Budget vintage & vintage style dive watches

I've noticed recently that I'm lacking a certain type of watch in my collection, one that can really appeal to me. A dive watch. I have chronographs and dress watches and vintage watches and a GMT and my trusty Casio, but no dive watch. In particular vintage or vintage-style dive watches. I have a bit of a thing for vintage-looking watches at the moment, and while some more contemporary divers do appeal (RZE Endeavour anyone?), what I really want is something a bit more old-fashioned (although I fully intend to pick up an Endeavour anyway). What do people suggest in the budget price category? I'd prefer to stay under £400 (US$500) but I can stretch to maybe £600 (US$750) if something really appeals, but I'm a student with all the funds that come with that, so it would have to be really perfect. I don't mind a genuinely vintage watch so long as it is one that is reasonably readily available on reputable marketplaces (eBay or Chrono24) within my budget.

Here's my list so far:

Lorier Neptune

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HVD SpectreDiver

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Baltic Aquascaphe

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Seiko King Turtle Save the Oceans

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Vostok Amphibia

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I personally prefer the more understated nature of the first 3 (and to some extent of the Vostok), but I am still quite partial to the Seiko KT. If anyone can hit me with other suggestions, vintage-style, or genuine vintage, I'd appreciate it a lot.

Cheers all!

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Were I in this situation, I'd probably go Lorier. I just like a broad arrow hour hand

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UnholiestJedi

Were I in this situation, I'd probably go Lorier. I just like a broad arrow hour hand

Leaning a little towards Lorier myself, but another option at the upper end of my price bracket would be this from Sherwood watches

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I think the owner is on the crunch somewhere, and I'm from not very far from where he is, or from Sherwood Forest where this brand is named after, practically grew up in that forest 😂 definitely another I am considering with that

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SomeGingerWatchNerd

Leaning a little towards Lorier myself, but another option at the upper end of my price bracket would be this from Sherwood watches

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I think the owner is on the crunch somewhere, and I'm from not very far from where he is, or from Sherwood Forest where this brand is named after, practically grew up in that forest 😂 definitely another I am considering with that

Oh! Well that one almost has to be the one then, right?

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UnholiestJedi

Oh! Well that one almost has to be the one then, right?

I think it might have to be, £400 before the end of August, or £450 after the end puts it just above what I originally wanted (although still about the same as the Lorier I think), but I really really like it, moving away from home to go to university soon, so it'll be a nice reminder of home. Just need to save my pennies now.

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Just had a dig round in my box, the bulova bit loud maybe but they do a black faced version, proper vintage style of the origonal and well within budget. The Alsta (jaws watch) you'll get one off ebay nearly new (overpriced new) for less than £500 easily. Newmark is quite rare but come up from time to time again look on ebay. I've stuck the orient in as they've recently bought out a version of the Kamasu with a vintage looking dial, which not only looks great but you'll pick a new one up for a little over £200. Happy hunting.

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Stricko
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Just had a dig round in my box, the bulova bit loud maybe but they do a black faced version, proper vintage style of the origonal and well within budget. The Alsta (jaws watch) you'll get one off ebay nearly new (overpriced new) for less than £500 easily. Newmark is quite rare but come up from time to time again look on ebay. I've stuck the orient in as they've recently bought out a version of the Kamasu with a vintage looking dial, which not only looks great but you'll pick a new one up for a little over £200. Happy hunting.

That Bulova really is stunning, I'll have to have a look, between that, the Lorier, and the Sherwood I think

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Student spending that sort of money🙄 I have developed an interest in vintage Soviet watches, come with patina... OK, bit worn. Can be had cheaply, and you could easily buy several, and still not spend all the money. Slight gamble due to their age.

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Eliminator
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Student spending that sort of money🙄 I have developed an interest in vintage Soviet watches, come with patina... OK, bit worn. Can be had cheaply, and you could easily buy several, and still not spend all the money. Slight gamble due to their age.

I'm going to assume that first comment is sarcastic, and take it in my stride, I also quite like Soviet watches, I own 2, and the Vostok Amphibia/Kommandirskie are definitely on my list of what I hope to buy soonish

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SomeGingerWatchNerd

I'm going to assume that first comment is sarcastic, and take it in my stride, I also quite like Soviet watches, I own 2, and the Vostok Amphibia/Kommandirskie are definitely on my list of what I hope to buy soonish

  1. No, I wasn't being sarcastic, just suprised that a student would be considering what I'd regard as an expensive watch. There, again, you might be 40 and living at home. 😂 Just looked at your profile, 18 and into watches. 😊

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You can buy the best entry level diver the Orient Kamasu and keep some money to get the Amphibia as a bonus 😉

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Eliminator
  1. No, I wasn't being sarcastic, just suprised that a student would be considering what I'd regard as an expensive watch. There, again, you might be 40 and living at home. 😂 Just looked at your profile, 18 and into watches. 😊

Oh, they definitely are expensive, anything over about £200 I have to save a number of months for, so these are long-term purchase goals for sure. I work as a book-keeper, so a decent-paying job really, 18 and still living at home for now, but moving away in September, so we'll have to see how my budgeting holds up then 😬

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watchguard77

You can buy the best entry level diver the Orient Kamasu and keep some money to get the Amphibia as a bonus 😉

See this might be a hot take (don't kill me people), but I'm not massively smitten with the Kamasu. My buying philosophy these days is to buy fewer watches that I really like and save for them longer, makes me appreciate my collection more

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The Baltic looks most vintage. I have the King Turtle and love it.

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SomeGingerWatchNerd

See this might be a hot take (don't kill me people), but I'm not massively smitten with the Kamasu. My buying philosophy these days is to buy fewer watches that I really like and save for them longer, makes me appreciate my collection more

And this is the beauty of being a watch collector! You should go with your feelings. Something that I like is not necessarily what you would like and vice versa!

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watchguard77

And this is the beauty of being a watch collector! You should go with your feelings. Something that I like is not necessarily what you would like and vice versa!

I would definitely want a Kamasu eventually, I like them more than some other contemporary divers (many of which I find far too bulky... looking at Citizen here), but with my income I unfortunately can't afford to buy something if it's my second choice if that makes sense

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uhrensohn

Perhaps an Octopus Kraken?

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These are about £200/230 on AliExpress, with a PT5000 movement. For an extra £100, the one (OTC-006) is available with a SW200 instead.

The bottom one of the two is a little too Omega for my taste, but I do see the attraction, it is a nice colourway, the top one is quite nice (and I don't recognise what it's homaging so I don't mind as much 😂)

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SomeGingerWatchNerd

The bottom one of the two is a little too Omega for my taste, but I do see the attraction, it is a nice colourway, the top one is quite nice (and I don't recognise what it's homaging so I don't mind as much 😂)

Not an expert on divers, but I suspect it's based on the 50 fathoms.

Problem is anyway that when people say they want a dive watch they usually mean something that is broadly in the heritage of Submariner and 50 fathoms. For example, they would not mean a Panerai, even though they have some diving heritage.

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uhrensohn

Not an expert on divers, but I suspect it's based on the 50 fathoms.

Problem is anyway that when people say they want a dive watch they usually mean something that is broadly in the heritage of Submariner and 50 fathoms. For example, they would not mean a Panerai, even though they have some diving heritage.

Yeah, I think Rolex really defined what a dive watch is for a lot of people. Even though they weren't the first to make something in that style, they made it recognisable, and then into a household name, so most people will see the Submariner as the epitome of a dive watch.

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You know… although I say not to, a decent skin diver with a pin pallet would look better on the wrist…

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Porthole

You know… although I say not to, a decent skin diver with a pin pallet would look better on the wrist…

Any recommendations? Skin divers are definitely appreciated, a bit less chunky, and more versatile.

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springdrive

Of the three, Baltic Aquascaphe. If you can stretch *and* wait, Halios Seaforth.

The Seaforth might be stretching a bit too far, the price isn't too bad, but the extra US$65 shipping fee to the UK feels a bit much, almost 10% of the cost of the watch again.

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SomeGingerWatchNerd

Any recommendations? Skin divers are definitely appreciated, a bit less chunky, and more versatile.

There were many, many different brands, so it’s a case of typing in skin diver watch on eBay and just having a ball. Sometimes you need to just dive in and get wet… drop me a line if you want to ask questions though 😉

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Porthole

There were many, many different brands, so it’s a case of typing in skin diver watch on eBay and just having a ball. Sometimes you need to just dive in and get wet… drop me a line if you want to ask questions though 😉

Will definitely take a look, I have a Swiss Made hand-wound Rotary with an integrated bracelet on the way that I cannot find anything about online, so we shall see how this latest foray into vintage goes before I grab another vintage piece.

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SomeGingerWatchNerd

Will definitely take a look, I have a Swiss Made hand-wound Rotary with an integrated bracelet on the way that I cannot find anything about online, so we shall see how this latest foray into vintage goes before I grab another vintage piece.

Post it - i might be able to help? It better not be a Sea Ranger or something because someone just outbid me on eBay for one yesterday and I’m fuming

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Porthole

Post it - i might be able to help? It better not be a Sea Ranger or something because someone just outbid me on eBay for one yesterday and I’m fuming

No, I was the only one to bid on this one, this was the best photo on the listing, I don't actually have the watch yet, hoping it arrives before I set off for Switzerland next Friday. For what it's worth the aesthetics remind me of my modern Rotary Avenger (posted it in WRUW a couple of days ago), perhaps a predecessor to that range?

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SomeGingerWatchNerd

Leaning a little towards Lorier myself, but another option at the upper end of my price bracket would be this from Sherwood watches

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I think the owner is on the crunch somewhere, and I'm from not very far from where he is, or from Sherwood Forest where this brand is named after, practically grew up in that forest 😂 definitely another I am considering with that

I don't think that gives you license to rob from the rich to buy it. Nice try.

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Not sure it's vintage but try aragonwatches.com. All Aragons are their own man, not homages of anything. I have the Aragon Divemaster 42. Bluer than blue dial, blacker than black bezel, sapphire, ceramic, 200m, Seiko NH36, rubber strap, built like a tank. $139.

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samdeatton

I don't think that gives you license to rob from the rich to buy it. Nice try.

Hey, I like wearing green and love Sherwood Forest, I'm claiming stealing from the rich as cultural heritage, noone can stop me

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ID on the Seiko watch from your collection? @SomeGingerWatchNerd

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Were I more interested in dive watches, I would get an Amphibia. It is the one watch where I actually like the history more than the actual watch.