Did the Swiss out-Turtle Seiko?

Without having seen both in person, I would have to give the node to Certina. The specs to price ratio I think out weighs the history of the Seiko. @Max seemed to go with emotion attachment to a watch he has a standing relationship with and that is fair enough. To @Max credit he does acknowledge that attachment in the video.

Absolutely.

Certina's re-issues are no joke, especially their divers. Great history (as a brand and as individual references), pretty impressive quality to dollar ratio (especially their dials and dial furniture but the case finishing is spot on too) and they're just good looking watches.

And as an Australian I have a little extra incentive - the DS-3 PH 1000m (the watch this is based on) was issued to Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers.

☻

Thanks for the cool and fun extra history connection.

Yeah it's kind of the whole packag, and competitively priced.

Gotta go with the heart 😊

And that is fair. I give you much credit for acknowledging that in your videos.

🤣🤣🤣I would stay with both, the truth is that this Certina looks spectacular, but I don't know if I would remove a Willard to stay only with the PH1000m

No such thing as Out Turtle’ing a Seiko… blasphemy!! No… nooooooooo…

Perhaps Out-Cushioning I’ll take that…

😆

But honestly, perhaps a better comparison might be a Doxa… looks wise certiga look like more a Doxa homage…

And again Seiko cannot be Out-Turltled!!

Thank you, your truly …

Seikofanboy…

Ok. Above is a photo of my 6105 Willard - the real deal, not the reissues and below are my 6309 Turtle and my Certina DS PH500m. If I had to choose only one, the answer would be the Willard. But only this original one. If it were a reissue, I don't think I would have that sentimental card and may choose the new Certina in @Max 's video. Thinking of that if not for the fact that I've got too many watches and that new Black Bay Monochrome is now on my mind.

Nice!! I just bought the 39mm Turtle/Doxa conversion from Namoki for my 38mm ISL-127. Trying to find a turtle case that fits my wrist is a task so I'm going to build my own with this new case. Ordered a new sapphire bezel in Pepsi from LCBi which looks much brighter then the stock. Excited and anxious...

Yes I mention the doxa in the video as well

Nice dive collection 👌

Good luck!

Big fan of Certina but gotta go Willard…and yes @Ichibunz you cannot out turtle THE Turtle

That's fightin' talk!! 💪🏼😅

Gotta go Willard, got two (black and green)

But must admit would love to add a Certina to the collection, it's lovely 😍

Seiko 100%.

But that is (almost) a purely emotional choice. The turtle is the original. It's loveable despite its faults - maybe even because of its faults...

Fundamentally, this is an original versus homage question? Is it not?

It's true that the Certina wins on specs versus price. No doubt about that. When performaing an unbiased, objective analysis.

But if all your looking at is specs versus value, the whole watch industry would basically boil down to G-Shock.

This is where the heart rules the head, I think. But that's just me.

Stay Crunchy, my friends!

Edit: the fact I wrote this whilst wearing an SKX had no influence whatsoever 😂

I like the king Turtle for the price, but the Willard is a big step up in terms of fit and finish

My hearts in the same place

Hey Max, I did a similar review a month or so ago:

https://www.watchcrunch.com/grand.psycho/posts/the-willard-v-the-certina-ds-ph1000-355237

https://www.watchcrunch.com/grand.psycho/posts/the-willard-v-the-certina-ds-ph1000-355237

Great minds think alike 👍

I'd have gladly paid an extra $100 for Willard level fit and finish. Not sure about Willard price though.

Luckily mine only really has a chapter ring slightly off. Once my warranty is up I'll try tackling it.

Certina watches are awesome

Thanks bud!

The problem with the Seiko is that it's a Willard as much as an SPB143 is a 62MAS. Once the association with Vietnam, Apocalypse Now and Martin Sheen is taken away we are left with a watch that is quite expensive but has QC problems that you won't see from other brands at cheaper price points, and one that is "blessed" with a plodding movement inside and the Prostate X mark on the dial proudly announce that it has been properly castrated by removing the date window frame and the signed crown, because...why not?

The Certina may not elicit the same emotional response, but it's a better watch in everything that really count.

If the specs are better why would you not?

Of course you already know what I am going to say- Willard-all-day.

But, I consider the Willard to be an asymmetric and not a turtle case. The true turtle case did follow that original asymmetrical case (6309). As an original owner of both, In my opinion they are definitely not the same.

You need an original 6105 Willard in your life, preferably a late production version.

I have a willard X and love it but always chuckle that the prospex “upgrade” is removing the frame and signed crown… lol

Great video Max. Nicely done and very good comparison.

I went with the Certina too. As you say the build quality for me is just so good for the price. I also really like the colour. All my watches are dark greens blues blacks etc. this ‘pops’ as they say but still built like a tank and surprisingly wearable

Completely agree. Ultimately it’s a heavy duty really well made serious diver from a company with an excellent pedigree and history in that role. But is still very wearable and enjoyable to wear