ICONIC Swiss diving watches under $1,500
Swiss divers up to $1500
In this review you will see almost all of the most popular Swiss, everyday divers in a budget up to $1500.
What's interesting is that they all belong to the same owner, Swatch Group. This is our monopolist in the mid-budget market.
Of course, if you know what Swatch Group is, you've probably already guessed what watches we're going to talk about, but I suggest you watch until the end, because I'll definitely show you something you didn't expect.
And I want to say that globally this video is for those who are often torn between choosing the models that I will show, because the choice between them is a classic of the genre.
You are on the Feeltime watch channel, my name is Stanislav, and before we begin, as always, I suggest you take an active part in the development of the channel. To do this, it's very simple - like and comment if you have something to say.
And let's look at the first model.
And the first ones we will have, of course, will be Tissot from the Seastar collection. Let's start with the most popular and hyped one.
And for starters, I want to say that I was already rubbing my hands with the thought that I would be happy to hate this watch as being greatly overrated, but looking at the updated versions of the Seastar, and this one is one of the most recent, I realized that there is almost nothing to hate there.
Tissot is working on their mistakes and really improving the watches.
Let's start with what I was wondering about earlier.
The first is the finish. I won't say that the first editions of the Tissot Seastar are bad, but they are noticeably weaker than the same Certina and Hamilton, which we will also look at today.
And most of all, I had questions about the side parts of the case. And in the new version, the design was slightly redesigned.
You can see that the sidewalls are slightly recessed and have a sandblasted, grainy finish. Plus a very pronounced mirror polish contour line.
I like the whole thing. The feeling that the processing is so-so is definitely gone.
The head screws on and is under protective caps. I turned it, everything is quite neat and convenient, despite the small size of the head.
The brand's website doesn't specify what material the bezel is made of, but judging by the texture, it's definitely either ceramic or sapphire. It's definitely not aluminum.
The bezel is very comfortable, secure, and has pleasant sounds. There is no play.
Through the back cover we can see the same famous Powermatic 80.111 with the legendary plastic parts, about which everyone gossips that it is not reliable, but somehow this mechanism was a rare guest in the services, and remains so)
80 hours of power reserve, operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour.
Also on the back we can see that the bracelet has a quick-change system, which is very good. Almost all recent versions of the Tissot Seastar are already equipped with this feature.
I also have no questions about the quality of the bracelet's workmanship. Everything is quite nice. And I don't remember exactly how it was on the old versions, but it seems that the links were on regular pins, and now the pins are screwed in. That's good.
But there is still some play in the fastening of the bracelet to the case. That is, if you look closely.
Well, what can we do without the famous clasp from the last century?
No, it looks good, it fits this watch, it's even molded inside, but I think in 2025 it's time to move away from these semi-stamped clasps.
The design is by default cool. After all, we are talking about the iconic Tissot Seastar diver. This watch is very easy to recognize despite the fact that it looks quite classic in terms of form. But it is immediately clear that this is the Tissot Seastar.
The case diameter is 40 mm, and I'm very glad that Tissot started producing completely different versions of these watches, because before there was no smaller than 42, and for me, for example, it's too big a watch.
By size:
40 mm - diameter, from lug to lug - 46 mm, thickness - 12.5 mm, which is a very good indicator for a professional diver with water resistance of 300 meters, and the weight on the full bracelet is 148 grams.
They fit perfectly on my 18 cm hand. Exactly my size.
Let's take a look at the dial.
Without exaggeration, I really like both the texture and the color.
This is a turquoise wave color that transitions to black in a gradient. The texture itself looks like wood.
The dial looks great from different angles. And the sapphire crystal and anti-reflective coating work great.
The signature applied hour markers give the watch a cool volume, and we have the signature shape of the hands, including a seconds hand with a "T" tip, i.e. Tissot.
The date on a black background at 6 o'clock. Very neat, and it's very good that it's black so as not to distract attention.
And of course the bright Swiss Super Luminova.
I would like to say something bad about this watch, but I can't. For once, Tissot released a really good model that addressed old mistakes.
This particular copy currently costs UAH 39,130. But there are many versions, both in size, color, and filling (i.e. quartz or mechanical).
You can view and purchase all version watches in my online store Feeltime from the official distributor in Ukraine with a 2-year warranty. I'll leave the link.
Seastar collection catalog HERE .
Next we have the Certina DS Action Diver 40.5mm C048.407.11.051.01
And the iconic diver from Certina DS Action is waiting for you.
In fact, today we have a great opportunity to look at the approach and the difference between brands that belong to the same owner. And there is a difference!
Let's just go through the same points as Tissot. In order.
Let's start with the body treatment.
It is made of 316L stainless steel. Overall, Certina usually has better finish for the same price as Tissot.
Here we see that the sides are mirror polished. The finish is not bad, but definitely not top-notch, and purely for diving and activities from a practical point of view, satin-finishing like Tissot would be better, because the mirror gets scuffed and scratched much faster.
The upper part of the lugs is nicely finished. No questions asked.
The crown is screwed down and protected by protective seals. Although it is larger than the Tissot, it is not as convenient to operate. It is quite tight and, due to the mirror polish, slips between the fingers.
But the bezel, on the contrary, I liked it more.
It is even more comfortable, looks more expensive, and feels more expensive both when walking and when clicking.
Ceramic insert on the bezel. I definitely liked it better.
The back cover of the Certina will delight you with a cool, deep engraving of a turtle, which is a symbol of the DS concept of additional protection of the watch against leaks and vibrations.
It definitely looks nicer than the transparent cover on Tissot. Although there is also a Powermatic 80 here, but a slightly different caliber 80.611. This one has no plastic parts, so if you have increased anxiety, you can immediately exhale and sleep peacefully.
The characteristics of the mechanism are all the same.
The bracelet also has a quick-change system, but while Tissot has mirror-polished middle links, here, on the contrary, it is completely satin-finished. And I like it better and it is more practical. I have already explained why.
The bracelet is excellently finished. It is also screwed in. There is also some play with the case, but not critical.
But what will definitely please you is the clasp. This is a full-fledged, fully molded clasp. Plus, there is a diver's extension. Compared to Tissot, this is heaven and earth.
Let's measure.
Diameter - 40.5 mm, from lug to lug - 48 mm, thickness - 14 mm, weight - 188 grams.
They feel a little bigger than the Tissot. And I would choose the 38 mm version for myself today, and this model has them. As well as the 42 mm version. The brand gives you the opportunity to choose.
But actually, this one fits on my hand, let me remind you, 18 cm. It's quite good in volume.
The dial here is much simpler and more concise at first glance, but that definitely doesn't make it any cheaper.
Overlaid labels, overlaid brand logo.
The date is at 3 o'clock on a white background. It blends in with the color of the markers, so it's not annoying.
Sapphire glass covers all this, but the anti-reflective coating works worse than that of the Tissot Sistar.
And the Swiss Super Luminova.
This watch also has professional water resistance of 300 meters, but it is also a certified diver according to ISO6425 standards.
It seems to be very similar in characteristics to Tissot, but completely different. If Tissot is a more brutal diver, then this one, I would say, is a more well-groomed suitor with simply diving characteristics.
In terms of style, Sertina will definitely be more versatile.
This particular version costs 47,310 UAH today. You can buy this watch and other Sertin models in my online store Feeltime. Only the original with an official 2-year warranty from the distributor in Ukraine. I leave the link HERE .
Hamilton watch KHAKI NAVY SCUBA AUTO H82505140
I finally got to the Hamilton Khaki Navy divers. Before that, I've shot their Khaki Field watches for you a million times, shown off their everyday Jazzmasters, but never the Khaki Navy divers.
And I want to say that globally, if I am asked: "What to choose between Tissot, Certina and Hamilton," I always recommend Hamilton, because they usually have better workmanship, they are better made in detail, they feel somehow more refined. There is never an imbalance between price and quality, as is often the case with Tissot, for example.
Let's take a look. Because this watch already costs 59,300 UAH, which is significantly more expensive than its predecessors.
Well, the first thing I want to say is - YES, you look at the case finish and think, it's not for nothing that I recommend this brand for this. There is no mirror, solid satin finish, which is very practical and correct.
The workmanship is delicious. In fact, Hamilton will always please you.
The head is under protective seals. I turned it. It is the most comfortable watch we have seen.
Bezel with ceramic insert.
What's interesting is that it rotates 60 times counterclockwise. The predecessors rotate 120 times.
This one is definitely not the most comfortable. It has mirror polish on the sides and I think it will slip in hot weather, but I really like the quality of the rotation and the sound.
Very monolithic. And I want to say that 3 models with cool bezels and how different the character is.
The back cover has the classic Hamilton engraving and I like the quality of the finish.
We can see right away that there is no quick-change bracelet system. This is neither bad nor good. It's just that such a watch can be refreshed very nicely with some kind of rubber or textile strap, and it will take more effort to change the whole thing.
The watch has its own Swiss automatic movement with the H10 caliber installed on board, but in essence it is the same Powermatic 80 that is in previous models.
There are no plastic parts. It has a power reserve of 80 hours, an anti-magnetic Nivachron spring, and operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour.
The bracelet is top-notch. Definitely the best we've seen.
It has many times more complex geometry. It's really cool that there are strips of mirror polish on the middle links. It's not immediately visible, but it actually gives it a shine and a feeling of an expensive thing.
TOP processing.
There is, again, some play with the body, but nothing serious.
And a very cool clasp - a fully molded flap.
This particular version is quite large and really feels like a puck when you hold it in your hands (plus it's heavy).
But even on my small hand, they fit very well in terms of proportions.
Diameter - 43 mm, from lug to lug - 52 mm, thickness - 12.5 mm, weight - 213 grams
In general, this model has 43, 40 and 37 mm versions. I would definitely prefer the 40s
I really like the dial.
I would say it's in the Hamilton signature style.
It's like a diver's, but with a hint of militarized style.
Beautiful gradient from dark blue to black, signature grainy, matte texture.
Sapphire glass is also installed here and the anti-reflective coating works well.
The layout is great.
The applied labels and the brand logo add volume. The seconds hand with a red tip stands out nicely.
There is no date, which is fine with me, but there is a 24-hour scale for convenience.
Plus bright Swiss Super Luminova.
Hamilton is as always divine. Well, I don't know how to explain it to you, but they feel more original and more expensive than the watches we saw. My opinion about the brands remains the same.
You can purchase this watch and its versions in my online store Feeltime from the official distributor in Ukraine with a 2-year warranty. I leave the link in the description of this video.
Link HERE .
Mido Ocean Star GMT watch M026.629.11.041.00
The last one I made for you as a bonus is a brand that also belongs to the Swatch Group and has recently officially arrived in Ukraine. This is the MIDO brand, and we will look at a model from their most popular, diving collection, Ocean Star.
And this is a special edition with an additional strap.
If in previous watches I didn't show you the box because there's nothing special there, then in this particular MIDO model we need to look at the box because it's big, beautiful, and very presentable.
Inside will be the watch itself and a slot for an additional strap. All documentation will be in a hidden slot of the protective box.
Let's start with the design right away, because the brand is new in Ukraine, although it has existed since 1918, it just doesn't promote itself as aggressively as all the predecessors in our review.
Overall, the watch still reminds me of the Certina DS Action, but the good thing is that once you're familiar with Mido, you can still tell it's Mido.
You see, a watch has very standard shapes, and to make it stand out from the crowd, it has to shine with details. It's the color, it's the shape of the markers and hands, it's some bright things like a strap like here. And there are such signs.
In any case, the appearance of the watch is expensive and presentable. It feels like it.
I don't know why I thought the watch's finish would disappoint me, but in fact it turned out to be really cool. Wonderful satin finish.
The head is under protective padding. Large, comfortable.
120-turn bezel with ceramic insert. Very convenient. And again, its own character of rotation and sound. All the watches you've seen with cool bezels, without a doubt.
The back cover here is a bit plain in my opinion. The watch uses a second time zone and we see a bunch of cities around the world, but the implementation is kind of plain.
We have a NATO strap with bright colors that highlight the dial.
What's interesting is that it's visually made at the highest level. It's stitched beautifully, the material feels very strong, but I miss some softness and flexibility. The strap is really thick. But I want to note that the hardware is cool. The clasp looks sophisticated and very grown-up.
But the main thing is that we have the bracelet.
There is a quick-change system here, and it is convenient. It also comes in different versions.
The bracelet is wonderful. The workmanship is at a high level, and the geometry is complex, there are a lot of transitions, and on the sides of the links there are thin strips of mirror polishing, which gives a nice volume.
Plus, the links start out thick, then get thinner and thinner towards the clasp. This is both visually beautiful and convenient in terms of fitting the bracelet to your hand.
An adult clasp with a diver's extension. The bracelet, by the way, looks quite original. It definitely has its own design.
This watch has sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, water resistance - 200 meters, you can dive, and it has its own Caliber 80 automatic movement with a power reserve, but it's the same story as with Hamilton.
If you know that the watch belongs to the Swatch Group, then you understand that they are simply modifying their HIT Powermatic 80. The power reserve of the mechanism is 80 hours, operating at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour.
I like the dial.
Beautiful, very deep blue color. A wonderful cross between red and blue. Along the very edge of the dial there is a 24-hour marking just for the second time zone, one part of which is red, the other is blue.
This scale can be used thanks to an additional clock hand with a red tip.
What I found unusual were the superimposed marks, namely the marks at 6 and 12 o'clock, which are made in the form of two squares.
The shapes of the arrows are also personal.
As I said, it seems like a familiar design, but there are some microchips.
It's a bit too big for my hand, because this copy is like a pig.
44 mm - diameter, from lug to lug - , thickness - 13.5 mm, weight - 204 grams on a full bracelet.
Ocean Star has versions of 39, 40.5, and 42.5 mm. This one is the largest, and you can already choose the size for yourself.
This watch costs 82,250 UAH today. Of course, its price was influenced by the special edition with an additional bracelet. But despite this, the most inexpensive versions of the Mido Ocean Star start at 57 thousand UAH.
Order via the link HERE .
They are definitely made better than Tissot, but with Sertina and Hamilton there are questions. Here you just have to accept that this is the brand's policy.
It has its own style, it has a brand, and the fact that it's not pop music in Ukraine yet is definitely a plus for me.
In fact, you saw 4 watches that can already be considered iconic among everyday divers from these four brands and in this price segment.
It's like the style is the same, but everyone is different. So choose what you like best. I can tell you for sure that there are no more famous divers in this price segment. Did I miss something? It's very important that it's Swiss divers.
My favorite is Hamilton. What about yours?
