A Nice, Relatively Affordable Diver Style Quartz Watch that Isn’t a Casio Duro: The 300m Cooper Submaster
Back about a month ago, I saw a post (cannot remember the username) that showed a Cooper Submaster like the one above. I had seen them in this style on AlieExpress many times but never gave it a second thought.
The user who made the aforementioned post remarked that it was quite a good watch for the money. I paid ~$80 USD and it took a little longer than it was supposed to be delivered. I’m pretty sure I could have gotten a better deal during the recent anniversary sale on AE.
Just took delivery of the watch today, but so far it hasn’t given me too compelling of a reason to be disappointed. The case feels pretty solid, and I think it’s a pretty attractive case shape. The brushed, matte finish on the stainless steel doesn’t make it too flashy and bling like a polished finish would make it.
I saw some reviewers of the Cooper say the supplied NATO was crap, but I don’t think it felt too flimsy. I removed the NATO and swapped in a black silicone strap with a fine waffle pattern and a black buckle. The biggest bummer is the sloppy feeling bezel. It’s got a lot of back play to it. One the bright side, the lume is a lot better than it should be for a watch in this price category.
The movement is a Miyota 2115, the same as in the Casio, but the Cooper doesn’t quite hit the indices as spot on as the Casio’s. I would say, if you’ve got a quartz-military-diver-sized hole in your watch collection, give it a try.
Been collecting watches since around 2014, although the watch that kicked off my obsession was a G-Shock 5600 I received in 2011 as a birthday gift. I currently have about a dozen Casio/G-Shock watche...
I'll take the proven Duro at half the price. I have 3 and no need to add a pretender to the mix.
I'll take the proven Duro at half the price. I have 3 and no need to add a pretender to the mix.
I also have a couple of black Duro. One is still in the packaging, and the other is the first one I bought last summer. I’m waiting for the delivery of a sapphire crystal with cyclops on the date. Gonna start modding that one. It’s already got a stainless oyster style bracelet. Considering getting the bracelet—solid links, solid end links and milled clasps—from Long Island Watch that fits the Casio.
The biggest problem I have with this watch is that CWC, who supplied the watches to the MOD in the early 1980's, still produce it today, to the original military specs.
That said, I think many might consider it pricey for a quartz diver (it retails at about $650-ish).
I can understand the logic of buying say, a Rolex knock-off, as the original is the price of a small car. At $650 the original is within the realm of achievable for many. For that you're getting better build quality, brand heritage and a watch that generates real interest and conversation amongst watch enthusiasts.
This might be of interest…
I have a couple of Coopers, but the quartz Submaster fell a little flat for me. The Pathfinder though, that’s the watch I would recommend from them.
This might be of interest…
I have a couple of Coopers, but the quartz Submaster fell a little flat for me. The Pathfinder though, that’s the watch I would recommend from them.
I saw that model as well. It has the Miyota Super 2035 (might have the movement name mixed up) but I preferred the look of the Submaster over the Pathfinder. It might be worth it just for the better quartz movement inside. I'm not much for field watches, honestly.
The biggest problem I have with this watch is that CWC, who supplied the watches to the MOD in the early 1980's, still produce it today, to the original military specs.
That said, I think many might consider it pricey for a quartz diver (it retails at about $650-ish).
I can understand the logic of buying say, a Rolex knock-off, as the original is the price of a small car. At $650 the original is within the realm of achievable for many. For that you're getting better build quality, brand heritage and a watch that generates real interest and conversation amongst watch enthusiasts.
That's a valid argument to be made. Like you said, though, $650 for a quartz is way more than I would consider a reasonable price. I have considered getting a Luminox in the past that was, at most I believe, $350 or so, and that's pretty much the ceiling for me. For the $650 of the CWC, I'd look into some nice automatics from microbrands. "To each their own," I say. That's what makes this hobby so personal to many.