It can be difficult getting your bearings underwater without a dive compass. On land you can pick out a distant landmark or geographical feature to help you navigate. Deep underwater, visibility is basically non-existent and there are no convenient reference points to use.

Also, you may be diving in murky water or find yourself being swept away in a current. These are all times when a dive compass would not only be helpful, but essential. A reliable dive compass will give you peace of mind and help keep you safe.

In this article, we will be reviewing the best dive compasses that will help you get your bearings while underwater. For each dive compass, we will be going over its features and why it is worth your money. We have also written a buying guide so that you can see the exact criteria we used for our review, as well as learn how to research a good dive compass on your own. Let’s get into it.

Our Top Picks:

Best Dive Compass Review

Chances are you are diving with a dive computer that has a compass installed – so why do you need a separate analog compass? For starters, it’s always good to have a back-up. You never know what might happen to the dive computer; it can get damaged, malfunction, suddenly die on you, etc. Keeping an analog dive compass with you will give you peace of mind, and below are the best ones.

Suunto SK8

Starting this list off we have the Suunto SK8. This dive compass will provide accurate, reliable bearings to keep you headed where you want to go. The compass housing is filled with liquid to prevent bubbles from forming, and the compass itself is highly responsive and will provide you accurate readings with no delay.

The Suunto SK8 has both Northern and Southern hemisphere orientation because of its upgraded magnet. In other words, you can use the SK8 to explore more of the ocean without worrying about proximity to the poles messing with the accuracy of your bearing.

Next, this retractable compass is so convenient because of how smoothly it snaps into the starting position once you release the tension. If you have difficulties keeping your dive compass level, the SK8’s 30° tilt tolerance makes this 2-3 times more forgiving to use compared to a run-of-the-mill dive compass.

Furthermore, the phosphorescent compass card of the SK8 makes it easier to read in low-viz conditions. On the bezel, twin heading indicators lets you easily align the lubber line to track your course. Lastly, the rotating bezel is great at preventing sand from contaminating or damaging your compass.

If you don’t have much time and need to get a dive compass ASAP, then the Suunto SK8 is perhaps the closest thing to the ideal best dive compass currently on the market and you can’t go wrong with it.

Sherwood Genesis Dive Compass

With high contrast markings and large windows, the Sherwood Genesis dive compass promises foolproof navigation for all divers. To further increase its visibility, its dial is also luminescent.

Mounting the Sherwood Genesis is very straightforward. It comes with a retractable mount that you can connect to your BCD. The Genesis is easy to reach when you need it, and will stay out of your way when you don’t. The retractable lanyard is durable and holds enough tension that it pulls the cord taut, yet it still remains easy to pull out and use.

Furthermore, the high-strength magnets ensure the compass stays responsive and provides an accurate reading. The Sherwood Genesis has a tilt threshold so that you do not need to keep it perfectly level in order to navigate with it. The reading may be negatively affected if there is any ferrous material (i.e. iron) nearby.

Overall, this dive compass is well-built and durable enough to take a few knocks. Its bezel is easy to rotate, even with thick gloves on. The extra large side window and clear markings makes navigating a straight course a breeze. The retractable mount includes 2 different clips, and the Sherwood Genesis is great for those who prefer a retractable compass over wrist-mounted.

XS Scuba Retractable Supertilt

Next we have the XS Scuba Retractable Supertilt. Don’t be fooled by how small it is, this dive compass is incredibly easy to read underwater because of its large vertical interior and luminous dial. On the bezel, the Supertilt has numbered headings for every 30° and smaller markers for every 5°.

The Supertilt comes with a stainless steel retractor that you can connect to a split ring or snap hook to your BCD. The benefit of a retractor cord is that once you are done with the compass, you can simply release the tension and the compass will snap back into its starting position. You can even use the quick-release buckle to detach the compass entirely if needed.

And of course, if the name isn’t enough of an indicator, the Supertilt can be used freely even at high tilt angles of +/- 30°. This is a great choice if you prefer your dive compass to be out of your way when not in use and you tend to use the compass at an angle.

If all of that doesn’t sell you on this product, then perhaps its attractive price will. The XS Scuba Supertilt is surprisingly affordable and it is every bit as good as its more expensive counterparts. The only downside is that you will have to purchase a mount separately, but if you already have one then the Supertilt should fit with most. Overall, this is a solid compass for casual navigation and swimming.

Oceanic Wrist Mount Compass

Next up is this wrist-mounted offering from Oceanic. This analog dive compass is a great choice for those who don’t like the thought of attaching retractable cords to their compass. It is designed to give you your bearings at a glance, so its accuracy is high and it responds well to movement.

The Oceanic dive compass has a large rotating bezel which lets you plot your course and the high visibility lubber line helps you to stick to it. The bearing indicators are very large so you will have no issues reading it.

We were surprised at how small this compass is with dimensions of 2” x 2” x 2” and a weight of 0.81oz, the Oceanic dive compass will not be a hindrance to your scuba diving kit, which is ideal for reducing drag and keeping a slim profile.

Visibility is further increased thanks to the Oceanglo-luminescent floating card which helps you to use the compass in the dark. The lume absorbs light and can reflect it up to 7 times quicker than other products and it lasts for longer too. A solid choice for a dive compass.

Trident Glow In the Dark Dive Compass

The Trident Glow In the Dark dive compass is a retractable compass that is known for its clear and long-lasting visibility underwater.

You can mount this dive compass to your belt or BCD using the swiveling gate snap clip, or use the retractor clip for easy underwater navigation. The Trident dive compass is quite compact, measuring in at 2.5” in diameter and a total length of 5”, so you will not feel hindered at all during a dive no matter how you choose to mount it.

Small dive compasses always run the risk of being hard to read, but the Trident dive compass’ glow-in-the-dark dial means you can easily read it even in the dark. So whether you are diving deep or diving at night, you can rely on this compass to point you in the right direction.

Additionally, this compass has a side view window to let you see your bearing at a glance without needing to hold the compass level. This is a useful feature because the Trident dive compass may have slight inaccuracies when tilted.

Aqua Lung Compass Module

More experienced divers may prefer to add on a compass module to their dive computer or console, and if Aqua Lung is your preferred brand then this module is worth consideration.

The design of the Aqua Lung compass module emphasizes readability by using large, clear numbers on the display. Both the dial and bezel are numbered every 30°, with smaller markers for every 10°. The markings for 10°, 20°, 30°, and 130° have fluorescent markings to help divers figure out the orientation of the compass even while in the dark.

The interior face of the Aqua Lung compass module is luminescent which further helps you to read your bearings in low-light conditions with its glow. Overall, the Aqua Lung compass module is a solid addition to your console, and it can be kept as a back-up should your main compass malfunction.

Oceanic SWIV Module

What makes Oceanic dive compasses stand out is the Oceanglo luminescent floating card which provides a bright and glow that lasts longer than all other compasses on the market. This means you can use this compass in low-viz conditions, such as deep diving or night diving, with little to no issues. Oceanic claims that Oceaglo lasts 7 times longer and glows 7 times faster and it is very easy to see (excuse the pun) that this is true.

Furthermore, Oceanic the SWIV module uses advanced technology to make sure you get fast and accurate readings of your bearing. The design of the SWIV module lets you easily view it from many angles. Its strong red lubber line lets you read it from the top or side, and it doesn’t even have to be completely level. This wrist dive compass is definitely something you should consider adding to your kit.

Scuba Choice Diving Compass Module

The Scuba Choice diving compass doesn’t look like much at first glance, but what’s impressive about it is its mounting versatility and compact size. It only has a diameter of 2.3” and the module mount lets you decide how you want to attach the compass to your equipment, making it highly versatile. Depending on how specific your mounting needs are, you may need to purchase a separate module housing to make it work.

Furthermore, the Scuba Choice dive compass provides accurate readings with a maximum working tilt of 25° which is very generous. It also has a maximum depth restriction of 80 meters, and in water temperatures of -5°C – 55°C, and it is highly unlikely you will be diving in either of those extremes.

For the price that the Scuba Choice dive compass is available for, you are getting a very affordable option that is slightly less responsive than other dive compasses. This is clearly designed to be an entry-level, budget model and for that it is a fantastic piece of kit that will serve you well for your first few dozen dives as a beginner.

Cressi Underwater Compass

Yet another dive compass worthy of your consideration is the Cressi underwater compass which has two versions: a model with both a hose mount and wrist strap, as well as one that is a module to fit into your console to give you a couple of options on how to mount it.

At this point you should be well aware that dive compasses need to be held at a level position in order to produce the most accurate readings, and this compass doesn’t offer as much tilt tolerance as some of the other compasses in this review. If you struggle with keeping your compass level, this is something to keep in mind.

However, the Cressi compass makes it for it with its gun-sight window which lets you precisely track your heading just by glancing at it from above without the need to level the compass. The Cressi underwater compass also has a red lubber line to assist with orientation as well as a rotating ratchet bezel that includes a double pointer.

Additionally, the luminescent backing offers clear visibility in low-viz conditions. Each marker on this compass indicates a 10° interval and it helps you to distinguish your bearing. Cressi is well-known for making quality scuba equipment, and the underwater compass is another solid product from them that won’t break the bank.

Best Dive Compass Buying Guide

Diving can be some of the most rewarding experiences you can get out of life… when everything goes to plan. But what about when it doesn’t? When you find yourself in an unfamiliar situation while diving, it can be terrifying if you don’t know how to navigate your way out of it. That’s why it’s important to always dive with a compass. In this section, we will go over everything you need to know to help you select the best dive compass for your needs.

Digital or Analog

Dive compasses come in either the digital or analog variety.

When you imagine a compass, you are probably thinking of an old-school analog compass. These are the ones that look like a fancy watch that tells you your bearing instead of the time. They are easy to care for and repair, and they tend to be cheaper than their digital counterparts.

The simplicity of their design makes them long-lasting, plus they don’t require a battery to function. They are versatile because you can mount them anywhere on your equipment. If you are someone who tends to forget to charge your electronics, an analog dive compass is for you.

Digital compasses are usually an integrated part of a dive computer. A digital dive compass uses sensors to detect the earth’s magnetic field. Since technology is so fancy nowadays, digital compasses tend to come with other features like a thermometer, barometer, and watch functionality (time and stopwatch).

Additionally, digital compasses are easier to read but are not as accurate as analog, require a battery to operate, and tend to cost more since they come with extra features. Keep in mind, when you use the battery for the first time, such as right after replacing it or after a fresh purchase, the compass will need to be calibrated.

Tilt Tolerance

A compass’ tilt tolerance is how far off a zero degree plane it can be tilted before the needle gets stuck. As you can imagine, the larger the tolerance the better. That said, a compass with a high tilt tolerance will be thicker and heavier. In our opinion, it’s well worth the trade-off.

Size

Most dive compasses are roughly the same size. The goal is not to find the biggest or smallest dive compass, but one that is easy to see and read in low-viz conditions. A bigger one will be easier to read but also heavier, and vice versa for a smaller one.

Mounting Options

There are various ways to mount the compass on your person.

Wrist-mounted

Dive compasses can be mounted in a housing that you can wear on your wrist like a watch. Some divers find it awkward to have both a dive compass and dive computer on one wrist, so they wear them on separate wrists.

Console-mounted

Another way is to put the dive compass in a boot along with the dive computer and SPG so that all three are accessible in one place. Some divers find this method to be too unwieldy and heavy.

Retractable

Lastly, the compass can be mounted to a D-ring or attached to a clip. When you want to read the compass, you can pull it out and when you are finished, it will retract to the storage position. This is convenient and can be more expensive.

Price

You can find a reliable dive compass without breaking the bank. A dive compass may only cost tens of dollars on the low-end, to hundreds of dollars on the high-end. No matter how much you spend on one, you have to make sure it’s durable, readable, and backed up by a good warranty.

In general, having extra features will drive up the cost of a compass. Useful features like higher tilt tolerance, more mounting options, stronger magnets, a side view window and so on are nice to have and are worth paying extra for if you can afford it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a dive compass?

Dive compasses are water-resistant compasses that you should bring with you whenever you are diving. An analog compass contains a magnetized pointer that interacts with Earth’s magnetic field to point in the direction of magnetic north, as well as your current bearing from it.

Sometimes people confuse compasses for a GPS. A compass does not tell you your location on Earth as a GPS would. Instead, it gives you a reference point by pointing north so you can better orient yourself to head in the direction you want to go. Using your surroundings, you can navigate back to where you started without a GPS.

With that said, many digital dive compasses come with a GPS nowadays. However, in order for it to work, it must be able to receive a signal from a satellite and this signal cannot penetrate water. In other words, you will need to be at the surface to get a signal. Since most of your navigating will be done underwater, it is better to rely on a dive compass instead.

Do I need a dive compass?

There are few ways to orient yourself while underwater. If you are lucky, the water conditions are calm, clear, and there are sufficient geographical landmarks to help you orient yourself. But there is a reason why even experienced divers don’t go on a dive without a compass.

That’s because water conditions are always changing. You cannot predict if a current is going to suddenly sweep you to an unknown area, or if visibility suddenly becomes poor. When an emergency like this happens, you need to have a dive compass handy to help you make it back to safety.

If you’ve ever dived from a boat for casual snorkeling or diving, then you know how easy it is to wander far away without realizing it. Furthermore, if the conditions on the surface are poor, it may be safer to swim to the boat underwater using your compass to lead the way instead of heading to the surface.

When diving as part of a group, not everyone necessarily needs a compass as long as the group sticks together. However, it is still good to have your own as backup should you get separated or if your diving partner’s compass breaks. If you are diving alone then a dive compass is mandatory. It’s not recommended to dive alone, but if you are for some reason, then you absolutely need your own dive compass.

Which is better – digital or analog?

Please read our “Digital or Analog” section in the buying guide above.

How do I fasten a compass?

Depending on your setup, you can mount the dive compass on your wrist or attach it to your BCD. Scuba divers tend to mount the compass to their BCD in the same place as their air gauge. Some compasses include a carabiner that you can hook to one of your shoulder straps.

Wrist-mounted compasses fit into a housing that is attached to your wrist. This is a popular choice for divers who aren’t wearing a wetsuit, such as freedivers. This option takes up as much space as a large watch, and can be worn on the opposite or even the same wrist as your dive computer.

Divers who are wearing a wetsuit with long sleeves will need a larger wrist strap so your compass can fit over the extra material.

What is a lubber line?

A lubber line is a red line marked on the compass that points to the direction straight ahead. You can set it by holding your hands straight out in front of you and setting it from there. Once you’ve set your bearing, simply follow the lubber line towards your target without needing to stick your arm straight out again.

Always stay vigilant, even with a compass. Analog compasses come with a side window that you can use while setting the line, and you can easily see the line by looking straight down at the compass afterwards.

How do I hold a compass?

There is a specific way to hold a dive compass, and here is how to do it. First, extend your hands straight in front of you at eye level. One hand should be holding the compass, and the other should be setting the lubber line.

Second, align the side window with your eyes and take note of the lubber line. This is the direction that you will be traveling.

If you are using a wrist compass, you can set the lubber line by extending your hand straight towards the direction you wish to travel to. Align the side window to your eye level and look to the lubber line. Then adjust the compass towards your heading.

Now, you can use your compass by simply looking from the top-down and following the lubber line. For the most accurate reading, try to keep the compass at an even level.

How do I care for my compass?

Rinse after diving

After every dive, you should thoroughly rinse all of your equipment, and that includes the dive compass. Cleaning a dive compass is very easy to do. Simply rinse it with fresh water at least a couple of times to remove any lingering salt. That’s it!

It would be prudent of you to check your compass for any cracks in its casing. Water can enter from these cracks and damage the internal components of the compass.

Getting rid of bubbles

Bubbles can form inside the compass when it is exposed to the cold. It is generally accepted that small bubbles will not affect the accuracy of a compass, however bubbles can get larger and eventually it will be a problem. Here’s how you can remove a bubble.

To begin, you will need the following tools: 1) a syringe with a small needle, 2) a dremel with a small drill, 3) a flathead screwdriver, and 4) an adhesive and filler fluid (e.g. any type of light oil).

Now using your dremel, drill two small holes in the side of the capsule. Next, stick the needle of the syringe into the holes and remove the fluid that is inside.

After all of the fluid has been removed, use the syringe to begin adding oil to the capsule through one of the holes that you drilled. As you fill the capsule with oil, any remaining air will be pushed out through the second hole.

Now that the capsule has been filled, there should be no air bubbles remaining and you can start to wipe the capsule of excess oil. The capsule should be completely clean before you seal the holes with adhesives; they do not blend well with oils.

Finally, fill the hole with adhesive and you are done.

Help! My compass is stuck!

It’s not uncommon for a compass to get stuck. This situation can occur if your dive compass has been exposed to high temperatures and the internal components start to expand.

A common way to fix this issue, as is the way to fix many a malfunctioning product, is to tap it a few times. You may get lucky and dislodge the components that are stuck so they can move to their rightful position.

You can also try to put your compass in hot water to allow all of the components to expand. After a few minutes, take it out of the water and let it cool down. The expansion and subsequent contraction of the materials may hopefully free up the stuck internal components.*

* You follow this advice at your own risk. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions on how to address the problems your specific compass is facing. You may even be able to send it back for a replacement if it’s still under warranty.

Photo Credits: Peter Southwood, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In many a Seiko watch collector’s mind, the SKX is the cream of the crop. It is a tried and true classic that has been recommended so many times that it’s practically a religion. However, if you want to buck the trend and get a high-quality Seiko watch that isn’t the SKX, then next up on the list is the Seiko Turtle SRP777. The Turtle is a modernized Seiko 6309, which is a classic that is hard to find these days.

By taking much of what makes the SKX the legendary dive watch that it is, the Turtle then builds upon it to make a watch that is truly exceptional. To briefly summarize some of its benefits, the Turtle is easy to read, has a solid bezel, with markers and hands that are filled with bright and long-lasting lume, and dimensions that should fit most wrist sizes, there’s lots to love about the Turtle on paper.

In this review, we are going to explore in great detail why the Seiko Turtle SRP777 is worth your money. We will be comparing it to the kings of the hill, the SKX007 and SKX009, as well its younger brother the Mini-Turtle to give you a better feel of how it holds up against other watches.

Seiko Prospex Turtle SRP777 Overview

The Seiko Turtle is a blast from the past with a retro shape that is reminiscent of dive watches from the 70s and 80s, many of which are still sought after to this day.

The Seiko Turtle is part of Seiko’s Prospex line, and it is an ISO 6425 certified dive watch with an impressive automatic movement and a classic appeal. Even though it’s a new production, wearing it makes us feel like going snorkeling with a single-window snorkel mask as if it were the 70s all over again.

There are many variations of the Turtle, but this review will primarily focus on the SRP777 with the black and white color scheme. We will briefly explain the differences in the other models where applicable. The other color variations are:

• SRP773 – Silver case, with navy and white dial.
• SRP775 – Silver case, with black, gold, and white dial.
• SRP777 – Silver case, with black and white dial.
• SRP779 – Silver case, with navy and white dial, and Pepsi bezel.
• SRPA21 Padi Edition – Silver case, with blue sunburst, white, red dial, and Pepsi bezel.
• SRPC44 – Gold case, black and white dial, and gold bezel
• SRPC95 – Silver case, with orange and white dial, and blue, orange, and white bezel.

Style

The Seiko Turtle’s theme is retro. Though it follows the dimensions and general style of the accomplished Seiko SKX007 and SKX009, the case’s shape will take you back to the 70s with its retro inspired design. With this in mind, the Seiko Turtle is probably best suited for casual or business-casual events, however you can try to dress it up if you think you can pull it off. Let’s go through each component in more detail.

The Case

The SRP777’s case is stainless steel with a brushed effect on its top surfaces, and the side surfaces have a polished effect. The defining element of the retro theme is the cushion style case which mimics the outline of a turtle shell (hence why it’s known as the “Turtle”).

The case diameter is a whopping 45mm and the case thickness is 13.3mm. As you can see, this watch wears large; but then again, dive watches need to be durable and it helps to achieve the retro theme.

Turning to the back, the screw-down caseback is made of stainless steel which lends to its excellent water-resistance performance. You can see the classic Seiko tsunami wave to indicate that this is indeed a true diver that you can wear while snorkeling, diving, or any other water activities.

Finally, the case’s lugs have a width of 22mm and they are formed directly into the main cushion case shape. Seiko have drilled holes to allow easier access to the bracelet pins from the outside. This is very convenient for those planning on swapping out the bracelet frequently, but it does have a slight impact on the aesthetics.

The Dial

As we have mentioned above, the Seiko Turtle is an ISO 6425 certified dive watch. Unlike other watches that merely look the part, the SRP777 was designed to meet certain strict standards, so you know that its performance in a diving application is very high. As such, the dial is designed to be usable during the day as well as deep underwater.

The Seiko Turtle SRP777’s dial color is a matte-black, almost appearing as dark charcoal depending on the time of the day and viewing angle. The hour markers consist of large white circles, and unique markers can be found at the 6, 9, and 12-o’clock positions. The 12-o’clock marker resembles a sword and shield. The 6 and 9-o’clock markers resemble rectangles with a protruding, thin tip.

At the 3-o’clock position you can find the day and date window which tries to mirror the 9-o’clock marker by having a white background. The day and date text is typically in black, but in usual Seiko fashion, Saturdays are displayed in blue, and Sundays in red text. These little touches show the care Seiko likes to put into their products.

Printed proudly below the 12-o’clock marker is the Seiko logo in gold text. And above the 6-o’clock marker is the Prospex logo, the word “Automatic” below that, and the water resistance rating “Diver’s 200m” below that, all in gold. This is the extent of the printed text on the dial; it tells you the most important information using as few words as possible to keep the dial looking clean.

The Hands

Moving on, the Seiko Turtle SRP777 has some seriously good-looking hands. When looking at the dial, your eyes will be drawn immediately to them because of polished gold accents on each hand highlighting whenever light shines on them and gives them a glowing effect. It is something you will notice each time you glance at the watch, and if you are like us, you won’t be able to stop admiring how nice this looks. Due to this gold application the hands already look fantastic, but what makes them even more interesting is that each one is shaped differently.

First, the hour hand has the shape of a syringe, with a needle at the end of the main rectangular body. Second, the minute hand features a bold arrow shape, with a needle pointer at the end as well.

Lastly, the second hand has a thin lollipop shape. It also has a split color scheme with the counter-balance side being black and the pointer side being polished gold. If we had to venture a guess as to why Seiko did this, perhaps it is for added functionality so that the eye can lock on to the gold pointer side for easier reading, but stylistically it also looks very cool.

The Crystal

The glass protecting the dial is made of Seiko’s own Hardlex mineral crystal. This is a scratch-resistant synthetic material that is a step up from traditional mineral glass, but not quite on the same level as a sapphire crystal. With that said, you have to consider the price – while the Turtle is more expensive than the SKX line, the extra cost is going towards the movement and bracelet which we will discuss in another section.

Hardlex smudges easily, so you will find yourself wiping it constantly if you want it to have an unobstructed view. Furthermore, you can scratch the scratch-resistant glass if you really put it through the ringer, but do you really want to do that to a several hundred dollar watch?

As for its appearance, the glass lies completely level with the flat face of the outer bezel. The Seiko SKX007 and SKX009 also share this design where the bezel and glass are raised from the case. It is reminiscent of those old school diving helmets with the single round window in the front. Perhaps this is the image these watches are trying to evoke, but it is more obvious with the Turtle because of the rounded surface of the case below it.

The Crown

If you look to the side of the case at the 4-o’clock position, you will find the Seiko Turtle’s crown. It has a decent size to it, and it recesses slightly into the cushion case to keep it from protruding too far. The crown “guards”, if you can call them that, is just the existing case shape above the recess from where the crown sits; there are no additional shapes that stick out and protect the crown. It’s a simple design that works.

Looking at the crown itself, it has a slight dome to its outer polished smooth surface. Its sides have teeth to provide extra grip. The crown strikes a nice balance of being present when you look at the watch, but not so much that it is obtrusive; the style is executed very well.

The Bezel

Turning our attention to the bezel, you will see that it is made of stainless steel and has a polished ribbed outer surface for additional grip. The top surface is flat and level to the glass.

Whatever the paint is that Seiko have applied to the bezel, it has a metallic shimmer to it that glows in the light, particularly the non-black sections, which is very attention-grabbing. This bold look gives the watch a sporty dynamic.

The SRP777 version has black paint applied to the whole top surface of the bezel, with silver used for the markers, including the main arrow marker and silver Arabic numbers for every 10 minutes/seconds, and small dots for every minute/second. The font used for the Arabic numerals is very striking, legible, and does not detract from the watch.

The Band

The Seiko Turtle has two band offerings – a stainless steel bracelet and a silicone rubber dive strap. We will focus on the bracelet, since it’s more interesting and there’s not much to say about a rubber dive strap. The included rubber strap is serviceable, suitable for a more casual appearance and obviously better suited for true dive use.

The SRP777’s bracelet is a high-quality offering by Seiko. It is extremely solid thanks to its heavy-duty links, solid end-links, and a durable push-button deployment clasp with safety latch. Being part of the Prospex line, the bracelet is obviously built for strength, yet retains an air of elegance in its bold design.

Speaking of the design, it is an oyster-style bracelet with a brushed finish on its 3-link design. To add a bit of class, Seiko has inserted a small polished accent just outside the center links. With that said, we do not feel the extra class this may have added was necessary.

The watch already has a bold, strong look just from its size, so we would have preferred they keep the bracelet simple by excluding those extra touches. With that said, it is just our personal preference, and based on other people’s impressions, the bracelet looks great in the grand scheme of things.

We should also mention, if you plan on diving a lot, to swap the straps for some NATO straps. The Turtle looks fantastic in them and it changes the overall style of the watch. Additionally, the color combinations you can pull off are vast. If you are not a fan of the original subdued look, this can be your chance to put your personality on display with the plethora of style options a good NATO strap can provide.

Overall Style

To sum it up, the overall style of the Seiko Turtle can be described as “retro chic”. The rounded cushion case gives off the retro vibe, but it is modernized with the bold and strong stainless steel bracelet. You can easily make a statement by wearing this watch; it’s masculine and dominant and provides a feel that few watches can match. Its accents are attention-grabbing and make the watch glow.

Being a dive watch, and a retro-looking one at that, the Seiko Turtle is a bit large and is best suited for casual or business-casual wear. You can try to dress it up for formal events to make a bold statement. If James Bond can do it, maybe you can too.

Furthermore, there is a thriving mod market for the Seiko Turtle which can allow you to replace just about everything on this watch: the bezel, hands, glass, etc. There are basically no limits to how much you can customize your Turtle if you are interested in modding it.

Comfort

Dive watches are generally larger than other types of watches because they need to be able to withstand the water pressure at depth. But even by dive watch standards, the Turtle is on the large side of that because of the retro style it has. Heck, it’s even called the Turtle! The SRP777 weighs 6.4oz / 181g (with bracelet) which is pretty stout.

With that said, much of the weight comes from the bracelet itself. So even if you feel like the watch is heavy on your wrist, at least the weight is evenly distributed. A weighty watch is not necessarily a bad thing. Depending on your preferences, you may actually appreciate feeling the weight of your watch on your wrist compared to a lightweight watch that doesn’t even feel like it’s there.

Before you decide to swap the bracelet for a lighter one, you should know that it is actually very comfortable thanks to the rounded links that move in lockstep with each other without pinching your skin or hair.

Furthermore, you can adjust the links to fit your wrist. The stainless steel bracelet has a major link adjustment, and the clasp also contains a minor link adjustment about ⅓ the length of the major link. This allows you to perfectly customize the bracelet to your wrist size so you don’t have to pick between too loose or too tight.

For when you go diving, you can swap out the bracelet for rubber dive straps or a NATO strap. Much of the weight will be removed by doing this, and the Seiko Turtle weighs 3.2oz without the bracelet. In other words, approximately half the weight is removed just by changing the bracelet. However, this may cause the watch to feel slightly unbalanced since most of the weight is now on one side of the wrist. This feeling can be kept to a minimum by properly fitting the strap.

The Turtle’s crown is, thankfully, a non-issue when it comes to comfort. Typically, watches this large will have issues with the crown pressing into your wrist when you bend it. Since the Turtle’s crown is located at the 4-o’clock position instead of 3-o’clock like the majority of the other watches, it is angled so that it won’t touch your wrist. Additionally, since the crown is recessed and the cushion case edge acts as the crown guard instead of an actual protruding crown guard, then this further minimizes your chance of the crown digging into your wrist.

Overall, the Seiko Turtle is large and quite heavy even by dive watch standards but it is still very comfortable to wear. It is designed such that its weight is evenly distributed and the crown guard will never poke you.

The Movement

The heart and soul of all watches is in their movement, and the Seiko Turtle sports an in-house 4R36 movement.

Starting off, it moves at a speed of 21,600 beats per hour or 6 beats per second. This means the second hand moves 6 times a second for a satisfying smooth sweep.

Next, the 4R36 movement has a 41-hour power reserve when fully charged. This gives you some leeway in case you don’t wear it for a day that it’s not completely dead the next day. Keep in mind that the lower the charge on an automatic watch, the less accurate its timekeeping becomes.

Additionally, the 4R36 can be regulated to keep its accuracy precise. While you could potentially do this yourself if you have the right tools, keep in mind that opening the watch up will affect its ISO rating. We do not recommend doing it yourself. Employ the help of an expert that knows how to regulate the watch while maintaining its water-resistant seal.

Sticklers for accuracy will be happy to know that Seiko Turtle’s movement allows for hacking and handwinding. Hacking means the 4R36 can cease all movement when the crown is pulled full-out so you can precisely set the time. Handwinding means you can charge the mainspring by rotating the crown.

Furthermore, the 4R36 movement has 24 jewels – 24 points of contact where jewels are applied to moving components to reduce friction and improve durability and accuracy.

All this talk about accuracy, but how accurate is the 4R36 movement exactly? Seiko have not officially disclosed this number, but a safe assumption is that it is within +/15 seconds per day. This will change depending on how often you wear the watch and if you let it reach a low charge. Typically, we find the watch accuracy to be about 10 seconds slow, but after consistently wearing it everyday for 2 weeks, we have recorded it as accurate as 1 second slow a day.

Usability

Usability is a core tenet of the Seiko Turtle design. As you may know, the Turtle is part of Seiko’s Prospex line. Prospex is short for “Professional Specifications”, and the watches in this line are intended for professional use in Land, Air, and Sea applications.

Furthermore, being an ISO certified dive watch, the Turtle boasts a water resistance rating of 200m / 660ft. Technically, it can be used at depths 25% deeper than that which is part of the requirements for being ISO certified, but we recommend staying within its recommended limits.

To understand how the Seiko Turtle can truly meet the needs of a professional, we need to understand the ISO 6425 standard. Receiving the ISO certification means that a watch is a legitimate professional dive watch. If you plan on diving with your watch, even just for shallow dives, make sure it has this certification. Here are some of the requirements a watch needs to meet in order to get certified:

ISO 6425 Requirements

Minimum water resistant depth of 100m

The Seiko Turtle is water resistant down to 200m.

Markers every 5 minutes (minimum) on the unidirectional bezel, and a main time setting marker

The Seiko Turtle has a 120-click CCW unidirectional (one-way) rotating bezel with markings every minute, and a triangle with lume in the middle at the 12-o’clock position for the main time setting.

Distinguishable, visible minute markings on the watch dial

The minute markings can be found on both the chapter ring and the bezel on the Turtle.

Visible and legible at 25cm in total darkness

In other words, does the dive watch have distinguishable enough hour markers and hands with enough lume applied on them to be visible at a distance of 25cm in the dark? For the Turtle, the answer is yes.

Ability to see the watch function in total darkness

This is basically asking if there is lume applied on the second hand. Since the second hand is constantly moving when it is functioning normally, then seeing the lume move in the dark reassures the wearer that the watch is still functioning. As we mentioned above, the Turtle indeed has lume on each of its hands.

Sufficient magnetic resistance

All dive watches must be able to stay accurate to within +/- 30 seconds a day even after a 4,800 A/m magnetic field is applied. The Turtle is rated to 4,800 A/m.

Shock resistance

To pass this test, all dive watches must maintain an accuracy of +/- 60 seconds per day after it is struck with a 3kg hammer at a speed of 4.43m/s at the 9-o’clock position to the case side as well as directly on the glass surface.

Resistant to saltwater

There’s not much use for a dive watch that gets damaged by saltwater, is there? To pass this test, all dive watches must resist the corrosive effects of being submerged in sodium chloride solution for 24 hours (this simulates submersion in saltwater for 24 hours).

Strap/Band strength

The band must be durable enough to resist damage or disconnection when 200N (45 lbf) of force is applied to it in opposite directions.

This list does not cover all of the rigorous testing a dive watch must endure, however we have selected the most pertinent ones to illustrate the usability of the Seiko Turtle SRP777. In fact, there are more details that make this watch even better that we want to go over.

Readability

Seiko has hit a home run in regards to the readability of this watch. At a glance, you can quickly tell the time with almost no effort from your part at all. Thanks to the stark contrast between the main dial color and the large white markers, as well as the distinct shape of each hand, it is very easy to tell the time on the Turtle.

Furthermore, the markers have distinct shapes as well. The 12-o’clock marker is literally a large sword and shield to clearly help with orientation. The 3, 6, and 9-o’clock markers have a rectangular shape with a pointed tip, and the rest of the hours are large white circles. With how it’s all laid out, it is impossible to confuse which hour is which.

Additionally, both the bezel and the chapter ring have a marker for every minute, and the bezel also has Arabic numbers for every 10 minutes to make reading it even easier. The ends of the minute and second hands have a fine pointer that reaches all the way to the markers of the chapter ring so there’s no mistaking which minute it is pointing at.

If that doesn’t sound like it’s legible enough, how about the polished gold found on each hand, bezel marker, and outline of the dial’s hour markers? This is particularly visible in the sword and shield marker at the 12-o’clock position. Basically at all times the watch will be glowing – from the gold outlines during the day, and from the lume at night. There’s no way you can’t see this watch. Excellent job by Seiko.

Using the Crown

Turning our attention to the crown, located at the 4-o’clock position, it is easy to pull and twist thanks to its large size and toothed sides. We found that the teeth of this crown are easier to grip than other crowns. It’s functionality is quite straightforward, but let’s go through them for the sake of completeness.

First, the crown can be in the full-in position. When it is screwed in, that means the time is set and that it is completely water-sealed. If it is not screwed in, you can rotate the crown clockwise to wind the mainspring.

Second, the crown can be in the first-click (middle) position. Here, rotating it clockwise adjusts the date, and rotating it counter-clockwise adjusts the day.

Third, the crown can be set in the second-click (full-out) position. Simply rotate it to adjust the time.

Lastly, when you are finished adjusting the time, push the crown all the way to the full-in position. Be sure to make these adjustments when the watch is off your wrist. It’s possible to damage the watch if you are awkwardly fiddling with it with one hand, so take it off to be safe.

Luminescence

We have already talked a bit about the Seiko Turtle’s lume in the ISO certification section above. Since it must be visible in complete darkness at 25cm, the lume markers are necessarily large. Yet, there is enough space between them so they are distinguishable and not overcrowded.

The lume used is Seiko’s proprietary tried-and-true, bright and long-lasting LumiBrite. The lume is visible even in total darkness, and it can be found on the hour markers, hands, and the pip on the bezel. There is no question about the orientation of the watch thanks specifically to the lume at the 12-o’clock position in the shield portion of the marker.

Bracelet

Lastly, we have the bracelet. It features a push-button deployment clasp that is rock-solid and smooth to operate. It’s satisfying just to hear it click in place and release; it feels high-quality in its operation.

We have already mentioned about the bracelet’s various adjustability features in the “Comfort” section above. To summarize, adding or removing links is straightforward. You can push the pins in the direction the arrow on the underside of the link is pointing to to remove the pin, assuming you have the right tools to do the job.

The bracelet minor adjustment at the clasp can also be adjusted easily as well. It has a spring bar holding it in place, so all you need is a tool to compress the spring bar and move it to a set of holes that better suits you.

The end links also use spring bars to connect to the case. However, the case conveniently has drilled lugs so you can compress the lugs more easily by pushing from the outside with a fine tool. Overall, this bracelet has plenty of ways it can be adjusted to fit many wrist sizes.

Seiko Prospex Turtle SRP777 Review: The Verdict

As good of a watch as the Seiko Turtle is, it’s a bit of a hard sell. After all, Seiko already has a couple of incredible products under their belt: the SKX007 and SKX009. On top of that, the Turtle is more expensive. So why should you get the Turtle? What’s that extra $100 getting you over the SKX?

First, you have to understand that the SKX and the Turtle are very similar in terms of functionality, with a few exceptions:

First, the size and shape of the Turtle. Not only does it have a retro look and a larger size, but it’s also sturdier because of it. Second, it uses the upgraded 4R36 movement which is more precise and also has hacking and handwinding functionality. Third, the Turtle has an oyster-style bracelet with a robust clasp. Fourth, the Turtle has more color options than the SKX.

All of these upgrades can be yours for less than $100 over the SKX. Not to mention the Seiko Prospex Turtle SRP777 is an ISO 6425 certified watch. For its price, you are getting a whole lot of watch and we feel that the value is tremendous.

If the Seiko Turtle is going to be the only dive watch in your watch collection, then perhaps the retro style might not be the best option. However, if you are looking to spice up your existing collection with a classic looking dive watch, then perhaps the retro style will click with you.

Photo Credits: Bruce Williams

How many watches have been inspired by the Rolex Submariner? Add another one to that list: the Tissot Seastar. This Swiss-luxury dive watch has a style and water resistance that is comparable to the legendary Submariner. How does the Tissot Seastar compare to the Submariner, how does it fit into the dive watch market overall, and is it worth your money? Find the answers to these questions and more in our review.

Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 Overview

If you’ve never heard of Tissot before, they are a luxury watch manufacturer based in Switzerland and they have been making watches since 1853. Over 160 years later, they are now part of the Swatch Group, but that hasn’t changed their goal of creating high-quality Swiss luxury watches. With the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80, they have added yet another quality watch to their catalog. Let’s check out what it does.

Specifications

• Water-resistance: 30 bar (300m/1000ft)
• Lug width: 21mm
• Diameter: 43mm
• Thickness: 12.7mm
• Crystal: Sapphire crystal
• Movement: POWERMATIC 80.111
• Jewels: 23
• Power reserve: up to 80 hours
• Lug-to-lug: 49.6mm
• Frequency: 21,600 BPH (6 beats per second)

Tissot Seastar Variations

• Black dial, stainless steel bracelet.
• Blue dial, stainless steel bracelet.
• Silver dial, stainless steel bracelet.
• Black and blue sunburst dial, rubber dive strap.

Design

Don’t be fooled, the Tissot Seastar isn’t something that you keep in a glass display never to be worn; it is a bona fide dive watch and a powerful one at that. The Seastar has a refined look that is designed with class and elegance and can be worn in even the most formal of occasions. Tissot clearly took inspiration from the likes of classics like the Omega Seamaster and the Rolex Submariner; talk about setting a high bar.

The Case

The Tissot Seastar comes in a round 316L stainless steel case that is 43mm in diameter and 12.7mm thick. By dive watch standards, this is considered to be a bit on the smaller side. Dive watches, being tool watches, are generally bigger for the added durability and legibility. Since the Seastar is not overly large, it allows one to wear it to more formal occasions without feeling out of place.

The finish of the case is mainly brushed on most surfaces except the top of the lugs, crown guards, and the recessed channel that runs around the side of the case. The lugs are kept slender to uphold its dressy appeal, but they are quite long, measuring in at a 47.3mm lug-to-lug distance.

With a lug width of 21mm, users looking to replace the bracelet will find slightly less options; however, the width perfectly matches the proportions of the case and keeps it versatile enough to be worn for both casual and dress applications. The spring bar can only be accessed from inside because the lugs are not drilled through to maintain their clean look.

Turning to the back, the caseback is stainless steel with an exhibition window to let wearers get a glimpse of the automatic movement rotating inside. This design is always very cool to see, particularly if you like to marvel at the engineering ingenuity being displayed. Through the glass window, you can see the Tissot wave engraving on the rotor. The wave theme is found on other components as well. It is not only good attention to detail but a nice reminder that this watch is indeed capable of underwater use.

The Dial

Next, the Tissot Seastar’s dial is elegant, simple, and exhibits qualities that make it stand out as a luxury Swiss watch.

For starters, its dial is black with a very slight sunburst finish that can make it appear as dark as charcoal. Black is a safe color and is often used in classic and professional watches, so it is a versatile color to have.

What we love about this dial is its elegant and captivating hour markers. All 12 markers are applied to make them stand out, literally. Each one is white and has a polished silver outline which looks breathtaking when it catches the light. The markers greatly contrast the black dial and make them very legible in most conditions. The markers are shaped like round dots with the exception of the 12-o’clock marker which is a triangle, and the 3, 6, and 9-o’clock markers which are rectangles.

More markers are printed along the outside edge of the dial on a chapter ring. There are major ticks every 5 minutes/seconds along the ring, and minor ticks for every minute/second. Despite having these markers, the dial retains a minimal, clean look.

Just above the 6-o’clock marker, a date window with a beveled edge can be found in all black with no framing or outline. The design and placement of it is very unique, as the date window is typically found in the 3-o’clock position. The date is printed in white text on the black background. This makes the date window blend seamlessly into the dial. For legibility, this isn’t the greatest design; as for style, this is certainly one of the least intrusive date windows we have seen in a watch.

Lastly, the remaining markers on the dial can be found below the 12-o’clock marker and above the 6 o’clock marker. The triangle marker points downwards towards the “Tissot” name and “1853”, the date the company was founded. They are printed in a thin white block font that exudes class.

Above the 6-o’clock marker and date window reads “Seastar” and “Powermatic 80”, also printed in white text. To the sides of the 6-o’clock marker the words “Swiss made” can be found. We appreciate the limited amount of text found on the dial. Tissot could have also easily added in details like “Water Resistant 300m/1000ft” or mentioned the automatic movement it’s using, but they held back. This keeps the dial clutter-free and maintains the clean look that keeps the Seastar looking classy.

The Hands

Keeping a similar style as the markers, the hands are also white with polished silver edges. The hour and minute hands are shaped like a fat pencil with white lume in the middle which makes them impossible to miss with how much they contrast against the black dial. Just like the markers, the polished silver has a reflective sheen that catches the eye and helps to read the time easily.

The second hand is typically the longest and thinnest of the hands, but with how thick the hour and minute hands are, it gives the impression that the second hand is much thinner than it actually is. There is a lume lollipop dot applied near the tip of the pointer side. While the lume is necessary for night use, the lollipop is very small and hard to see. Furthermore, the counterbalance is shaped like a large “T”, and assuming that it stands for “Tissot”, is conceited and cheesy.

The Bezel

The Tissot Seastar’s bezel is a combination of beautiful black ceramic with silver accents. These markings are formed right into the ceramic, not engraved. There are Arabic numbers for each 10 minute interval, and they are so obnoxiously large and thick that they can be distracting.

Thankfully, since they are blended into the ceramic, then the way the bezel reflects the light typically obscures most of these markers unless you are looking at the watch straight-on. This restrains their otherwise overwhelming presence, which is good.

Speaking of the reflective sheen on the bezel, this gives the watch a nice luster that is attractive. Furthermore, the ribbed outer surface not only provides excellent grip, but looks good too.

As for the markers, there is a main triangle marker at the 12-o’clock position with a lume pip. As we mentioned above, there are large Arabic numbers every ten minutes, with a major tick marking each number that ends in a “5” (5, 15, 25, etc). There are also minor ticks for each second up to the 20-minute mark.

The Crystal

As you’d expect from any high-quality watch, the Tissot Seastar uses a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with a perfectly flat face that sits flush against the edge of the bezel. The sapphire crystal provides exceptional clarity so that you can view the dial without any distortions, even at extreme angles. It is clean, simple, and helps the watch maintain a classy look.

The Crown

Like most watches, the Tissot Seastar’s crown is found at the 3-o’clock position. However, unlike most watches, the Seastar has some of the most heavy-duty crown guards we have seen in a diver. They sharply jut off the main case and surround the crown like two overly protective bodyguards. This design is highly reminiscent of the Rolex Submariner’s crown guards which sport a similar design.

Looking at the crown itself, you will notice it has polished silver ribbed sides for extra grip, and a slightly domed face with a blocky “T” which, unlike on the counterbalance of the second hand, looks nice here. The crown is rated to withstand the water pressures up to 300m/1000ft, which is what the “1000” in its name is referencing.

The Strap

Depending on the version that you get, the Tissot Seastar can come with either a black rubber dive strap with a curved-end, or a stainless steel bracelet. You can’t go wrong with a rubber strap on a dive watch, plus it adds to the sporty nature of it as well. The rubber strap is also more comfortable to wear for long periods of time compared to a stainless steel bracelet.

If you get the stainless steel bracelet version, then the Tissot Seastar comes with one of the thickest, most durable stainless steel bracelets we have seen – a five-link design with the middle and end links having the same size and brushed finished. The second and fourth links that are sandwiched in between the other links are narrower and have a polished finish. This combination of brushed and polished links adds to the elegance of the overall design, giving it a dress watch look.

The links where the bracelet meets the case are even more durable, and Tissot have included a deployment style clasp with safety flap. The whole clasp has a brushed finish and the clasp has an embossed block that is branded with, you guessed it, a “T”.

A minor downside of the bracelet is its width. At 21mm it is an abnormal size and limits the amount of options you have if you would rather replace it with a third party option. However, the included bracelet is solid and proportionally correct to match the overall design.

Aesthetics

The overall style of the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 can be described as classy and heavy-duty. You can see many similarities between it and the classic watches that inspired it like the Omega Seamaster and Rolex Submariner. With that said, it’s not merely a carbon copy; it has its own distinct look and is a great looking watch all its own.

The Tissot Seastar was clearly designed to have an elegant and minimal look which gives it the versatility of being worn to both casual and formal settings despite being a robust dive watch. This once again is a trait that the Submariner and Seamaster share.

With its white hands with silver edges and applied markers against the backdrop of the beautiful black dial, the lustrous ceramic bezel, sapphire glass, and five-link stainless steel bracelet, the Seastar is simply breathtaking to look at under the light. Its reflective surfaces will highlight the quality and sophisticated nature of the Tissot Seastar.

Comfort

We’ve used the word “heavy-duty” a lot in our review, and that’s because it has a robust design with various hard edges that can make it uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. With a case diameter of 43mm, it wears a bit large and it’s made worse by the fact that its crown guards stick out from the right at the 3-o’clock position where it will constantly prod your wrist.

This is not an issue for those who prefer to wear their watch higher up on their wrist, but those who wear it lower may feel irritated at the constant poking, as well as the stiffness of wearing this tool watch. Overall, this issue is minor but something you need to be aware of.

Despite the large case diameter, the Tissot Seastar has a reasonable thickness of only 12.7mm which allows it to easily slide under the cuff without snagging on it. This shows Tissot’s concern to make the watch as versatile as it can so that it won’t be exclusively worn as a tool watch.

Next, the 21mm wide band provides just enough support to keep the watch from sliding around the wrist while providing enough adjustability so that it can perfectly fit the wrist. The band length spans 5-⅞” (152mm) to 8-⅛” (203mm), with a removable link adjustment of ⅜” (10mm), as well as a fine adjustment in the clasp of 3/32” (2mm).

The bracelet’s five-link design seems like it’d be a constant source of hair and skin pulling action, but thanks to the excellent fluidity of the links, they contour nicely around the wrist with no issues. With that said, the links have basically no flexibility in the lateral direction which can make the overall feel of the watch very stiff.

Weighing 6.3oz/180g with the band on, the watch weighs approximately as much as 32 US quarters. In other words, it’s got a bit of weight to it, however the weight is evenly distributed around the wrist making it feel balanced and more wearable.

As far as wearability goes, there are no outstanding issues in the Tissot Seastar, and the few issues there are are minor at worst. Even wearing the Seastar for long periods of time, it felt fine. It is only when we focused on the watch that some of these complaints about the weight and stiffness come into mind. Overall, it is a reasonably comfortable watch to wear for any occasion.

Timekeeping

The full name of this dive watch is the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that its automatic movement is the Tissot Powermatic 80. The “80” is a reference to the number of hours the power reserve can last for.

This movement is based heavily on the ETA 2824-2 movement, which is originally from another company under the umbrella of the Swatch Group. The sapphire exhibition window on the caseback allows you to see this beautiful movement in action.

Let’s take a look at what the movement can do.

First of all, it’s Swiss-made. Swiss watches are some of the highest quality watches available, and this movement is coming from a company with over 160 years of experience.

Next, the movement has 23 jewels. This means it has 23 points of contact with moving components where the jewels can reduce friction as well as improve accuracy and durability.

The Tissot Powermatic 80 beats at a rate of 21,600 beats per hour (6 beats per second) which helps keep the hands moving very smoothly and accurately.

When fully charged, this movement has an 80-hour power reserve, more than double the power reserve of most watches. Practically speaking, this means you can leave the Tissot Seastar in your drawer Friday afternoon and wear it to work on Monday morning and this watch will still be ticking. (Keep in mind, we do not actually recommend this because the accuracy suffers when it is low on power).

Next, the Tissot Seastar uses a silicone hairspring which is resistant to magnetism. This feature is almost always found exclusively in high-end watches, so it’s good to see it here.

If you want total control of your watch’s accuracy, then you want a movement that allows for hacking and handwinding. Of course, the Powermatic 80 lets you do just that. When you completely pull out the crown, all movement in the watch is stopped. You will also be able to charge the mainspring in this position.

Funnily enough, the accuracy is not officially disclosed by Tissot, but we estimate it is between +/- 15 seconds a day. Unfortunately, you cannot perform any regulations yourself, as the watch is constructed such that it requires Tissot to perform the regulation using lasers.

Lastly, the Tissot Seastar features date complication which is nice if you like to keep track of the calendar. The date changeover is very fast, beginning around 11:40pm and finishing exactly at 12:00am in sync with the start of the new day.

Usability

We have almost nothing but good things to say about the usability of the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80. We’ve already mentioned some of these qualities off-hand, but let’s really delve into what makes this watch so special, starting with the “1000” in its name.

Water Resistance

The Tissot Seastar is a dive watch with a water resistance rating of 30 bar, which is equivalent to 300m or 1000ft. This rating matches the watch that it is inspired by: the Rolex Submariner. It’s an impressive number to be sure, but there’s just one minor complication: as far as we are aware, the Tissot Seastar is not ISO 6425 certified.

For a watch to be considered a “true” diving watch, it should pass a set of strict requirements set forth by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). At a glance, the Tissot Seastar appears to have many specs that meet the ISO 6425 standards, but we aren’t sure if it actually has the certification or not.

If you are planning on taking this watch diving, then in this section we will go over the Tissot Seastar’s specifications and compare them to the ISO 6425 requirements to see how it fares. Otherwise, you can just skip to the next section.

ISO 6425 Requirements met by the Tissot Seastar:

Minimum water resistance rating of 100m. 

The Tissot Seastar is rated for 300m/30 bar/1000ft, three times the minimum.

Unidirectional rotating bezel markers for at least every 5 minutes as well as a main time setting marker. 

The Tissot Seastar has a 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel that turns in the CCW direction, with a marker for every 5 minutes up to 60 minutes, as well as a marker for every minute up to the first 20 minutes. The main setting marker is triangle-shaped with a lume pip. When rotating the bezel, it has a solid click as it passes by each minute, so you know exactly how much it rotated by and there is almost no play when set.

Clear, distinguishable minute markings on the dial.

The Tissot Seastar has a chapter ring with a marker for each minute.

Legible at a distance of at least 25cm in complete darkness.

The large hour markers and fat pencil hands are filled with lume and are easy to see even in the dark.

Ability to tell the watch is still functioning in total darkness.

There is lume applied to the lollipop on the second hand so that as it rotates each second, users can see the lume shifting with it.

ISO 6425 requirements that may not be met

Magnetic Resistance

All dive watches must have its accuracy within +/-30 seconds a day even after a 4,800 A/m magnetic field is applied to it.

Shock Resistance

All dive watches must have its accuracy within +/-60 seconds a day after it has been impacted by a 3kg hammer to the side of the case as well as directly to the glass.

Saltwater Resistance

All dive watches must resist the corrosive effects of being submerged for 24 hours in sodium chloride solution (this simulates the effect of submersion in saltwater).

Strap/Band Strength

The strap must be durable enough to withstand 200N of force being applied in opposite directions without damage or disconnection.

Since Tissot has not proudly touted an ISO 6425 certification, we can only assume that the Tissot Seastar is not actually certified. With that said, it still has impressive specs, and if the water resistance rating is even half as good as they claim then it is still suitable for snorkeling and shallow dives.

The Crown

A major contributing factor to the water resistance rating of any dive watch is due to how tightly the screw-down crown can seal water out. The Tissot Seastar’s crown is the ideal size for rotating and grabbing. The crown can be set in three positions.

When it is full-in, it can be screwed-down for its full water-sealing capabilities, or it can be unscrewed so that you can rotate it counterclockwise to wind the mainspring. Thanks to the movement, you can feel a tactile feedback as well as an audible click as it is being wound.

Next, it can be pulled into the middle position (first click) which allows you to adjust the date by rotating the crown clockwise. Lastly, it can be pulled into the full-out (second click) position where you can rotate it to set the time.

When you are finished adjusting, simply push the crown all the way in. Additionally, make sure to perform all of the above steps while the watch is off your wrist to reduce the chance of damaging it.

The screw-down crown is sandwiched between two crown guards that provide a great deal of protection from accidental impacts against doorways or edges of the desk during normal wear.

Readability

It is very easy to read the time on the Tissot Seastar thanks to the contrast between the dial and the hands. The white markers and hands against the black backdrop couldn’t be clearer to see. The polished silver outline for each marker and hand catches the light and creates a nice glow effect during the day.

Furthermore, the fat pencil-shaped hour and minute hands are impossible to miss, particularly with their silver borders. The second hand is different because its body is dark, however it has a lume lollipop at the end that extends all the way to the markers along the outside so there is no confusion as to which marker it is pointing to. Since the second hand is a thin stick style and is black, it does not distract from reading the hour and minute markers when looking at the dial.

The bezel also supports the second and minute hands with their thick, large arabic numbers marking every 10 minutes/seconds which can help the brain convert the markers into actual time with minimal thinking required.

The date window on the Tissot Seastar may take an extra second to read due to how seamlessly it blends into the dial. Since it has no framing and is basically just white text on a black background, you may confuse it for one of the other printed texts. It doesn’t help that it’s under the “Powermatic 80” text; we wouldn’t fault you if you thought it was part of the name. With that said, it’s clear they wanted to keep the watch minimal, so this is just part of the watch’s aesthetic and is a minor issue overall.

Luminescence

We’ve already mentioned time and time again about how reflective this watch is during the day, so how visible is it at night? With Super-LumiNova applied to markers and hands, you will be able to tell the time at night as well.

In the hour and minute hands, the lume is found in the large white portion that comprises the body. For the second hand, the lume is found only on the small lume lollipop at the end of the pointer side. We felt that this lollipop was a little too small, however when testing it in the dark, we found it surprisingly usable.

Lume is also applied to the inside of the hour markers. On the bezel, there is a lume pip in the 12 o’clock position of the bezel, which provides a point of reference when using the watch in the dark.

The Strap

There’s not much to say about the rubber dive strap except that it does the job.

There’s lots to say about the versions that come with the stainless steel bracelet, however. At a glance, the combination of brushed and polished links gives off a classy impression. When put into practical use, however, we found that fingerprints and smudges easily show up on the band, and any scratches show up more easily. Unfortunately, you will have to wipe it constantly to keep its shiny luster.

Fitting the bracelet over your wrist is quite simple. You can add or remove links by pushing pins in the direction the arrow is pointing on the underside of the link, and you can do this with any tool small enough for the job. You can also purchase a kit if you suspect you will be doing this a lot more in the future.

The bracelet minor adjustment by the clasp can be adjusted easily as well by using a tool to compress the spring bar to release its current position and set it to the holes that fit you best. The same is true of the end links that also use spring bars to connect to the case. There are no drilled lugs for a cleaner aesthetic, so you will need to access the spring bars from inside.

Look at the clasp, it is a deployment type with a fold-over safety latch. The safety latch has a snug fit which keeps the clasp from unintentionally opening but you will need to pry hard with your fingernail to open it (this can be quite tough on your nail).

Finally, the clasp includes a fold-out diver’s extension so that it can be fit over a thick dive suit or wetsuit without having to add extra links. Considerations like these prove that Tissot designed this watch to be worn for diving.

Tissot Seastar Review: The Verdict

Considering that the Tissot Seastar is following in the footsteps of the likes of the Rolex Submariner and the Omega Seamster, is it really a surprise that it is an impressive watch on its own? Unfortunately, it doesn’t surpass the originals but it sure comes close (and at a significantly cheaper price).

Its dial runs a bit large at 43mm, however it has an acceptable thickness. So even though this watch is not the most comfortable watch out there, it is acceptable. Tissot does a decent job at keeping the proportions balanced so that the Seastar still looks sophisticated and classy enough for casual to formal wear despite having a larger diameter.

Unlike the Rolex Submariner, which is truly ISO 6425 certified, the Tissot Seastar offers incredible specs however we have to take it with a grain of salt. With that said, the Submariner is also an order of magnitude more expensive ($10,000 compared to $700) so it’s not exactly fair comparing them head to head like that.

For what you get at this price point – the classy style with its black/white/silver design and applied markers; water resistance capabilities down to 1,000 ft, hacking and handwinding, and the Swiss-luxury touches like the ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal – you are getting a whole lot of watch for the price.

It may not be on the same level as a Rolex, but the Seastar looks and functions similarly at a much lower price to boot. If how this watch looks and fits align with what you’re looking for, then this is a great watch to add to your collection.

Photo Credits: Watch on wrist, Charlie y sus Relojes

If you are looking for your first automatic dress watch, it’s hard to find a better one than the Orient Bambino. Everyone already knows the tremendous value offered by the very popular Seiko SNK809 which is perhaps the most recommended entry-level automatic watch. However, the SNK809 is not a dress watch; the Bambino is. In this Orient Bambino review, we will be looking into why it is the perfect starting dress watch.

Orient Bambino Review

If you haven’t heard of Orient before, they are a Japanese watch manufacturer founded in 1951 in Tokyo. Today, they are under the ownership of Seiko Group. Something you might find interesting – Orient produces all of their own movements in-house in Japan.

With their Bambino line of watches, Orient’s aim is to provide a beautiful dress watch with solid automatic movement and a sophisticated look, all at a price point that is criminally low. Have Orient achieved all of their goals with the Bambino watches? Let’s take a look.

Style

There are many variations of the Orient Bambino when it comes to style and color scheme. We will primarily be focusing our review on the 2nd generation version 1 and 2nd generation version 3, our personal favorites. We will provide a brief overview of the rest in the “Variations” section.

The Case

Let’s start this review off by examining the case. The Orient Bambino has a stainless steel case with a polished effect on all of its top surfaces, and brushed effect on its side surfaces. The overall look can be described as simple, minimal, and reserved.

It has a round case with a diameter of 40.5mm (the version 4 measures 42mm) and a thickness of 11.8mm (the version 4 with stainless bracelet, Small Seconds, and Open Heart version are 12mm thick). While it’s still on the smaller side, for a dress watch this is pushing the limits. At 40.5mm, it is still optimally sized as a formal-wear watch.

The lugs are reserved as well, extending seamlessly from the case. The lug-to-lug distance measures 46.5mm, and the band width is 21mm (the ver.4 has a width of 22mm). In order to maintain the seamless aesthetic, the lugs are not drilled for the spring bars.

Turning the watch around, we can see that the screw-down caseback is made of solid stainless steel, polished to a mirror sheen, displaying an elegant engraving which reads “Orient Automatic.” On the Ver.4 stainless bracelet, open heart, and small seconds models, a glass exhibition window on the screw-down caseback lets wearers see the automatic movement moving around inside – a nice touch.

The Dial

Depending on which version of the Bambino you are looking to get, the dial can look drastically different from model to model. For instance, the two models that are the focus of this review, the gen 2 version 1 and version 3, the version 1 has a more vintage and sophisticated feel, whereas the version 3 has a more modern and minimal appeal. Both do well as elegant and formal dress watches, yet are wonderfully different.

All versions of the Bambino include the Orient logo applied at the 12 o’clock position, the Orient name printed beneath it, as well as “Automatic” printed in elegant cursive beneath that. Note that the Bambino always follows a consistent color scheme: the color of the emblem matches the color of the main hour markers, but the shield will always be red.

Above the 6 o’clock position you will find the words “Water Resistant” printed in a beautiful cursive font, and in tiny font next to the 6 o’clock marker it reads “JAPAN MOV’T” and the model number. Overall, not many words are printed onto the Bambino’s dial so as not to ruin the formal and clean aesthetic, and it works well for this type of watch.

The Crystal

All versions of the Bambino feature a large domed hardened mineral crystal that raises the watch’s thickness to 11.8mm. Looking at it from the side, you will notice that the height of this transparent window accounts for approximately a third of the watch’s height. Somehow, Orient have managed to cram their automatic movement in the remaining chassis to maintain a lean profile. The Bambino should have no issues sliding under the sleeve of a jacket or long-sleeve.

The clarity of the glass is excellent, and the large curve does not inhibit the watch’s legibility even when viewed at an angle. However, if you are looking at it from the side, you can notice a slight distortion of the tips of the hands and markers.

Additionally, the domed crystal will cast a crescent-shaped shadow in bright light on the dial. This is not a complaint, but something to be aware of if you prefer your dial to be completely unblemished.

The Date Window

Like most watches, the date window is located at the 3 o’clock position. The date is displayed as black text on a white background on nearly all versions, with the exception being the open heart version which doesn’t even have a date window. The only versions that give the date window a frame are the version 1 and version 4 models –  a look that moves away from the modern and pushes it towards the vintage style.

Up until this point, nearly all aspects of the dial across all of the watches in the Bambino collection are the same. But where these variations differ is in the way the dial markers, hands, crown, and band are handled. Let’s see how the markers differ.

The Markers

The version 1 features dauphine-style applied markers with a rectangular shape that tapers down on the end pointing towards the center. It is polished and grabs your attention immediately. These markers match the aesthetic of the version 1 hands perfectly and exudes a vintage feel that is reminiscent of the Omega Constellation. This watch looks like it’d fit just in in an episode of Mad Men.

On the other hand, the version 3 model retains a sleeker profile with applied, polished markers in a baton shape only at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock markers, with thick printed line marks for the other hours. While the version 1 also has printed line marks, the version 3’s marks are longer and extend all of the way to the edge of the dial. Overall, this look is cleaner and more modern looking.

A special mention must be given for the “open heart” version of the Bambino which alludes to the small window on the dial that gives a glimpse of the complex engineering of the movement from the front of the watch. Through this window, you can get a sense of the oscillation of the balance wheel, the pulsation of the hairspring, and the release of the escapement wheel which beats 6 times per second (21,600 beats per hour).

This open heart design is visually interesting, and the window is small enough that the watch’s other features can still draw your attention. However, it does take away from the clean style that the rest of the watch exhibits. Furthermore, dress watches are meant to have a “clean” aesthetic, so it is up to the individual whether the open heart design is too much of a visual distraction that decreases its usability. At the very least, it’s nice that Orient has provided this unique option.

The Hands

For the Orient Bambino version 1, the dauphine minute and hour hands, as well as the thin baton-shaped second hand, are all polished and have a matching color with the hour markers on the dial. These components work together to catch the light so beautifully, one cannot help but admire it.

The version 3 utilizes rectangular baton shapes for the hour, minute, and second hands. These match the hour markers on the dial perfectly to exude a sleek, modern look.

An interesting detail for all versions of the Bambino (barring the “small seconds” variation) is that there is a small bend applied to the pointer side of the second and minute hand which match the curve of the domed dial and glass. This is not a visual detail one can notice looking straight one, however it’s quite clear looking at it from an angle. This has no bearing on the hand’s functionality, but it’s a cool detail.

The Crown

For all versions of the Bambino, the crown is located at the 3 o’clock position. It is appropriately on the smaller side to adhere to the classy look that the watch is going for. There are no crown guards which further solidifies it as a dress watch and not a diver.

The crown is domed, with a smooth and polished surface and an engraving of the Orient lion-and-shield crest. Along the sides, the crown has fine teeth for additional grip when turning.

Depending on which version you get, specifically the versions 2, 4, and 5 of the “small seconds” and “open heart” models, the crown will be shaped somewhat differently. For these variations, the crown is thinner where it attaches to the case and flares wider as it turns away from the case. This design is reminiscent of the classical style that old pocket watches have.

We think the crown on all versions of the Bambino gives off a classy vibe and is executed well.

The Bezel

The Bambino has a fixed, stainless steel bezel with a polished appearance and rounded corners which matches the case. It is minimal in size and almost seems like an extension of the case. There is not much to say here except that it is an intentionally subdued component that contributes to the overall clean look of the watch.

The Band

There are numerous strap options for the Orient Bambino. The version 4 even gives the option of upgrading to a stainless-steel bracelet.

For the version 1, the included band is a two-piece alligator leather strap that comes in either black or brown. It also has a polished buckle (gold or silver depending on the watch color). The alligator strap is perfect for maintaining the vintage theme and compliments the dauphine hands and markers.

The version 3 includes a smooth leather strap, either brown or black depending on the watch color, with a polished buckle that comes in gold or silver. The smooth leather texture lends to the modern feel of the version 3 and also compliments the simple baton hands and markers.

For all of the Bambino models that come with a leather band, the color of the stitching matches the band to obscure it as much as possible. This is probably a wise decision by Orient which keeps the bands looking formal.

The band width for nearly all versions is 21mm, and the version 4 has a band width of 22mm. For a formal watch such as this, the width is slightly on the larger side, and the same can be said of its case diameter which is also a bit large for a traditional dress watch. With that said, the proportions of these components are balanced and help to achieve a dressy look.

Overall Style

No matter which version of the Orient Bambino you get, the overall style is executed so well, especially considering the price point. There are so many variations of the Bambino, and the various styles lets wearers select a look that best suits their personal preferences. Each variation has a unique look that will captivate all eyes that glimpse at it.

For example, the version 1 achieves a classic, vintage look with its dauphine markers and hands as well as alligator leather strap. The version 3 pulls off the sleek, modern look with rectangular baton markers and hands as well as a smooth leather strap.

The paring of the colors, applied polished accents, dimensions, fonts, rounded edges – these little details all add up to make a stylish wristwatch. Being a dress watch, the Bambino fits well in formal settings but will also look at home in a business casual setting as well.

Comfort

The Orient Bambino is a dress watch, which means its dimensions are smaller than field or dive watches. The smaller case diameter, thickness, and crown makes it an extremely comfortable watch to wear for longer periods.

With that said, as we mentioned in the style section, the Bambino’s 40.5mm diameter is on the larger side for a dress watch which tries to be reserved, but is still comfortable and within an acceptable dress watch size range.

The 21mm band is also slightly wider than you’d expect for a dress watch, but it is comfortable and keeps the 40.5mm case from sliding or rotating. Ideally, the band width would be reduced to 20mm or even 19mm, but as it stands it is satisfactory.

Another detail regarding the watch band is the thickness of the leather. Thick bads are generally stiffer, less forgiving in movement, and generally less comfortable. The opposite issues arise if a band is too thin; it will be less durable and will not feel as secure when worn.

The Bambino’s included band is the perfect middle-ground and offers you the best of both worlds. Even though the band is made of leather, it never pulls your skin or hair. The strap includes seven tang holes to give you some leeway with adjustment, ranging from 5-½” (140mm) to 7-⅝” in ¼” (6mm) intervals.

Next, the Bambino has a case thickness of 11.9mm, which is reasonable and keeps the watch close to the skin for optimal comfort. As we mentioned above in the Crystal section, the domed mineral crystal accounts for approximately 1/3rd of the height. The rounded edges of the domed crystal ensures that the watch can easily slide under the cuff without catching on it, as dress watches should.

The next consideration is the Bambino’s weight. Weighing in at a mere 2.3oz/65g with strap, the Bambino is a lightweight watch. While the feeling of a solid watch is reassuring to some, for a timepiece designed for formal wear, a thin profile and light weight is ideal, and the Bambino meets this expectation perfectly.

The Automatic Movement

The Orient Bambino uses the Orient caliber F6724 in-house Japanese automatic movement. The “small seconds” version uses the F6222 movement, and the “open heart” version uses the F6T22. The details given below apply to all movements except where noted.

All of these movements are in-house movements which is a respectable feat. After all, the movement is the key component of a timepiece, and a brand that manufactures their own movements instead of sticking in some other brand’s movement is a sign that they are the real deal.

Each movement beats 21,600 times an hour (6 beats per second). When fully charged, the Bambino has a 40-hour power reserve, meaning it will continue beating for 40 hours after last being charged. Keep in mind that the lower the charge left in the reserve, the less accurate its timekeeping becomes.

If accuracy is a major concern for you, then rest assured that Bambino includes hacking, handwinding, and regulating capability. In other words, if the accuracy out of the box isn’t to your standards, you can adjust this yourself with the right tools. You can also ask your local watch service shop to assist you.

As for hacking, this isn’t some computer wizardry, but rather the capability of stopping all hand movement on the dial so you can precisely set the time. In some other watches, the hour and minute hands will stop, but the second hand will keep ticking. Handwinding is the ability to turn the crown and charge the mainspring while in the full-in position.

The accuracy is officially listed as +25/-15 seconds a day, however you can probably get within +15/-15 a day.

Additionally, the movement has 22 jewels (24 in the “small seconds” variation). This means it has 22 contact points where moving components apply jewels to decrease friction and maintain accuracy in the movement.

Finally, date complication is a great way to keep track of the calendar. This feature is not included in the “open heart” F6T22 version. The date changeover begins at around 10pm and completes around 12:00am.

Usability

Reading off of the Dial

Many dress or formal watches sacrifice usability in order to achieve a certain style or visual aesthetic. This is the reason why countless dress watches are so simple as to be nearly useless except as a fashion statement. With that said, we feel that the Orient Bambino balances both style and usability well.

First, not only do the hour markers on the dial look great, but they are very usable despite not having Arabic numbers. In the version 1, the applied markers help the eye parse the information given by the watch easily, and the polished markers help take this further by reflecting light. At almost any angle, light will reflect off of the faceted angles of the markers, helping to see where they are.

The version 3 has a more minimal style, definitely trending toward the usual dress watch style, and its hour markers are simply longer, slightly thicker printed lines. With that said, subtle details help them to stand out such as the longer length and thickness of some lines.

Second, polished hands easily catch the eye and lend to faster reading. There may be some difficulty reading the minute and second hands because they do not extend all the way to the markers. However, you can still get a good idea of the time within a few minutes with just a glance. You can still tell the time precisely if you take an extra second to look at the dial.

Having said all of this, the usability of the Orient Bambino is exceptionally high by dress watch standards, since many have little or no markers at all. Again, this is a dress watch, not a field, dive, or sports watch, so precision is not the highest priority in their design.

The date window is sized just right for readability while still keeping the dial clean. Black text on a white background gives the perfect contrast to quickly see the date.

Rotating the Crown

Next, the crown is also sized appropriately in relation to the rest of the watch. The side of the crown has teeth which gives additional grip. It’s also quite easy to stick your fingernail between the case and crown from the top or bottom and pull out the crown. In other words, the crown is easy to adjust when needed.

The crown can be set to three positions:

• Full In: Rotate the crown clockwise to hand-wind the mainspring. This is not a screw-down crown, so you can quickly grab the watch and begin winding all in one motion. A screw-down crown must be unscrewed before winding, so if you are not a fan of having to do this extra step then you will like this functionality.
• First Click (Middle Position): Rotate the crown counter-clockwise to adjust the date.
• Second Click (Full Out): Once fully out, rotate to adjust the time. The hands are temporarily disconnected from the mainspring in this position so that they will not keep rotating as you are trying to set the time. This is known as “hacking”, and it allows you to perfectly sync the Bambino to the atomic clock.

Once you are finished adjusting, just push the crown all the way in so it can keep ticking again. Make sure to perform any of the above steps while the Bambino is turned OFF to avoid any damage.

Durability

Covering the dial of the Bambino is a large dome shaped mineral crystal that could lead to durability problems. To start, there is nothing protecting the glass from direct contact; in fact, it extends above the bezel whereas some watches have the crystal below the bezel.

Furthermore, a mineral crystal glass is not as robust and scratch-resistant as the much high quality (and pricier) sapphire crystal. This is not so much an issue when worn indoors at formal events, but if you are planning on wearing this to more active situations then you may end up with a few scratches on the glass.

A similar complaint can be made for the polished buckle hardware. Since these are located on the bottom of the wrist where it will often be resting on table or counter surfaces, then the polished finish will quickly accumulate scratches and imperfections than if it were brushed. This is not a major complaint, but something to keep in mind.

Water Resistance

The Orient Bambino is listed with a water resistance rating of 30m/100ft. While far below the water resistance of a dive watch, don’t be fooled by its listed rating. We feel that even claiming it has any sort of water resistance is being generous. We do not recommend submerging the Bambino underwater; you should not wear it while swimming or snorkeling, let alone diving.

The extent of the Bambino’s water resistance is to protect it from occasional exposure to water such as while washing your hands or getting caught out in the rain. You will remember that the crown is not a screw-down crown; there is no seal or gasket to keep water from entering. As such, it is best to treat this watch as if it would get damaged by water. If you are looking for a watch to wear for diving or other water sports, then look for a diver and not a dress watch.

The Strap

Finally, let’s discuss the included leather strap. This is a classic two-piece leather strap with buckle and tang hardware. Two leather loops are also included to hold any excess strap length and keep it from flapping about. The strap is connected to the case with spring bars that must be accessed inside of the lugs. We found the strap to be straightforward to use, of sufficient quality, and adequate for the Bambino.

Best Orient Bambino Variations Review

The focus of this article was primarily on version 1 and version 3 of the Orient Bambino. In addition to the other versions, there are also the “Small Seconds” and “Open Heart” models which we have not covered. This section aims to provide a brief overview of the ones we have missed for the sake of completeness.

Orient Bambino Small Seconds

The Small Seconds is one of the most popular and in-demand models in the Bambino line. The “small seconds” refers to the sub-dial dedicated exclusively for tracking the seconds, and it is located just above the 6 o’clock position. Since the sub-dial tracks the seconds using the small second hand, then there is no need for the usual long second hand that most watches have.

Inside, you will find the F6222 movement which is similar to the movement found in the V1 and V2. It has a 40 hour power reserve, 21,600 beats per hour, has 24 jewels, and allows for hacking and handwinding. Overall, the Small Seconds sports a minimal style that is timeless and gives off a classy vibe.

Orient Bambino Open Heart

Like the Small Seconds, there is a defining characteristic of the Open Heart model which is the skeleton dial that lets users get a glimpse at the complex mechanical movement turning inside. Since the movement is the heart of a watch, then being able to see it visibly makes it an “open heart”; who needs an exhibition case back when you can have this?

There are three color varieties of the Open Heart model you can get: black, brown, and blue respectively. This gives you the option to select the color that best matches with your wardrobe. In addition to the open heart design, there is also a transparent caseback if you want to see the movement in action with even more detail. The Open Heart truly bares all, and fans of complex engineering will love how much of the internals they get to see.

Orient Bambino V2

Next, the Bambino V2 is one of the best-selling models in the line-up, and one look at it will tell you why. The Bambino V2’s individuality shines through with its pinkish-gold case, dauphine-style markers, and elegant design fit for a gentleman.

Even the markers on the dial match the case. With how polished and reflective it is, no matter what angle you view the dial at, you can always get a clear reading of the time thanks to their beautiful sheen.

Inside of the V2 is the F6274 automatic movement with hacking and handwinding. It is also water resistant up to 30m, but with a watch this elegant, we don’t feel like testing it out. The case diameter is 40.5mm which is small but actually above average by dress watch standards.

Many of the features found in the Bambino V2 are also present in the V1, which we have written about in great detail above. Suffice it to say, the successor to the V1 looks fantastic and gives off an elegant, classy look that will be sure to turn heads.

Orient Bambino V4

As soon as you lay eyes on Bambino V4, you will be enchanted by the mesmerizing ocean blue gradient on the dial. As the color reaches towards the edges, it gets darker and darker until it transitions to a strong, contrasting black along the edge of the dial. The white markers stand out against the black, keeping legibility high.

The included strap is also black and made of high-quality leather that is durable and comfortable to wear. The case diameter measures at 42.5mm, which is a bit on the larger side for a dress watch, but should still fit snugly on an average sized wrist. The case has a perfectly round shape which gives off a vintage watch look.

Orient Bambino V5

The Bambino is all the way up to version 5 now, and it is characterized by a stainless steel case, strap, a convex mineral crystal glass, and an exhibition caseback. As is the case from the version 3 onwards, it continues to have a clean, modern look by keeping the dial free of distracting sub-dials or unnecessary markings.

Next, the Bambino continues the trend of providing quality functionality and components at an affordable price often less than $150. You will be hard-pressed to find a watch of similar quality at this price range.

If you are not a fan of wearing a leather strap, the included 3-link strap with concealed closure is easily adaptable to any size and may be something right up your alley.

Orient Bambino Open Heart Small Seconds

If, after seeing the Open Heart model you thought “Wow, that’s really cool!” And then you saw the Small Seconds model and thought the same, then you are in luck. With the Bambino Open Heart Small Seconds, you can get both the open heart and small seconds sub-dial in one watch, as well as a stainless steel strap that matches up with the style of the case. You will either love this design or hate it, but you can’t deny that it’s fascinating to look at.

The legibility of this model is drastically reduced since the two sub-dials are so visually distracting. The seconds sub-dial overlaps with the open heart, which further creates a stronger visual element that pulls eyes towards it. Unlike the other Small Seconds models, this one does not have a date window located at the 3 o’clock position, so the visual “weight” of the watch is entirely focused on the left side of the dial.

This model has a listing price of around $400. You are paying a premium not just for this incredible design of the sub-dials, but also because of the sapphire crystal and transparent caseback, features often found on luxury watches. Fans of complicated watch designs that also want a durable watch will love the Open Heart Small Seconds.

Orient Bambino Review: The Verdict

Over the course of this review, we have found the Orient Bambino to provide many benefits – a nice surprise considering its affordable price tag. Of course, its price and functionality varies slightly depending on which variation you purchase, however as a whole the Bambino line of watches are well-executed stylish dress watches that look more expensive than they are.

Additionally, the in-house automatic movement with hacking and hand winding is yet another welcome surprise at this price point. The fact that Orient produces their own in-house movements is something we take our hats off to.

With that said, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. There are some downsides to the Bambino that you should be aware of. First and most obvious is the large domed mineral crystal glass. Since it sticks up so much, it accounts for 1/3rd of the Bambino’s height, it is a prime target for hitting the sides of doors, countertops, or bumping into things in general.

Similarly, the polished buckle hardware located below the wrist can easily be scratched simply by resting it on a countertop. With how easy it is to scratch the crystal and the buckles, the Bambino may not be the best option as a daily driver.

However, if you are looking for an inexpensive watch with automatic movement that you will only take out for special occasions, then the Orient Bambino is a great choice. There are plenty of options to choose from in their extensive line-up and numerous style options available for you to find what best fits your style.

If the Bambino will be your first automatic dress watch then you can hardly go wrong with an automatic watch that looks as stylish as this, with hacking and hand-winding, many variations and mods to choose from, at an affordable price point, and by a reputable company like Orient.

Photo Credits: GreatAffordableWatches

The Seiko 5 SNK809 is one of Seiko’s most popular watches. Watch enthusiasts and casual watch-wearers alike love the SNK809 for its affordability, versatility, and style. It’s not often you get an automatic mechanical watch this good at this price point, and few alternatives exist.

For less than or around $100, you can get a long-lasting timepiece from one of the most renowned watch manufacturers in the world. In this review, we will be delving into what exactly makes this watch the high-quality, versatile watch that it is. We will do a comprehensive overview of this watch by breaking it down into the following categories to help you decide if this watch is for you.

Seiko 5 SNK809 Review

Specifications

• Case Diameter: 37mm
• Case Thickness: 11mm
• Case Material: Stainless steel with exhibition caseback
• Movement: Seiko 7S26 caliber automatic (with 40hr power reserve)
• Crystal: Hardlex mineral crystal
• Water Resistance: 30m / 100ft
• Band Width: 18mm
• Band Material: Nylon
• Features: Day/Date window at 3 o’clock
• Weight: 2.12 oz (60.1g)

Overview

Seiko is one of our favorite watch manufacturers and for good reason. Not only do they have a rich history, but their Japanese quality practices and commitment to innovative engineering have helped them produce luxury and quality timepieces at a price point that few competitors can keep up with. We see this being demonstrated yet again in their Seiko SNK809 automatic field watch, which is part of their popular Seiko 5 line of watches.

We mentioned that they have a rich history, and the “Seiko 5” line was started way back in 1963, where each watch in this lineup was designed with the following attributes in mind:

1. Automatic winding.
2. Date/date displayed in a single window.
3. Water resistance.
4. Recessed crown at the 4 o’clock position.
5. Durable steel case and bracelet.

With a heritage spanning nearly six decades and counting, you know that these watches have since been iterated to perfection.

The SNK809 currently has the following variations:

• SNK803 – Beige dial and strap.
• SNK805 – Green dial and strap.
• SNK807 – Blue dial and strap.
• SNK809 – Black dial and strap.

Aesthetics

The Case

At a glance, you will notice the SNK809 has a stainless steel case with a matte finish. It’s quite a small watch, with a diameter of only 37mm and a thickness of 11mm. This is a good size on small to medium-sized wrists (6 to 7 inches) and will look very small on larger wrists.

If you are just getting started with watches, here is some food for thought. Many people start out thinking they need a large watch because they think it’s more masculine and easier to show off. As such, smaller watches sometimes get disregarded purely based on their size.

From personal experience, we can say that as you progress in your watch collecting hobby, you will likely come to better appreciate the snug fit of smaller watches and move away from larger, chunkier watches that are big just for the sake of it. Also at this size, the SNK809 is a viable option for women who want to wear a larger watch as a statement piece.

The Dial

Since the SNK809 is a military or field watch style timepiece, it is understandably designed with functionality taking precedence over other aspects. Its appearance is very utilitarian, with a triangle marker located at the 12 o’clock position, Arabic hours mark each hour on the inner ring, Arabic minutes for every 5-minutes with ticks for each minute. The inner ring is something unique to the SNK809 that we found quite useful.

We must also mention the applied (raised) Seiko emblem found on the dial of the watch. Personally, applied features are such a classy detail that elevates a watch from looking cheap to looking high-end. The way that it stands out and catches your eye whenever light glints off its reflective surface is truly elegant.

The dial is kept clean by minimizing the amount of self-congratulatory text, writing only “automatic, 21-jewels” above the 6 o’clock position.

At the 3 o’clock position, the date/date window can be found with white text on a dark background which matches the rest of the dial. Every Sunday, you will be treated to a nice surprise with Seiko’s standard red text which gives this watch some extra color. The day can be adjusted to display text in Spanish or English.

The Hands

Choosing to buck the traditional field/military style, the hands on the SNK809 are more elegant and refined with their elongated diamond shape that increases the luxuriousness of this watch. The second hand of the SNK809 is the real attention-grabber. With its lollipop shape due to its circular counterbalance, as well as the red accent on the pointer side, it adds some much needed color in this otherwise monochromatic color scheme. It adds a layer of dynamism to an otherwise one-dimensional watch.

The Crystal

Seiko often uses Hardlex on their entry-level watches, and that is what you’ll find on the SNK809. Hardlex is Seiko’s toughened mineral crystal glass material that is more durable than traditional mineral glass. It is designed to withstand knocks and scratches.

Though it is not as durable as sapphire crystal, Hardlex is not as prone to shattering on impact as sapphire is. Furthermore, for a watch at this price range you will not normally find a sapphire crystal (with a notable exception being the Loreo Submariner) so we do not consider it to be a missing feature.

You will not find an anti-reflective coating on the Hardlex, however this is not an issue for the SNK809 because the distance between glass and dial is so short. The only real downside to Hardlex is that its smudge-resistance is poor. You will find yourself constantly wiping the glass to maintain its pristine appearance.

If you can look past these minor shortcomings, then Hardlex is a quality glass, especially for an entry-level watch.

The Crown

Sticking with their original principles, the crown on the Seiko SNK809 is located at the 4 o’clock position as is customary in nearly all Seiko 5 watches since their inception (some of the newer models now have 3 o’clock positions).

This small but subtle change differentiates the Seiko 5 watches from 99% of the other watches that have their crown on the 3 o’clock position. The crown is unobtrusive and still visible. Furthermore, it is a lot less likely to prod your wrist.

The SNK809’s crown shifts away from the usual field/military watch design with a smaller crown that follows more of a dress watch style design for a more classy look. In terms of utility, this is a downgrade. In terms of class, it looks fine and fits the overall look of the watch.

The Band

The Seiko SNK809 uses an 18mm wide two-piece black nylon strap with extra material reinforcing the buckle tang holes and matte stainless ZULU loops. The included strap is durable and the black color goes well with anything, it gives off the vibe of a tool watch instead of the classy, professional look that many of us are going for.

Thankfully, there are numerous aftermarket straps and bracelets available and changing the strap is straightforward. What kind of strap you get is up to you. We highly recommend changing the strap to upgrade the look of the SNK809 from that of a tool watch to a more elegant look that will cause heads to turn.

If you aren’t sure what kind of strap to get, this leather band is a great option.

Wearability

There are several factors that affect the comfort and wearability of a watch, and these characteristics are the case size (diameter and thickness), crown size and position, weight, and quality of the band.

We’ve established the SNK809 is a small watch with only a 37mm case diameter and 11mm case thickness. Combine that with its low weight and you have a watch that is unobtrusive in all regards. With the SNK809, this watch can easily slip under the cuff of long sleeve shirts without getting caught or bunching up. You also will be less likely to bang the watch on the side of a doorway compared to a larger watch.

Furthermore, with the crown being not only small and recessed but located at the 4 o’clock position, you won’t ever feel it poking your wrist or the back of your hand when you bend your wrist to look at the time. The included band being canvas means it will never pull on your arm hair the way a metal bracelet might, so overall it’s relatively comfortable.

Lastly, with the watch weighing only 2.1oz (61.1g), it strikes the right balance of being lightweight yet still heavy enough to be noticeable. A heavy watch will feel cumbersome after a few hours, however a watch should still have some weight to it. The feeling of the weight of the watch on your wrist tells you that it’s still there and you can look at it anytime.

Automatic Movement

Being part of the Seiko 5 line, one of the core tenets is that it must have an automatic movement. Equipped with the 7S26 movement, which was first debuted in 1996, this movement has stood the test of time and is still as reliable today as it was over two decades ago. This movement has quite the rich history seeing as you can find it in countless Seiko watches, including the legendary Seiko SKX watches. With that said, this movement does have its flaws, which we will go over right now.

The Bad

The accuracy: The 7S26 is rated to be accurate within +40/-20 seconds a day, and judging by other user’s experience, it seems the results are typically within +/- 15 seconds a day. We listed this in the “bad” section just to be safe, but this range may be acceptable to some users. Whatever the case, make sure to reset your SNK809 at least once a week to maintain accuracy.

No handwinding: If you want to kickstart a dead watch or top off the watch’s charge, since you cannot handwind the crown to load the mainspring, you will have to do the awkward arm swing to get the job done.

No hacking: When the crown is pulled out, the second hand will continue to move. While many don’t care about this, if you are particular about the accuracy of your watch, then the inability to adjust the second hand down to the second is very irritating.

Slow day/date switch over: The movement takes its sweet time to switch the day/date to the next one. If you actually bothered to observe how long this process takes, it typically begins around 11:00pm and ends around 3:00-4:00am. If you are asleep around or before midnight, this shouldn’t bother you at all. However, for those who want an instant changeover at exactly midnight, this may irk you.

While there appears to be a lot of downsides to the 7S26 movement, you will notice that the severity of these issues depends on the personal preference of the particular user. For many, features like hacking and handwinding are completely optional, and the day/date switchover is something most people will be too busy sleeping to notice.

Even the accuracy falls within an acceptable range compared to the movements of other watches in similar price ranges, and resetting the watch once a week is good practice regardless.

The Good

Now, on to the good stuff.

The mainspring: The mainspring is made from Diaflex, a special alloy material developed by Seiko that is virtually unbreakable, particularly from overwinding.

The durability: The movement is protected by Seiko’s Diashock shockproof design – an encasing built into the watch that protects the movement from impacts.

21 jewels and 21,600 beats per hour: There are 21 contact points where the jewels apply which increases accuracy and durability by reducing friction. Next, it has 21,600 beats per hour, which comes down to 6 beats a second. This means the second hand moves 6 times a second which looks very smooth to the eye as it sweeps across the dial.

The power reserve: Next, the 7S26 has a 40-hour power reserve. When fully charged, the SNK809 will keep ticking for another 40 hours without needing to replenish its battery. Being an automatic movement, it uses the movement of your hand to keep charging, so as long as you are wearing it everyday, it’s not likely to die on you. Keep in mind that the closer to dead the battery is, the less accurate the watch becomes.

The exhibition caseback: The clear glass screw-down exhibition caseback lets you view the intricate movement as it operates. If you are fascinated at all in the complicated engineering required to make your watch work, much in the same way that a heart beats in a human being, then being able to see the “guts” is an awe-inspiring experience. It is seriously mesmerizing seeing all of the little gears rotating and having a healthy appreciation for mechanical engineering doesn’t hurt.

Can be regulated: If your SNK809 is way off in its timekeeping, then you can fix this issue yourself with the proper tools. Or if you feel like you might scratch or damage your watch, then you can ask your local watch shop to help you out. Regulating a watch on your own is something you do at your own discretion, and you should probably practice on a beater watch before you do it on your valuable ones.

Usability

Legibility

Since the SNK809 is designed for field use, its usability is where it really shines. Ask yourself, what is the primary purpose of a wristwatch? To look good on your wrist? Sure, but it should also be able to tell time. And thanks to the layout, the SNK809 provides perhaps the easiest and fastest readability of any analog watch on the market.

The reason for this was described in the “Aesthetics” section above, but to recap, there is an inside ring that labels the hours which the hour hand points to. The minutes/seconds hand extends past this inner ring to the outer ring which marks the minutes/seconds. In other words, each hand points exactly to the correct marking and there are less mental calculations for you to do. It’s almost like reading off a digital watch that tells you the exact time! With even the slightest glance you can tell the time and we love it.

Setting the time

Another important function is the date/date setting. With a smaller crown, it can be harder to adjust the time if you have bigger hands. It is not something we ever had an issue with. The push-pull crown has the same three positions as most analog watches with functions has:

1. Fully-retracted: Set the time of day.
2. Middle: Set the date (clockwise) and day (counter-clockwise).
3. Pushed-in: Locked.

Caution: It is highly recommended to take your watch off before setting the time/day/date so as not to cause any damage to the crown shaft.

Band

Next, let’s talk about the included band. By default, the Seiko SNK809 comes with a canvas strap that can accommodate a wide range of wrist sizes, but let’s be honest. Particularly when it comes to budget watches, the included strap is almost always an area that they cheap out on. We have already recommended you buy an aftermarket strap to replace it.

So our suggestion here is to find the spring bars that secures the strap to the housing, and compress the bar using a tool of your choice (we use “tool” very loosely here, even a butter knife works) to remove it and the strap. Unfortunately, the housing doesn’t have drilled holes to let you access it from the outside, so you would need to pry the pin from between the lugs using the pin’s ribs from either end. It’s still a simple process overall.

Water Resistance

Here’s the elephant in the room, and that is the SNK809’s water resistance. In case you weren’t paying attention, it is only rated for 30m (100ft), a sharp drop compared to the older SKX models which have 200m (660ft) of water resistance. What the heck happened here? Honestly, even 30m seems like it’s too deep for this watch to handle; we’d only be willing to subject it to the occasional splash of water from washing your hands or from the rain.

The low water resistance rating is the result of there not being a seal or gasket applied to the crown area. As such, we do not recommend fully submerging it underwater since we are not confident that the crown will completely keep water out. It is better not to think of this watch as a dive watch at all.

If you are looking for a true dive watch, you should be looking for one with a water resistant rating of at least 100m, which is the bare minimum for it to be considered a professional dive watch according to ISO standards. Even if a watch has great water resistance, you should never wear any dive watch while showering or bathing because no watch is designed to withstand high-temperature or high-humidity conditions.

Luminescence

All dive watches must have lume, which is a glow in the dark paint which allows wearers to read the time even in the dark. At a minimum, lume should be applied to the hour markers and hands on the dial. The Seiko SNK809 uses LumiBrite, Seiko’s proprietary luminous paint that has much more longevity and intensity than the conventional lume found in most other watches. This paint is free from radioactive substances, so it is not a health hazard.

The application of the lume is straightforward. A small dot of lume can be found at each hour marker. The hour/minute/second hands are also filled with lume. Of particular note is the lume in the lollipop circle of the second hand. Since the seconds hand is constantly moving, you should see that the lume is shifting and this lets you know that your watch is still functioning.

Personally, we would have liked to see the lume markers be larger; as they stand, they are quite small but still legible. Another negative is that there is no orientation defining feature on the dial. In other watches, there may perhaps be a triangular shape at the 12 o’clock marker, with the other markers being circular. This lets you know exactly where 12 o’clock is, and for the SNK809, it can be an issue.

Seiko 5 SNK809: The Verdict

For its price, the Seiko SNK809 is a quality timepiece that follows the same principles that all of the watches in the Seiko 5 line follow, with comfort and style to boot. Believe it or not, all of the functionality we covered in this review is packed into this small, sub-$100 watch. The price is so low, we recommend using some of these savings to buy a replacement band to give the watch even greater style and comfort.

Furthermore, the Seiko SNK809 is a highly modifiable watch. You can find replacement parts for each component: the dial, bezel, crown, glass, etc. A quick search on Google or Amazon will return hundreds of results that you can peruse at your leisure. If something is not quite to your liking, you can probably get a replacement for it that fills your needs.

Personally, we use the SNK809 as a versatile tool watch thanks to its unbeatable legibility. We spend almost no time and concentration at all to tell the time thanks to the markings on the dial. Additionally, it is durable and dresses up well (assuming you swapped the strap).

Overall, the Seiko SNK809 is a wristwatch we can recommend for someone looking to get an entry-level automatic watch. It provides exceptional value and is a great fit for anyone looking to expand their collection with a sporty and professional wristwatch. Few watches give the SNK809 a run for its money, perhaps the Casio Duro MDV106-1AV, and quality watches at this price point are few and far between.

The SNK809 is a great starting point or stepping stone as your interest in dive watches grow. Even as you acquire nicer and higher quality watches, you can always keep the SNK809 as a beater watch, or slowly upgrade its components over time to give it a new look. For an entry-level automatic dive watch, the SNK809 is one to keep an eye out for.

Photo Credits: 24Hours At A Time

The Orient Kamasu (Japanese for “Barracuda”) is one of Orient’s latest dive watch models intended to replace their highly popular Ray and Mako line. It is available at a price point that makes it competitive against the revered Seiko SKX watches, and it has a lot to offer.

When it comes to reviewing newer iterations of existing products, there is always the temptation to say “it’s just like the old one, but better.” We will try to avoid that lazy way of reviewing and judge the Kamasu based on its own merits. When you purchase an Orient Kamasu, here’s what you can expect.

Orient Kamasu Review

Specifications and Overview

• Case Diameter: 41.8mm
• Case Thickness: 12.8mm
• Lug-to-Lug Distance: 46.8mm
• Band Width: 22mm
• Water Resistance: 200m/660ft
• Weight: 6oz/170g
• Case Material: Stainless Steel
• Movement: F6922 Japanese-automatic movement with 40 hour power reserve
• Crystal: Sapphire

So far, so good. What these specs don’t tell you is that the Orient Kamasu excels in its wearability, as the case is well-proportioned.

For instance, the Orient Kamasu has a case diameter of 41.8mm, however it wears closer to a 39 or 40mm case, which is further helped by its compact lug-to-lug distance of only 46.8mm. Typically, dive watches are bigger to help with diving, however when comparing the Kamasu to a popular everyday model there’s barely any difference in size.

You can easily fool someone into thinking it’s actually a 40mm piece with how snug it can fit on a 6.5” wrist. Through a combination of wearable and balanced proportions, Orient has focused on an aspect of watch design that many brands have not prioritized in recent years.

How this is achieved can be seen when viewing the Kamasu from its side profile. You will notice that the lugs are curved, and they tuck without reaching lower than the bottom of the screw-down caseback. The lugs have a brushed finish that gradually transitions to the polished sides of the case.

Next, the Kamasu comes with a stainless steel bracelet with a fold over safety clasp as well as double push button release stamped with the Orient logo, and folded end links. Despite this, the pins on the bracelet squeak a lot. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think there was a hamster or mouse nearby. However, the bracelet holds the Kamasu case up and has 4 micro-adjustment options for a better fit. The links can be removed using a simple push pin system.

Contributing to the Kamasu’s 200m water resistance rating, if you look to the back you will find  a screw-down caseback with a dolphin motif. You just know that whenever you see an engraving of an aquatic animal that the dive watch means business. The screw-down crown also helps with keeping water out.

Next, the Kamasu runs a F6922 automatic caliber movement with a 40 hour power reserve, with a stated accuracy rating of -15/+25 seconds a day. This Japanese automatic movement provides hacking and handwinding functionality. That’s something not even the Seiko SKX models claim to have.

You know what else the SKX watches don’t have? A sapphire crystal – which the Kamasu can proudly lord over its competitors. This crystal will shield the beautiful sunburst dial from the elements as well as any devastating impacts.

The Dial

The focal point of any dive watch is its dial, and the Kamasu has one of the most dynamic dials on a dive watch we’ve seen; the range of color the Kamasu has is truly impressive. It comes in many color variations, however one consistent aspect is that the dial will have a subtle gradient that provides the aforementioned dynamism.

In the winter months or at night, the bezel and dial will spend most of the time providing a subdued, muted color, whereas in the summer months or during the day the gradient will display its colors more vibrantly. At any given time when you look down to your watch, you will see a different shade of black, blue, green, red, or anywhere within that sliding scale depending on which version you are wearing.

Don’t let the dial distract you too much from its surrounding elements, the hands, indices, and applied logo. It’s difficult, since the way the sunburst dial refracts light is quite the sight to behold. The red tip on the second hand looked out of place at first, but on Sundays it compliments the red on the date wheel, as well as the shield part of the Orient motif.

If you think this thing shines during the day, then wait till you see it at night. Unsurprisingly, the lume is bright and highly visible; the hands, dial, and bezel pip have been given a large amount of what appears to be the same kind of lume found in Seiko watches. (Orient and Seiko have the same parent company, so the occasional sharing of resources can be expected). Seeing the watch light up in the is reminiscent of the joy felt in childhood days of waving a glow stick in the dark, except now it’s a sleek dive watch.

The Bezel

Next, the Kamasu comes with a 120-click unidirectional bezel that rotates smoothly and easily thanks to its deeply grooved notches on the bezel edge. There is a minor amount of play in the bezel, however it’s nothing to be concerned about and ultimately upholds its purpose of preventing understatement of time.

When interacting with it, the bezel action provides a satisfying click. We appreciate the tactile feedback it provides as this can be vital information to know exactly how much time is being tracked.

Additionally, the markers and lettering on the bezel are a step up compared to what is offered in the Orient Ray II and Mako II, for comparison.

The Movement

The Kamasu uses the F6922 caliber automatic movement which has the much desired handwinding and hacking functionality.

Even though the screw-down crown does not thread nicely, and winding the mainspring is not a particularly exciting event, the existence of this functionality is much appreciated. It is reassuring to be able to prepare the mainspring at the day’s start and know that the watch is ready to go for the rest of the day. In some watches when the mainspring relaxes, you would have to shake your wrist to start it back up again.

Furthermore, those who are sticklers for accuracy can rejoice – the F6922 lets you manually sync your Kamasu down to the second. Though we don’t keep detailed spreadsheets of the accuracy of a timepiece, we are happy to see that Kamasu is catering to this particular audience.

Additionally, the quickset date function feels sturdier than other watches in a similar price range. Not once did we have trouble cycling through the days and dates, nor did we feel like we were straining the automatic caliber.

Shortcomings

To criticize a watch that provides so much – sapphire crystal, automatic movement with hacking and handwinding, 200m water resistance, and beautiful dial all for under $500 – seems a tad nitpicky. However, it is perhaps the smallest of details that can make or break a watch, and leaving out any of the shortcomings no matter how small would be remiss of us.

One of the most obvious things you will notice as soon as you put the Kamasu on your wrist is how heavy it is. No, it doesn’t feel like strapping a cinder block on your wrist but it is definitely on the heavier side for a dive watch with hollow end links and a stamped clasp.

We suspect that the movement and caseback are the culprits, and while this extra heft may not be an issue for those with larger wrists, a smaller individual who has to wear the watch for 9+ hours over the course of a workday may find it to be unbearably heavy.

The included bracelet does a decent job of securing the Kamasu to the wrist without feeling top heavy, but perhaps an aftermarket bracelet would provide additional comfort by potentially balancing the weight distribution.

Some other wishlist items we wish the Kamasu had are: color matching date/day wheels, solid end links, and a taper bracelet. Once again, at this point we are simply nitpicking. If the Kamasu included all of these features, its higher price point would mean it is no longer considered an affordable entry-level dive watch. It would certainly make a watch collector happy, but more people would be hurt by this change than benefitted.

Orient Kamasu vs. Seiko SKX

If you landed on this page because you were searching for the best entry-level automatic sports watch, then chances are you may have also read about the Seiko SKX line, specifically the SKX007/SKX009. The SKX is the reigning champ, the OG, the gold standard that all entry level dive watches are compared to. It is the yardstick for all dive watches. Even though it’s been decades since it was first released, the Seiko SKX’s reign isn’t over. Now, a new challenger appears to challenge the champion.

The Kamasu, being a much newer model, is objectively better. It has superior components and is available at a competitive price. If all dive watch purchases were made with pure rationality as the primary decision-making driver, then the Kamasu would win hands down.

However, purchasing something is as much emotionally-driven as it is practically or financially-driven. Just because something has better components or a lower price doesn’t mean it’s going to phase out the old guard.

The Seiko SKX watches are appealing for a myriad of reasons. At this point, they have a long, storied history with a lineage of military, cultural, and practical use. The SKX looks really nice, every watch collector knows what it is, and it is a great conversation starter. You can revel in the SKX’s legend and feel the gaze of those nearby as they marvel at its timeless aesthetic that allows it to compete with contemporary designs.

Think of two competing giants in other industries. BMW vs. Mercedes, Nike vs. Adidas, Android vs. iPhone. You will have supporters who swear by one and curses the other, who have been long-time supporters of a brand, who will defend to the death their brand of choice. That kind of brand loyalty can’t be reasoned with.

Perhaps you have a preference already, or perhaps you are still on the fence. Whatever the case, both the Kamasu and the SKX are fantastic options, but if we had to pick one, we choose the Kamasu.

Conclusion

Overall, the Orient Kamasu provides a whole lot of watch for its price point. It has numerous color variations as well as a bracelet or rubber strap version. Considering it has a sapphire crystal, quality lume, a 200m water resistance rating, and overall specs, it more than justifies its price point which is well below $500.

Though looks are subjective, those who have seen the watch mostly agree that it looks good. It has a tried-and-true, one-size-fits-all type of design, with some nice details that elevate it higher such as the gradient on the dial and some good looking hour markers.

There were few noticeable drawbacks. We felt the watch was a bit on the heavier side, though larger individuals may think it sits just right. Also, the crown action was a bit wobbly, but when surrounded by the crown guards, it is not really noticeable. The bracelet is a bit on the cheap side with its hollow end links, but this is understandable given the price point.

Our verdict is that the Orient Kamasu is a great tool watch that can satisfy one’s needs for aquatic activities, all the while being good looking enough for everyday wear. There are alternatives at this price, most notably the Seiko SKX009, however the combination of specs, looks, and reliability of the Orient Kamasu ranks it fairly high among them.

Photo Credits: Horology House