Best first Diver to do water sports?
I'm looking to purchase my very first Automatic Diver Watch in the coming weeks. My first watch is a Certina DS-8 MoonPhase with a leather strap, I love it but I can't use it on water and of course, I want to add another watch to my "just starting" collection.
I frequently do water sports like surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing, both on the sea and in lakes. I want my watch to be capable of being with me while I train, but also going out with friends on a chill day.
My budget is below $800, and I've found several options quite interesting from my point of view.
1. Orient Mako 2: This was the first Diver watch I found interesting because of the Arabic numbers on the dial, I liked it when I tried it at first, and then when I compared it to another Swiss watch... not that much. I know is a good option for starters. I found it for about $150
2. Glycine Combat Sub: I'm between the GL0077 with Arabic numbers printed on the dial, or the GL0416 with the Arabic numbers 3, 6, and 9. Both are about $300, I like that are Swiss-made.
3. Hamilton Khaki Scuba: My least favorite option because when I tried it, I thought it was very similar to the Orient, but with a price tag of about $600. Anyhow I would like to read your opinions about it.
4. Mido Oceanstar 200: I just found it yesterday while visiting a store. I loved it when I tried it. Looks a bit formal and the lack of Arabic numbers on the dial pulled me back because I'm looking for something to do fun sports, not going to the office. Anyway, I think is a very beautiful watch, and the Titanium option is a great bang for my buck, but as I'm looking for a blue watch I'm not 100% sure, anyhow is a good alternative.
Stainless steel costs about $650, while Titanium is about $720, those $70 bucks more are totally worth in my opinion.
Which watch would you choose? Not necessarily the most expensive option is the best as I could purchase an affordable watch right now and save the rest to get something better later on.
Your opinions and alternatives are highly appreciated, and if you have one of those watches I would love to see your pictures and read your experiences.
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Esteban Quintero
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If you can find one you like, Miso make good watches
I voted Glycine Sub because I have one that I've beaten pretty hard and it just keeps working. Bracelet has held up, too.
I voted for the Orient - but if you are open to no Arabic Numerals, the Orient Kamasu is hands down the best diver you can get for under $250 and competes well with more expensive models up to the 1k price point IMO.
It's right at the top of your budget but Squale 1545 is better IMO.
You simply can’t go wrong with the orient mako. I have a first gen mako that I bought back in 2008 that I regulated myself when I was really getting into watchmaking. It hasn’t been worn much over the last several years but it’s the only watch I had during an insane flipping spree that I still own. It’s never been serviced and when I do fire it up, it still runs flawlessly at +2 seconds per day 🤯
At that price I actually think another Certina - the ph200 is the best looking diver, it’s slightly big though to carry off
Lots of good options listed above. I’d add the citizen Promaster automatic. NY00D and the gen 1 Seiko monsters.
RZE Endeavour, and endeavour SC
Tuseno Shellback
For watersports the citizen quartz promaster dive watches are the best choice.
You should be able to find a very lightly used automatic Longines Hydroconquest under 800$ (maybe a bit more), it's a lot of watch for the price.
Got a Mako a few years back on sale for $110 and was underwhelmed. I've worn Seiko SKX's for years and the Mako didn't get any write time. I have an old Bulova Marine Star with some Orient DNA which his my go to beater this winter.
Some more alternatives to make it even more complicated:
Certina DS Action Diver. Sometimes possible to find under 800 Euro/USD. Depending on your country
Also from Certina the DS PH200
Not Swiss, but from Germany a well established Micro Brand Vandaag with it's Tiefsee model in different colors. for around 450 Euro
or the model Klaar
Or Sternglas Marus
Also not from Switzerland but from Thailand and overall very good reputation Wise. The AD8 for 630 USD....
or Hitman for 330 USD
I have the Glycine Combat Sub 0416 - it is my beach and swimming watch as well as one of my toughest all-around watches. Came on a bracelet, but I prefer it with several different single-pass straps. With 200m of WR and at 42mm, it is big, very legible, and tough - perfect for swimming.
Of those four, the Mako hands down.
Better choice, Citizen NY0040. Can be had NOS for $190, ISO certified.
You can’t beat the durability, reliability, accuracy and quality at the price of an Orient. It’ll never let you down
Out of this bunch I think the Glycine is best. But for me it would have to be a Seiko; any diver from the Seiko Prospex line would fit the bill.
Some more alternatives to make it even more complicated:
Certina DS Action Diver. Sometimes possible to find under 800 Euro/USD. Depending on your country
Also from Certina the DS PH200
Not Swiss, but from Germany a well established Micro Brand Vandaag with it's Tiefsee model in different colors. for around 450 Euro
or the model Klaar
Or Sternglas Marus
Also not from Switzerland but from Thailand and overall very good reputation Wise. The AD8 for 630 USD....
or Hitman for 330 USD
Wow!! Thank you so much for the dedication on your recommendations. I really liked the vandaag klaar for its Arabic numbers, looks so good! Will check it out, thank you!
I'd suggest an alternative in the form of a Steinhart. A lot of great choices with a 300M WR rating, grand styles, and EXCELLENT watches - all for about $500 to $900 USD!
I think the Mido Ocean Star looks fantastic, the titanium version especially as it has orange accents which makes it fun IMO. It's also serious enough to go with more formal attire in a pinch (as formal as one would wear near the beach).
That being said I have the Orient Mako II, it's a great watch all around. The bracelet's not quite up to par, and the mineral glass will scratch, but it's 150$ with room for upgrades if you choose to go the modding route.
Also dresses up fine with sports coat/jackets for post-water activities.
Blue would be more fun than the black.
Only have experience with the Orient, Glycine and Hamilton, but I've found Orient and Casio to be the best starter drug when diving headlong down this rabbit hole we call watch collecting
Nice! I windsurf, kayak, sail and ocean swim. I’m a fan of Ti, so of your group I’d suggest the Ti Mido
My Ti diver (a Prospex LX) is pricey, but so reliable and bomb proof.
I dig Seikos, but at sub $800 it will put you with a 4R36 movement (mine runs at - 7 seconds a day) . Upside: automatic that’s cheap and easy to regulate and care for.
This Turtle below is ~ $550 (buy mine!) sapphire glass, ceramic bezel and rubber strap and steel bracelet
an upside I appreciate for even the cheapest Seiko diver are those 2.5mm bomb proof spring bars.
I trust those way more than a regular 1.8mm when banging a watch against a steel stantion or fibreglass board/ hull that could result in a watch going to the bottom
Wow!! Thank you so much for the dedication on your recommendations. I really liked the vandaag klaar for its Arabic numbers, looks so good! Will check it out, thank you!
I'm glad I could help. But consider, that you have to calculate taxes on top, when you are ordering from a foreign country, depending where you live.
If you don't mind used I would propose previous gen Longines Hydroconquest with L888 movement ( they changed the movement to L888 on later version just prior updating it to current one ). It has all you requests covered ( numbers, beautifull blue dial ), 300m WR, robust, respected brand and mine still runs after 6 years well within COSC despite not being certified.
Wrist shot here:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/Mare0104/posts/wruw-2023-12-07-245b82af-rq1ky1cb-266162
Another option for more vibrant color preference could be Farer AquaMatic.
https://farer.com/collections/aquamatic
New is a bit over your budget but you get 3 straps included ( bracelet, rubber and nato ). Also can get used within budget constraints.
For $60 you can get a Casio Duro, good dive watch and you can beat it up too.
#casio
If you don't mind used I would propose previous gen Longines Hydroconquest with L888 movement ( they changed the movement to L888 on later version just prior updating it to current one ). It has all you requests covered ( numbers, beautifull blue dial ), 300m WR, robust, respected brand and mine still runs after 6 years well within COSC despite not being certified.
Wrist shot here:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/Mare0104/posts/wruw-2023-12-07-245b82af-rq1ky1cb-266162
Another option for more vibrant color preference could be Farer AquaMatic.
https://farer.com/collections/aquamatic
New is a bit over your budget but you get 3 straps included ( bracelet, rubber and nato ). Also can get used within budget constraints.
Those are pretty fun colors on the Farer! Never heard of that brand before! Thanks for the recommendation, and you HydroConquest looks gorgeous!
Nice! I windsurf, kayak, sail and ocean swim. I’m a fan of Ti, so of your group I’d suggest the Ti Mido
My Ti diver (a Prospex LX) is pricey, but so reliable and bomb proof.
I dig Seikos, but at sub $800 it will put you with a 4R36 movement (mine runs at - 7 seconds a day) . Upside: automatic that’s cheap and easy to regulate and care for.
This Turtle below is ~ $550 (buy mine!) sapphire glass, ceramic bezel and rubber strap and steel bracelet
an upside I appreciate for even the cheapest Seiko diver are those 2.5mm bomb proof spring bars.
I trust those way more than a regular 1.8mm when banging a watch against a steel stantion or fibreglass board/ hull that could result in a watch going to the bottom
I really appreciate the time you took to comment here! All your pictures looks amazing 🏔️keep enjoying life as you do 🤙🏻
Scurfa Diver One Ti
I second the Certina DS Action Diver that the other poster mentioned. It has a diver’s extension for wet suits and it’s right at your budget. Here’s mine on silicone.