The reasons I WON'T buy another Steel Dive Watch Long term review SD1964 Sea-Dweller Sub Dive

[@martinmoore1821]

What did you expect for the money. You got a beautiful watch. You’re expecting Tudor quality from a Chinese brand. Your dreaming.

[@DIYKAI]

@@martinmoore1821 for 200 a little better QA QC it doesn't really affect me just warning others

[@Primo7915]

@@DIYKAI I also have a speck of dirt on the 7th number (on sd 1953) that doesn't bother me at all and will go away when I give the watch for servicing in future.... for such a price you shouldn't expect anything more from the watch, it's already sapphire, ceramic and besides, they are waterproof (I have a Casio Duro and it has mineral glass and an aluminum bezel insert for almost the same price)

[@Primo7915]

ordered another 1953 but with quartz

[@DIYKAI]

Honestly it's the way customer service acted they wanted to pay me off not to do a video that really shows what characters they are

[@Primo7915]

@@DIYKAI I think many companies suffer from this... I am honestly a little disappointed in the same Casio in which I personally changed the mineral to sapphire and the bezel to ceramic because it is clearly very difficult and expensive that I have to modify it myself

[@nikoskoukos9356]

dude how the bracelet is upside down? just take of the clasp and put it the other way round

[@DIYKAI]

yes it can be flipped but this is showing the QC/QA is trash from the factory

[@amcc2666]

Your idea of trash is kinda silly.

[@DIYKAI]

@@amcc2666 you must like buying things and having to fix them

[@DavidV4444]

I own a Rolex and an Omega, many Seiko’s and Citizen’s - I love my Steel Dive - this is pretty much the only place that trashes them lol - a waste of my precious time.

[@DIYKAI]

I'm glad you have a good one my Invicta Mod does 10x better and has never failed me at 120 bucks I also have a Rolex and Omega Citizen the list goes on this was to warn people of what you can get in case they don't have the ability to have another watch as we do. So waste of your time maybe but if I helped one person worth my time. Thanks for the view and comments

[@BCallum]

The bezel insert is only glued in. Get a sink of nice warm water...not hot, not hot tub hot, but close. put the watch in it for 10 mins. turn the bezel until it is on the left center of where it is supposed to be, and using both thumbs, rotate backwards on the bezel insert, not the bezel. It should move a very tiny bit. so tiny, that is actualy lines up.

[@JG-od3xy]

Worked for me!

[@LurkingCrassZero]

That's very handy to know mate. Cheers. I have a couple of watches with minor misalignment of the bezels that I'll try this with.

[@DIYKAI]

Good info thanks!

[@--RSL--]

Put the watch face down in some golf club grip solvent for 20 mins, get exacto knife lift bezel insert out, wipe down, put some new glue and reseat the insert so it lines up. Ive had to do that w a bunch of seikos… it’s easy.

[@DIYKAI]

Good info thanks!

[@Daves_Man_Cave]

Why are you wearing surgical gloves to handle a year old cheap chinese watch?

[@DIYKAI]

@@Daves_Man_Cave lol just a few reasons…..because I was opening the watch and didn’t want to get oils inside and my hands needed lotion 😂😂😂😂

[@Daves_Man_Cave]

@@DIYKAI Ahh... I see so many watch channels wearing gloves... which makes sense if its a new Royal Oak and an investment that they want to keep 100% pristine... But then I see everyone else copying that when reviewing cheap watches, I think because they saw the other channel do it and so they think that is how a watch review should look... The way I see it, if the watch is stainless and its one you mean to actually wear, the gloves are kinda silly... unless you plan to wear them all the time when wearing the watch? haha

[@DIYKAI]

@@Daves_Man_Cave lol I hear ya but it was only cause of opening it and my ashy hands at the time 😂😂😂

[@Daves_Man_Cave]

@@DIYKAI I get it... plus, if you have a bottle of lotion next to the PC there and its in shot... people might get the wrong idea...

[@DIYKAI]

@@Daves_Man_Cave 😂😂😂🍻 exercises

[@miguelangellostguardia2493]

Tengo 10 Steeldive y todos van perfectos. Siempre sale alguna unidad con defectos como ha sido tu caso, ya sabes que el control de calidad en estas marcas es practicamente inexistente, pero por el precio que cuestan son unos relojes perfectos para el uso diario y para bañarte en la piscina o en el mar sin ningun miedo a que se estropeen. Tengo relojes de varios miles de euros y no los uso para el agua aunque son relojes de submarinismo. En mi Seiko MM300 le entro agua y tuvo que ir al servicio tecnico, desde entonces solo uso los relojes chinos pera nadar y bucear, y hasta hoy no le ha entrado agua a ninguno.

[@LurkingCrassZero]

You want a perfect watch, then pay silly money. For the rest of us (who don't have severe OCD) we appreciate these high spec watches at a fraction of the price of the luxury brands. Yes, sometimes they have minor flaws that can be fixed with a tiny bit of effort on our part, but that's just par for the course with these chinese homage watches. You clearly wear the watch, so it can't be as much of an issue as you're making it out to be. My advice would be to fix these issues yourself. The bracelet is a non issue, just laziness on your part tbh, same goes for the loose case back, the 5 on the date wheel is the only actual issue really, and may just be dirt, so remove by dabbing with a bit of bluetack, or if it's a printing error carefully applied whiteout applied with the tip of a pin will fix it. Someone mentioned how to fix the bezel in the comments.

[@DIYKAI]

@@LurkingCrassZero I actually stopped wearing it a while ago….and this just made me buy quality watches for just a few dollars more….the issues was the shady business practices they have wanting you to send it back to them with the package saying sunglasses because they are trying to export cheap knockoffs….they they say oh you will have to wait up to 90 days for a refund only after “they” inspected it with no guarantee you will get a refund

[@LurkingCrassZero]

@@DIYKAI Define a few dollars more, because you ain't getting these specs for just a few dollars more elsewhere. Maybe you're referring to other chinese sellers like San Martin? Pagani Design tend to have way more QC issues than most other chinese sellers tbh, but they're still pretty good in my opinion. You know these aren't cheap knockoffs. Buy yourself a Lige, Olevs or a Poedagar if you wanna see the definition of a cheap knockoff! Steeldives are high spec, relatively low cost homages. I'd like a link to the Citizen you mentioned. A Citizen of this spec would be more than a few dollars more. More like 100's. Even the Citizen U156, which I own and is a great dive watch, costs round about the same as this but is much, much lower in spec and comes on a plastic strap. Try San Martin if you haven't already. They are stellar watches with A1 QC.

[@DIYKAI]

@LurkingCrassZero citizen pro diver paid 250 and it blow this watch out the water

[@LurkingCrassZero]

@@DIYKAI Never heard of the Pro Diver. Will have to check that out. Does it have sapphire crystal, a steel bezel with ceramic insert and is rated at 100ATM though? I do think you paid way over the odds for the Steeldive to begin with. I would have waited for a sale or tracked one down on ebay for no more than 150 tops. Most I've ever paid for a Steeldive was 150 for a SD1952S, which was a brass 50 fathoms homage.

[@DIYKAI]

@LurkingCrassZero that's the reason I did the video I ordered directly from Steel Dive....correct it's a citizen ProMaster Dive and yes it is a dive watch

[@georgeplungis5283]

I bought a Tandorio Capt Willard & it’s my favorite watch to wear now, it is a made in China watch. I even like the rubber band it came with

[@kampalamails6354]

That watch is great. What matters is the movement. Everything else can be modified. For its price i wouldn't complain much. I'm actually buying one

[@DIYKAI]

@@kampalamails6354 while the watch over all is good I believe the QC QA should be a tad better or the price lowered a bit....NH35A movements are cheap BTW as in like 30-45 bucks

[@csmith1407]

I get it with the quality issues… but surely if they bother you… you could have returned it within the first 90 days??? But you’ve worn it happily for a year???

[@DIYKAI]

I tried to return it they have very shady return policies where you have to pay for it to be returned to so weird room in China with no tracking and lying on the good receipt. I actually have worn it off and on for that time frame and it is very uncomfortably heavy and sharp on the edges I could go on and on but it's now just another spot holder in my collection. Thanks!

[@randymoses5239]

Steeldive Rocks!...I recently scratched an itch and picked up a SD1970....Its far from the most expensive,but has become a favorite in my collection.....Outstanding timepiece for $80 CDN

[@DIYKAI]

Good price for that!

[@rekssam5962]

if the steeldive make it almost close to perfect do u think u can buy that at a cheap price .. placed ur self that u are the owner of company .. all must be considerable

[@DIYKAI]

@@rekssam5962 it’s not the fact that the watch was messed up it’s the after sales that was bad. The watch is only valued at 30 USD per the company for customs returns then they want you to send it and wait several months for a refund that may or may not come….

[@darrenfry4695]

Steeldive are great watches for the money, so obviously dont expect rolex quality, makes me laugh that people pick holes in a Chinese watch lol dude get real man there as cheap as chips but still a realy great gada watch.

[@beowulfforce]

Seems like watch is not new 😔. Many people buy new but after a time return it for every reason not for defective, and next probably the vendor sell it again, is peculiar behaviour of both parts the real victim is the next buyer sadly. This is the reason that many phsycal stores not accept returns in case of watches because is a very complicated theme, only if the watch is defective the warranty with the manufacturer is applied instead.

[@MiscName]

Americans returning a watch "just because" is such a strange concept, here in Australia. We can't return a watch unless it's defective.

[@howiebroyles1257]

You should have took the $10. You can send to me I'll wear It for years more. I didn't see anything wrong with it.

[@DIYKAI]

I hear ya man.....just putting it out there for people to know....who knows maybe you will get one in the mail..LOL

[@chrisfegan3475]

I recently purchased a watchdives batman sub. Kinda irritated that I spent the money on a Steinhart a few years ago. Watchdives are crazy amazing. Keeping insane time for a seiko nh34 gmt .

[@DIYKAI]

Don’t get me wrong the NH series is a workhorse no doubt but these are clearly rejects as Seiko would never allow the date to have a flaw leaving

[@jamair23]

Thats the chance one takes with these Chinese specials. The lack of customer service is due to the language barriers. I had to return a Pagani Design GMT back to AliExpress but I refused to spend the same amount of monies I paid for the watch. So I opted to have them ship me a replacement movement. They want you to send the item valued at $30 to possibly avoid customs duty taxes. That's how you probably were able to avoid paying customs taxes because they've indicated that the item was valued at $10 and a gift when they shipped the package. Many watches from mainstream and micro brands will require the consumer to double check and tighten all screw down devices before swimming and/or diving. That case back is common with many watches. Unfortunately, paying $200 USD for this Steeldive homage to the Rolex Deepsea is way too much in my humble opinion. I hope you don't give up on these Chinese specials brother. 20+ years ago we didn't have the pleasure, privilege and access to these type of watches. IF they were around THEN we would have to travel abroad to source these Chinese specials. I get why you did this video brother. Thanks for the detailed information man 👊🏽

[@DIYKAI]

I appreciate your comment, and I do still buy overseas watches. I wanted to show what one may get if they do order and what they have to deal with. I am fortunate to be able to take this loss and show others. But yes you are right in 2010 I was buying them when overseas for pennies on the dollar most are broken now but a few have survived the risk of buying a "homage' watch 🍻 stay safe

[@raulavila6028]

For 200 US dollars the Deep Sea Chronos is much better, everything well aligned and tested to a depth of 3000 meters.

[@miguelmendez4718]

What is the size of the dial, I’m looking to mod one?

[@DIYKAI]

@@miguelmendez4718 54 I believe but can check later

[@miguelmendez4718]

@@DIYKAI okay l just want to know the inside dial size, I think is a 28.5 mm size.

[@Friends_and_fragrances]

I’ll be honest, you got exactly what you paid for. Next time get a Seiko dude

[@DIYKAI]

@@Friends_and_fragrances this was just a shot in the dark to see if the market improved and obviously not LOL this was more to inform those who expect mor

[@nikoskoukos9356]

😅LOL get a seiko for a guaranteed miss alligned bezel 😂

[@Friends_and_fragrances]

@@nikoskoukos9356 it’s surely better than this junk. Seiko is respected for a reason lol. My marine masters and high end Seiko’s don’t have misalignments. You get what you pay for. Weak comment

[@nikoskoukos9356]

@@Friends_and_fragrances mr fan boy, sorry to disappoint you but you definitely you don't get what you pay for lol, 😂

[@Friends_and_fragrances]

@@nikoskoukos9356 I buy the Seiko luxe models, so yes I do. You just don’t know the quality of the better prospex I guess. Laugh all you want, I know legitimate watchmakers who sign off on these and compare them to more popular Swiss. Marketing works on people like you

[@jltrem]

But that defect on the 5 will only bother you for 24 hours.

[@DIYKAI]

LOL your right once a month for 24 hours maybe I will skip that day....but the other defects are annoying as well

[@amphibiousone7972]

Did you put it on a time grapher?

[@DIYKAI]

No set it to the atomic clock and it held within 8 seconds or so a day

[@joeycan6801]

It’s not a Rolex !

[@DIYKAI]

That’s for sure lol

[@gazookerman1328]

I purchased this watch in green, blue and black dial. The black dial bezel version was perfect, purchased from a seller in the UK. The green one was purchased from elsewhere. It has a sloppy bezel, as did the blue version, purchased about a month later from the same seller, despite me raising concerns about the green one's bezel. I have also just purchased the steeldive Kalmar watch,(not a cheap watch) and the bezel on that watch is really slack too...Very disappointed in the quality of my recent steeldive purchase's. All my previous steeldive purchases are excellent quality, espescially the SD 1980, which is my best steeldive purchase to date...Not sure whether I should buy anymore now....

[@BrentDoesWatches.]

Useless video the watch has been with him for a year and he's just complaining now about minor issues lol. Bezel lines up, date is a rare thing, caseback can be loosened by you just to hate on it and the bracelet can be switched to fix the clasp.

[@DIYKAI]

if they sold the heavy junk for around 140ish yes, a great deal but not at the main website page of over 200.....you can get a citizen dive watch on Amazon for 250 all day with a 5 year warranty in the US...so I am just warning people of the trash still coming out of Main Land China....thanks for the view and your comment

[@njack9643]

Where’s the link?

[@KTZ_86]

yo, why you talking in plural and referring to yourself as "we" :)) + why are you wearing janitor gloves? ahahahaha

[@DIYKAI]

@@KTZ_86 so we as the channel have many people working to make it function so I like to include everyone when I say we......the gloves were 2 reasons keep dust and finger oil out of the movement when I opened it and my hands were ashy AF at the time that was recorded 😜😂🍻

[@roadgent7921]

I've had 3 Steeldives. All junk. Even accounting for the cheapish price. 😮

[@DIYKAI]

This is the only one I have won't get another one

[@roadgent7921]

@@DIYKAI Well said 👏

[@lukestevenson9760]

Looks like the bezel lines up pretty damn good, stop holding it on an angle, and make sure to click it over a notch next time lmao

[@DIYKAI]

it defiantly is off 1/2 click

[@kaczynski2333]

Karening intensifies.

[@DIYKAI]

Learned from the best…..you 😘

[@amphibiousone7972]

Yeah it's a Sekoish, movement , still a watch factory second from China.

[@DIYKAI]

Exactly

[@mtbbiker6401]

Helium valve? 😀I highly doubt it's functional.

[@DIYKAI]

@@mtbbiker6401 me either lol

[@unclejoe6811]

The gaskets don't look like they could go past 300m. Largely irrelevant unless you plan to be on deepsea horizon ii

[@neilbailey4313]

🎉look a good looking watch looks great for the money 💰

[@Cryptidsmethodology]

Watch is only $60 now buddy 😂 it’s nice for price

[@DIYKAI]

60 bucks it might be worth it now LOL

[@vibe808]

You paid too much to begin with.

[@mtbbiker6401]

Yes, especially when a SD1953 can be purchased for $55. I'd go with an Orient or Seiko 5 instead at $200 price point. I've spent $200 on San Martin SN0121. Nice watch also.

[@unclejoe6811]

​@@mtbbiker6401 these seem to go for 130 on AliExpress plus tax might be a coupon or promotion.

[@brain9287]

Stell dive amazing

[@amcc2666]

Things I'm thinking while watching this. Gloves= oh, he's a Dr. Bracelet = whats wrong with you? Date= OMG Bezel back play= normal Bracelet = trash, really? Maybe you've heard of the saying. 'You get what you pay for'? An advertisement stopped the video, thank God! Customer service thinks people like you are silly. Can't finsh this nonsense. Had to stop watching.

[@DIYKAI]

Your comment and view helps the algorithm thanks 👍

[@jameswong6590]

I would never buy any homage watches.

[@DIYKAI]

@@jameswong6590 some are "decent" most are 💩

[@perkster123]

Bully for you!

[@JamesChristian-z8p]

Did you happen to think that you put the band on upside down after taking the links out? Or if it was upside down, why not put it back right after taking the links out? I bet you got mixed up and did it... That's silly and so is your Jerry Lewis "Mad Professor" tone. I wouldn't like the blemish on the 5 either but the rest of your knocking the watch is ridiculous...

[@DIYKAI]

No I didn’t put the band back on wrong this is not my first watch…..again this video is to show other what might happen and they may not be in the position I am just to toss it in the drawer…..I have no idea what Jerry Lewis tone your tone your talking about what’s silly is you sticking up for a brand that has crappy customer service

[@chrisfegan3475]

You didn't buy a rolex. San Martin..steeldive heimdallr and watchdives are all similar. For the money...more chance for defects. Send it back silly

[@DIYKAI]

Did you not understand in the video the sellers are shady SMH

[@chrisfegan3475]

@DIYKAI I understood the video perfectly. Don't crap on a budget item if it's not perfect. It's a cheap watch and you should expect mishaps to happen

[@DIYKAI]

Right and I do so this video is intended to show the shady business practices they have with sending it back and you have nothing while waiting…….this is for the people who can’t afford to take the L or have the time to waste to send back that’s all. Some people want a product to be backed as well when they say send it back with no return record and send it as a false item to clear customs that’s the problem you take with knockoffs we here can take the L for our viewers

[@Andy-ys8sj]

This is a heavy watch so if you have never been in a gym this watch is not for you, plus you are changing the date in the danger zone, If you keep the time at 6,30 you could have a different outcome.. Also the bezal is lineing up, Stop whinging

[@DIYKAI]

First off the warning was for people to know it was a heavy watch....if you read the instructions the "danger" zone you speak of is not even mentioned for a 35 movement only a 36.....the bezel lines up in-between clicks and a small bump knocks it off....you could never dive with this........ Sounds like your a fan boi of steel dive

[@Andy-ys8sj]

@@DIYKAI oh you definitely could dive it that watch, all you need to do is add +30 to the time or the other way round, so don't talk daft Secondly every movement has a danger zone

[@DIYKAI]

@@Andy-ys8sj what are you talking about crazy….this watch would have never survived diving as stated in the video the watch case back was finger tight water would have rushed in at any depth……and yes I know every watch has a zone where you make adjustments again I was stating what was in the instructions……trust me I own MANY watches and this was just another heavy pile of metal to show other what not to buy….thank for your comments

[@SamC900]

1 years you used haha still not happy 😂😂😂

[@DIYKAI]

@@SamC900 lol

[@SamC900]

Rolex watch after one year every day gone be more foked

[@stableianF1oracle]

You are one strange person 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@DIYKAI]

Who me 👀 😂

[@redtill1]

Are you a Smurf 😂😂

[@DIYKAI]

Only if you want me to 😛

[@davidschum3964]

DUH!

[@johnroberts4353]

Buy a Rolex then some people

[@DIYKAI]

@@johnroberts4353 you only buy a Rolex for the precious medals....some people 🙄

[@Kekekfkkekrkrke]

This accent makes me crazy

[@DIYKAI]

lol mine?

[@speed200]

a waist of money

[@DIYKAI]

@@speed200 agreed in comparison to other watches at this price point

[@Tom_Kowalczuk]

a wrist of not so money

[@jrbj2000]

Looks like a waste of education.

[@RichSera2-qm5rl]

I'm wearing some steeldive watches for almost 5 years now and no failures at all.😅😅😅

[@DIYKAI]

Same with my Invicta's maybe I got a lemon lol

[@robjohnston6785]

Thanks for taking the time to expose what the average consumer of Steeldive watches encounters. I am sick of watching KZbin videos from guys who get commissions from Steeldive, San Martin, Addiesdive et. al and profit mightily from gushing about all these Chinese Homage watches. I was almost ready to pull the trigger on a $57.00 SD1953, but watching your video has helped me from creating more carbon pollution in the world and the acquisition syndrome of low cost watches.

[@DIYKAI]

Your welcome! Yes unfortunately as cheap and appealing as they look they will never compare to a true brand. I have learned a few more bucks spent and you will be much happier

[@xtr1092]

honestly what was you expecting from a fake all your soing is helping the crime blame yourself

[@DIYKAI]

I can agree lol with all these good reviews I wanted to check for myself and clearly they are a shady company

[@richardbrown8099]

How is it a fake? It says steeldive on the dial, so It's technically a homage. I have the Willard version and it's a great watch in my opinion, and I wear it more often than my seadweller and seamaster.

[@DIYKAI]

@@richardbrown8099 I don't think they meant fake as in steel dive....but in terms of being a fake sea dweller lol

[@johntate5050]

You don't understand watches. A fake is when it's an exact copy and it has the name of the brand on it. If it said Rolex on the dial it'd be a fake. This is a homage watch. Rolex don't have any sort of copyright on the design, they just have it on their name and logo. It's take a pretty stupid person to buy a cheap Steel Dive and believe it to be a Rolex.

[@DIYKAI]

@@johntate5050 there is no expectation of it being a Rolex….the issues is QC QA

[@andysmalley3563]

🥱

[@pauladams9926]

Latex gloves to handle a Steeldive, get over yourself... 🔔End!

[@DIYKAI]

it's not to handle a cheap watch it was for my dry hands either way your stupid comments help my algorithm, so I welcome them all

[@franciscoa6185]

Bad video...

[@DIYKAI]

@@franciscoa6185 bad comment

[@pauladams9926]

You know what's really annoying? Your voice.

[@DIYKAI]

That's fine but your comment and view and hating keeps us paid thanks loser