5 AFFORDABLE Alternatives to Seiko "Captain Willard" | Microbrand Nethuns

A chic alternative to the iconic Seiko "Captain Willard". Microbrand Nethuns Aqua

Hi all. You are on the channel about Feeltime watches, Stanislav is with you as always, and today I will show you 5 chic alternatives to the iconic Japanese Seiko watch "Captain Willard" or "Turtle" as they are also called.

All models shown will be from the Nethuns micro-brand. And to the expected question: “Why buy a homage when you can buy original Seiko”, I will immediately show you with an example of prices.  

Almost all the Nethuns watches that I will show in this review are direct homage to the top reissue of the Seiko Captain Willard model with reference SLA033.  

This is a limited edition, each color of which was produced in a limited edition of 2500 thousand copies. The watch is equipped with a rather cool movement with a caliber 8L35, which some equate to the level of Grand Seiko movements, and I found the cheapest model abroad with a price tag of $4300.

I did not hold that watch in my hands, but judging by what I see on the video, and knowing the Seiko company, I understand that only the most avid fan of the brand will buy that watch.

If you just like the turtle style and you are not the same ardent fan of Seiko, then buying a watch of this quality at this price will rather disappoint you.

Therefore, the Nethuns brand with their homages, which, without exaggeration, have chic quality and characteristics for their $ 400-500, depending on the color and materials, is a great alternative to Seiko.

The history of Seiko's "Captain Willard" watch

Now I still want to say a few words about the history of Seiko's original Captain Willard.

This model, numbered Seiko 6105, came out in 1970, had a water resistance of 150 meters and was considered a full-fledged diver.  

The model became popular thanks to the film "Apocalypse Now", where it lit up on the hand of the protagonist Martin Sheen - Captain Willard. It was in honor of the protagonist of the film that the clock acquired the unspoken name Seiko "Captain Willard".

Despite the fact that it is a diver's watch, the watch was in great demand by American soldiers in Asia during the height of the Vietnam War. It goes without saying that at that time the prices for watches were quite affordable.

In 2020, Seiko will re-release the same watch with the new reference SLA033, which I have already briefly mentioned in this review.

Seiko also released several simpler models with reference SPB153 and SPB151, the price of which in Ukraine today starts from 44,000 UAH for the most affordable versions.  

At this price and the features that Seiko offers in their watches for this price, I can again safely say that this watch is most likely to be bought by a fan of the brand.

And on this note, I propose to go directly to the alternatives in the face of Nethuns Aqua.

Watches from Nethuns micro-brand

First of all, I want to say that the Netuns brand is young, it was founded in 2015.  

The company currently owns the Nethuns and Ocean X brands. The former are positioned to create homages for Seiko, others to create homages for luxury Rolex.  

All watches are assembled at the factory in Hong Kong and, without exaggeration, have chic quality, finish and features for their price.  

The models that I will show you have the same case shape, diameter and strap. Therefore, I propose to fix these inputs immediately.

Watch sizes

Case diameter - 44 mm, lug to lug - 47 mm, strap width - 22 mm, weight ranges from 118 grams in versions on stainless steel and up to 130 grams in watches in bronze cases.  

Case thickness varies from 14 mm to 15.7 mm.

The difference is due to the thickness of the glass. Some versions have a 3 mm thick sapphire crystal, all other models have a 4.4 mm domed sapphire crystal.  

All glasses have an anti-reflective coating, and of course I want to say that 3 mm for a sapphire is a lot, and 4.4 mm is just a real monster.  

The model that is closest in design to Seiko with reference SLA033 can be called a watch with a blue dial and a bezel with a scratch-resistant ceramic insert.  

Immediately I want to note that all the models that I will show have bezels with a ceramic overlay. By the way, in the most budget Seiko "Captain Willard", which have a price of just over $ 1000, there is aluminum, which is prone to scratches.  

The brand cites that this bezel better captures the 70s vintage vibe, but I doubt you'll like that vibe much the first time you catch a scratch on the bezel.  

watch bezels

The bezel itself has a great grip, a pleasant move and clicks. There are no backlashes here and close. Both the stroke and the sound of the bezel on all stainless steel versions are identical.  

In my opinion, a slightly softer ride and click sound on the bronze versions.

The shape of the hands and marks is almost identical to the original Seiko. The only thing is that the internal content of the hour and minute hands has been slightly changed.  

In general, the dial looks very decent. Tall, applied hour markers add just the right amount of volume. All elements are made very high quality.  

In several versions of Netons watches, the dials have been heavily redesigned.

Firstly, the main second hand in the form of a disk with the image of a diver at the bottom of the dial immediately catches the eye.  

Someone says that this diver is superfluous here, but this is all taste. In the end, the image can only be disassembled by closely examining the dial.  

The hands and markers here are mirror polished, and the shape is already noticeably different from the Seiko original.  

The entire base of the dial is textured with lines and images of either whales or sharks.  

Plus, the date was placed in a neat, round window.  

DLC coated version

According to the model above, I note that it is made of stainless steel with black DLC coatings, which stands for Dimond Like Carbon. This coating is noticeably more scratch resistant than conventional stainless steel.  

And it's not just marketing. Somehow I accidentally rolled an ordinary stainless steel and such a coating on a granite slab. There are micro scratches on the stainless steel, but nothing here.  

Plus, the matte coating of course gives the watch a special look.  

Bronze versions

In the bronze version of the case, the marks and arrows are also slightly modified. Plus, in the left, lower part of the dial, you can see the image of a submariner's helmet. Again, for an amateur. Personally, it doesn't annoy me.  

But in the latest version, which I will show you, there is a completely different dial with the so-called California markings, in which one half of the hour markers are made in Roman numerals, and the other in Arabic.  

The minute markers are located in the form of a railroad around the circumference of the dial, and the Netons brand is neatly woven into the top of this railroad.  

A beautiful and unobtrusive green color that harmonizes perfectly with bronze.  

Each of these watches has Swiss Super Luminova on the hands, hour markers and bezel markers, which stores energy and shines brightly in the dark.

As for bronze, I want to note that today it is quite an exotic material and well-known brands usually use it in some expensive models. Often limited.

Bronze is definitely an amateur. It gives the watch a more vintage look and develops a patina over time that gives the watch a unique pattern. The patina can be cleaned, but it is this coating that many watch fans appreciate, as it gives an individual touch to the watch.  

Quality finishes in stainless steel versions

In the 316l stainless steel versions, the upper part of the case is satin-brushed and the sides have a smooth transition to a mirror finish, the quality of which is so good that I am reflected in the watch like in a mirror.  

The back covers are identical everywhere. Even in the bronze versions, they are made of 316l stainless steel and have the same engraving of the Netons brand.  

Strap quality

The tails on the outside are made identical to the Seiko SLA033. This is a nice and quite elastic silicone.

The fasteners are strong, good quality, and in each model they correspond to the case material.  

Characteristics

The differences in the characteristics of all our watches are only in the thickness of the sapphire crystal, which I mentioned at the beginning of the video, and in the movement.

On board models with a second hand in a small disk, the Japanese Citizen with the Miyota 8218 caliber is installed, the design of which made it possible to bring the main second hand into a small disk.

This mechanism is a little morally obsolete, it has a power reserve of 41 hours and from the minuses - the absence of a STOP second.

On the other hand, it is a reliable and trouble-free mechanism in maintenance.

In all other models, there is a classic for microbrands from the Japanese Seiko NH35A. It has a power reserve of 42 hours and has a STOP second.  

All watches are water resistant to 300 meters. The heads are screwed for better tightness of the case.  

Watch on my hand

On my hand, 18 cm in circumference, they sit cool.

Despite the fact that the bodies are large, the ears are quite short and this is good for landing even on a small hand. By the way, the watch sits perfectly on my wrist.  

Results

The prices of these watches in our Feeltime store today range from 14,000 UAH for stainless steel watches and reach 17,550 UAH for bronze versions.

With such a high quality of cases and charged characteristics, it is obvious that this is an excellent homage and an alternative to the legendary Seiko, which in their simplest configuration today have a price of 44 thousand UAH.

I like the turtle design and I'm trying to be honest with myself if I would pay that much money for a Seiko original. And I understand that if I were a fan of the brand, I would pay, but not for the cheapest version with an aluminum bezel, but for a more charged one, the price of which today is simply skyrocketing.  

But I'm not a fan, I'm impressed by micro-brands and how well they can make watches for affordable money.

And this model is really a cool option for adult watches as an alternative to Seiko "Captain Willard".

In the end, I’ll just add that from us, as the official representatives of the Netuns brand in Ukraine, you buy only the original with a 2-year warranty.

Well, as always, Stanislav was with you. See you again. Bye!