Who makes the best affordable dive watches?

I would still think Seiko even if it’s become hard to find great model below 500. The real answer here will be microbrand. You can find several alternatives with better specs and better finish easily.

Micros don't really do ISO at this level. Of course, it's wasted on desk diving, and I probably will go micro with my first diver, but it's great that the big boys still do it "cheap"... so far.

Check Helm, they have ISO certified. Here’s my Komodo

My beast 💪

Why did I think that Helm were 600 or more? They have an impressive CV!

Scurfa offer solid specs for << 500

I've heard are a lot of professional divers use and trust citizen

I made a few affordable ones 😜

For divers from a diver. 💪

From my experience, after wearing a Ray, Kamasu, SKX and SRPD for a few years, Orient definitely makes a better watch at this price range than Seiko.

The finishing of the Kamasu gen 2 stands out from the rest with a finer brushing, chamfered edges, sapphire crystal, and overall a better/thinner case design and tighter tolerances in the bezel backplay and bracelet construction. If I had to keep only one in this category, it would be my Kamasu.

I’ve also heard Citizen

Not a diver so no idea 🤷

How far under $500 are you willing to go? Quartz or Auto? I could easily toss in the Casio Duro Marlin (mine on a stainless steel oyster bracelet for $55 total) as a worthy candidate. Also might be worth looking at some of Islander watches, Marc has several divers over there that are quite nice.

Lastly, I own a Nodus Sector Deep, new they are $600, but you might be able to find some pre-owned for less.

For let's say around $300 I think you'd have a hard time finding a better diver than Orient between the brands you listed. I say this as someone who is a Seiko fanbay and almost half of my collection are Seiko watches. I love them, but Orient does it better at that pricepoint.

Deep Blue

Orient is very competitive coming in under $250 (and older models will be under 200). Citizen would be my number 2, and Seiko is third mostly because of their slowly diminishing presence under $500. They have a couple models, but newer versions are appearing at around $500-$700 ☹️

As much as it's more skin diver, I like the Time factors Smiths Carribbean and the Bulova Oceanographer

Awful logo but I love that honeycomb dial, malez me think of pancakes 😋

I bought my Tissot Seastar 1000 (it’s quartz) for about $320 on Jomashop I personally think it’s a great starter dive watch. It’s got class but is cheap enough that if you don’t particularly like the diver style you won’t have buyers remorse.

Ask a watch nerd and the answer is Seiko. Ask an actual diver and they'd reach for the Citizen to pair with their dive computer.

Best and affordable usually don't go together but I would say that SEIKO is the best BUT best value for money is CITIZEN for dive watches

I’ll be the odd man out and speak up for Glycine here.

I would argue that Seiko is slowly abandoning the affordable dive arena. Citizen will take this crown in the next 5 years.

The number 1 can only be Citizen since they still offer real divers within that price range in question. Orient's dive watches are nice but they are usually not certified divers. For me that prevents them from being the number 1 here.

*enter all Seiko fanboys*

Yeah, they forgot that the SKX can't be bought at retail anymore.

I think citizen has the most bargain for iso rated diver especially with the eco drive, not just 200m wr.

I don’t think Seiko counts as affordable anymore. Lol

That is of course individual, but a general rule from one FB group is "below 1000 USD", I was even more stringent. It's true that the cheapest new Turtle I could find was 130% of a humble Promaster.

Seiko has the highest looks to quality ratio. 😉

That does hurt 😀