Is this actually the best watch under $100? Steeldive SD1970 Automatic watch review

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Finally checking out the Steeldive SD1970 "Captian Willard" "Homage." You can pick this watch up on Aliexpress for under $100. Also if your'e looking for a decent, cheap rubber strap I'd recommend checking out Juelong on Aliexpress as well.
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Juelong: www.aliexpress...
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[@zaskarclf]

Seiko literally opened the market for these homages when they priced their own at $1k+ and left the majority of their affordable customer base behind. I'm one of those customers.

[@Azav312]

Exactly!

[@lonewolf30531]

YES

[@rios0138]

Seiko sometimes aren't worth the price they get. Too expensive. The reliable tool watches now belong to casio and brands like steeldive

[@larvancioramos9748]

​@@rios0138 all contrary TROLL Seiko always sold CHEAPER, now when they are adjusting its prices towards a FAIR deal, TROLLS starting TROLLING around.

[@taham33]

@@larvancioramos9748 Mineral crystal, aluminum inserts, rattly bracelets, NH35 (worse than cheaper orient movements), abhorrent quality control how's that fair?

[@rmelo5932]

I have had my SD1970 on a rubber strap for almost a year and so far no issues. I could not help comparing it to my Seiko Turtle which had a misaligned chapter ring, aluminum bezel insert, a hardlex crystal and 4R36 movement, the Steeldive has no misalignment issues, a sapphire crystal, lumed ceramic bezel insert and the Seiko NH35 movement. Even with Seiko's history, I still liked and wore the Steeldive more than the Turtle. Ended up selling the Turtle, but I keep wearing my SD1970.

[@paulstanley8088]

Great QC story. When I was a kid, made in Japan was a synonym for junk. They got much better. Now Chinese makers appear to be moving up the QC ladder.

[@patrickriarchy6054]

@@paulstanley8088 They've definitely gotten much better at making watches. There are some companies like Sea-Gull who have said that they would like to eventually compare to Swiss makers.

[@paulstanley8088]

@@patrickriarchy6054 Once I was shocked to see an episode on "How It's Made" where they showed robots making Panerai watches. I suddenly realized that handmade watches were probably mostly imaginary (and this in 2011 according to the Interneterati). Robot made and hand assembled is likely what you get from almost every manufacturer. Once robots are making watches, the country with the best robots will make the best watches. And guess who is making some of the best robots? I don't think it is Switzerland (but I could be wrong). I have a Panerai "homage" watch made in China. $99 from Amazon including shipping a few years ago. The power reserve is about 10 hours despite the optimistic complication on the front. I've dropped it on a tile floor crystal down without damage. Made by a robot? I'm sure--just like Panerai. Assembled by hand? Probably, just like Panerai. Perfect? Not by a long shot. But I could buy 80 of them for the same price as one Panerai it simulates. And it has a Sea-Gull movement! Search Marina Militare on Amazon and get an automatic Luminor Marina "homage" with display back for $63 and it arrives in time for Christmas! Hard to spend $7,900 on the original once you've peeked behind the curtain.

[@patrickriarchy6054]

@@paulstanley8088 Good point . Funny enough I just bought a Panarai Radiomir California 47mm homage. It also has a Sea-Gull handwind movement. It is beautiful.

[@DanaTheInsane]

Exactly, except I really like my turtle and I switch back-and-forth. The Steeldive has more of the vintage look that I was going for when I bought the Turtle in the first place.

[@henrygalindo4479]

You just summarized the reason to buy homages with great specs: THEY MAKE GREAT BEATER WATCHES. I work in the construction industry and I have an extensive watch collection of seiko vintage and modern watches. The majority of watch enthusiasts would not wear a $1000+ watch as a beater watch.seiko divers are meant to be used as tool watches , not desk divers. You forgot to mention that most Chinese homage watches now use the more reliable and rugged seiko and miyota movements, which is the biggest improvement. And that seiko watches, including their higher priced watches, are not known for great bracelets.

[@mikael6043]

I don’t really see the point in wearing anything but a g-shock in manual labor professions. I rock my Solar 5610 at work and wear my nicer Seikos when I’m off the clock

[@3rdstone1]

@@mikael6043 Even though manual labour might vary, personally I couldn't wear anything other than a G-Shock since it sometimes gets a bit messy. But I just wash it afterwards with a dish brush at home and it's ready again.

[@musik4u343]

Dude perfect comment. I fully agree.

[@tydish]

Yeah I wear a $30 digital Casio at my labour intensive job. It's got paint splatter on it and scratches. I think they give it character

[@Fotznerwin27]

@@mikael6043 Same here but instead of a G-Shock I'm rocking an F-91W on a nato strap at work. Every single day and it's got everything I could wish for. And even more.

[@melonhead122908]

About 90% of the joy of the Seiko, but only 10% of the cost of that Seiko…..that sounds pretty good to me. This review is pretty spot on.

[@neilmccormick2064]

My thoughts exactly.

[@seeker7679]

Sounds a bit like an exercise in nitpickery. It is a fantastic watch and it's UNDER $100. For a lot of people out there who will never be able to spend a thousand dollars plus for a watch these are incredible. Is a Seiko that's a thousand dollars more expensive better? of course it is, but it gives you ninety percent of the watch for less than a tenth of the price.

[@jimg8887]

Thought it was funny he said at the end he would be happy with this watch at 200 but not 300 and yet he paid under 100 for it... Isn't that value?

[@RM-pg4js]

He lives in Japan..he better trash the china company. Japan is # 1 anyways..and china steals a ton of teck from USA and Japan. Big Time

[@convertxiii]

Exactly this point. This watch is less than a 10th of the cost of the re-released turtle. Comparing it directly feels like a disservice here. Value is entirely the name of the game on these Chinese homages. You're paying less than a 10th of the cost of the Seiko for a watch that is 80-90% of the performance.

[@armandr1613]

Nitpickery is the purpose of a review, lmao. I watch these to hopefully say... "meh, I don't mind, I'll buy it".

[@terrellbeast7369]

​@@jimg8887 bro, if I've ever heard an oxymoron 😅

[@curtisxxu]

For me it's not whether it's a homage or not. For me it's literally just a great spec'ed watch that looks good and wears good. The fact that it is an homage doesn't actually factor in for me, I couldn't care less either way.

[@gabrielkailash9113]

You and me both.

[@francor5902]

+1 😁

[@PanSearedRibeye68]

Proud Steeldive owner and wearer here! They are showing Seiko how to do it.

[@jaybell4476]

I have a Seiko Capt Willard....it cost me over $1000 and when i got home from NYC where I bought it I realized the Bezel was misaligned....no big deal..It runs about 20 seconds fast per day..no big deal within spec. My SteelDive homage on the other hand wears just as good, keeps time to within 2 seconds per day and its aligned perfectly! I love it and it cost me $100..! pure enjoyment.

[@chriskelly509]

Got mine for $56, runs 2 seconds slow per day, it's fantastic for the $

[@lulul]

I don't remember any other watch on this channel being judged so harshly for so little..

[@dm9078]

Dave hates homages so this watch would have to be perfect for him not to down play it. The comments speak for themselves. Not one person who owns the watch has a negative comment about it!

[@matyasd007]

​​@@dm9078even if he hates homages, he gotta be objective... i do not rock with homages, but this watch costs 90 ffs 😅

[@mydudewatch]

I have 3 of these watches…. Never a problem. It keeps time more precisely than my Seiko…. It’s a great watch. You should be more open minded.

[@jamesbell5610]

@mydudewatch I have bought a watch on eBay from MyDudeWatch 😂

[@MyRetroWatches]

Think you missed a big point that it’s powered by a Seiko! NH35 boring I know but very accurate especially when regulated well. Reliable too. You don’t like the hands but in the same sentence refer to other watches at 2x -4x the price. That is no comparison. This watch is astonishing for the money and impossible to make for that in any other country then China. I’m still amazed they can actually make money on this as even basic steel in China has rose 30% this year alone ( I buy tool steel from China in my day job) Because of its NH35 it’s a modders dream. Unlimited choice of hands or dials for this one and I’ve seen some cool looking mods on the net. I’d say most Chinese brands are put together from parts, I even know you can shop there and choose anything you want from catalogs if you were to setup you own brand. It’s why when I watch reviews I see often common parts like the same indices. I respect you take on this watch as you have handled many but you seem to dwell on the negative rather than find any positive. I can compare this watch to practically any of my 100+ 70s Seikos and find that the steel dive is built just as good or bad as them.

[@ii1189]

Do u wind this watch or its selfwindin

[@Shabec2982]

There’s a reason most collectors have this exact watch. Steeldive took everything people actually want in a watch and priced it as cheap as they can. I view the watch as an experiment, but it’s an experiment that changed the mindset of what’s possible for the price. Yes, it has some small issues, but… it punches above its weight and is in fact a better product than some higher end watch brands.

[@Iexpedite1]

I own the Steeldive 1970 and a Seiko SPB153. The Steeldive is not only the more accurate of the two, it is the most accurate watch I own. That includes my two COSC certified Swiss offerings costing thousands more. BTW, not a homage fan.

[@stavros_katsopr]

Sorry Dave but all this goes against what your channel praises. Budget most of times these days equals homages, give people what they possibly can't afford otherwise. Beware though what you say on price points, originality and in the end the pleasure you'll get from it. There is no meter there. Nitpicking and macro shots may show the weaknesses, design flaws, even mismatched parts/elements, nothing though can take away the pleasure, for the price indeed. But then again i don't believe in parthenogenesis and pleasure is to be (not a sin...), you don't, still don't forget forgiveness is a virtue for both of us, give'em a break, no harm done, we're not here for the rich to get richer, we're here for the people to be happy. Cheers.

[@bremertoerien6987]

Here is what I think, specifically regarding the negative points: Lume: Never ever has anyone asked about why the lume on the bezel differs from the hour markers or hands. Its something that will probably never be an issue for 99.9% of people. If you don't like it, that makes sense, but its just a personal choice. Cheap handset: I have seen much worse hands, even on more expensive watches. Mostly the hands are good enough if the design is ok and the size is correct. People do not walk around with a magnifying glass to look at the finishing on your watch hands. This also I feel like it will never ever be an issue for 99.9% of people. The bracelet: it isn't great, not the worst but I'll give you this one. Remember that in order for them to be able to sell it at under $100, with the specs it has, they had to cut a corner here and there, the bracelet & customer support probably being where they mostly skimped on. I get that as a watch reviewer, you need to look at and point out every little detail, but the fact is, most of those fine detail things that you cannot even see with the naked eye will never ever be an issue. Don't get me wrong, the fine detail is very important, for luxury watches, less so for budget pieces. You mention that you are looking at if it is a good watch, without thinking about the price. It easily compares with most watches 2 to 3 times its price, even more in some cases. The problem with this view is that you are completely ignoring the bang for buck of this watch. Keep in mind, many people cannot or will not spend much more than $100 on a watch, for those people it is very important to know how good it is for the price. (You cannot try to rate and compare the style, quality, luxuries, performance etc of $10 000 entry lever car with a R100 000 luxury car, that just wouldn't make any sense at all right? The same logic has to be applied when looking at watches and their different levels or segments if you will.

[@JusttheWatch]

Those are all good points, and I agree with you, that this watch offers tremendous bang for the buck. I probably could have made that more clear in the review. My intention was to really focus in on where the corners were cut on this watch, as I think it's easy to get blown away by the value proposition and overlook the flaws, because, as you said, they're acceptable given the price. But I think there are plenty of reviews that have highlighted the best parts of this watch, I wanted fill in the gaps a little to help people see exactly what they are and are not getting should they purchase it.

[@bremertoerien6987]

@@JusttheWatch thanks for the reply. I get your point and I think you did a great job here. I really enjoy watching your channel and have been subscribed for a long time now. (also, I agree with your opinion that the word "homage" is not the correct term for these watches. I feel like paying tribute to something isn't what most of them are doing, they are just copying popular designs to boost sales and make money)

[@AZG90]

Good comment... Honestly, I can buy the Seiko but learning the specs of the Steeldive...why pay so much? 😮 I'm confused

[@bremertoerien6987]

@@JusttheWatch Just came across this same video and realised that your title is "Is this actually the best watch under $100?" If your intention was really to focus on where the corners were cut, then you probably should have given it a different title.

[@HeliBenj]

You keep referencing how 99% of people won’t notice details on your watch. I buy watches for myself, not for what others will say about them

[@chrisdaws5382]

In the UK there is a local Steeldive dealer. Delivery is usually 2 days. The dealer does the QC and only sends out watches that he passes. He provides a 6 month warranty. I have the green one on a green waffle strap, the Great wave one on a steel bracelet and a black one on a black waffle strap that I have modded with a Seiko dial. All excellent and my favourite everyday watches. BTW I am not "in to" homage watches. I just can't ever imagine spending £1000 on a watch. £250 is my limit.

[@markgrieves1307]

Faster delivery but you pay a bit more I think. I always check the price against the AliExpress price. The one I bought was the same price with faster shipping. It was a California Dial Panerai type. No contest so I bought the local one. 👍

[@robinschneider5350]

I wonder why people are not as critical against steinhart watches. Its a copy as well, isn't it?

[@SilverSergeant]

OK. This is my first in-depth look at a Steeldive. I am floored by those specs at that price. At that price, I am not concerned with the lack of customer support.

[@karlsenula9495]

I have two from Steeldive (Bronze 1975 Blancpain homage and this 1970) and one from Addiesdive (blue dial Tuna homage) ...

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Their Tuna homage is really good too. I have both of them and the value money is just great.

[@karlsenula9495]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I agree ... i got the blue dial Tuna because of the blue AR coating.

[@Andrew.W75]

@@xPhilz0r Really? How would you know

[@xPhilz0r]

@@Andrew.W75 How would I know what? If many people could repair the watch themselves? Its not rocket science.

[@bagpiper]

I have three of these and one sterile Addie's Dive. Each has been virtually flawless. Each runs fine and stays accurate. Never had an issue with the bracelet on any of them. If I were in need of a reliable 'tool' watch this is what I would get. The financial comparison is important too. One of these or 1/11 of the Seiko original. Wallet says 'this one please'.

[@markgrieves1307]

I've got the Addiesdive too. The tri colour lume is exactly the same as the Steeldive. The San Martin Kanagawa which I have is basically the same watch although not a bowl shape on the side elevation. I can't see any difference in quality between that, the Steeldive or the Addiesdive.

[@waynesellers4078]

I've got the SD1979 and it is excellent. Took it swimming last week and forgot to screw in the crown and still didn't leak.

[@excessivity]

Love my sd1979. Really is truly excellent.

[@richardksimpson800]

I've been wearing this watch every day for two years. Zero issues. It looks awesome on the nato strap I put it on and I've had people comment on it many times. It's reliable and looks fantastic. 100.00 bucks for a stainless rugged watch is a great deal.

[@raposoraposo8438]

the thing is: if you're the kind of guy who buys a watc for $100, you aren't the guy who's seeking for qc issues on the edges of the hands with your expensive macro lens. You look for great functionality and, hell yeah, this fellow does the job pretty damn well

[@brianmsahin]

I'm a Seiko fan and have 5 divers I use for diving! Anyway last year got a Steeldive yellow dial Tuna on gorgeous yellow rubber strap, turns out to be as good if not better than my real Tuna as it has sapphire crystal, same for my red Heimdallr Monster on a high quality bracelet. (Got both because I liked the dial colours and Seiko don't have them). Love both of them. Quality is excellent, alignment is perfect and both were fine at 100m down. Dive watches that can dive for $100. It's true that they're a far cry from my Seiko's as my Seiko's don't have sapphire crystals, solid end links or milled clasps! For beater situations though it's my G-Shock GA-700 and for trekking, it's Mudmaster. I also have an Addies that works great. On the poll, I wouldn't trust it too much. There're a lot of homage haters out there. If you asked every commentor to send a pic of the alleged issues I doubt if you'd get many pics! I don't believe those percentages just based on my own experience. The only watch I've ever had to exchange for a quality issue was a Seiko Turtle that was badly misaligned.

[@rumatadestora]

I think you are just too hard on them for any price. The dial is dull only on black version (however I know people who like matte black). I have a green dial and it's a fantastic sunburst dial. The bracelet is worse on a Seiko Fives which are 2-3 times more expensive. "Mismatched" lume is not mismatched, it's intentional. Hands and spring-bars - are you serious? I just wonder about watch-youtubers sometimes - you are so ready to forgive QC issues on watches like Seiko, but refuse to cut even a little slack to watches such as Steeldive

[@abdulmsiddiqui4344]

Hahah exactly, a $500+ Seiko with misaligned bezel, mineral crystal is acceptable but so many complaints from a >$100 😂

[@abdulmsiddiqui4344]

Just One More Watch is one of the best watch reviewers on YT, unbiased too. Check him out if you haven't!

[@rumatadestora]

@@abdulmsiddiqui4344 I follow him for years now, I know. Dave (Just the Watch) is good too, just recently he has been going in the wrong direction, becoming a watch snob

[@abdulmsiddiqui4344]

@@rumatadestora cheers👍👍

[@xPhilz0r]

Yep, really.. mis matched lume? The fact that’s even a talking point on a less than $100 dollar watch is pretty funny to me.

[@DanaTheInsane]

Year three. Wearing it now. Still great,

[@TheTimeSink]

I enjoy wearing mine. I think a direct comparison to the Seiko would have made for a more useful video.

[@crvols]

I always think about whether I would get $1,000 more enjoyment looking at the Seiko version on my wrist vs. this one. It always comes up no.

[@bigboiganiga8356]

I would too, but Seiko is overpricing themselves these days. 1000 dollars for Seiko Willard? It aint even Swiss. Hell, Seiko is even prominent with stupid bezel alignment issues. Seiko for me, punch very little on its weight compared to the Chinese homages.

[@markg890]

But you don't buy a $100 homage instead of a $1100 re-issue, you buy a $100 homage instead of a $200-300 watch with marketing, support, and some original thought behind it.

[@JusttheWatch]

Oh no question. There's no way I would ever buy a Seiko branded Captain Willard for $1,000. Despite being hard on this Steeldive watch, I totally think it's worth at least double what you're paying.

[@maxp5422]

The lack of questioning about blatantly copying someone's design and slave labour show a lack of empathy in my opinion coming from a creative background nothing worse than someone copying what you've put your heart and soul into

[@Bob.martens]

Over two years of ownership later, and it's still in heavy rotation on the wrist. In my collection of 25 watches it is the cheapest. Changed the hands to MM-style ones and the crystal to a flat one with no AR.

[@jamesherrington5606]

Hey, your visual and verbal presentation has grown immensely. Not just your technical video/audio editing but the way you convey the information. You’ve really grown.

[@theleastsignificantbit4794]

The Rdunae Willard and Slim Turtles both nail the original dimensions of the originals even the 19mm lug widths for better or worse. And they use Seiko movements.

[@markdrum2392]

Personally I'n a fan of homage watches. You marketing and that's one expense that I don't want to pay for. Marketing doesn't add the functionality, just the cost. I've been using the Steeldive for a little over two years and it's been flawless. I don't mind the minor inconsistencies and I do like the fact that there are no alignment issues. I've had several Seikos and the lack of quality control has been shaky at best. For a brand as pricey as Seiko that is unforgivable. Yes, the bracelets are a disgrace but the Seikos sometimes have lousy bracelets as well. You might want to look at Cronos or San Martin. Both companies make great watches. Thanks for the great content.

[@Hapfletcher]

I bought this watch and I absolutely love it. I also have a Seiko "Willard" but I still wear this Steeldive more often

[@knutjunker2019]

Since Seiko's prices go sky-high, i don't pay more than 1,300 Euros for a modern Willard (even if I would really like to have one). So i get a hommage, screw you, Seiko. But i purchased the heimdallr Willard, because it's better in finishing than the Steel Dive, in my Opinion.

[@spencerbookman2523]

I have the same misgivings about calling these watches homages. I prefer to look back to the days when the IBM PC first saw some competition and call them clones. As to the other issues, there is no way I'd go to the trouble of acquiring the name brand versions of these watches. My rule of thumb is never pay more than about $250 for a watch, so all these other trepidations are kinda moot in my case. I'd rather just be able to wear a watch and not worry that I'm tanking the resale value, somehow. That said, this particular watch seems a bit too on-the-nose, though I am seriously considering the SD1934, and the SD1975 looks pretty cool to me, too.

[@kennkingg]

It’s a great watch, its a 100 bucks. Let’s be serious, Not much to complain about.

[@the_once-and-future_king.]

I got mine on the waffle strap and I'm very happy with it. I tend to avoid bracelets on watches that I'm not actually trying on, unless I see them on KZbin and I can see they're easy to adjust, and are decent quality.

[@MrDwaynelockett]

I have the green SD 1970 and it's my favorite beater watch and wear it more than my Kamasu. The lume is great and the dial is readable at night. Great review.

[@think2023]

I feel sad that you can't enjoy these great watches.

[@scottbeckett667]

I ordered this watch for myself for Christmas. It is sitting in the gift pile to be opened in a couple of weeks. Great video but I was left feeling your thoughts may have been a bit nitpicky. I love homage watches. They are a great gateway to collect affordably and are also a great way to learn what you like and what gets wrist time. I love microbrands and I am slowly moving up and hope to eventually acquire some Swiss made watches and brands. But for me it is also the journey. I think a lot of collectors feels this way. Thank you for adding to an amazing international watch community.

[@christopherjohnson4276]

I've my SD1970 for a few months. For $70, what is the problem Dave? Wow, picky picky. Unreal. It's amazing.

[@Uchoobdood]

I just got this for $49 on Ali. What a deal

[@bidipbo]

A year later and Steeldive has expanded the range to include other years, with better finishing, bracelets, hands, etc. But, to be clear: this watch is - in every way - superior to the Seiko 6105-8110 that it homages, so stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

[@Jason-hv4eu]

Good video! I own both the Seiko Captain Willard and a San Martin Captain Willard. I love them both! I have zero quality control issues with my San Martin. However, with my Seiko the bezel insert is misaligned and the bezel action feels like garbage. Just saying… Also, I would purchase a San Martin over the Steeldive. Not all micro-brands are equal.

[@Ed30675]

Likewise... I have the San Martin Willard...For me it is outstanding.. I have the green dial...It is very classy and comfortable to wear on the San Martin bracelet..

[@jimg8887]

San matrtins finishing and qc are on par if not better than seiko.... I think tho the point of the last video was missed with this review, that homage doesn't equal value. He even mentioned that at 200.00 he would be happy, this watch costs less than 100 shipped. I don't think value means comparing it with a more expensive higher quality watch, it means what you get for the price you pay. For under 100 this certainly checks the value box.... I think he picked it apart to justify his preconceived idea thet it wasn't a good value. If ordered on a rubber strap the bracelet critique means nothing. So it down to the dial color, which there are other options, the handset and the lume coloring. I have Swiss watches with poor lume at a much higher price point. I have Swiss watches that had qc issues. So for me under 100 is a homerun. It's not meant to compete with the seiko, it's priced to be a nice specd watch that you can wear and use.

[@JusttheWatch]

I reviewed a San Martin last month. The quality was amazing. That was definitely on par with what I've seen from Seiko or other microbrands costing at least double.

[@kennethg9277]

Yes, let's never forget when comparing homages to Seikos that Seiko isn't always known for its vacheron-level quality control 😂

[@gm4050]

I have this watch. Every time I look at it, I love it more

[@avjaxon]

I thinks it is. Looks great, works like a charm. Lume is crazy good. Different lume colours don't bother me much, as they make the watch stand out after dark :) The only improvement I'd made is the clasp. I replaced it with a milled one. I chose a sterile version, so the stupid logo is not a problem too :)

[@Andrew.W75]

When you say it looks great what are you comparing it to?

[@avjaxon]

@@Andrew.W75 to other watches of similar price. Brushing quality is pretty good all over. Edges are smooth. It has a sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel, so face is as scratch-free as it can be. Bracelet is pretty well assembled, with very little rattle. Female end links also do their job for a good fit, and good fit is essential for a good look, I believe :) Graphite-style dial is fine, and not too flashy, which I also like. Everything is perfectly aligned. Overall I'd say it's finished better than the Kamasu, that is about three times the price here in Russia (and yes, I own one).

[@Andrew.W75]

Sounds like the quality is pretty good then. I've got an Orient Ray 2 which is similar to the Kamatsu & the finishing is reasonable but not quite as sharp my Seiko Turtle for example. Personally homage watches are not for me but if you enjoy them that's what matters :-)

[@avjaxon]

@@Andrew.W75 True. I'm not a fan of homages too. But in this case I believe that the only real thing is the original 6105. And all the current Seko models resembling it are nothing more than homages. Seiko is charging exorbitant prices for a piece to its own former glory. And that is a cheap move. I love Seiko, but I'd never pay thirteen hundred for a modern "Willard". It betrays the very idea of the original, which was prized for its value. Something the current models definitely lack. That's why, among all the homages, I chose the Chinese one :) Same shape, nice feature set, great price, Seiko movement. Ticks all the boxes for me :)

[@jimg8887]

It's interesting, when he mentioned the two color lume he said it wasn't intended and he didn't like it. It was like they used whatever parts they had. But when he reviewed the boldr watch that had the blue lumed bezel and green hands and dial he said the two colors were cool..... So I'm really confused as to why his opinion has now changed on this

[@FiremanFrach]

That's funny about the warranty card being blank. I had the same issue yesterday.....with Seiko.

[@johnnie5442]

So the original Seiko 6105 in late '60-s and through the '70-s was not only tough, but also cheap. U.S. army soldiers were conscripts back than, and they would buy these all day long. Steeldive is cheap. Seiko remake is expensive. But the original product concept was a very affordable dive watch though.

[@bignz721]

I bought a SD1970 NoLogo "Willard" last year & am still enamored with it. I put it on a black waffle strap. Gorgeous! That & my Seiko Safari are my 2 basic beaters. I cannot recommend it enough.

[@youtubetv4856]

Compared to a few years ago, these Chinese watches are an incredible value and have Seiko movements. And for a 6105 Captain Willard homage, you can't get much better IMO. If you complain about the black face and bracelet you're not really considering that the original had a black face and black strap. I bought my Steelcase homage for $50!

[@watchalot919]

I just picked a blue one with the upgraded clasp for £49 from Aliexpress. Ridiculous value

[@AL-pb1lb]

This is a 100.00 watch! C’mon what you expect. Good thing is you can update hands and dial. Over all it beats paying 1300.00 for original.

[@BrittPearceWatches]

Man! Dave! This is why I love your channel! ❤️ I always learn so much!

[@halfhand64]

I agree with 90% of your review, however I have a few caveats. Firstly (as others have mentioned) I currently have 5 Seiko in my collection and although I love them, four of them have misalignment issues, all but one have mineral glass and one has a faulty crown. Seiko helped out with the crown, but were uninterested with the misalignment issues. One of My Steeldive watches (although not a Captain Willard) arrived with a scratched case and was replaced immediately, with no issues. The other thing is that you kept saying that the dial was dull and matt. But that's because that's the one you chose, it also comes in a sunburst blue and sunburst green which are very vibrant. I agree with you about the bracelet (although they've updated it now) but once again looking at my Citizen and Seiko watches they often have rolled links and hollow end links on watches that are between twice and ten times more expensive. Anyway. Nice review as always, keep up the good work.

[@MessagingMatters]

When folks criticize homage watches, I think it has the opposite effect. The video also didn't answer the question raised in the title. Instead of comparing the watch to other watches in its price range (cheap Casios would be a natural), comparisons were made to watches "in the 2 to 3, $400 price range."

[@JusttheWatch]

Maybe a good topic for another video!

[@spanish2781]

I’m in disagreement when it comes to being compared to a $300 watch. I would be happy if I paid $300 for this watch and you know why? Because I own a few Seikos and none are of this build quality- NONE. I own a Seiko Flightmaster, DressKX and Prospex Save the Ocean “great white shark” turtle. For my Prospex, the lume is not as great as the Steeldive, the bezel is loose and I have to correct it every-time it’s on my wrist because it adjusts just by putting my hands in my pockets. Also, the bracelet from the prospex and all my other seikos STINK. Not sure what standard you are comparing this watch for the bracelet but from all 3 seikos I own, it definitely isn’t Seiko which has some of the worst bracelets for the price point. Here’s the difference. The Steeldive is meant to be worn but is also great to look at especially on the right strap. The seikos are meant to be looked at and “lightly” worn.

[@spasev]

You will find more quality control issues with Seiko than with Steeldive, and the price difference makes the seiko look like they need to step up their game big time.

[@dylanharrington744]

I wear my SD1970 daily and always enjoy the comfort. To think you could get a couple of Steel dives and a couple of San Martins for the Price of the Seiko is Crazy. The original must be better, but how much better?

[@thegeneral1955]

Really the only benefit to the original would be warranty and finishing, that’s it. But if you’re even slightly mechanically inclined the warranty doesn’t matter, you can replace the seiko nh35 in that watch for $25.

[@DanaTheInsane]

Unless 100 dollars is all you have of course. I now have three Steeldive.

[@craigreed2747]

I think the "homage" issue revolves around how each person views the watches in their collection. For some it is wanting a wide variety of watches in differing styles and they gain joy from that variety. Watches like Steeldive are perfect for that. They provide great value and specs in and amazing variety of styles and colors. You could fill a room with attractive and well functioning watches for the cost of one Submariner. A couple years ago my dad gave me his 1981 Rolex Gold Day Date "President". It was his everyday watch and he wanted me to have it. Like Dave, I am a minister and wearing a gold Rolex, daily, is not always a good thing. I picked up a Submariner homage as an alternative. It is a nice watch, but uninspired. Sadly, or happily (I'm confused on this!) I started down the watch rabbit hole. I am now up to 16, or so, watches. Two of them are homages and the have been relegated to their boxes and are never worn. They both work well and look good, they just don't "do anything" for me when I wear them. The watches I wear are an Orient Mako 2 which replaced the Sub homage. It was unique and more pleasing to look at. I have a couple Vostoks. I grew up in the 60s and the space thing was real and I love the history of the watch. I spent several years in the military and my dive, pilot and field watches connect me with that time. I have two older watches that belonged to my dad and grandfather. They don't get a lot of wear, but when they get on the wrist, they mean something. My most recent acquisition is a and Islander SKX "homage". It is not a straight up copy. It has differnet hands, dial and bezel. (The watch is also perfectly aligned, proof that it is an homage.) I could have paid half the price for a SD SKX. Marc runs a business and is a real person who is presence on KZbin and I enjoy watching his content. The watch has a personal connection that the SD never could. The long and short of this is that we all have watches for different reasons. Homages have their place and I may buy another in the future. Wear what makes you happy or serves your purpose. We are all in this because watches are fascinating and functional.

[@neilp6496]

best summation!

[@3rdstone1]

@@neilp6496 I totally agree.

[@davidcooper8621]

Exactly. I like to wear a different watch each day and this Steeldive is perfect for my needs. I couldn't justify or want to spend a $1000 on a watch

[@craigreed2747]

@@davidcooper8621 Absolutely. If I ever get the wants for a turtle, monster or other older seiko design, I'll look at homages. That is why I bought the Islander.

[@DanaTheInsane]

Wearing it today. Two years in, and not even a scratch. Still keeping perfect time.

[@willc3638]

I liked your review but I will say that this watch is incredible for the price. I own many high quality dive watches but this one gets a lot of wear. I actually love the way SteelDive did the lume. Compared to some of my other watches, to include my Swiss watches, SteelDive’s lume is right up there with the best of them.

[@william38022]

Well I’m glad I listened to what you had to say brother cause I was actually thinking about this watch and a couple of other ones on Ali express but now I think I probably won’t order nothing from them,,, my Vostok scuba dude/frog man just came in the mail today and I really dig it👍

[@jefb9248]

This guy is unequivocally annoying. At least he’s got some 3rd person shots tho. Happy to be getting this in the mail for a 10th the price.

[@musik4u343]

I guess I don't understand....for $1,000 more you can get a seiko and what...have no issues? Lol if you pole the same amount of ppl but ask if they have had issues with seiko watches...i know the numbers would be similar. I've had a few seikos and ali watches...none are perfect. In fact I've had less issues with most Ali watches then seiko. Seiko is overpriced by any definition. I have no issues buying a brand name piece when it's worth it...but seiko hasn't been worth it for a while. And there is a reference to a boring matte black dial lol...matte black is boring on ANY watch. That's is for sure a bit bias comment and not actually a negative to the watch and it's quality...it's a personal choice. And a lot of the issue here is with the bracelet...dude seiko bracelets suck lol if you got it on the rubber then what's really wrong with the watch lol the lume is great and I think the colors where intentional. This seems like an odd review and recently you've been just super harsh on ali watches for seemingly no reason which is interesting cuz this is supposed to be a budget watch channel...the watch is $90 which is ironic cuz u get about 90 to 95% of the seiko. You really missed the mark on this review. Hopefully this isn't a trend.

[@jeffreygleaves2931]

After that last video I figured you were going to come down pretty hard on this great little watch. After all that was something of a commitment to disliking it. Kinda like going to the party convinced you're not going to have a good time. But that's just human nature I guess. At the end of the day though everyone I've seen who's ordered this watch has not come away disappointed. I wish I could say the same for some of the more expensive Seikos I've ordered. Here's an experiment. Order a Willard and do a side by side. See if it's worth a thousand dollars more.

[@AB3BlackBird]

Finally a big youtuber speaking the truth about these homages and not just pushing them because that's how they get more views/subs.

[@kylesalisbury6789]

I love my Steeldive homage Sub and Tuna. Both bands are super comfortable and I love wearing each one. With 100 watches in my collection, these rarely make it out of my box collections. It is hard to put these on over some mainline brands but if I was a starter collector or just wanted a solid watch for low money that I did not fear wearing, I'd recommend these to anyone.

[@douglasmanning3756]

What a buzz kill. These are meant to be fun. As many others have observed, they are great beater watches.

[@dougdottery1284]

I like this watch. I am ordering one. Too much nitpicking. It's $95.00!!!

[@thebullshittersvonmatterho8512]

It’s so cheap and easy to service. Why would you need a warranty or customer service at that price?

[@kennethg9277]

People always forget the modding option; if you want to personalize a watch with a more interesting dial or a different handsett, you're going to get a great base watch with something like the steeldive... almost no-one is going to mod a $1000 willard from Seiko.

[@3rdstone1]

Great point.

[@MrVasaldo]

i did that, even with an invicta base

[@subsilkdj]

This 🙂🙌

[@excessivity]

Really love my steeldive sd1979 Squale homage. Feels great. Looks incredible and runs like…a Swiss watch. Never more than +\- 5 secs a day. Lume is phenomenal. Alignment is spot on. Case and bezel are bead blasted and flawless. Bezel is smooth 120 clicks, stays in place. Didn’t love the bracelet so now it’s on a leather strap. Love this thing!

[@mydudewatch]

I sell these watches. To date I have sold 64, one return but not because of a performance issue, he didn’t like the color and we swapped him out. It seems your mind was made up prior to doing the review. Also, the lume differential is intentional… part of the design.

[@migfed]

Great video mate. This is the kind of discussions that brings up real knowledge to our community. I think your point view is objective and well balanced. I enjoy your analysis and found it really insightful. Thank you for your great work.

[@Emo8007]

wearing mine right now, love it!

[@markboland2545]

Omg bro ....cmon its 100 bucks.... and for that its golden..

[@mattcameron9349]

Just in the process of upgrading from the SD1970 to the newer SD1970W model, which adds a day complication. By adding a milled-clasp, this is now my ultimate watch...

[@williamf.9615]

I got mine 3 weeks ago, with the waffle strap. No complaints whatsoever. Worn it every day, been diving with it, fixed cars, did the gardening. Not a single scratch on it. Best 75 Euros I've spent in years.

[@TheWtfnonamez]

Mine just arrived. Obviously I dont know if it will stand the test of time, but thus far, its a thing of beauty. Cheap as chips, great lume, lovely box, came with a watch strap adjuster, really easy to read dial, and very nice quality. Now it might leak water the first time I take a shower, or keep terrible time, but out of the box I am incredibly pleased.

[@BerkeFrat]

Are you satisfied? 2 months have passed

[@ryanmurphy7422]

I know it's an older video, but i really don't know what people expect for the price of dinner and drinks for 2 at a chain resturant. The review seems overly critical for watch channel that reviews budget pieces.

[@Diponty]

I got one and if it broke down I couldn't be bothered sending it back. So far it's great value and I love looking at it. And keeps time really well.

[@waris3732]

The blue dial version gets rid of the problem you mentioned of the dull dial. It looks good

[@RebuildingSaad]

I have the blue dial version. It's gorgeous!

[@RebuildingSaad]

While I can absolutely understand your reservations about homage watches and the potentially poor quality control from these homage-focused Chinese brands, I cannot agree with your conclusion about the Steeldive 1970. I have it in blue sunburst on the bracelet and it has become my daily driver. I swapped out the clasp for a milled one (thanks JOMW!) and am extremely happy with it. The penultimate links on the bracelet were a little stiff but are quite mobile now. The rest of the bracelet was and remains very comfortable. The blue sunburst is very dynamic, not at all like your matte black version. On top of that my example keeps excellent time and is extremely comfortable. Granted, that comes down to Seiko's expertise in case design. However I could not justify saving up for a new Captain Willard, especially as my country's currency is much weaker than the US dollar. For me the value on offer far outweighs the cons you've highlighted. Cheers!

[@JusttheWatch]

I live in Japan where the Seiko Willard is more affordable than in the US, but I still could never justify saving up to buy it. If I were interested in that design, I'd be rocking an homage as well.

[@patrickriarchy6054]

I agree it's nice to have a warranty. It makes me feel all warm and comfy inside. However if you do get a warranty how easy is it to get in contact with the company and get warranty service or a replacement?.

[@ciaamore2096]

i have one and no problem 3 sec per day in minus. beautiful and quality w Seiko movement made in japan, wtf is all about your crap talk ??

[@07thomasd]

Comment section passed the vibe check... Can't wait for mine. 😉

[@captainpugwash6889]

Respect: A brutally honest review. My two sons and I have the SD1970...we each own one of the 3 available colours. I have regulated mine to within a few seconds a week: It is the most accurate automatic in my collection. For the price of these, I cannot think of anything that compares...

[@ulysses26]

I like that even in the stock photo of the SPB153 that you use there is bezel/chapter ring/index misalignment.

[@backcountrybrian9336]

Agree for the most part. But the cost to function argument will win out for most folks. Heck, you couldn't build a watch with Ali parts for less! And this one just shows up at your door. So from that standpoint, it is a decent buy. (Not investment). Perhaps Steeldive will use their massive revenue down the road to compete in original design affordable timepieces. OR, it can be a very good option for the aspiring "mod'er" to customize a very well done homage into something unique and personal.

[@jrbj2000]

Oh! The watch is traditionally on a waffle strap, so I wouldn’t ever get it on a metal bracelet anyhow.

[@Tiggerlooker]

I'm happy to have stumbled on your page, I love your content on affordable watches! I just bought a Citizen Eco-Drive Corso Quartz Model: AT2141-52L. My watches are Fossil (first watches I started getting into) Bulova, and Citizen. My dream watch is a Omega!!

[@FiremanFrach]

I own a Heimdallr Captain Willard homage. Very impressed at how it and other homages are so well put together at a fraction of the cost of a Seiko. I just contacted Heimdallr with concerns about water resistance. I was informed that they waterproof and pressure test their watches at the factory (their words). Believe it (or don't believe it) if you will.

[@jamair23]

Hi Dave! I have this watch but in blue. I guess I'm in the 67% bracket. My watch is perfect all around with a beautiful sunburst blue dial. The bracelet is awesome however I did change the clasp to a milled clasp. Great video man 👊🏽

[@workerdroid290]

I have a collection of vintage divers, mostly Seiko. I think you have missed the key point of the homage…it is compared to the original issue 6105-811x, not the Seiko re-issue. I own 4 vintage 6105-8xxx models,two of them very fine examples. But they are not suited for diving or daily wear. Parts are very hard to find, certainly NOS. Watertightness is not guaranteed. They lack refinements of hand winding, and screw down crown. Rarity and increasing dollar value make them unlikely to be worn. Having a Steeldive option to wear is a good thing. It is respectful to the original design, with improvements and refinements that add usability and value, and confidence. The price is very reasonable and it is truly a daily beater watch. Excellent choice. I think this watch has a place in any collectors world, as a beater.

[@extradimensional8818]

I've long ago purchased a San Martin water ghost V3 (Rolex Sub Homage) with the black dial sapphire glass 2.5 magnification date cyclops NH35a ceramic bezel automatic movement unbelievable lume and an outstanding build quality and on the wrist it looks very eye catching and so far it runs like a dream' I'm saving my pennies up for the watch you are showing but it is now available with the pt5000 movement and I also want to buy the San Martin grand Seko homage black ceramic bezel and blue dial with an SW200 movement..✌️🧐🇬🇧🇺🇦..I'm writing this in 2023

[@Базилио-х4б]

с механизмом pt5000 - я такие купил, жду

[@webherring]

I find it ironic that you're critical of the build quality/quality control when compared to Seiko. Are the chapter ring and bezel aligned? What kind of crystal are you getting? LOL

[@webherring]

I don't know what kind of bracelet comes with the real Captain Willard but Seiko is also notorious for their chintzy bracelets.

[@vivangreco1710]

This watch has become my absolute favorite daily wear! The spec is bloody amazing, and was so unbelievably affordable. I can't believe Seiko wants over a grand for this simple and rugged, but ultimately rather ordinary watch. If the Seiko was two or three hundred bucks, I would've bought one. This "homage" is simply a gorgeous and exceptionally well put together. I've had mine for six months without any issues. The fact that it has a genuine Seiko movement makes it less cheap feeling. Personally, I love the different lume colors, but that's entirely subjective.

[@CoreyBrass]

I think you're crazy! Everything you buy is balanced with what you payed for it...EVERYTHING! Now I think a solar square g-shock for $89 USD is a better "value" for what you pay compared to this Steeldive, but I can wear my SD watch in places were I need to look like an adult and not a soldier or a student. I honestly believe your snobbery is coming through on this. Yeah the lum is a mismatch and that's probably because it is off the shelf parts, but I dig that as do most of us. The bracelet does suck, but it is equally as nice as any Seiko bracelet I've bought on watches much more expensive. At the end of the day EVERYTHING is a trade between what I get compared to what I give for it. My Harley Davidson motorcycle is great...but for half the price I could have gotten a metric motorcycle that's just as good, if not better...again for half the price. Most people don't notice my Honda now when I'm riding but guess what... most people what notice someone's Rolex or Seiko either. I think you're being way to hard on this watch, in my opinion.

[@karlsenula9495]

I have this one and really love it .. I would add as an alternative for best under $100USD the Alba Titanium. I looked for it but with the shipping cost from Japan it got too expensive (well over $100USD) for what you get to my thinking - so I ended up getting the Lorus Lumibrite instead ... also a cracking watch.

[@markgrieves1307]

I love that watch, the Lorus Lumibrite. On sale here recently for 20GBP. Outstanding.

[@karlsenula9495]

@@markgrieves1307 ... definitely looking forward to getting mine 👍 ... next up with Xmas money will be an Orient Kamasu and Casioak with Gray dial.

[@3rdstone1]

I've been lusting for a Lorus field watch for a while. The Lumibrite is awesome, but they have a couple of others as well that's tempting for the price. Not sure how easily to get them to Scandinavia though.

[@karlsenula9495]

@@3rdstone1 ... well Lorus and Alba are both part of Seiko ... my understanding is that Alba is from Japan and easier to get in Asia whereas Lorus is European ... I got mine off of Amazon here in the U.S. ... but I also saw it listed (actually slightly cheaper) on ebay too.

[@JusttheWatch]

That Alba Titanium is great, definitely another watch in the running for best under $100!

[@manuelmaggioli9077]

I believe that Tandorio's Willard is also very well done .. Better the sterile version. Very faithful asymmetrical case.

[@Oldcarsandstuffsweden7645]

I have several steeldive and must say, no issues and I really like them, great lume and accuracy.

[@zitengwang136]

Price vs what I got. For less than $400, I got 5 watches all with nh35 movements and some other good specs. One has a slight alignment issue of date, one has a bad lume. I would not worry about any of those watches breaking down in the future. I have 5 watches to switch vs 1 and it is much less likely to be hit, scratched or damaged.