An ode to the budget Japanese Diver: from Seiko to Citizen
There's something very cool about the budget Japanese dive watch. From the Casio Duro and SKX to the Kamasu and 5KX, they always provide excellent value, reliable movements that will last decades and usually have a day/date, good bezel actions and great lume.
Some, like the Promaster and the SKX, have ISO divers ratings and have quite a bit of military history, with their relatives having been used in conflicts around the world as reliable tools.
There's an argument that these are the perfect daily beaters and even great for the office with their functionality and understatement.
Which entry level diver is your favorite? When buying mine, I chose the Orient Kamasu recommended by many Youtubers, but im starting to really research some of the older Citizen Promasters. Since I always wear my watch on my right wrist, the lefty crown is pretty cool and many Citizen divers were worn by Pakistani Air Force F16 pilots.
Would love to see everyone else's affordable divers, drop them in the comments below!
I like using watches as instruments built for a purpose and for their history. I work in Emergency Management and Security and so for me, they are tools first.
Great looking watch and strap. Agreed Orient has great value! Here are my dive watch beaters (though I don't beat them up). I have Casios for that purpose.
Great looking watch and strap. Agreed Orient has great value! Here are my dive watch beaters (though I don't beat them up). I have Casios for that purpose.
Yeah great choices.
Check out the Aragon website. I have the Aragon Divemaster 42. Bluer than blue dial, blacker than black bezel, sapphire, ceramic, 200m WR, Seiko movement, rubber strap, good lume, built like a tank, all for $139.
Check this FUGU out… Lume was somewhat adequate but lacking by my standards so I re-lumed the markers and hands with a couple more coats to shore up the uneven factory coatings that just didn’t have nearly the staying power of a watch of this caliber. ISO rated automatic and I believe these were issued to the Israeli officer/aviators for a while.
Check this FUGU out… Lume was somewhat adequate but lacking by my standards so I re-lumed the markers and hands with a couple more coats to shore up the uneven factory coatings that just didn’t have nearly the staying power of a watch of this caliber. ISO rated automatic and I believe these were issued to the Israeli officer/aviators for a while.
Love it. I'm considering getting one of Citizen Divers, very interested in the Left hand crown and ISO rating.
Check out the Aragon website. I have the Aragon Divemaster 42. Bluer than blue dial, blacker than black bezel, sapphire, ceramic, 200m WR, Seiko movement, rubber strap, good lume, built like a tank, all for $139.
👆🏻He is absolutely correct… if you have the wrist size for it Aragon has absolutely UNBEATABLE value 💪🏼💲💲