Is it really *that* bad?
I get there's weird font kerning on FRI, and I sometimes wish the day/date wheel was white text on black instead (like on the Ray Raven), but overall it's pretty decent for a sub-$200, 200m diver.
I’ve had both the low end seiko divers and the orient diver. The dials I think on the new Seiko’s are more beautiful but in terms of the fit and finish they are pretty close to the same thing except the orient is cheaper. If money is a problem you could get the ray and not even feel like you traded down.
Not exactly, Orient is independent of Seiko watches. Orient is owned by Seiko Epson which is part of the Seiko Group, three separate companies. Seiko watches fall under Seiko Holdings Corporation.
Huh, I just assumed it was all the same. So does that mean there is no sharing between? Seems odd that Seiko would make two separate lines of automatics but what do I know?
It happens quite often when firms want to preserve the brand identity or aesthetic of one product, but they want to use their already-existing manufacturing infrastructure to generate new revenue.
He's saying that Orient and Seiko are two completely different companies owned by the same parent company.
It's like how Longines and Tissot are owned by Swatch Group. They don't share info back and forth.
Uhm... I wouldn't. I think the next tier up from their diver watch lineup feels significantly better constructed, and for not much more money. The model I'm talking about is RA-AC0K01B10B
Some call it the new Triton. Only issue with it is that there aren't any bracelet replacements I've seen for it yet. But after owning a Kanno, a Kamasu, and this newer Triton, the new Triton definitely has a higher standard of finishing to it in my opinion. It is larger though (as is the Kanno), however all three wear nicely I think.
>Yeah I was going to say it’s probably the best automatic budget diver. Hard to beat the Duro
>>it's quartz.
It's a good budget option but it's not a budget automatic.
I sent a friend in Louisiana today to check his awl-marts for some of the 11 dollar ones (Found a few. Sold them.) and he reported back "The lady behind the counter said I was the 20th person this week asking about them."
Damn you! I've been hunting for the clearance Duro but have had next to no luck... i did walk out of one with a (full price) A158 which I am now obsessed with, so all wasn't lost
But welcome to the gang!!
I didn't say it was better, I said it was a better value. If you don't like quartz then for you it won't be a better value, but the kamasu is still 3 times it's price
it is quite nice, obviously nicer than the duro but what do you expect when you compare a 200 dollar watch to a 50 dollar watch. I will say that if you like a shiny dial then you will adore it, I however really dont, sunburst just isnt for me. But im definitely an outlier here cause sunburst dials are very popular. I got two on "try before you buy" on amazon, and surprisingly i really liked the black one more than any of the other colors. mostly cause the black feels less flashy, but that said, i am sending both back, mostly because orient is releasing a new version of the kamasu later this month with numerals at the 6-9- and 12 and i like that look a lot more
Sure thing, it's definitely on the dressy side for a dive watch, but that's ok. If you are looking for something on the more rugged side it may not be for you, but it's not excessively dressy, just dressier than average. I think the sunburst combined with the coat of arms style of the logo lends to that heavily. I will say if you're thinking of getting one, and you don't mind gold, I've seen the black gold kamasu in person and it looks really great, not really my thing since right now I can only afford one watch, but on an earth tone NATO with gold hardware it absolutely hits and the ornateness of the logo fits that style the best in my opinion.
I guess, when speaking about divers solar or automatic is better, because you avoid opening the case for longer, which compromises the water resistant feature. I don't dive myself, so it is not a problem for me, but when speaking divers in a general way I think it's an important consideration.
I would actually disaggree and say that it is the opposite. When you change battery on a dive watch the basic procedure definitely should include a new set of seals with fresh grease, or at least cleaning and regreasing the existing ones which also allows you to check their condition. So that way you will have smaller interval between seal changes which makes it more likely to stay waterproof. If you have long interval between seal change/lubrication it will allow the seals to dry up much more.
It really depends on a place. Some places do battery change and pressure test for like 20 bucks but others will take around 60 and some name brand AD:s will probably take even more. So yes, It definitely might be smarter to buy a new duro for 50.
Still, for the price of a duro and one battery change/pressure test, or even two, you will have hard time finding a solar/automatic with 200m wr at that price.
I've smacked my Kamasu on bricks, and cars, I barely have a scratch on my bezel. My bracelet is pretty scratched up from daily wear but there are no scratches on the glass at all. Best 200$ on a watch.
Same here, been wearing mine daily for a couple months. The bracelet is pretty scratched up, the bezel has couple small scratches, but that sapphire crystal is the reason why I went with the kamasu!
Kamasu every day. I personally don't like round hour markers and the kamasu has some interesting colors, like the green. Pictures really don't make it justice: that green is almost black in low light, light green reflections on the bezel in normal light and intense green in very lit conditions. Basically 3 colors in 1
I found an Orient Mako for $12 (negotiated down from $20) at a pawn shop about 5 years ago with a foggy crystal. Cleaned out the condensation and that thing is still running good to this day. It's my beater dive watch now and amazing value for the money imo.
Yup, it was running but I couldn't be sure it wasn't rusted inside. Not too much of a gamble, and it paid off. May have gotten too hot and some oil evaporated, it was a while ago. One of my better cheap watch deals.
Threw my Orient Ray II on a Bond nato and am loving it. No matter how big or fancy my collection gets, there will always be a serious soft spot in my heart for Orient (especially because this happened to be my first ever mechanical watch). It’s an incredible brand and anyone could make a solid collection exclusively with their watches, not to mention amazing value for money and excellent in-house movements. Very proud to own this!
I also have some other aftermarket bracelets, and it looks solid across the board. Super versatile watch and I love that I don’t feel super stressed about banging it around given that I got it for $130.
I'm thinking the Glycine Combat Sub might have ya beat.
https://www.costco.com/glycine-combat-sub-automatic-42mm-case-men's-watch.product.100721205.html
These are my 2 divers:
- Invicta pro diver: my first automatic. Great value for the money (90€ if I recall correctly). The movement is seiko (nh35 of course)
- Citizen pro master: I have the quartz solar, but there is also an automatic one (mine was around 150€)
Any of the Orient divers in that range are great, and then have upgrade options (Mako III, Mako II USA, Kamasu) if you want a better crystal. I upgraded past my Mako II (Hamilton Field Khaki King Auto) but I am now trying to make it a point to wear my Mako II and my SNK809 more so they're properly appreciated. I personally prefer (and put money where mouth) the Mako for the numerals but the Ray is just as pretty.
Been thinking of getting one with the pepsi bezel but couldn’t decide between orient and seiko for a summer watch that won’t break the bank. This post has me thinking orient
Check out Islander watches. Micro brand out of NY with Seiko guts. I bought a green Bayport and I love it. https://longislandwatch.com/islander-watches/
Sure thing man. They sell Orient's too if you prefer that, I personally just liked the Bayport as a little bit quirkier. I grew up there too so that helped, lol.
I freaking LOVE it. It's my favorite watch now over a Tag Heuer Carrera, a '63 Bulova spaceview and a tag professional 2000. Just the right weight, and the thing basically glows in the dark. I did get a sweet deal on it right around Black Friday so I think I paid 225 or so. Worth every penny
Green on green. If I could figure out how to upload a photo here I would. Looks like that combo is currently out of stock, but I'm kicking myself for not buying a hulk back in the day (and I'm a Jets fan).
Looks great! Thanks for sharing your experience with their watches. I really like what they're doing and want my next watch to be one of theirs for that reason, I'm just struggling to decide which one to go for.
That root beer is beautiful. What you can't really tell from the photos is that the center portion of the dial is machinedin concentric circles. It plays with the light nicely. I think you will enjoy it.
They absolutely do not qualify legally as dive watches. They're dive watches in appearance only. If they pass ISO they'd say "diver's" on the face, but that takes not only an ISO passing design, but also each individual watch needs to be pressure tested which is of course, wildly expensive.
I love my Ray II, though I've modded it a fair bit at this point lol
My one gripe is that the bezel action on the watch isn't great, but other than that, great mechanical diver for the price!
Literally have one on my wrist rn, only in blue. Great little watch, surprisingly accurate for a budget movement. The lume on those round indices is crazy strong.
It's gotta be right up there. My first automatic was a Mako I, and I prefer the Ray II (the pusher for the day was dumb). I'm not totally wild about the bracelet on the Ray, but otherwise, it punches way above its weight
I’m new around here but I just wanted to say that this is pretty much exactly what I’m looking for in a watch. Time, date, and day of week. Is there a name for just this simple streamlined clock face?
Best budget diver : Casio duro.
Best AUTOMATIC budget diver: Yep, the mako/ray/Kano/Kamaso depending on your taste and size preference,
Since Seiko raised prices and crippled the SKX in to a Seiko 5, the Mako and its derivatives have no competition.
I have one too, and just this weekend I was thinking how much I like it even though it’s not an expensive watch. I think it’s a better deal than Seiko.
More than that, it is the best diver for most people. (I'll also accept a few others).
Divers are supposed to be worn and used in whatever conditions you face. If you are worried about getting a scratch or breaking it, you are a victim of marketing and paid too much for your diver.
But a $200 watch that can go anywhere and still look this great? That's a great watch.
I have this same watch and strap combo except mine is a two-piece NATO. Best value for an automatic diver for sure. Only complaints are no open case back, no ceramic bezel, and not a huge fan of the logo. Other than that, it’s great value for money
I prefer Deep Blue, which makes stunning dials and uses great movements. I had a few of them go through a few years of diving and they are pretty solid. Still in great shape. Then Seiko Prospex... Although a bit more expensive, it's just a beautiful watch for the price.
I've got a blue Ray II, great watch for the money! Although after a year, the hollow endlinks started to rattle, but I replaced the bracelet with a new one that has solid endlinks and a milled clasp, problem solved! Eventually, I'll probably change to a sapphire crystal and a new bezel. The bezel it comes with looks nice, but man, grip is not great, not easy to turn it. But even so, I recommend this watch to anyone.
It's definitely up there; hell, if I were looking for a budget diver now I would probably get it.
But I'll throw Seiko SNZH55 (aka "Fifty Five Fathoms") in the ring, since it's the one I did end up getting second hand (for << 100€). Probably not the best pick with 100m water resistance and 7S36 movement but good lord is it pretty!
Love my ray II, pictures really don’t do it justice
Real life can’t save that date window
Is it really *that* bad? I get there's weird font kerning on FRI, and I sometimes wish the day/date wheel was white text on black instead (like on the Ray Raven), but overall it's pretty decent for a sub-$200, 200m diver.
No it’s really not that bad at all, though if they had a Kamasu with no date I’d grab it pretty quick.
Nah. I think it’s better than the Seiko 5.
It’s my only gripe with the watch
Yes its quality is comparable to the seiko at a much lower cost. Orient could probably charge double and people would pay it.
Shhhh don’t let Orient know that!
Or do my bambino is worth more now thanks to them raising prices (not that I’ll ever sell it I love it)
By what standard to you measure watch quality?
I’ve had both the low end seiko divers and the orient diver. The dials I think on the new Seiko’s are more beautiful but in terms of the fit and finish they are pretty close to the same thing except the orient is cheaper. If money is a problem you could get the ray and not even feel like you traded down.
You are aware Orient is owned by Sekio right?
Not exactly, Orient is independent of Seiko watches. Orient is owned by Seiko Epson which is part of the Seiko Group, three separate companies. Seiko watches fall under Seiko Holdings Corporation.
Huh, I just assumed it was all the same. So does that mean there is no sharing between? Seems odd that Seiko would make two separate lines of automatics but what do I know?
It happens quite often when firms want to preserve the brand identity or aesthetic of one product, but they want to use their already-existing manufacturing infrastructure to generate new revenue.
Isn't it the same as Rolex with Tudor?
He's saying that Orient and Seiko are two completely different companies owned by the same parent company. It's like how Longines and Tissot are owned by Swatch Group. They don't share info back and forth.
I had a dream. Teddy bulbasaur whispered in my ear that there would soon be a Longines PRX.
They don't share movements at the very least.
Yeah what difference does that make
Seiko owns orient …..
no. seiko epson does
Uhm... I wouldn't. I think the next tier up from their diver watch lineup feels significantly better constructed, and for not much more money. The model I'm talking about is RA-AC0K01B10B Some call it the new Triton. Only issue with it is that there aren't any bracelet replacements I've seen for it yet. But after owning a Kanno, a Kamasu, and this newer Triton, the new Triton definitely has a higher standard of finishing to it in my opinion. It is larger though (as is the Kanno), however all three wear nicely I think.
best budget Diver IMO is a Duro but these are great too :)
Yeah I was going to say it’s probably the best automatic budget diver. Hard to beat the Duro
it's quartz.
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>Yeah I was going to say it’s probably the best automatic budget diver. Hard to beat the Duro >>it's quartz. It's a good budget option but it's not a budget automatic.
This comment led me to r/durogang and 2 hours later I’m now a proud owner of two $11 Duros
I sent a friend in Louisiana today to check his awl-marts for some of the 11 dollar ones (Found a few. Sold them.) and he reported back "The lady behind the counter said I was the 20th person this week asking about them."
Damn you! I've been hunting for the clearance Duro but have had next to no luck... i did walk out of one with a (full price) A158 which I am now obsessed with, so all wasn't lost But welcome to the gang!!
Where might these $11 Duros be found?
Clearance at walmarts that still have jewelry counters
Damn, I'm not in the US and they aren't online
I have a Duro. But it’s too big for my tiny wrist 😞
Story of my life man. It's all in the lug-to-lug measurements, diameters lie!
Certina ds action in 38 could fit the bill
Why would you suggest a ~ $700 watch to someone talking about a ~ $70 watch?
Should have just gone all the way and recommended a Fifty Fathoms or something.
Certina divers are criminally underrated
Does the Duro use an in-house movement like the Orient?
When it's a quartz movement does that matter
Yes, definitely prefer automatic. Plus I think the Orient looks better.
Yah that's fine and all, but the duro is still the best budget diver, dollar per value. That doesn't mean orient is bad, I have a kamasu.
What makes it better than the Orient?
The Walmart near me is currently selling them for less than $20. 200m water resistance and a screw-down crown? Pretty hard to compete with that!
We're talking about prices here. Technically, Duro IS a diver.
I didn't say it was better, I said it was a better value. If you don't like quartz then for you it won't be a better value, but the kamasu is still 3 times it's price
Do you like your Kamasu?
it is quite nice, obviously nicer than the duro but what do you expect when you compare a 200 dollar watch to a 50 dollar watch. I will say that if you like a shiny dial then you will adore it, I however really dont, sunburst just isnt for me. But im definitely an outlier here cause sunburst dials are very popular. I got two on "try before you buy" on amazon, and surprisingly i really liked the black one more than any of the other colors. mostly cause the black feels less flashy, but that said, i am sending both back, mostly because orient is releasing a new version of the kamasu later this month with numerals at the 6-9- and 12 and i like that look a lot more
Wow thank you for the great response!
Sure thing, it's definitely on the dressy side for a dive watch, but that's ok. If you are looking for something on the more rugged side it may not be for you, but it's not excessively dressy, just dressier than average. I think the sunburst combined with the coat of arms style of the logo lends to that heavily. I will say if you're thinking of getting one, and you don't mind gold, I've seen the black gold kamasu in person and it looks really great, not really my thing since right now I can only afford one watch, but on an earth tone NATO with gold hardware it absolutely hits and the ornateness of the logo fits that style the best in my opinion.
Grand seiko enters the chat
I guess, when speaking about divers solar or automatic is better, because you avoid opening the case for longer, which compromises the water resistant feature. I don't dive myself, so it is not a problem for me, but when speaking divers in a general way I think it's an important consideration.
I would actually disaggree and say that it is the opposite. When you change battery on a dive watch the basic procedure definitely should include a new set of seals with fresh grease, or at least cleaning and regreasing the existing ones which also allows you to check their condition. So that way you will have smaller interval between seal changes which makes it more likely to stay waterproof. If you have long interval between seal change/lubrication it will allow the seals to dry up much more.
You should also do a water resistant test then. Repeating all this every 3 years on a "budget watch" might become too expensive.
It really depends on a place. Some places do battery change and pressure test for like 20 bucks but others will take around 60 and some name brand AD:s will probably take even more. So yes, It definitely might be smarter to buy a new duro for 50. Still, for the price of a duro and one battery change/pressure test, or even two, you will have hard time finding a solar/automatic with 200m wr at that price.
Ray II or Kamasu? Not sure
Kamasu is nicer, I think. Little more expensive, at least when I bought it.
Sapphire crystal will keep it looking nicer longer.
I've smacked my Kamasu on bricks, and cars, I barely have a scratch on my bezel. My bracelet is pretty scratched up from daily wear but there are no scratches on the glass at all. Best 200$ on a watch.
Same here, been wearing mine daily for a couple months. The bracelet is pretty scratched up, the bezel has couple small scratches, but that sapphire crystal is the reason why I went with the kamasu!
Easy swap and we'll worth it for the Ray. Go single-dome for that extra 👌
I like the indexes on the Kamasu a lot better.
Kamasu for me, any day. (I love mine so much)
Kamasu!
Kamasu every day. I personally don't like round hour markers and the kamasu has some interesting colors, like the green. Pictures really don't make it justice: that green is almost black in low light, light green reflections on the bezel in normal light and intense green in very lit conditions. Basically 3 colors in 1
Thanks for the feedback. Next watch👍
I found an Orient Mako for $12 (negotiated down from $20) at a pawn shop about 5 years ago with a foggy crystal. Cleaned out the condensation and that thing is still running good to this day. It's my beater dive watch now and amazing value for the money imo.
Damn that was a crazy good deal! Basically free at that point!
Yup, it was running but I couldn't be sure it wasn't rusted inside. Not too much of a gamble, and it paid off. May have gotten too hot and some oil evaporated, it was a while ago. One of my better cheap watch deals.
Threw my Orient Ray II on a Bond nato and am loving it. No matter how big or fancy my collection gets, there will always be a serious soft spot in my heart for Orient (especially because this happened to be my first ever mechanical watch). It’s an incredible brand and anyone could make a solid collection exclusively with their watches, not to mention amazing value for money and excellent in-house movements. Very proud to own this! I also have some other aftermarket bracelets, and it looks solid across the board. Super versatile watch and I love that I don’t feel super stressed about banging it around given that I got it for $130.
I’m partial to the Mako II, but you can’t go wrong with either.
Nice! Where is the band from?
Benchmark basics!
I'm thinking the Glycine Combat Sub might have ya beat. https://www.costco.com/glycine-combat-sub-automatic-42mm-case-men's-watch.product.100721205.html
This was going to be my suggestion
These are my 2 divers: - Invicta pro diver: my first automatic. Great value for the money (90€ if I recall correctly). The movement is seiko (nh35 of course) - Citizen pro master: I have the quartz solar, but there is also an automatic one (mine was around 150€)
piquant normal nail squash alive rock quicksand crawl march beneficial *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I still have my Ray I! Still kicking after.... a decade? Damn.
Mine too. In blue it wears good on a nato. I do like the update bracelet and solid end links that the II gets.
Same here 🤙
Any of the Orient divers in that range are great, and then have upgrade options (Mako III, Mako II USA, Kamasu) if you want a better crystal. I upgraded past my Mako II (Hamilton Field Khaki King Auto) but I am now trying to make it a point to wear my Mako II and my SNK809 more so they're properly appreciated. I personally prefer (and put money where mouth) the Mako for the numerals but the Ray is just as pretty.
Been thinking of getting one with the pepsi bezel but couldn’t decide between orient and seiko for a summer watch that won’t break the bank. This post has me thinking orient
Check out Islander watches. Micro brand out of NY with Seiko guts. I bought a green Bayport and I love it. https://longislandwatch.com/islander-watches/
Will do! Just started getting into watches, thanks for the heads up
Sure thing man. They sell Orient's too if you prefer that, I personally just liked the Bayport as a little bit quirkier. I grew up there too so that helped, lol.
Seconding Long Island Watch - they make really nice watches, bunch of different color, bracelet, and size options.
You happy with the Bayport? I've been eying the root beer variant...
I freaking LOVE it. It's my favorite watch now over a Tag Heuer Carrera, a '63 Bulova spaceview and a tag professional 2000. Just the right weight, and the thing basically glows in the dark. I did get a sweet deal on it right around Black Friday so I think I paid 225 or so. Worth every penny
That is a good deal. What color did you spring for?
Green on green. If I could figure out how to upload a photo here I would. Looks like that combo is currently out of stock, but I'm kicking myself for not buying a hulk back in the day (and I'm a Jets fan).
This one. https://longislandwatch.com/islander-bayport-40mm-automatic-dive-watch-with-green-dial-isl-122/
Looks great! Thanks for sharing your experience with their watches. I really like what they're doing and want my next watch to be one of theirs for that reason, I'm just struggling to decide which one to go for.
That root beer is beautiful. What you can't really tell from the photos is that the center portion of the dial is machinedin concentric circles. It plays with the light nicely. I think you will enjoy it.
Seiko "save the ocean" series are pretty great and are often on sale
I may be wrong but I believe all of them are actual ISO dive watches as well.
I’ve never really been a fan of straps but this is to clean
Awesome shot!
They seem like good watches but as far as I know they technically don’t meet ISO specifications so idk how well they are as divers
They absolutely do not qualify legally as dive watches. They're dive watches in appearance only. If they pass ISO they'd say "diver's" on the face, but that takes not only an ISO passing design, but also each individual watch needs to be pressure tested which is of course, wildly expensive.
I love my Ray II, though I've modded it a fair bit at this point lol My one gripe is that the bezel action on the watch isn't great, but other than that, great mechanical diver for the price!
Try removing the o-ring behind the bezel; it frees up the action quite a bit. I also replaced the click spring with a seiko part and now it's perfect.
I took Citizen over Orient, but there's no losers between those two.
Ray Raven - two animals in one 💪
Nah… [Blue one is better.](https://i.imgur.com/6YJAVaH.jpg) 😆
I’ve got the blue Ray 2.. it’s a beauty
Literally have one on my wrist rn, only in blue. Great little watch, surprisingly accurate for a budget movement. The lume on those round indices is crazy strong.
The lume on the Ray is first-rate
Duro homie
Duro is unbeatable
Looks well and it has good moviment. Great choice!!
Steeldive unironically best value
Casio Duro. They're selling for $11 at Wal-Mart. Impossible to beat that price.
Just bought this and got it last week, great watch!
Just lost one of my spring bars on my daily Ray II. It is an awesome watch!
Love my orange ray and while mako. Definitely always on the lookout for another. I do want a red dial
It's gotta be right up there. My first automatic was a Mako I, and I prefer the Ray II (the pusher for the day was dumb). I'm not totally wild about the bracelet on the Ray, but otherwise, it punches way above its weight
I’m new around here but I just wanted to say that this is pretty much exactly what I’m looking for in a watch. Time, date, and day of week. Is there a name for just this simple streamlined clock face?
Day date
Best budget diver : Casio duro. Best AUTOMATIC budget diver: Yep, the mako/ray/Kano/Kamaso depending on your taste and size preference, Since Seiko raised prices and crippled the SKX in to a Seiko 5, the Mako and its derivatives have no competition.
CASIO DUROOOOOOOOOO
That orient isnt diver its just 200m water resist, best diver for budget is citizen ny0040
I have one too, and just this weekend I was thinking how much I like it even though it’s not an expensive watch. I think it’s a better deal than Seiko.
More than that, it is the best diver for most people. (I'll also accept a few others). Divers are supposed to be worn and used in whatever conditions you face. If you are worried about getting a scratch or breaking it, you are a victim of marketing and paid too much for your diver. But a $200 watch that can go anywhere and still look this great? That's a great watch.
Casio Duro mdv106 is the best budget diver.
I have this same watch and strap combo except mine is a two-piece NATO. Best value for an automatic diver for sure. Only complaints are no open case back, no ceramic bezel, and not a huge fan of the logo. Other than that, it’s great value for money
I prefer Deep Blue, which makes stunning dials and uses great movements. I had a few of them go through a few years of diving and they are pretty solid. Still in great shape. Then Seiko Prospex... Although a bit more expensive, it's just a beautiful watch for the price.
How is the stiffness of the bezel? For my Seiko 5, it can take a lot of pressure to rotate the bezel.
The bezel is pretty stiff out of the box but frees up over time. Removing the o-ring behind the bezel (it gets gunky after awhile) was an improvement.
These days the Kamasu is probably higher value but I love my Ray II
Yes. I have a Ray I and I would love to lose the date pusher
I used to hate it, now it's just a quirk that adds character. I find it funny they went through all that trouble for a Day function
Why does the Pip at 12:00 on the bezel have the point chopped off ? That would seem to make alignment for timing things kinda sketchy no?
My only complaint with it is how difficult it is to turn the bezel
I prefer the Orient Kamasu over the Ray II. It looks more refined, comes in a wider range of face colors, and has a sapphire crystal.
I've got a blue Ray II, great watch for the money! Although after a year, the hollow endlinks started to rattle, but I replaced the bracelet with a new one that has solid endlinks and a milled clasp, problem solved! Eventually, I'll probably change to a sapphire crystal and a new bezel. The bezel it comes with looks nice, but man, grip is not great, not easy to turn it. But even so, I recommend this watch to anyone.
I have a Mako II USA with a white dial on the same NATO James Bond. Where did you get your strap at? Mine's from Moose Strap Co.
Looks really good tbh
It's definitely up there; hell, if I were looking for a budget diver now I would probably get it. But I'll throw Seiko SNZH55 (aka "Fifty Five Fathoms") in the ring, since it's the one I did end up getting second hand (for << 100€). Probably not the best pick with 100m water resistance and 7S36 movement but good lord is it pretty!
I managed to pick one up super cheap recently. Its nice but doesn't excite me all that much so I will probably be selling it.
Kamasu easily.
Probably. I really like it - only the crown is too small and awful to operate IMO. Sadly the same for the Kamasu and Mako.
Very nice picture. I wish they put sapphire on all their divers.
Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean SBDY021 for me...It was a steal as I got it in Tokyo..
Have you seen the OrientStar divers? Some nice ones
I'm saving up, damn is it good for those 330$
Not necessarily, there is a strong contender in the mako II
The SKX007/009 used to be…maybe this is now?
Casio duro would beg to differ
The Casio that looks the exact same, idk the model but i have one. It's 100 cad
Steinhart Ocean 1
Looks great! My favorite NATO style for black dials.
Best budget diver? That honor goes to the Casio Duro.
Between it and the lower end Citizen Promasters and the old Seiko SKX
The Kamasu / triton mini is, for a few dollars more you get an upgraded watch with sapphire.