TOP 5 diving watches from microbrands
TOP 5 everyday dive watches
Hello everyone, you are on the channel about Feeltime watches, Stanislav is with you as always, and today I have prepared for you the TOP 5 everyday diving watches.
What does “everyday dive watch” even mean?
The “Dive Watch” style is the most popular today. Many do not understand this, and believe that a person is literally obliged to immerse himself in them.
But in reality this is not the case. Only a small percentage of dive watch owners use them for their intended purpose. The majority of people wear these watches in everyday life and even to business meetings.
Unless, of course, it’s some kind of oversized watch whose design is really designed for deep-sea diving.
So basically what we're talking about is an everyday watch that just has diver performance. After all, in fact, how nice it is to wear your watch without a second thought: “It’s going to leak,” jump into the river in a fit of passion and not worry about the consequences))
Position 5: Spinnaker Cahill
To me, this watch looks much more expensive than its price.
I really like their retro design. Surprisingly, I have already said more than once that I myself wear a more sporty style of clothing, but I often gravitate towards retro watches.
Model made of 316l stainless steel with black PVD coating.
The quality of finishing is excellent for the money. The bracelet has excellent geometry, there is no feeling of economy, which is almost always the case with the Japanese in this budget.
The bezel with a golden border and a tempered glass overlay nicely breaks up the color of the watch.
The dial looks great with its signature grainy texture. The tags look like printed ones, but in fact they are applied. This is a somewhat deceptive move.
All marks are made very carefully. I remember that this same model once had problems with this, but Spinnaker has greatly improved in quality over the past few years.
The bezel, by the way, is a little tight on the watch. In terms of convenience, I didn’t really like it. And your fingers will sweat and slip.
The features here are excellent. 150 meters of water resistance (the crown is screwed down for better sealing), Swiss Super Luminova on the hands and markers, sapphire crystal with anti-reflection.
The only thing is that the outdated Citizen Miyota 8215 mechanism is installed. It has a design flaw. Sometimes the second hand may freeze for a few seconds, and then seem to jump and start moving further. I noticed this once while reviewing. And this is not considered a defect.
Plus there is no STOP second. But this mechanism even now looks much better than the same Seiko NH35A. You can admire it through the back of the watch. There's also a custom rotor from Spinnaker.
The sizes are great.
Case diameter - 40 mm, from lug to lug - 48 mm, thickness - 13 mm, weight - 144 grams.
They fit perfectly on my hand.
The price of the black version is 16150 UAH. There is a version in metallic color. It's several thousand cheaper.
The watch looks great and is well made. The characteristics are in order. I like them so much in appearance that even the outdated mechanism doesn’t bother me.
I personally recommend it and firmly set it to the 5th cell.
4th place: Phoibos Proteus
Fourth place in my little hit parade is occupied by Phoibos Proteus from the previous generation in a stainless steel case and bracelet.
There were 5 colors of this model in total. I have the only one left in stock with a delicate, salmon-colored dial.
I definitely want to give this watch a big plus for its design. Brutal, chopped forms of the case and bracelet.
The quality of the finish deserves special attention.
I want to immediately announce their price. This is 14900 UAH. For the money, the satin finish here is simply divine. No exaggeration.
The only thing I’ll add here is a fly in the ointment. Some edges of both the case and the bracelet are sharp. It could have been better. But probably not at this price. This is already a watch from the category: “How did you make this so accessible?”
Unusual head with curls and a signature engraving of the brand logo - an octopus
You will find the same logo in the form of an expensive and deep engraving on the back of the watch. Frankly speaking, neither the Japanese nor the Swiss lack such elements in this price segment. Even microbrands don’t indulge everyone in this.
Bezel for 120 clicks. With scratch-resistant ceramic lining. The grip of the bezel is good, the rotation is quite soft, the clicks are pleasant. There are no backlashes.
The bracelet is of nice quality. The geometry is excellent, the finish is excellent. Links on screws.
The quality of the bracelet matches the case. Often in this price segment the case is well made, and the bracelet is a clear savings. This is not the case here.
The clasp is really simple. I don't like these tongues. But inside it's molded.
The dial is a sight to behold. Corrugated plate in delicate, salmon tones.
Along the edge of the dial there is a slightly raised plate with minute markings, and wedge-shaped hour markers are already mounted on it.
The date is unobtrusively located in a neat circle at the 3 o'clock position.
According to the inscriptions there is also nothing superfluous. Applied Phoibos logo at the top and the name of the mechanism and water protection at the bottom.
The lightning bolt hand was obviously borrowed from the Rolex Milgaus.
In general, the dial is fully consistent with the brutal style of the watch. It looks like the brutal mouth of some monster.
And in the dark, this mouth also glows with 15 layers of Swiss Super Luminova.
Other characteristics include sapphire with 3 layers of anti-reflection, water resistance - 300 meters, and on board is a classic for microbrands in this price category - Japanese automatic mechanical movement Seiko NH35A. Reliable and unpretentious movement with a power reserve of 42 hours.
The watch dimensions are as follows:
Diameter - 42 mm, from lug to lug - 49 mm, Thickness - 14.5 mm, weight - 178 grams
On my arm 18 cm. The girth fits perfectly.
For its price, it is head and shoulders above any Japanese and Swiss in this price range. Plus your design. For which Phoibos always thanks
Place #3: Phoibos Wave Master
I would like to give third place to the same Phoibos from the Wave Master collection.
I would like to immediately explain this position. This watch has a price of 13,300 UAH, but the quality and characteristics are such that it feels like the price is too low.
316l stainless steel body. I would say that the quality of finishing is great, even if this watch cost 30 thousand UAH. No kidding. I just recently rented a Tissot Seastar 2000 for 49 thousand UAH. So the quality of the finish is worse.
Massive and comfortable head with signature octopus engraving. The classic octopus is also engraved on the back of the watch.
I want to make it clear again. Such engravings in this budget are often not something that the Swiss or Japanese do not do; even microbrands will not please everyone with this.
Extremely comfortable bezel. Probably the most comfortable of all the watches that I showed and will show today. Ceramic insert. Rotates 120 clicks counterclockwise.
Rubber strap. The quality is excellent. Branding, pleasant corrugation on the reverse side, thanks to which the hand will sweat less in summer.
A very beautiful dial in a deep green color with a signature wave texture.
Applied hour markers. The Swiss Super Luminova with blue filling contrasts perfectly with the overall green color of the dial and glows brightest in the dark.
This model has 3 dial types: Green, Black and Abalone.
Please note that this is a modern, contemporary dive watch. Here you will find a ceramic bezel and applied markers. This matches the style of the watch.
You will see the difference with subsequent retro watches with printed markers and aluminum bezels. I know that many of you, in the absence of applied markers and a ceramic bezel, are immediately itching to write: “Oh, savings.” But it’s worth understanding why this is all being done.
They fit perfectly on my hand. Dimensions. Diameter - 42 mm, Thickness - 14 mm, weight - 125 grams.
300 meters of water resistance, sapphire with a triple layer of anti-reflection, Japanese on board as in the previous Seiko NH35A model.
A real monster. With its own design, with the highest quality and characteristics. Total 13300 UAH. There is nothing to add here. Solid and well-deserved 3rd place.
Position #2: Spinnaker Spence
But I want to give second place to the Spinnaker Spence watch.
By the way, they are somewhat similar to the owner of the first place, so it will be interesting to compare.
This is where the retro design of a diving watch comes into play. No ceramics, no applied marks.
But at the same time, the watch looks very authentic.
Excellent finishing quality, very neat dimensions.
Only 40 mm diameter and 10.9 mm thickness. And this is with a water resistance of 300 meters. Water resistance greatly affects the size of the watch. And in this case, the guys got real divers in a really small package.
Well made bracelet. As thin and elegant as the body.
Well, the dials of these watches are a sight to behold. Beautiful gradients. There is green and burgundy color. Both only enhance the style of the watch.
The characteristics are excellent.
On board is an expensive Japanese movement Citizen Miyota 9039 with a power reserve of 42 hours, operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
Water protection - 300 meters. Sapphire, Swiss Super Luminova on hands and markers
The finishing touch will be rich packaging and accessories. This is a convenient travel case for transportation, an additional strap made of genuine leather and a tool for replacing it.
This watch is at full price 26,650 UAH, and now also with a huge discount for 18,655 UAH.
Despite the fact that the watch looks visually simpler than the same Phoibos Proteus, it feels more expensive. And they are made better. This is in comparison. And then there’s the design, cool features, and really rich equipment.
So I want to give them 2nd place.
Winner! First place NTH Barracuda
First place I want to give to watches from the American microbrand NTH Barracuda
These watches are made better than all those presented in the review, but they are polished rather in small details that many will not immediately see or understand, so they may not cause such a WOW effect as other contenders. And the price of these watches is much higher.
NTH should be given credit for their design. Initially, the owner of the brand sought to create watches in the spirit of retro divers of the last century.
Of course, someone says that there is no design here, but then explain why? Some people find similarities here with Tudor. But these are different watches. Some people might as well say that Tudor is similar to its big brother Rolex.
In general... There are plenty of critics if you want. I see my design in this watch. And similarities can always be found. Even the most famous brands.
The quality of this watch is impeccable.
Starting with a 316l stainless steel body. Finishing is at the highest level. The case is sharp, with a beautiful combination of satin and mirror polish stripes that literally run through the entire case.
All edges are finished perfectly. Nothing clings here, nothing sharpens. These are the things that you can feel when you have the watch in your hands and you can compare. You won't understand this from the video. And the pictures won’t tell you about it either.
The bracelet is similar to the case. Soft. Like “grains of rice”. It is not sharp, does not cling, has an expensive rustle, and ideally envelops the wrist.
Yes, and the clasp with the tongue here was worked out in such a way that the tongue that usually infuriates me, catching my nails, is adjusted really cool here and opens with pleasure.
Bezel with perfect grip. Expensive clicks. Aluminum insert that emphasizes the retro style of the model. Some say it's saving money. But here you probably need to record a separate video: when to install ceramics, when to install aluminum, and when you need one or the other.
In this case, aluminum is not used for economic reasons.
In any case, in order to somehow level out this moment, NTH put a thick sapphire in their watches. Look how handsome he is. It is physically difficult to hit through such a glass and bezel.
At the first impression of simplicity, the dial is beautifully made. Everything is perfectly even and neat. Printed markers also emphasize the retro style of the watch. Although someone will definitely say again that this is saving)
300 meters of water resistance, expensive Japanese mechanics with self-winding Citizen Miyota 9015, which NTH independently calibrates, and instead of the basic error of 20-40 seconds per day, they get 10-15. The tightness of the watch is also checked separately by the brand.
The sizes are perfect for me.
Diameter - 40 mm, From lug to lug - 48 mm, thickness - thickness 13 mm, weight - 140 grams.
They fit perfectly on my hand.
To be honest, I didn’t understand this watch right away. I don’t understand why they cost more than the same Spinnaker Spence, which are similar in design.
But when you photograph them more, when you encounter more of them and others, you begin to notice what gives you understanding.
It's like with expensive headphones. I really love good sound. And I’ve had situations where I exchanged $500 headphones for ones that were selling new for $2500. And I didn’t immediately hear the difference and was disappointed.
And the seller later explained it to me. You need about three days for your ears to get used to it and adapt, then you will start to hear what you didn’t hear in cheaper headphones. And so it happened. After three days of listening, I took the cheaper ones and heard a big difference.
Therefore, dear dear critics, I would rather address you. Many of you choose watches based on pictures and other people's videos. It will never give you an accurate picture of the world.
Well, although NTH is not a cheap watch, I rightfully give it first place. Because, objectively, they are made better than anything presented in the review. And it’s better from a lot of things that are not presented, but those who follow the channel know that quite a lot of hours pass through me.
Results
Regarding other positions, I want to say that each of them is good. Any of the watches presented will be significantly better than the Japanese and Swiss in this price segment. With rare exceptions.
This is why microbrands were created, in order to squeeze out the budget layer of popular brands, which they do quite well.
If you want your first, serious watch, I definitely recommend that you look towards microbrands, since up to a certain price segment the Swiss and Japanese will not particularly please you.
Well, you can buy each of the proposed models in my Feeltime online store. I am the official distributor of all presented brands. I leave links in the description.
That's all. Stanislav was with you as always. Until next time. Bye.
