because glare control is quite good. Would I have preferred sapphire? Absolutely. But at this price, mineral glass is forgivable, especially given how well it’s been executed.

Dial & Lume

Now dial here is the real highlight. Starking has done a very good job here.

The background has a subtle vertical texture that adds depth without being distracting. Applied hour indices are neatly faceted, and catch the light nicely. The three sub-dials are slightly recessed, which gives dial dimensionality and breaks up the flat look.

The date window is positioned between four and five o’clock. It’s framed, color-matched to the sub-dials, and integrates seamlessly with the rest of the dial—nothing feels like an afterthought. Branding is restrained, positioned just below twelve, and there’s a simple “Japan Movement” at the bottom. Overall, it’s clean, balanced, and precise.

Now for the lume. Well, it is there, but it is really not much to write home about. Hands and markers do glow, but it’s not bright or long-lasting. For a chronograph in this style, and at this price point I can definitely forgive it—but it’s important to set expectations.

Movement

Inside, we’ve got the Miyota JS25 quartz chronograph movement. It’s Japanese-made, reliable, and accurate. But the layout may divide opinions.

The central seconds hand here is the running seconds—not the chronograph hand. The chronograph seconds are tucked into the subdial at six o’clock, with the minute counter at nine, and a 24-hour display at three.

Some people dislike having the 24-hour indicator, and others prefer the central chronograph seconds hand, as you’d get with something like the VK64 mecha-quartz. Personally, I would have liked to see a different layout. But interestingly, there is actually a community of watch enthusiasts who prefer the running seconds to be central—so Starking may actually be catering to that preference.

At the end of the day, the movement is a solid, no-fuss choice. It’s not exotic, but it gets the job done.

Strap

The strap here is another positive. It’s genuine leather, double-sided, with a croc-style embossing. The dark blue color works very well with the dial, and it feels comfortable straight out of the box - no break-in required.

The stitching is neat, the quality feels decent, and while I can’t vouch for long-term durability, first impressions are very good. What surprised me a bit though, though, was the buckle. It’s a chunky, milled piece of hardware, signed with the Starking logo. At this price point, I expected something stamped and flimsy, but this buckle is genuinely well made.

Wearability

On the wrist, the BM1244 feels light and comfortable thanks to its 75 gram weight and slim profile. The strap adds to the comfort, and the proportions look balanced.

That said, the effective lug-to-lug of 50.5 millimeters and square form factor does make the watch wear larger than its 41mm diameter suggests. However the thin case profile partly makes up for that. On my seven-inch wrist, it’s fine, but if you have a wrist, say slimmer than 6.5 inches, you might notice the broad stance from those fixed end links.

Verdict

So, where does that leave us? The Starking BM1244 chronograph is a bit of a mixed bag, but in the best possible way. On the one hand, there are compromises. The mineral crystal instead of sapphire, the lume being fairly weak, and the chronograph layout not being everyone’s favorite.

On the other hand, there are some genuine surprises. The case finishing is very good for the price, the dial execution is far cleaner and more precise than expected, and even the strap and buckle feel well above budget-watch standards.

And then we come back to the price—just $57 including tax. At that level, the positives easily outweigh the compromises. It’s not a perfect watch, but it’s a very good one for the money. And if you’ve ever wondered how the PRX Chronograph form factor might feel on your wrist, this is an affordable way to find out.