Ugly Watch Company 300m Diver MOP (white) Review

So, my birthday is coming up, and I decided to order my present, which thankfully arrived early. I have a number of diver-style watches, but nothing beyond 10 ATM. That left me wondering how an actual diver would feel. 

In my search I came across an offering from the Ugly Watch Company for their 300m Diver. It looked fairly solid, has a 42mm case diameter with a thickness of 14mm, a fairly standard NH35, but also sports a helium valve. With all discounts applied I was able to purchase the watch for around $225.

Right out of the box I was pleased that the watch was packaged in a travel case, rather than a box that collects dust after the purchase. That was very thoughtful indeed, and a pleasant surprise. The watch was well protected in all kinds of film, but that is a positive attribute, I suppose.

The dial looked white at first, but it is actually a mother of pearl, which only really comes out to shine in bright light. Quite fascinating actually, as I find myself angling the watch to see what kind of color patterns it creates. Otherwise the watch looked as expected, a consistent brushed finish very much consistent with a toolish type of watch. The bracelet is also brushed, and gives the appearance of being integrated, but it is not. It would need a 10mm spring bar, with an exterior width of 24mm. The appearance however is very nice indeed, and the milled clasp works great.

However, here comes the first complaint: The bracelet uses standard collars and pins. They are the kind, unlike Seiko for example, that are solid pins throughout, which are a pain to remove and reinstall. A little bit of an upgrade in this regard goes a long way, especially as the pins close to the clasp are harder to remove. I have a 6 3/4'' wrist, and I could just get it to size. 

Other than that the watch feels "substantial", and you can definitely feel it on your wrist throughout the day. From the side it looks a bit like I had strapped a miniature version of a landmine to my wrist, but then again, a subdued appearance is not what this watch is about.

The crown has plenty of grip, and is finished with the company logo. The bezel is perfectly aligned, and the 120-click bezel works as intended. I had to get used to the orange minute hand, as most divers seem to reserve that color (or red) for the hour hand. 

Aside from the bracelet I have no complaints, and the dial is just gorgeous. Keeping in mind that at $225 this piece is very close to a Seiko no-dive dive watch, I would consider this watch a very good value.