![]() You'll notice that there's no quick-access battery hatch here. ![]() As with the other Chinese brands in this article, whether this one has gone through the official testing to receive this designation is another question entirely. This makes it a true diver, instead of simply 'diver-inspired' like the Timex watches, meaning it can survive whatever aquatic challenges you decide to throw at it. In several ways, this is an improvement on the watches that inspired it, with a screw-down crown and screwed case rear that assist in providing an advertised 200m of water resistance. While the 'Batman' bezel has been carried across from the Timex, the Merkur's is fully ratcheted, with a 72-click action that's suitable for a sub-$150 watch. While not original, it does mean that the watch fits thin wrists very well, with no overhang despite the hooded lugs. The Seizenn Skin Diver from Chinese manufacturer Merkur is better specced than the Q and the larger M79 automatic, despite costing much less than either model.Īside from the direction of the brushing, it's clear that the steel case is a rip-off of the Q, with an identical shape and proportions. It's also a thick boy, at just shy of 14mm, but the Cuda doesn't feel all that imposing on the wrist and tapers off neatly despite the protruding central links. However, it takes a more angular and aggressive approach, incorporating a brushed finish. The case design draws a little inspiration from the Seiko SKX, with a shielded crown at 4 o'clock. They have all the specifications you'd expect from a decent micro-brand, including 316L steel construction, a Seiko NH35 movement, and 20bar water resistance. Outside of that, the watches are constructed to a good standard. Other variants include a fascinating heat-treated meteorite and a fully coated C3 super-luminescent option for the ultimate low-light experience. As a result, each timepiece is unique to the wearer, something you can't say about most watches on the market. To my surprise, the brand was willing to send me a couple of different versions of this watch, namely the 'Tigers Eye' and 'Opal Mosaic,' which offer two of the most extreme dial concepts in their collection.Īs the names suggest, these feature dials made from the naturally occurring Tiger's Eye and Opal stones. That being said, there are currently very few options below 40mm, so at the time of publishing, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time searching.įor around $350, the Cuda is the more affordable and can also be configured in a smaller case size, making it the better fit for this post. I've generally been impressed with the physical construction of the few I've covered, aside from some notable QC issues. Nevertheless, should your opinion differ, they could be worth considering, as many provide unparalleled specifications for low prices. I don't find such a connection with these imitative designs, as, without a unique twist, they feel soulless, like a shell of a watch with little substance. Part of the joy I find in watches comes from discovering fresh, original designs that offer a unique artistic flair and invoke particular emotions when on-wrist. You'll notice that most of their designs are shameless copy and paste jobs of existing luxury watches, with a different stamp on the dial. I'm not particularly into these pieces because, unlike the RLG, most aren't actually 'homages' in my opinion. This includes popular brands such as Pagani Design, San Martin, Steeldive, etc. This means it sits flush to the wrist without being as tiny as some ladies’ watches.īefore moving on to the next watch, it's worth highlighting some of the well-specced diver 'homages' from Chinese wholesale sites such as AliExpress. It's also amongst the slimmest on this list, with a mere 11.6mm thickness, including the domed crystal, partly down to the compact quartz movement within. The Navi Depth doesn't boast the spec sheet of some of its rivals but offers a quirky, charming design, including a raised, domed mineral crystal and a clickless, bidirectional bezel not too dissimilar from that on the Vostok. Despite that, it's still great for day-to-day usage double that on the Q-Timex, and unlike some of their low-cost brass offerings, this one is thankfully fully stainless-steel. You'll also notice the unusual inner Arabics, a throwback to the decompression stop system used before wrist-mounted diving computers became standard.ĭeep-sea diving won't be on the agenda here, as the 100m water resistance rating wouldn't quite cut the mustard. As the name suggests, this model certainly has a striking marine aesthetic, with a thick arrow hour hand, diver-style bezel, and high-contrast dial that provides clear legibility. ![]() This retro quartz watch is a bit of a Q-Timex killer, with a comparable case size, color scheme and theme.
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