As far as dive watches go, there are dive watches and then there are dive watches! The latter being robust timepieces that will handle chasing Sea Monsters almost to the bottom of Loch Ness. Most watch manufacturers usually have one beast of a watch within their catalog, and today, I am talking about a deep diver from Orient Watches.
It’s always refreshing, and a little exciting, to see a watch that’s original, and I was extremely pleased with the originality of the Tidewater. It’s not just another micro-brand diver with Seiko guts (the Tidewater has a Sellita SW200 inside, more on that later), it’s actually a watch with an original look and a timepiece that seems to have been thought out ahead of production.
On deck today for review is the Spinnaker Cahill Mid-Size Diver. I’ve had this watch for several weeks now and I’ve had a chance to put it through its paces and get to know it well. It’s easy to see that Spinnaker has another winner on their hands.
If you’re reading this, then most likely you’re on the hunt for a durable watch and, more specifically, the most durable and reliable Timex watches on the market. I’ve been an avid fan of Timex for a number of years and have owned at least 50 different models, so I am greatly experienced with the brand.
Sometimes you just stumble across a watch and realize you just have to have it! You could be scrolling through Instagram, on one of the message boards or even on Pinterest, then, wham, you’re in love with another watch! That was the case for me with the Steinhart Ocean Vintage GMT. It’s a watch I had seen around but it never really caught my attention, until recently.
When it comes to watches, nothing is more synonymous with adventure and the outdoors than a good field watch. It’s the one watch that should be in everyone’s collection and is probably one of the most useful of all the watches you will own. The traditional field watch exudes stability and ruggedness and is always up for a challenge.
The resurgence of field watches recently is proof that people still want a good looking and rugged watch. To me, that right there, is the definition of what a field watch is: something that can handle some adventure, looks great but isn’t flashy, and is made from quality materials.
If you’re reading this, you may be seriously considering picking up an Ocean Rover. My advice, buy the watch! What you really are strapping to your wrist is a watch that is arguably an equal in quality and craftsmanship to an actual Submariner.
Spinnaker’s latest release, the Amalfi Diver, looks to be another solid offering from the brand.
When it comes to the Sea Star, the list of bad things is pretty much non-existent. As long as you’re in the market for a bronze diver, you really can’t go wrong.
If you haven’t heard about Szanto Timepieces, you’ve really missed out! They certainly have some watch industry chops behind them. Time Concepts, the parent company of Szanto, was started by Barry Cohen who was one of the original founders of Luminox Watches.
The Phoibos Great Wall is definitely an original diver that comes in at a very competitive price. With a great list of specs, looks to match, and solid price point, this is a watch that will not be a disappointment in your collection.
When it comes to the world of microbrand watches, to say that the field is crowded is an understatement. It’s tough to wade through all the offerings and find the really good ones, to get through the hype and the finely crafted marketing. Really, you just want to come across a great watch! In the end, isn’t that what we all want? We want a solid,interesting watch with a backbone of specs to be proud of. Well, I think that’s exactly what we have here in the SWC Diver.
Orient consistently puts out solid watches at more-than-fair prices. That right there is a huge, driving factor in what I think of watches and how I rate them: bang for the buck.
The Croft is no exception, named for Robert Croft, a US Navy Diving Instructor who became the first person to free-dive to depth of 200 ft. So, if you’re into diving, or things with a purpose, then you should at least like the history behind the watch.
