Help me choose, propose something else - thinking about boring black-white diver
I am thinking to introduce to my collection some boring black diver (preferably white-on-black combo, but it can be with other color accents). Think something like Submariner, but not Rolex nor direct replica or homage - but something in the range between few hundred bucks to ~2k.
On my radar are:
- Mido Ocean Star 200C Titanium Black. Biggest minus is that I already own same model, just in green fitted on Mido orange diver strap - and I absolutely love it (it's my go-to vacation/summer watch, and that is why I am considering black one as more "boring" variant for more formal occasions). I would love having this, but I really want to not pile up multiple variants of the same model in my collection.
- Seiko SPB143. I don't have a single Seiko in my collection so that is a plus for buying this one. Big minus for this one is really clumsy movement for the price (think around ~1k movement with +/- 15secs/day).
- Alternatively - maybe trying out Seiko Turtle (King Turtle?), less money where such movement becomes less of an issue and I also cover the base of owning "cushion" style cased Seiko?
- Certina DS Action Diver - diversing inside Swatch group (I own some Tissots, Swatches and Mido) and going with Powermatic 80 again? Price is slightly less than SPB143, looks similar, has movement I trust more...
- Maybe some diver from the Sinn range? Hardened steel seems like a worthwhile proposition for the price. Not looking completely like the rest of the gang I am thinking about, but still having retro-classic-divers-white-on-black vibe is a plus.
Any propositions on the lower price range alternatives?
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Oris immediately comes to mind in the sub $2000 diver range.
Available for ~$1500 on the grey market.
I have the king turtle seiko and it's a great watch
but know
seiko qc...always seems there's always a alaignment issue
mine the bezel insert is a tiny but off
it's also chunky...wears well for it's size but i do think it's for larger wrists
was colse to buying a certina ds years ago and kinda wish i had
Certina!
Certina DS Action Diver 43mm. Ceramic 120 click bezel. It wears smaller than 43mm suggests
Sinn, and it’s not even close. When you read into how they’re made, the materials used and specs, they present a very compelling product. I don’t own one yet, but will one day.
Sinn
Sinn u50. League of it's own
Monta Oceanking
Maybe checkout the Maen Hudson.
Get the SPB143 if you want a B&W diver. Its just the most balanced and good looking monochromatic diver. Also, a absolute strap monster with the 20mm drilled lugs and exceptional lume. It does look a little dressy on a leather strap. The movement out of the box is not regulated but you can get it regulated and it will run accurately. I own the SPB239 and it runs at +2 seconds a day.
If you want to try the cushion case, the King Turtle SRPE03 is just a classic. There is also the new slim turtle lineup SPB317 priced similar to the SPB143 but lesser.
The Sinn is also an excellent choice for all the features you get at the price.You can also check out Doxa 200T and Squale around similar price point.
In the lower end the Orient Kamasu is the best at $200, Citizen Promaster Fugu, Zelos Swordfish and Certina DS PH200M.
A few you don't see every day, mid price range....
Oris immediately comes to mind in the sub $2000 diver range.
Available for ~$1500 on the grey market.
Have you seen the ALPHA from NITE watches? Check it out, they use tritium tubes for lume, sapphire glass and decent water resistance. I am seriously tempted.
Have you seen the ALPHA from NITE watches? Check it out, they use tritium tubes for lume, sapphire glass and decent water resistance. I am seriously tempted.
I only have one year with my Ball (tritium) watch, and have not had hands on NITE. I have read on this forum that the Tritium on Nite watches fades fairly fast. That might not be the case, but something to research.
Seiko King Turtle is nice watch to get started, you should try it on tho they are not small. Seiko SPB143 you can find these cheaper and they are really good also. Now couple of divers in i would pick it over Seiko Turtle but not over Seiko Slim turtle, Slim turtle is the Seiko diver I would get right now if I was taking Seiko I only wished it had ceramic bezel.
Citizen has great entry watches, and also microbrands like Zelos and Monta do to. Christopher ward has great dive watches check them out, I am intending to get one of those in future.
Oris seems nice but a bit vanilla for me. I find their other watches more interesting. Still I havent tried one on a wrist at all, or seen in person.
Sinn EZM3 is absolute unit if you want something that can last apocalypse, I'll be getting this over everything listed here and for sure in future.
I only have one year with my Ball (tritium) watch, and have not had hands on NITE. I have read on this forum that the Tritium on Nite watches fades fairly fast. That might not be the case, but something to research.
I have not found this to be the case.. I own one of their MX10 field watches and although the tritium tubes aren't as big as in some of their other models, I find the lume is good... a constant light source. I haven't noticed a drop in brightness in the 14 months that I've had the watch.
I have not found this to be the case.. I own one of their MX10 field watches and although the tritium tubes aren't as big as in some of their other models, I find the lume is good... a constant light source. I haven't noticed a drop in brightness in the 14 months that I've had the watch.
Good to hear!
Might have been me who said tha.t Nite tritium faded. I have two Icon's ( both out of production now) both lost lume brightness over time. I like the new(ish) diver they have now. Though it's a little bit pricey compared to their competition.
Seiko King Turtle is nice watch to get started, you should try it on tho they are not small. Seiko SPB143 you can find these cheaper and they are really good also. Now couple of divers in i would pick it over Seiko Turtle but not over Seiko Slim turtle, Slim turtle is the Seiko diver I would get right now if I was taking Seiko I only wished it had ceramic bezel.
Citizen has great entry watches, and also microbrands like Zelos and Monta do to. Christopher ward has great dive watches check them out, I am intending to get one of those in future.
Oris seems nice but a bit vanilla for me. I find their other watches more interesting. Still I havent tried one on a wrist at all, or seen in person.
Sinn EZM3 is absolute unit if you want something that can last apocalypse, I'll be getting this over everything listed here and for sure in future.
EZM3 does not have Sinn's famous hardened steel, but "plain" 316L?
https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/EZM_3.htm
I like the looks, I like other rough'ed up features. I am thinking of anyway getting some German watch in my collection.
EZM3 does not have Sinn's famous hardened steel, but "plain" 316L?
https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/EZM_3.htm
I like the looks, I like other rough'ed up features. I am thinking of anyway getting some German watch in my collection.
Seems so, their U series gets the submarine steel. The biggest deal for me is temperature resistance, I've had dive watches fail because of lack of it also with this water resistance should be no worries ever. I know Sinn has additional technologies that concern casing of the movement regarding shock resistance but I am unsure if they are in this model, probably do as standard across the range.
Thank you everybody, there have been great takes in this thread.
I have opted for Seiko SPB143, found it nicely priced at the semi-local gray market dealer. Simplicity of it somehow talks to me.
Sinn is definitely on my list for the future, but something more explorer-y instead of their divers.
I see the black dial watches as boring only if the indices are white but I adore the watches with golden, yellow or orange details. Example: lorier neptune iv, Baltic aquascaphe