Ultra Budget GADA Watch! Go Anywhere Do Anything for less then $70. WatchDives WD1960S-1 Review

[@RelativeTime]

WatchDives has put this one on Sale. So right now the price has dropped to a crazy $66. Plus you can get a free CTS strap with purchase. So if you're interested check it out. WD1960-S Prince Homage: watchdives.com/collections/watchdives/products/watchdives-36mm-vh31-men-watch?ref=inrhwadd CTS Strap: watchdives.com/collections/watch-straps/products/cut-to-size-fkm-rubber-watch-strap?ref=inrhwadd Glacier Willard: watchdives.com/collections/watchdives/products/watchdives-wd6105-fashion-captain-willard-6105-dive-watch?ref=inrhwadd Note: the above links are affiliate links and I would earn a small commission on purchases, but as you can see in the review, I don't let that affect my opinion.

[@richardb22]

Yes but it has silver indecise and hands against white dial not black hands and indecise against a white dial so not very legible. I would buy the one in your video . I will be sure to check this site every now and again to see if the watch comes back.

[@RelativeTime]

@@richardb22 that is the one in the video. When I do my macro shots a lot of times the hands if they're completely polished, appear black. Same with the indices. Because I shoot those shots in a darker room with studio lights at angles. So it's reflecting the black of the camera lens and maybe the dark room behind me. I also didn't think legibility was too bad with this one. Mostly because the dial was more of a flat white and the hands are more reflective. So there's still some contrast. Look for the shots on my wrist when I'm outdoors, that'll give you the best idea of legibility and if it's good enough for.

[@richardb22]

@@RelativeTime Thanks I get that now

[@LymanPhillips]

That 36mm looks great on your wrist. And the vh31 is a great movement for a grab and go / GADA. I like this move to smaller. More classically sized watches. And that's coming from someone with a 7.5+ sized wrist.

[@adk7962]

If you’re looking for the best bang for buck homage watch, Watchdives really can’t be beat. Thanks for the great review as always!

[@Anirossa]

There is also seestern

[@adk7962]

@@Anirossa Yup. I have two of their Homages. They’re fantastic.

[@gregtolley3455]

So batteries have come a long way recently so why can't someone do a 4 hz qtz? Whoever does it first gets rich.

[@Roland-ik5kz]

@@Anirossa these are probably the best watches on aliexpress right ther with San Martin or even better, way overlooked by most reviewers I don't know why

[@Avaddon911]

I’ve gotten 3 watches with glaringly bad QC issues. One of them the 6 clock indice was so crooked it was almost sideways. 2 others (rated 200m WR) took in water just rinsing sweat off them in the sink.

[@Unwoken_European]

36mm..... Im hooked from the first thumbnail. I love limited editions of San Martin and Watchdives collaborations.

[@casteltheghettomonk4392]

Most people say San Martin makes watchdives watches , like sister companies . Case finishing same and logo basically same , also they use same size cases

[@jackward-m2y]

One of the absolute best watch channels, never miss an episode, many thanks.

[@RelativeTime]

Thank you! Much appreciated! 👍

[@RicardoValdes-r6w]

Excellent well provided in depth presentation with Class A elegance and not biased like other channels filled with childish hype.. I am a watch collector with over 55 watches mostly San Martin and other brands including Orient and Phoibos and yes some Movado watches as well. This watch is true that it reflects an every day working watch at a very low price point however since I personally have a 7.5 to 7.7 wrist size of course depending on unavoidable climatic heat and humidity I adjust to drier or humid weather in subtropical Southwest Florida this Cuban born American citizen would much more preferred a 39 mm to a 40 mm dial size than a boy scout size wrist size at 36 mm watch dial, not a bad watch at all but smaller in size that isn’t suitable to my wrist as it can be more like a watch suitable in its design for a 12 years old wrist size that wants to tell time when in school and eager to go home after realizing that said kid can’t wait to get through his classes for the day to meet his friends to play some ballgame in his local sports park…!! Think you sir for your excellent stylishly well present channel with clarity and knowledge that only few can provide in knowledge and practical wisdom towards choice.. Sincerely, Rick in Southwest Florida. Banana republic in the southern states..

[@CoolWatchesOnly]

Awesome review, it gives me some Nomos club sport vibes too

[@turnbasedtoddy7664]

I absolutely love the sweeping quarts movements. I hope more places start to use them. I’m a little confused on why this watch is so thick though. With a quartz movement and only 100m of water resistance you would think it would be a little slimmer. Looks really nice though.

[@RelativeTime]

I'll have to go back and look at how thick the other watches with the VH31 movement is. It might be because of that, because it will be a little more power hungry.

[@ccooper8785]

Yes and the case would be improved by being a bit more rounded off like the old OPs. It is not an out and out diver after all. None of this has stopped me from buying the 3,6,9 version to keep my WD BB54 company.

[@Peter-z5f]

Mineral crystal is kind of a bummer, but there are some much more expensive watches that also suffer from that affliction, like the Seiko Pressage, so it is at least in good company.

[@shinkim414]

My opinion for best bang for buck GADA is the Pagani Designs Milgauss. I have it on a green CTS rubber strap and it’s become my go to option. I bought it recently for $65.

[@jockost.maritz1096]

I'm a huge fan of the Vh31 movement. As a watch collector, You can't beat the accuracy coupled with the quasi sweep second hand. I like to switch up on watches often enough, where a quartz is the best grab and go you can have. 99% of people you'll encounter would have no idea, and wouldn't care regardless. If you happen to bump into a watch snob, they may breathe a sigh of relief that its not a NH movement, but still, me the need to compulsorily explain that I have nice watches with sellita, ETA and a couple of Miyota 9000 movements lol. At the end of the day, my Casio Oceanus, seiko perpetual day and date, and my G shock GBX and my Vaer are my go too. For the Summer, the white Dan Henry and yellow Phibos traveler.

[@Tom_Kowalczuk]

Shrinking tube on spring bar on clasp should stabilize it a bit.

[@williamcoolidge9884]

I love this design and size. So clean and legible.

[@jackMcRyder]

it's good to hear the transparency, b/c indeed, I did not see "the promotional tag". 👍

[@Alrekr666]

I quite like it and I don't mind the mineral crystal and the quartz movement. The branding on the other hand is a deal breaker unfortunately.

[@donaldmckenzie9439]

I saw in the Reddit forum that watchdives would change the logo for the new watches to be launched in the future. The new logo looks very good.

[@larrydalton2205]

I've bought several watches from Watchdives but all were San Martin and none yet from their house brand. There shipping on the watches I bought was excellent using FedEx Express international shipping, which was snot 3-4 days. How was their shipping on these low cost watches?

[@mtmatt8958]

I just received the shark master 300, V2. Amazing piece for under 200. Oyster bracelet with on fly micro adjust. Great lume, 39mm. NH35 workhorse Inside. I like it because it's not an exact copy/homage

[@goofygoober3407]

I already have 2 quartz watches from Watchdives. This one looks good as well. Good review thanks

[@stevejamieson1613]

I have a Watch Dives Black Bay homage. Nice watch though I have it on a regimental NATO as I find the bracelet impossible to wear. No half links, so even with the micro adjustments in the clasp it’s either a little too tight or a little too loose. The Watch Dives insignia on the clasp needed a brush with a Brillo pad to remove micro particles of sharp metal. The milled clasp was not buffed it’s entire length, leaving dull, rough surfacing that would attract bacteria over time and create all sorts of skin problems (I live in the tropics) so all in all, a great watch on a crappy bracelet.

[@ricardochaveste7367]

Not bad for the price, 36mm my couple tea, definitely a great everyday grab and go....I have several San Martin's great budgets homages... It looks good on you my friend...

[@anthonydevono8833]

Both the watches are very good it’s amazing the value that is available at the moment 👍

[@dunderhay9169]

A good fair review, with excellent photography as always 👍

[@LymanPhillips]

Are those indices applied, or are they pressed out from the back? Great choice of leather strap at 10:45 - what is it? I think this is a pretty nice watch for the money, and I think it's probably a bit of a strap monster. 20mm lugs? Or 18mm lugs?

[@RelativeTime]

Hard to say without taking the watch apart. It is a nice leather strap, random brand off Etsy. I was looking for a good Shell Cordovan strap for another watch, but I thought it would look good on this one too. It's a 19mm (no idea why they went with that) www.etsy.com/listing/1544936561/shinki-hikaku-shell-cordovan-watch-strap?ref=yr_purchases

[@ducktapebmxman]

Had this watch and returned. The downsides mentioned in the video I didn't feel were as off putting as it being damn near unreadable at a glance in most lighting conditions. Not enough contrast between shiny indices and white dial. On paper this was everything thing I was looking for in my next value oriented watch. The legibility in person is what ultimately got me to return.

[@RelativeTime]

I think they're two versions with two different handsets. Did you have the one with this handset or the one with the other? Just curious, I didn't think the readability was too bad with this one. At least not for a white dial.

[@eliakuiper4266]

Top tier review as usual. Nice watch too

[@stephenmorrissey1254]

A friend of mine bought an Addiesdive diver watch with sapphire crystal for $60. When the crystal scratched he realized it wasn't worth fixing as the polishing kit for sapphire was closing in on the price of the watch. With mineral crystal you can affordably polish the scratches out which is why I don't see this being a negative for this watch. No excuse about the clasp though as it sounds like junk.

[@RelativeTime]

Well the idea is that sapphire should normally help you avoid scratches all together. But yeah, once it happens it's a lot harder to fix. At that point better to buy a new crystal.

[@ccooper8785]

Maybe it is just me but why would anyone want a 2,4,6,8,10,12 dial when you could have a 3,6,9 dial ? On the bright side it does have the excellent VH31 movement and a sensible 36mm case which is all for the good. The makers name and logo is much more palatable than that of Addiesdive and Escapement time which is a distinct positive. As you might have guessed I am awaiting the Watch Dives Black 3,6,9 to arrive and I am absolutely certain it will be every bit as good as the BB54 I bought from them last month. If watch dives continues to make good watches then I will be very happy to continue to buy them.

[@RelativeTime]

For Variety. A 3,6,9 dial looks cleaner, but I like this one as well.

[@slyfondle1885]

The '10' and '12' indices look a bit off. The '1' appears to be taller than the '0' and '2', especially on the '12'.

[@joostkiefte7683]

I thought I spotted that too.....

[@seanpie5481]

Impressive watch for the price. 36-38mm is my go to size. And I find myself searching watches with the VH31 too. The deal breaker for me is the mineral crystal though. I do like that last strap, the one with the diagonal stitching. Can you share the link to that? Cheers.

[@RelativeTime]

The red one? I got it off Etsy. It's nice, but costs about as much as the watch. www.etsy.com/listing/1544936561/shinki-hikaku-shell-cordovan-watch-strap?ref=yr_purchases I actually bought it for my Grand Seiko, but thought it would look good on this one too.

[@kennkingg]

The Explorer homage and the Ranger Homage have way better loom, I have several different models but not that one. It’s on the list

[@morgan.enfield]

I prefer my Addiesdive AD2023-1, explorer 1016 homage (same VH31 sweeping quartz), BGW9 lume, saphire crystal, better legibility, 100 m water resistance, 12mm thick, 36mm diameter, 19mm lug width but flawless bracelet. The only flaw is the logo and silly branding on the dial.

[@Paul-yu4yo]

the qc is relative, most watches have some, even way more expensive ones, but they should've used Sapphire, even if they needed to increase the price

[@Rch_P]

I can’t speak on their watches (yet) but I bought some WatchDives nato straps off Amazon & they are some of the best affordable nylons straps I own.

[@ak983625]

I’ve both a half dozen quartz and automatics in my collection, love them both for their own attributes. But one thing that really galls me is quartz movements that tick more than once a second. What, drain the battery quicker for a stupid, useless look in hand movement most owners could not care less about ?

[@RelativeTime]

Completely agree with you that it's kind of a gimmick. But I disagree that most don't care about it. Because the two biggest reasons people say they don't like quartz is the jarring tick, and that the hand doesn't line up perfectly. A movement like this eliminates both of those. Now ideally I'd love to see someone combine something like this or the precisionists with a solar movement. Bypassing the more frequent battery changes.

[@ak983625]

@@RelativeTimeUnderstand that. 7 of the12 watch in my rotation are quartz. My Protek and marathon hit the second marks dead on, the others miss by a bit, but I don’t obsess this, small oversight in build. I love the way that my mechanicals tick, thats how they naturally run with balance wheel. But the natural for quartz is step motor.

[@richardb22]

Thanks for the heads up. Two points . I am less worried by the crystal than some . Polywatch! I recently brought a Lorrier Neptune and its domed hesalite crystal is its DNA. Second I dont normally believe in "beater " watches. If you have some nice watches wear them. That said tomorrow I will be trying to fix a thing in my car engine . I wont be wearing any of my nice watches. I wont be wearing a watch period. Though I dont believe in beater watches at these prices I could get a three watch WatchDives collection to take on Holiday just for the fun . It is a pitty they no longer do the black indices version you show in the Video.

[@michaelhorn8962]

Polywatch won't help much on this watch's mineral crystal.

[@jameshaury2716]

This watch is SO RELAXED.

[@RelativeTime]

In a good way or bad?

[@salam-s9y]

Shane, what's the best black dress watch in the affordable space, in your opinion? I wish there were more competitors to the Bambino with the minimalist style

[@myownbiggestfan]

The prices on that site are as shady as aliexpress. They show the low prices of some variant that they might have had one of (if they had it at all), while the rest of the variants are at least 50% more than the sold out watch. Not to mention how much their automatic currency calculator causes the wrong price to display half the time. Shady shady shady.

[@manuzach]

Watchdives is solid …

[@eliakuiper4266]

When I write my novel I'm getting you to narrate my audiobook. And when I win the lottery I'm getting you to re-record all my favourite audiobooks.

[@ccooper8785]

I wonder if he would narate my shopping list as well...

[@sharpe8888]

​@@ccooper8785 "Tomatoes..? Well.. not so fast.. You see the issue with these tomatoes is that they're simply not organic.. And for some of you..."

[@samwang5831]

Everyone should have a default GADA watch, a watch you leave it by the door so you can just pick it up and go. I think quartz works best but what if the battery runs out? So at least 2 GADA watches are necessary. Just looking for excuses to buy another watch...😀

[@RelativeTime]

solar GADA

[@jaysterling26]

Im waiting for another GADA ( solar) , that has few reviews- CITIZEN COLLECTION BM8180-62E Eco-Drive Solar Analog Watch Black Dial 36.5mm​

[@TheJoel1892]

Why 19mm lug width though? I have one 19mm strap in my collection.... For an old Seiko 5, i have tonnes of 20mm straps and a fair few 22mm straps too

[@RelativeTime]

I'm guessing the original prince was 19, but if you're making an homage no reason to follow if something's inconvenient.

[@PINKFL0YD-s2h]

Watchdives are reliable and can be trusted.. But as you said they are made to a price and I always end up wishing I'd spent a bit more..

[@hrs.ai2018]

It does looks like seiko mini-alpinist

[@cfrankb]

At the 12, is 2 lower than 1?

[@RelativeTime]

It looks even to me. One thing to remember with these macro shots is that it's really hard to get it perfectly centered, and sometimes perfectly leveled. The holder I use has a slight slant to it. I try to correct for that, but I don't always get it 100%. Plus there is also always a bit of distortion with the domed crystal.

[@thebricktop429]

this entire quartz line from WD is killed by the 19mm lug width

[@adamw7411]

I love 36mm watches

[@edloki3057]

The hands are my only complaint. Hard to easily tell difference between hour and minute hands.

[@RelativeTime]

There is a different handsets available as well, but it might be worse for that.

[@sulmanshah]

Also you don't have to pay taxes if you're buying from the USA

[@NotoriousK_I_T]

5:30 for the deal breaker 😫

[@wtp5]

Looks like a check out aisle watch.

[@edwards4409]

So disappointed it wasn't a full lume dial

[@AWATCH-4U]

TRUE GADA !!!! Great review.....

[@bestboy897]

dont like the hands but the finishing and numbers look amazing

[@Jack-r6c]

Yes, I love that face, reminds me to german watches

[@dparis2172]

Dang. Non-solar quartz is a non-starter. 😕

[@victorutomo7244]

19mm lug width is a dealbreaker for me. Appreciate the video.

[@96kyh]

Watchdives listen to their consumers... generally good value for money, and they try to come out with homages with tweaks as per most popular requests.

[@rayseaman6204]

O.K., I'm a non believer when it comes to 36 mm watches. Especially if they are over 10 mm thick. It is a nice looking watch. But a GADA watch ? THAT, even a Great White Shark would have trouble swallowing !

[@RelativeTime]

Well, the point of a GADA watch is one that can be used in almost any situation. Which to me means sufficiently tough specs mixed with a sharp natural design. One that isn't too flashy or too boring.

[@rayseaman6204]

@@RelativeTime Like a Military Watch ? I have quite a few of those. A Citizen Garrison ?

[@RelativeTime]

@@rayseaman6204 could be. I think an alpinist is a gada watch and it's technically a field.

[@KameronMurphy]

I just can't get into these homages

[@SmurfPerfect]

Logo change please

[@RelativeTime]

Looks too corny?

[@baandoptager]

1: Plz people stop saying GADA! 2: A Go Anywhere Do Anything watch is never white or 36mm, unless your a prep-kid. Seriously!

[@RelativeTime]

Prep-kid? Do you mean a preppy? Or like someone who goes to prep school? (Granted they both dress the same...) As for the white dial, I disagree. The beauty of a white dial is that it can go with everything. Just like a black dial. Like the SARB035 wasn't as popular as the 033, but still an incredibly versatile watch.

[@MADHIKER777]

No excuse for the Prince to be 12.5mm thick with that movement. Plus the case is boring anyway and 19mm straps, why? Pass.

[@RelativeTime]

I know the movement is a little thicker than normal. But I'm betting they made the case to fit both a quartz and auto.

[@jontpt]

Really?? 😂😂

[@RelativeTime]

I said it was an ultra budget watch.

[@jontpt]

@@RelativeTime yeah, but the question is, why are you reviewing it? 🤔😁

[@RelativeTime]

@@jontpt They asked, I was curious, and evidently, there is interest. I mean heck... the Casio A1100 video I put out last week got a disappointing 1,800 views in the first 24hours... while this got over 8000. And I mean disappointing. Casio videos generally do really well on other channels, but for some reason my viewers don't seem to care. Or maybe I'm just late to the party with the specific watch. Besides as a reviewer, I think it's important to look at as many types of watches as you can. Just so you have a good idea of what is out there and can make better judgments and recommendations as a whole.

[@jontpt]

@@RelativeTime okay, that's fair enough. I'm just getting a bit jaded with all these Chinese knockoffs, especially the really cheap ones. They were kind of fun during the pandemic, but at this point they've really lost their appeal... But I understand that you need content, and if you get a lot of views with knockoffs like this, more power to you!

[@mariusmarius4832]

Bad face,bad strap,that pretty much two thirds of the watch no good.

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

Junk

[@z.olderautist2209]

Such a waste that they put such stupid branding on these watches. I won't buy one.

[@barclt01]

I had the WD196OS and it was typical cheap Chinese garbage. There was dust under the crystal around the bezel, and the movement was losing about a minute a day. The bracelet was total crap, and the lume was unevenly distributed across the dial. Save your money and buy a Timex MK1 chronograph!

[@RelativeTime]

I'm guessing your talking about the Ranger version. Did it have the same movement? The Seiko VH31?

[@barclt01]

Yes that’s the one, and it had the Seiko movement. Their QC is garbage.