9 Weeks on... Still Impressive? - Steeldive SD 1970 follow up review 

This is definitely a Seiko killer!

$95 in the mid-1970s was a hell of a lot of money. It just demonstrates how much value you're getting with the Steeldive and it's a huge improvement on the original Captain Willard watch. For starters, Captain Willard Seiko 6105 had an inferior less accurate Seiko Movement. It was 150m waterproof. It had cheap glass and bezel which was made of aluminium and they were both heavily prone to scratches. The Steeldive uses the more modern Seiko NH35 movement which is more accurate. It is 200m waterproof, has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel and in spite of these improvements, it looks almost identical to the original Seiko 6105 Captain Willard original.

When I was in US Army Special Forces in the 1980s many of my peers wore Seiko dive watches, those that not own Swiss. I wore a 1969 Omega Seamaster. We weren't allowed to wear quartz watches because we handled demolitions.

I'VE HAD IT 5 MONTHS NOW.. SOLID ROBUST RELIABLE AND PREMIUM BUILT AT A GREAT PRICE! .. WELL DONE STEELDIVE

I reviewed this last week and loved it! For the price it's such a solid offering from Steeldive! One of the best options in the budget line.

Worth noting that Steeldive have now released a new version, the SD1970W, which includes a 'day' complication and comes which the bracelet AND rubber straps as standard. Phenomenal, and every bit as good as my Seiko turtles.

I’ve been wearing mine for a week. Love it !

Got one......Regulated the Movement to - 1 Second per day.....The best 6105 Homage available in my opinion.....And yes, the Lume is superb.

It's great to see long-term reviews like this. I like the fact you've put the watch through the paces. I've had the SD1970 in my wishlist for months but never pulled the trigger, always thought it would be redundant alongside my SKX. This video just sold me on it, thanks for the review!

This one goes on the wishlist. It has all i wantfrom a diver,thanx for a lovely simple review.

Mine has no back-play, has a signed clasp, run’s at +6 s/d, the lume was still very bright at 7:00 in the morning, amazing ! I payed mine on special 95$ Canadian from Aliexpress. I love Seiko, but I think they can learn a few things from Steeldive especially when it comes to cost/quality. Great video…Thank You

Thank you for this. I love mine. I cannot for the life of me explain how watches are valued, but I like mine a lot.

I bought on & it’s absolutely savage, put it on a silicone woful strap it’s savage! You really can’t beat this watch , price is unbeatable! Better than my pro master witch I love but loom is outstanding, even shines throw my long sleeved T-shirt.... it’s perfect 👌

Love my sd1970 the only thing I did was change the clasp for a machined one. Great follow up review👍🏻

I picked the watch up and received a couple of weeks ago. Very nice!!! Love the vintage look. Keeping great time too . Also like the fact that it’s viable dive watch and expecting it will hold up for many years to come.

Wow, this watch looks great! Definitely going to buy one myself very soon.

The Blue "AddiesDive" version is SPECTACUAR - the radiant blue dial is among the nicest that I have seen. Fit and finish are amazing and +8 sec out of the box - its a keeper!

I got two of them, they sit on my wrist so perfect. The updated one has a scissor clasp.

I've seen the growing trend of Seiko's rising cost, and poor quality workmanship. No, Seiko will not get my money until QA improves.

I have a bronze and stainless steel version and love them, perfect beaters, respects from South Africa

Stock bracelet has nothing wrong with it and it looks much better than that cheap black strap. Good review!

Hello I am new to your channel. Excellent review. I bought this model in the blue and I absolutely love it. In my opinion for the money nothing comes close. Well worth the money. The accuracy is surprisingly very good and everything lines up beautifully and my one with the blue sunburst dial is outstanding.

This is a nice watch. I almost bought it . I went with the Addies Tuna homage instead.

Enhorabuena, amigo! Magnífica revisión. Me encanta tu canal!

Beautiful watch !! 👍👍👍

The watch is stunning!!!, I bought the green one with the green rubber strap. I couldn’t find the perfect fit with this strap and I changed it with the black waffle strap you proposed on this video. Bang!!! I found the perfect and comfortable fit!!!!! Thanks for the suggestion!!!!

Good Review, the stats and the impressions as they should all be done.

You were spot on about that soft rubber waffle strap. I got mine yesterday and it is perfect. Thanks for the recommend!

I have one for two months now,still impressed by it.

Update on the first month with the Captain Willard. Wonderful experience. It took the #1 slot in my extensive collection and has had almost 100% wear time in the past month. Comfy, robust, extremely good lume. The dimensions of the Willard case are just right for me. My only wish is that the minute track should be moved to the rehaut - just like Addiesdive's "Frozen Willard", would make the dial bigger and better. Other than that minor gripe, this is the best GADA watch I have seen in a long time.

I just bought the blue Willard homage and I’m actually very impressed with it. I’m a big Seiko fan and I have a few of them, it would really take a very keen eye to notice any differences in build quality. It also wears very comfortably on the wrist and can we talk about the lume? Wow! Once charged it lasts longer than most Seiko I own 🤷‍♂️

Mine arrived a few days ago and I also swapped the stainless steel bracelet for a waffle strap. Being used to Pagani Lume, this one's lume is blowing you away. Overall quality seems to be good, I like it. My only gripe is that the area between the lugs is polished, not brushed. But everything else is very well. Definitively a keeperand Steeldive is definitively showing Seiko how to beatthem at their own game!

About to order one hence watching your review. Thanks

excellent review, thank you, i just bought the bronze version :-) thank you for including the length of the bracelet and strap, I have a 8 inch wrist so this is very useful info for me! and showing it on wrists of different sizes is just excellent, good example to be followed by other reviewers. you got my subscription and like!

Great review. I am awaiting for mine to arrive soon. This watch has had very positive reviews all over RU-vid. I went with the blue dial and bezel, just to be different than the original Captain Willard watch, and because I have a few black dial divers already. Thanks for your honest evaluations.

Got one for a absolute steal price during a sale. It is a very good watch. The lume is great, and the general quality is very good. I swapped the bracelet for a rubber strap and it is very comfortable to wear. Once it is on, I find it very hard to take off so I rotate my watches to wear one week at a time.

Thank you for your great reviews I have ordered this watch in April 2020 with an other SD1952T blancpain no radiation homage(quickly sold because of strange 120 click bezel action). I kept this model as a daily beater watch because of its larger wrist presence but wears just perfectly flat and time keeping is quite accurate. Lume is just great. Have put it on a rubber and since Mai i am beating the hell out of it. Swimming in rivers, many 3-5m dive jumps jogging push and pull ups fitness excercices of all kind no signs that this watch is giving up. Probably it will last as long as the nh35 work horse movement.. time will tell..

👍....ordered one..with tropic strap..excellent review...

Very good review thank you

Just picked up the latest version in blue for $60 in this current sale. Great price period.

I was taking my new Steel Dive 1970 off in the bathroom and dropped it 5 Feet onto the hard tile floor. The buckle on my rubber watch band went flying off in two pieces. The pin and buckle. Took it to my watch station and examined it under good light. Not a scratch or a ding could be found. Then I did a five-hour test comparing it to my computer internet time it was first set by. No damage to the mechanism at all. Reassembled the buckle to the strap and the watch is good as new. Not only is the Steel Dive 1970 one of the best watches you can buy for the money but it is tough as hell also. One last thing. Where else can you find a $120.00 watch that has a Lume that lasts all night? Buy is and we will compare lume duration. Glad I was not wearing my tritium watch. That would be an entirely different story.

I bought a black one - its got the best lume I have seen on any watch - will wear it as a beater watch when working on the car or the boat or having a BBQ on the beach

I have mine 2 month haven’t taken it of , have other watches but LOVE IT ! Best Buy I have spent ! Worth the buy !

You can’t beat it for that price , worth 3 times that price , I have a citizen pro master as well , delighted with it .

I ordered the milled clasp for this watch and swapped the signed part from steeldive that has the release buttons to the milled hinge. Took a about a dozen open and closes for it to click in correctly, but is working fine now.

Just bought one and for the price and what you get ie sapphire crystal and seiko movement and the lume is great its really well put together looks as good as my sekio special samurai edition divers watch so hats off to steeldive .

I have been using the wristwatch for 1 year, I have not had any problems, as my friend said in the video, it is a full price performance product

I have the same watch with the rubber strap, decided I wanted to look just like Captain Willard. 😆 I love it and as I got it for $85 delivered from the Steel Dive Shop on Allie Express I can't complain at all. I love the watch and would feel the new seiko release, while a better watch, isn't worth 10X as much. Great review thanks.

The watch looks soo good 👍

Obrigado pelo título em português! Ganhou mais um inscrito do Brasil!!!🇧🇷

I got a used one in black and I´m very happy with it. I´m so much happy with it, that I have to I got the blue and the green one too, and all of this watches made me happy! Great watches, friendly price and extreme good quality! I have "some" other watches and originales Seikos, but the black Steeldive is my absolute favourite!!! She is just incredibly comfortable to wear, which is what makes it so special. in addition, the design is absolutely timeless and you can wear it on all occasions without hesitation. One word to the lumes, unbelievable. If I lay it in the evening under a lamp for 30 minutes or more, the lights still work in the morning!!! So get one, it´sa very nice watch and you can´t do anything wrong with it!

I have a Seiko Prospex King Turtle (SRPE03K1), Mini Turtle (SRPC35) and Prospex Solar Tuna (SNE497J) that I all love... but this effortlessly beats them all in terms of specs for the money. The SD1970 is the perfect size, features bombproof NH35 power in a timeless design, and with a ceramic bezel, sapphire crystal and crazy lume... all for AUD130 delivered in a week! Not a fan of the bracelet (less of the clasp!) but stick it on a Tropic or Waffle and it offers insane value and comfort while also honouring the original aesthetic. Great review!

I have had mine for 5 months, iits been fishing, golfing and at work painting cars. Its still as good as the day i got it. mines on a Nato strap

I have the Addies version, just took delivery a few days ago. I've got their Tuna homage as well but this one keeps calling out to me. Initial quality, specs, finishing, for the price, you really can't go wrong.

I have this one, very good watch, I'm also tempted by the "ploprof", quite more expensive but seems to be excellent.

For the rough case-back engraving, take a dremel tool with a polishing wheel, and apply tiny amounts of metal polishing cream such as Blue Magic, or Simichrome, and set speed at slightly fast, and polish away without getting the case-back hot... Warm is good. Keep applying until you get it at a smooth, comfortable finish, wash, and that's it. The engraved section will feel very smooth, and will match the rest of the chrome colored case-back. The engraving will still be there, but will not feel rough, but do not over do the polishing. You can also take a polishing cloth such as Cape Cod, and just swirl around to shine the case-back nice and even after using the dremel. Enjoy!

I bought one and think it`s a great watch at a great price point. It hasn't missed a beat.

Fantastic watch prefer it over the seiko for the price, and the lume excellent, I would probably put it on a nato strap. Great review, I'll probably pick one up.

Amazing watch for an even amazing price!

For evaluation of time don't. be surprise because the movement is still seiko. NH35 and 4R35 is basically the same.

Great review mate and definitely a Seiko killer. I purchased this watch a few weeks ago.

Nice review. The watch really pops on the rubber strap but it's also nice to have the SS bracelet, so I think I will order it with the bracelet and order the waffle strap too. I also like the Isofrane or the Steeldive rubber strap with the rounded holes.

I recently bought 5 San Martin watches and a Cronos watch. I love these watches and they are of high quality. I also have around 5 Seiko dive watches. Is it me, or do these Seiko watches suddenly feel cheap? They look like PVD coated base metal watches. Could it be, that Seiko wasn't that good after all? My Samurai outside 'armouring' is never solid steel. No way. It looks stamped base metal PVD coated. Has anybody more insight in this? I just wonder, it doesn't feel good. It doesn't look good.

It's a very impressive watch. I have mine on an aftermarket Max waffle strap though the bracelet is unfairly criticised in my opinion and my clasp is milled, not pressed. The branding is cool, especially on the crown but lacklustre on the dial. It is an incredibly comfortable watch on a rubber strap and manages to float on the wrist, yet mould to it with allowance for wrist movement. Very clever from the original Seiko designers.

Steeldive watches are superb value for money.

Seiko prices has been very out of reach for me lately. Out of options, I checked this watch out, ordered it, and man, I reconsidered why it took me so long to make the move. Still love Seiko but the quality is not there for the under 200 dollar price range.

Seiko watches are still excellent but these watches (Steeldive & San Martin) are resetting the bar for affordable quality and performance - practically as good as a Seiko, whose slow upwards trajectory in prices is not doing them any favors. I note the excellent lumed bezels too on their various offerings. I still love Seikos, but a Captain Willard is not worth a grand, bust.

For the money? Can't be beat. I've worn a lot of watches in my time and this is so well made and spec'd. Money well spent.

Good review!

Steeldive is simply an upgraded Seiko. It’s Seiko parts with superior Chinese assembly and quality control.

I have this watch. I put it on a sail cloth and it looks great. I also had the version with no company name logo. (sterile), which I think looks great on this piece. Q. Build =. Fantastic. crown operation= excellent. time-keeping=. blown away by the +1 second per day. it was my time to get lucky obviously. Saying this ,all of my NH35's have come in at between -3 to + 7 per 24 hours so happy days. All in all I think its perhaps the best value watch I have ever owned and with regard to comfort, it just disappears on the wrist, cliche I know but with this watch its just true.

I bought mine a second hand one in 100% condition for 60 euro...amazing watch

Just bought on savage bit of kit 👌

Handsome watch. Worth the money you paid…. Thanks for sharing

Awesome watch!! I bought mine on 11.11 sale

I've had my sterile version now for about eight months and is a great favourite of mine.The lume is still great but the bracelet has been replaced with a canvas Zulu style with the bottom section removed.The bracelet whilst not brilliant,is no worse than can be found on low end Seikos.the value you get from Steeldive is unbeatable imho,I have four now which are all homages.The first I bought was the blancpain fifty fathoms,then the Seiko tuna and the IWC mark nine but the 6105 is tops......................................

I got my SD1970 like a month or so ago. There was a minor QC issue on mine: The index at six o'clock is a bit rough around the edges which is quite visible if you look close. Not enough issue for me though to go through hassles with warranties, returns etc. Otherwise I think you get a lot of watch for the money IMHO. Case finishing, dial etc looks great. NH35 is a perfectly fine and reliable movement at this price point. Rather that than low entries Miyotas IMHO. I was worried that the classic turtle design would look too big on my broom stick wrist, but since we all know that Seiko's always been the masters of short L2L design, it wasn't a matter. Funny thing is that I instantly ordered a tropic strap for this one, just to feel more 70s. Of course one of the pins in the bracelet I'd adjusted earlier popped out, and totally dissapeared after a coupla weeks wears. The tropic strap showed up just a few days after and looks great on this 70s classic. Considering the prize, that bracelet is perfectly fine IMO, but a retro tropic rubber strap makes it complete.

Great review. I think I will be getting one of these now as they have a discount. :-). Just subbed you. Keep up the good work.

Nice One love it 👍

Some thoughts: the SD1970 are great watches. I have one for one year 1/2 and another one for 8 months. But yes, the SPB151J1 seiko worth its money. there is lot of micro details who makes the difference , double dome saphyr, mouvement, quality of metal bracelet, smoothness of the ring, , aluminium bezel insert ( way nicer than a glossy ceramic), and the color of steel! dunno how they do that but the case is darker, looks more like titane than 316L. etc...Only lume is better on the SD. and the story behind the name, is also something you pay for. it's not only a watch, it's an heritage, even if it's not the original one. And to b honnest, it's hard to wear the steeldive when you own the seiko too ! the best , and closer 6105 homage, is not the steeldive, it's the rdunae Willard. all specs are identical, like the crown position or the 19mm waistband.

Complimenti ottima recensione ... ho questo orologio sia nel colore Nero che nel colore Blue ... lo ritengo eccezionale e molto bello, il movimento è molto preciso il Blu prende solo 1 secondo al giorno ... il Seiko NH35 molto ben calibrato.

My watch has the same bracelet though the clasp is both signed and has the steeldive badge, there is no back play of the bezel. In many ways this watch is better spec than the original Seiko it pays homage to.

Hi! Congrats on the channel! Is there a way to remove the Steeldive hang tags without having to cut them? Thank you!

I got 7 Sd1970 sterile back dial with steel bracelet. I manged to get them for under 70usd each as I bartered with the seller and it was during an Ali express sale plus I know how to get it tax free as in buy over 135 pound per order in the UK and ask them to mark it as 5 dollars have never had a customs note. I got the most modern version with the higher sapphire and AR and better lune on the dial and hands. You get alot of value with this watch seiko instruments Malaysia NH35 and they are not cheap now. Good thick sapphire with AR. A nice quality brushed and glossy case 316L with screwdown crown. A good coin edge bezel with a nice action, not loose or sloppy and a lumed ceramic insert. Good dial, hands and lume 200m WR QC looks good and the warrantee is 4 years, a long time for a watch. Mine came with a free simple strap adjustment tool, had no branding apart fro on the bracelet clasp but that's easy to change out with another one or milled for a few bucks. The crown is unmarked for the nologo and the screwdown back is very very lightly engraved sapphire, automatic, 200m and that's It, would be easy to remove if wanted. The steel dive logo is actually OK but it seems the no logos sell for more and I plan on nodding the watches with a more Vietnam style dial. The bracelet is just as good as any seiko but it has solid end links. Came with a nice protected pelican case. I realy think this is the best dive watch for the money unless you got some vostok watches for 30usd each when the rouble was at rock bottom a few days before mastercard payments stopped. I ordered 36 and they came in perfect Co diction so I will just wait for the prices to rise. I hope the factory does not shut but if it does they will go up alot. Vostok has upped their quality in the past 3 years. But if you buy from Ali on sale or buy a few to get around tax and sell on eBay for a profit this is realy the best watch for the money, I have handled the captain williard and they feel the same I had the X on the captain williard as is just moves away from the vintage feel. The only thing that could make these better is if they lowered the amount of AR or changed colour as on some or some people think it's too much, mine seem fine and I got the mk2s with good lume. I will save 1 or 2 for myself and as they are selling for over double on ebay UK will make a good profitx if modded even more. Just rember you can always barter with sellers and depending on your nation going over the tax limit can make it alot cheaper when Ali has sales they give you over 30 dollars off if you buy 250 or 300 worth if stuff they usualy give 3 coupons and the sellers will give coins so use your coins, coupons and other discounts lcarefully to get the most savings. Also you can barter with the sellers but you have to but it in your cart using the wrong credit card info trick so they lower the price and then pay with PayPal using a credit card for safety. San Martin are great quality but too overpriced in my opinion and not a huge fan if the logo. With all the good PR steel dive is getting maybe they will use ETA clones and make different watch types. Steel dive owns 3 brands but I have only ever seen them use 1 branding. You don't get a 4 year warrantee with most Swiss watches. The card is blank but ask the seller what to write down and it's usualy the date you got it then the store name phone number and owners name and email if you want to resell. Just ask them after you get them. They leave then blank for the purpose of reselling so for example if you have had then ibstodj fir a year you can give a 2 year warrantee and such. The resellers prices on Alibaba are 9usd higher if you have the steel bracelet.

Bezel on mine has 0 play. I have a green nato on my watch I prefer over the stainless bracelet or rubber strap. No issues with this watch. I maybe ordering other models from steeldive.

That looks like the Archer silicone strap I got for my Alpina, same dark blue

I viewed both reviews now and was waiting for a negative point, but there isn't any...! OK a pressed clasp, but that's it really. Is this the best € 100,- watch? It seems to be. Is the San Martin twice as good? It is twice the price..! How about the real Seiko homage? Is it 10 times as good? It is 10 times the price. Would be a nice triple comparison review. Yes I think I have to buy this watch as well. Thanks for the review.

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Excelente información 👌👌

i would love to see at water resistant test, maybe at 20meters or so....thanks. Btw, my PARNIS is able to keep +_ 3 sec per day. yes astonishing.

May I know if they use seiko fat bars or regular thin springbars?

Does it resist good in the water ??? I will use it this summer in the sea and pools

nice pro video work

Question what is the perfect fit miltat bracelet for that ? Because can’t find a perfect fit bracelet for it TIA.

The North Face - "How big would you like the logo on your shirt to be?" Shiny Things - "Yes."

It was very popular across on RU-vid. Every 2nd channel was reviewing it and taking good about it. Can you please asked the seller if they deliver to my country in India.. because Ali express was bane hear from mid of 2020.. thank in advance..

Найс ревью бро!

Happy with mine but changing the bracelet is really difficult...

Split pins or pin & collar on the bracelets?

I might missed the link to this rubber strap. Could you please share the link? Thank you buddy