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$450 to spend on a diving watch


crystalcranium

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Here's the deal. Finally wore my $2500 SMP Chrono into the surf on vacation. Push button clasp is full of sand and making a disgusting noise when I operate it and the bezel got knocked loose by a big wave. It didn't come off but it wobbles and the watch will have to go in for service. For all of those who gave me grief for not wearing this watch into battle......thanks for the advice!!!! Once it's fixed, it goes under glass.

My Seiko diver is a rock....$185 and it took everything I could throw at it...but it's not flashy enough for me on the beach. I'm looking for suggestions topping out at $450 for a solid diving watch, automatic or quartz, that I can wear days and evenings on vacation. So far, the Tissot Seastar 1000 line has caught my eye.

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I'd get one of these:

296782-1234.jpg

http://www.orsawatchco.com/the-collection.php

Swiss Made (Each piece is individually numbered 1 to 50)

ETA 2824-2 Automatic movement

Unidirectional rotating bezel with 120 clicks

Domed hardlex mineral crystal (sapphire optional)

300m/1000ft Water resistant

8mm Screw down crown

Date at 6hrs

Super luminova coated hands and dial. 316l Stainless steel case

Case finish is sand blasted

Bezel/case back polished.

22mm lugs with connecting rods

Weight: 136g

Dimensions: 45mm wide x 54mm length

Thickness 16mm

Stainless steel movement holder

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Looking at a Seiko Prospex and a Chase Durer UDT Special Ops 1000 on the bay. Looks like the CD will cost about $550...a marriage strainer but it's a beauty..black PVD stainless 27 jewel ETA Quartz...gorgeous walnut display box....great look and size.

The Seiko Prospex line is a sold in Japan diving line that utilizes two of Seiko's best automatic movements... 21.6K BPH and a 28.8K BPH, windable, hackable movements...a big step up in quality over the 7S26 in the "Monster" line of diving watches.

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Get the Seiko Samurai, its a beauty.

As you said it only from japan but there are people selling it.

Ill be buying the Blue dial in titanium when i go back

Here is a link to pictures of the black dial in titanium ref number: SBDA001

http://www.ittc.ku.edu/~jgauch/watch/divers/SBDA001.html

297283-922.jpg

Here is a link to pictures of the blue dial in titanium ref number: SBDA003

http://www.ittc.ku.edu/~jgauch/watch/divers/SBDA003.html

297283-923.jpg

Here is a link to pictures of the orange dial in titanium ref number: SBDA005

http://www.ittc.ku.edu/~jgauch/watch/divers/SBDA005.html

297283-924.jpg

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Get the Seiko Samurai, its a beauty.

As you said it only from japan but there are people selling it.

Ill be buying the Blue dial in titanium when i go back

Here is a link to pictures of the black dial in titanium ref number: SBDA001

http://www.ittc.ku.edu/~jgauch/watch/divers/SBDA001.html

297288-918.jpg

Here is a link to pictures of the blue dial in titanium ref number: SBDA003

http://www.ittc.ku.edu/~jgauch/watch/divers/SBDA003.html

297288-919.jpg

Here is a link to pictures of the orange dial in titanium ref number: SBDA005

http://www.ittc.ku.edu/~jgauch/watch/divers/SBDA005.html

297288-920.jpg

Lookin at all of them....yes they are considered part of the Prospex line. Same movenemt in these as the Monster though...no hacking and manual winding. The one I'm looking at has the 6R15 23J Automatic movement.

Pugs,...that Tissot is a beauty but I would never trust such a beautiful piece in the surf. This one has to be bulletproof and not so expensive that it isnt considered disposable.

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I'd be the first to admit that I haven't worn my 2220.80 SMP rep in the ocean, but, untested, it has survived several dips in the pool, including strenuous swimming against the current of a wave machine. No hint of leaks at all.

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i found this website, which has very nice prices for hamilton and tissot watches. this one has a swiss auto with AR!! 46mm wide 15mm thick. looks pretty good. im thinking about getting one, but then i see pics of the IWC CD and i think that will be my next purchase.

http://www.bluedial.com/T19159351.htm

You can find them for <$370 on Amazon if you look hard

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This has to be a no question water ninja. Like I said, my Seiko Diver performed beautifully but with a yellow dial and a black rubber strap, it just doesn't have enough flash for me. It'll be great for diving around the 37' Carver Aft Cabin Cruiser out at sea, but not for the surf at the beach. I want steel, great design and no questions as to performance.

This experience confirms my previous conclusion that plain old diving is cake for a diving watch....surf play and major wipe outs at the surface are the best test for WR.

In that case, I'd suggest getting an SMP like mine (that kind of price range) and taking it into a friendly watchsmith for independant pressure testing and waterproofing. I took my 2531.80 and 45mm Planet Ocean in for waterproofing, as the dealer said that they were likely only shower proof. My 2220.80 accidentally got submerged in a bath, but, as it didn't leak, I've gradually 'upped the tests', from long submersion in a bath, to paddling around in a pool, to extreme exertion against a wave machine, and it hasn't leaked at all. The only reason I suggest an SMP (other than my bias towards Omega) is that you mentioned evening wear, and the SMP is a watch which can handle evening wear.

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Lookin at all of them....yes they are considered part of the Prospex line. Same movenemt in these as the Monster though...no hacking and manual winding. The one I'm looking at has the 6R15 23J Automatic movement.

Pugs,...that Tissot is a beauty but I would never trust such a beautiful piece in the surf. This one has to be bulletproof and not so expensive that it isnt considered disposable.

Sorry but the movement in the seiko samurai is automatic! your right that it doesnt hack but its definitely an auto

EDIT: sorry you meant no manual winding, you are correct

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Pugs,...that Tissot is a beauty but I would never trust such a beautiful piece in the surf. This one has to be bulletproof and not so expensive that it isnt considered disposable.

Yeah, it's not waterproof until I get a replacement crystal anyway. :D

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Here's the deal. Finally wore my $2500 SMP Chrono into the surf on vacation. Push button clasp is full of sand and making a disgusting noise when I operate it and the bezel got knocked loose by a big wave. It didn't come off but it wobbles and the watch will have to go in for service. For all of those who gave me grief for not wearing this watch into battle......thanks for the advice!!!! Once it's fixed, it goes under glass.

My Seiko diver is a rock....$185 and it took everything I could throw at it...but it's not flashy enough for me on the beach. I'm looking for suggestions topping out at $450 for a solid diving watch, automatic or quartz, that I can wear days and evenings on vacation. So far, the Tissot Seastar 1000 line has caught my eye.

How about these from Bill Yao $495 or custom built to you spec.

297492-849.jpg

297492-850.jpg

http://www.mkiiwatches.com/CategoryProduct...=Custom+Watches

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I'd highly recommend Marcello C... Best quality divers watch under $1000 IMO:

http://www.marcelloc-watches.com/watches/index1.html

If I could find one for around $500...I'd go for it. They look rock solid. I'm just a little gun shy about buying a Submariner cousin. Wouldn't want to flaunt "Rolex wearer" only to have someone smirk on close inspection....but this is strictly a flash/function watch...oh my...I don't know what I want!

No MCs on the bay

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Wow...thank you. More confusion!!!! last night, I had switched back to the Tissot as a sure thing. Now....hmmmmmm!

Doxa makes a 300M diver??? Where can I find it?

Hmm... you're right, they produced a limited edition in 2002 (1000 p.) but it seems that it is not available anymore...

Didn't they revive the 600T recently?

And how about the Bathys?

Well the more I look at it... but definitly hard to get in Europe!

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