Islander ISL-177 Port Jefferson. Is This Skin Diver Their Best Watch Yet?

Long Island Watch are a young brand with lots of good history.
Their owner Marc is one of the most respected people in the watch industry.
Since Seiko backed out of the budget watch market, wrenching the beloved Seiko SKX series from our clutches, Marc was the man who kinda gave us it back...with bells on and a new logo.
While that was good for a while it seems that Marc was on a mission and over the last three years in particular, more and more bespoke Islander watches have become available, opening up the market for them somewhat.
This Islander Port Jefferson (ISL-177) is testament to Marc's determination to break out and offer bolder an better designs.
With this Port Jefferson Skin Diver I think he has just done that.
It is a skin diver but the sizing is modern and the inclusion of 4Hz Miyota movement shows it means business.
The ISL-177 has one of the most beautifully put-together dials I have seen at this price point.
Let me know what you think of the Islander Port Jefferson ISL-177
You can buy one from the non affiliated link below.
longislandwatc...
The review piece was provided on loan for review and Long Island Watch had no creative input into the content nor did they attempt to influence it in any way.

[@sivanstar]

Great watch, the design and the quality, above all Marc seems like a great person and thats why i love this brand even more..

[@johnswatchjoint]

Couldn't agree more!

[@danspanos]

I'm a big fan of Islander watches (I've purchased 4 from him. My favorite being the swimming pool dial in the 63mas style case), but I'm a bigger fan of Marc! Really great person, and the level of customer service he provides is unmatched! I bet a future UK distribution network isn't out of the question, but relatively speaking, the Islander brand is still somewhat new. I definitely wouldn't put it past him though!

[@johnswatchjoint]

Hi Dan. It's such a shame people are put off on price when they are very reasonable in the States. Like you I believe in great customer service and it is always a given with them. We'll see what happens in the future :)

[@EricsEverydayWatches]

Fun to see you, myself and Harvind at Wrist Watching all reviewed the same watch recently. Your videos are definitely taking on a different style and it shows the work you’ve been putting in. Great job John. 👍👍

[@johnswatchjoint]

Hi Eric thanks. This is a complete departure for me with a script but it is more informative if not so spontaneous. A mix is required I think but my audio is way better. Try Adobe Podcast. It's an AI audio enhancer. I bought a Sennheiser Profile mic which is rich and now mix into Audacity before using Adobe Podcast free and the sound compared to what I used to produce even 4 weeks ago is just night and day! Good to hear from you :)

[@MirrlyonTime]

Islander watches are fantastic! That green dial really pops and that orange accent is bloody fantastic. Marc and Ryan and team are hitting it out of the park and you can’t deal with a better company re customer service, and if you aren’t into micros they have plenty of name brands as well. I have bought a half dozen plus watches from them, and will buy more. Fantastic review as always John

[@WATCHingJames]

They have some great watches and so many options now

[@johnswatchjoint]

Yep. The confidence is coming through now and it's good to see. Just wish we could get them easily in the UK! ;)

[@adk7962]

Thanks for the great review. Marc not only makes great watches, but he seems like a stand up guy. Yeah, you poor chaps (and gals) in the UK seem to get hammered by that VAT. Thanks again! Oh and the Port Jefferson in white (currently sold out) is probably my favorite Islander.

[@thomasstanley6101]

Wow, what a magnificent dial. Just a slam dunk in style!

[@johnswatchjoint]

It's a beauty .

[@robh.2400]

Nice review! It’s good to see another Islander on your channel. I’m a pretty big fan of the brand and Marc really is one of the nicest guys in the business.

[@johnswatchjoint]

Hi Rob. I like to mix the content even though it does result in lower views but I am not just an AliExpress reviewer haha. What do you think of the style of this video. Recorded in a completely different way where the film and the audio were done separately and with a script...not my usual style but playing around with new ideas and techniques?

[@robh.2400]

I like this video style. It had a nice flow to it, good info and clear video.

[@johnswatchjoint]

Thanks for that Rob. Duly noted ;)

[@dazzlerjohnwatchman8215]

Hey John. You have to love Marc's new work. He really has picked up the colour pallet and runs with it. This combination on the dial is stunning. I do love the crown size a big improvement over his earlier finicky ones. Try to do an interview with home sometime John he really loves talking about his design innovations. As always great footage and commentary.

[@johnswatchjoint]

Thank you. Glad you liked my experimental video. Scripted instead of live and all the footage was taken first. Weird but fun. Will end up doing a mix of my usual off the cuff stuff and scripted to get important info down...as I get carried away and forget sometimes haha 😆

[@952651869]

Great Review John! Your posts are interesting to the point and are above the rest that are out there. This watch is not for me but it looks well built with quality except for the clasp

[@johnswatchjoint]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@XjohnjohnX88]

They did a great watch with this one. It's a very good looking watch and it's very well made. Glad to know they have improved. Great choice for the movement too. And all this for a very good price.... in USA. That's the reason why I still don't have one of their watches, the price in Europe. As usual, it's a great review! Thanks, John.

[@johnswatchjoint]

Yeah we need a distribution network here :/ Thanks for looking in :)

[@XjohnjohnX88]

@@johnswatchjoint it would be great!

[@BAF605]

I've got big respect for Marc and LIW but living in UK I find importing from US a bit prohibitive with import taxes and often an admin fee to pay. There are plenty of good microbrands in UK nowadays as well as very good discounts on mainstream brands (just got a 35% deal on a GS). I'm sure I'd buy from him if I lived in US but I bet many of his US customers would say the same about buying from UK or Europe. I like the watch well enough

[@MrBacchus18]

Yeah same reason I have to think twice before buying a Christopher Ward you get hit with import fees on watches over $800. Still bought one though 😊

[@GalorOffroad]

Very nice colors, vintage style. I love it !

[@johnswatchjoint]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@felo6035]

Great review John. Islander is absolutely smashing it out of the park. Beautiful designs great specifications, excellent quality great value, and some of the best customer service in the industry. This skin diver is just lovely, and a good example of what Islander is producing. Well done Marc at Islander 👏👏👏

[@johnswatchjoint]

Thanks Felo.

[@justinebodlak1373]

Definitely agree with you about the import duty/tax and shipping costs etc...which do push the Islander watches into a less economical sphere. This colour is indeed stunning and I would have welcomed a yet shorter lug to lug like Seiko are able to do (44mm, 46mm). There are some smaller Islander watches but they are dressier. I recently bought a Citizen (Promaster) 37mm dial and it's very nice and works very well on smaller wrists without compromising the specs. I also wanted a 'tooly' diver (style) watch and ended buying a Seiko SRPD, which I have some strong reservations about (due to inferior specs as we know) but just wanted something with a short lug to lug distance and with a Pepsi bezel. I realise 48mm is not huge for this beautiful green ISL but it does make a difference on a day to day basis on my 6.5inch wrist. Great review John, you're really making an impact. Where is your fluffy cat? 😊😉

[@johnswatchjoint]

Thanks for popping by and for leaving your comments. It is interesting how people complain about Islanders but will happily stump up extra readies for inferior specs on a Seiko. Molly is always around and pops up regularly in my vids :)

[@justinebodlak1373]

@@johnswatchjoint well true, but it's not as simple as that. Yes, specs are very important but so is wearability (for me at least). I have returned several beautiful watches that were really well made and great quality simply because I did not find them comfortable. Even the humble bracelet can feel better with hollow links vs solid ones. So the head says one thing and the body and heart another. Also, to be fair, the Seiko I bought is half the price of the Islander watch, which also matters. I would not buy a more expensive watch without thinking that, at least on paper, it would fit me well. I imagine sending it back to the US would also be a bit of a pain. Shame though because I REALLY love the green dial, so unique. I also love the Oris Big Crown Pointer green...still searching for that grail watch! :)

[@johnswatchjoint]

Aren't we all haha. ;)

[@timeandnourishment1961]

A wonderfui review, John! Would love to see this with an orange dial. Living in Russia, I'm sadly on the wrong side of the Plastic Curtain, so I can't buy one of these (can't purchase more space for my One Drive either, but Microsoft gives me a free video editor, the bloody sadists). Back on topic, I am a big fan of Miyota movements, both mechanical and quartz - even the bonkers 8217 on my Mysterious Code! Your reviews are getting better and better. Hope Molly is well. Good night and cheers 🍻!

[@johnswatchjoint]

Hiya buddy. Thank you so much for watching...and for taking the time to comment. Always love to hear what you think. Molly is fine and just as much of a little terror as ever...see the scratches on my left wrist lol 😆

[@davidcooper8621]

I agree an absolutely stunning watch John - excellent review

[@johnswatchjoint]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@daveindevon5240]

I really like the video style John. It flows well and the information is clear and we'll presented. I also like what Marc is doing over at Islander Watches. But his prices have risen and, when VAT is added, they have a lot of competition. Marc did explain in a video a while back why he would not be opening a distribution service in the UK or Europe but, if demand increases, maybe he will reconsider.

[@johnswatchjoint]

Thanks for that. I had not heard he had addressed that.

[@hernantesler-mabe2400]

Excellent review as always John. In agreement with all points -- I too find that clasp disappointing and I can't imagine Marc won't be updating that sooner rather than later. But why are you keeping those subpar watches off the channel?! I think sharing that content would do us all a service...and be entertaining as hell too!

[@johnswatchjoint]

What sub par watches ? Do you mean the ones that are so bad they get returned? Those would not be worthy of review. I buy pretty much all of my watches and then sell them for a loss. If I were to review broken watches rather than return them I just wouldn't be able to run the channel. I have reviewed some terrible watches...Pagani Design come to mind. I really can't recommend them.

[@hernantesler-mabe2400]

Thanks for the clarification John. And let us know how us punters can buy the watches you choose to move on!

[@johnswatchjoint]

I move them on via eBay but some of my subs didn't like me advertising my watches for sale and it lost me subs, so I don't do it at present....yes people ARE that fickle! In the next few months I am hoping to add to my online presence with a dedicated website for other content and possibly link it to my eBay account. The channel is growing so fast I am now having to treat it as a business so I am learning as I go...this was supposed to be just a hobby haha 😂

[@davec5237]

Nice review. Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@johnswatchjoint]

Thanks for watching!

[@kamran102]

Just got one of these as they are on sale!

[@johnswatchjoint]

Good man 👍

[@barfbeard7777]

Great review.. wasn't a fan of islander watches but I do like this one.. vibrant colours I like the Lume just stands out very nice 👍

[@johnswatchjoint]

Thanks for watching!

[@TomasPerez-en6bp]

This is still my favorite of all the Islander watches I already gushed about it in Harvind's comments a while ago you even got the other color I was considering but I agree they are absolutely beautiful watches the only real issue I could have is the clasp and even that's a stretch (For me). The only real issue I have with even ordering one of these and why I'll always consider aliexpress watches is shipping and VAT fees. Living in Africa is not exactly fun when it comes to importation fees.

[@johnswatchjoint]

Ouch. Never easy buying shiny things :/

[@TomasPerez-en6bp]

@@johnswatchjoint but we love our shiny things dont we

[@johnswatchjoint]

You got it 🙂

[@brianbuchert1521]

I ordered mine yesterday! Was wondering if anyone knew about any orange rubber straps that would look good on this ?

[@dunderhay9169]

Good review and great photography capturing the dial colour 👍 . There is something a bit slab sided and dumpy about the case design. I like the dial colour and texture, but I feel the hands are a bit chubby and the indices heavy looking, San Martin have similar watches out now with more elegant hands/indices, still with colourful dials and colour matched date windows, but also a slimmer case with drilled lugs and on the fly clasp. The Islander does have a high beat movement and maybe less QC issues too. Isn't it great to have all this choice available?

[@johnswatchjoint]

Absolutely ;)

[@AlexanderB.]

I really do like Marc and his watchband. To my experience the absence of QC issues is remarkable. But this particular watch model does nothing for me. I don't like any of the colour combinations offered.

[@johnswatchjoint]

Ah well..... ;/

[@killpop8255]

Does Marc like Liquorice Allsorts? 😉

[@johnswatchjoint]

Oh dear...

[@killpop8255]

@@johnswatchjoint LOL when I saw the dial I was thinking it reminds me of something. The the penny dropped.

[@marlowkaplan3584]

Looks like the new san martins down to the bracelet. But with a trash clasp

[@johnswatchjoint]

...except that this came before the new San Martins.....

[@K_j_M]

I like it because I like skin divers but... It really is just another BB** homage. I have it screen by side with my Sugess BB Pro and not sure I'd want to spend an extra 144 quid just to have the Miyota

[@killpop8255]

I just don't like it. You didn't say what a skin diver is.

[@johnswatchjoint]

I can't cater for everyone's taste as for what skin-diver is...just Google it. I have talked about this style many times before and it gets boring repeating the history in every video :)