Comparison-Seiko Willard SBDC109 vs. Steel Dive Willard Homage 

Wow. This video has picked up amazing traction. My prediction guys.....in two years you'll be able to pick up the steel dive for +/-40 usd used, or much less. The Seiko will retain its purchase value for a number of years. Glad everyone is tuning in!!😎👍🤙

I bought the steel dive black version about four or five months ago as a tester to see if I'd like the Seiko. I found the Steel dive to be a really good watch, especially for the money. I paid £105 from steeldive uk. Nearly ten percent of the seiko price. I watched quite a few reviews of the Seiko and the general feeling I got was that it just wasn't worth over £1000. I've stuck with the steel dive and I'm happy with it.

This is an honest comment and I have no dogs in the fight. Ive had 4 seiko divers ALL have been garbage. Poor Q/C Bezels with back play Dials don't align Keep terrible time where at the end of the month the watch is 10minutes early. So for 80$ vs 1000$ for the crappy real Seiko, the Steeldive cant be any worse. No more Seikos for me.

I'm a huge Seiko fan and I mean HUGE. Have a lot of their watches of different types. However I have to agree, that though a copy that Steeldive looks very good, if not exceptional value for the specs it offers. Unfortunately Seiko are increasing prices to the extent that good quality homages from the likes of Steeldive and Heimdallr are becoming attractive. I was trying to get myself a Seiko Monster but the reasonably priced ones were too beaten up for me and the pristine ones way too expensive. I ordered and I'm waiting for a red Monster from Heimdallr. From the reviews I've seen the quality is very good so I hope mine is too! Excellent review 👏👌👍

Awesome comparison. I love the blue of the Steeldive & the frame around the date window.

I appreciate the video, but I think you (like many reviewers) kinda miss the point here. I own a Steel Dive 6105 and the only things I was really interested in before buying one was how accurate a representation of the original it is, how reliable and accurate the movement is, and was the build quality any good. Ultimately I found the design is spot on, the movement (NH35) is well known and reliable and mine has been running about +5 seconds a day since I got it (more than acceptable for a

Seiko is my favourite brand. I love Seiko , but SD are simply good and top value for your money. I just ordered my third , the SD1965.

All in all for the money I’d buy the Steel dive. Thanks for the comparison.

I had the Steeldive but it didn't scratch the itch. I now have the Seiko.

I have had my black Steeldive 1970 on the wrist for a week. It's running +3secs a day out of the box.

Couple of years later, it's mind blowing that Ali variants can now be found under $70. I believe I saw a review from Ali customer who said he got it for $50 during one of the sales. It's crazy how affordable these are.

Don't forget the Steel Dive also has AR coating. You'd think for $1k Seiko could have spent the $2 to add it.

The NH35A is licensed to TMI, which is a subsidary of Seiko anyway and it's being made in a 100% mechanized robot factory in Malaysia. Due to the fully robotic assembly, the quality is quite consistent, the only gripe I have is that the movement comes unregulated and most - if not all - are not giong to regulate the movement. But the NH35A is very easy to regulate and can - with liile effort - be regulated to single-digit accuracy.

I love my steel dive version it's the green color way

Had over 6 Seikos, Sumos, Turtles and what not. None of them was a great Time Keeper. Some had alignment Problems, some where horrible made for the money. Would I try and buy a Seiko over 1000 Euros? No thank you… My San Martin for 200 Euros keeps excellent time, even my 100 Euro Am#zon Beater with an NH35 keeps better time than all my Seikos. For me Steel Dive or San Martin, even they are only Homages.

Great comparison. As a like minded Seiko collector I found this very informative and agree with your comments although I actually like the slightly more rounded case shape of the SD. If we're talking decades then most likely the Seiko will hold up considerably better. However the price difference is 'massive' and if you set aside 'collectability' and watch purist 'pride'...?? the Steeldive is just too good to pass up. Thanks so much for a great review, much appreciated.

Nice side by side look. Thanks Aron!

My blue dial SD is on the way, can't wait to receive it. Great review, I was wanting to see a comparison with the Sieko. IMO, the price of the Seiko vs the SD is a no brainer. I'm not a collector and I don't care if my watches are look alikes. I own several watches from Aliexpress, and all of them have impressed me with their quality. The movements perform unexpectedly well. They all have one of 3 movements, NH35A, Miyota 9000 series or the PT 5000. I'm happy with all 3.

Nice comparison, looked forward to this video! 👏

It was obvious watching this review that the author was trying hard to justify (to themself) that the Seiko version was worth the added cost.

I've had two Seiko's break in one way or another in the last few years. One a nearly new turtle Padi with a bad stem. One a Monster that leaked. I have two Steeldives that haven't given me any problems whatsoever. They are worn almost daily. I'm very weary of putting any money in a Seiko in the future.

I just picked up the steeldive in black no logo on aliexpress for $75 shipped. Seems can't beat that price. Hopefully lives up to expectations when it arrives.

I bought the sterile dial blue Steeldive with the bracelet and a dark blue tropic-style strap for a few pennies over US$100 in November. It was delivered in about two weeks. It is a great watch for what it is - a hundred dollar diver with hack setting, quick-set date and a Seiko automatic movement that can be wound by hand. I personally do not believe in thousand dollar Seikos. For that kind of money I’d buy an Omega . . .

I used to own 12 modern seikos. I also own this spb151. It didnt felt like the original 6105, not even close. Everything just wrong. Then i bought this steeldive 1970. Solid bezel, good finishing, ceramic bezel insert, dead straight alignment, AR coated sapphire, smooth screw down crown, etc, etc. Its a homerun for me as a seiko head for years. I sold every modern seikos i own since then. No more seiko for me especially this pathetic spb151. $1000+ i got modest movement, pathetic bezel, pathetic bezel insert, pathetic design, MISALIGNMENT, cheap bracelet, etc. My worst buy ever. It should be priced around $400. I bet most people gonna choose 1970 as more expensive watch than spb151 if blind tested or dont have any idea about their brand

I would totally say the Steel Dive is better. At currently 97€(!) it is 10% of the price but up in the high 80% or even 90% in terms of what it delivers.

Great show!

I bought the SteelDive and the Bulova Devil Dive Oceanoghrapher in the same week. I really wanted the Bulova because it came in a really nice green. The SteelDive was more of a curiosity. It was only $88us on a steel band, and folks in the forums were raving about it. The Bulova was $400 and 100% Japanese made. I was seriously disappointed in the Bulova. It's a beauty, but quality control on this $400 watch is on par with a average $100 chinese watch. The screw down crown is rough, and the winding is extremely sloppy. The Bulova packs a Citizen non-hack movement. The SteelDive has a hacking Seiko. The SteelDive is the better watch.

Just got my Addiesdive version in black. $85 all in from ALiExpress. I switched to a black waffle strap from the stainless bracelet to be closer to the Capt. Willard movie watch. It seems like a very well made piece, and for the money, how wrong could you go?

I don't think the movement is a Chinese licensed anything, it's made by Seiko Instruments witch equals Seiko made. I have the green Steeldive, and I think I paid less than 90 bucks for it on the bracelet. Why would anyone pay 1000 bucks for what's essentially a basic Seiko?

Thanks for this video. It was great seeing a direct comparison. My dream is to one day own a Willard. The Steeldive is going to have to do for now.

Great review, thanks 😀

Thanks for sharing! the dial is quite smaller on the Steeldive, right? Cheers

Great video Aron; nice job! I bought the Heimdallr version of this watch. Very good quality, but it wasn't a keeper for me. These homage watches are nice in that respect - to get an idea on whether I want the "real thing". In my case, the answer is no. Cheers!

There is a upgraded SD 1980 with raised indexes available now.i Ordered one too.Great alternative.

Who needs Seiko?

For the price of servicing the seiko you can buy two homages, it is just more sensible to buy a new steeldive every five years

Excellent review - the one we've all been waiting for - a side by side comparison of Seiko and Steeldive Captain Willard. I have the Steeldive with black but looking at your video, it's clear that the Seiko is the superior watch and I would prefer to own, if only it wasn't so expensive....

Got the RDUNAE 6105-8000 and love that watch. Only downside being the lume on the hands. But somehow I can't get the SBDC109 out of my head :-D

Yeah, good idea. I just did exactly what you recommended. I like Seikos a lot but I ordered the Steeldive with a black waffle strap first. Let's see if I like that or not. The real McCoy could be on my wish list later.

Bought a steeldive myself, 3 weeks later I love it.

Bought the classic black Steeldive on Aliexpress for $99 ($109 w/$10 coupon). Not the best steel bracelet but so easy to get a rubber strap for it.

Thanks for the video

I love my steeldive, I own several seikos that Are $1000 and over. I have the SD tuna as well and will worth the $100 bucks .

I would love to own the Seiko but given the price, I’d be worried about damaging it if I wore it daily. For that reason, I think I’m going to pick up a Steeldive in black and wear it on a NATO strap. I would feel sad buying the Seiko then not wearing it very often.

I bought the V.2 Steeldive. It’s a great watch and I think,better than the Seiko.

On sale now it is $60 for one on a SS bracelet. Also the 6R35 has anti-magnetic properties too via the Spron 510 mainspring.

They are different because that homage crown is at more than 4oclock while that seiko is at 3:48.. so if you interchange it that will not align perfectly.

Do you know of any mini turtle homages please? Preferably with ss bracelet

Thanks for showing these side-by-side! I have a turtle and a king turtle as well as the Merkur and San Martin’s most recent homages...I like the mall and there are things about the Homages That I like better than the Seiko’s and Vice versa...One interesting thing is the loom on the Seiko turtle Is the worst of the four watches… And it’s the only one that doesn’t have a sapphire crystal…In order of specifications and finish I would rate the king turtle the best, then San Martin, then Merkur, I am finishing last Seiko Turtle.

It appears AR coating does make the dial color look deeper.

i don't really have much to spend so i ordered this steeldive last month. seiko prices has not been kind to me lately. maybe in the future, i'll get the legit one.

As far as service in the future, could one not just get another NH35 when the time comes and swap it over for like 40$ ?

Forget seiko rip off prices Steeldive great value and better timekeeping

I'm watching this wearing my steeldive homage. But it's powered by the PT5000. Which is an ETA 2824-2 clone. That tips it in favor of the steeldive.

Great vids! Do you prefer the waffle over the chocolate? I noticed you switched back Thank you!

Can you compare the steeldive SD1970 to the SRP777?

Had some Seiko Samurai + Turtle. Great pieces. But did not wear them long enough. Have now a Marinemaster as a keeper. So the Steeldive is a cheap remembrance for 100 EUR - well. Get going 🚀

Got the SD for $80 Canadian (60 USD) and love everything about it. Well okay yeah, the finishing in between the lugs does bother me and I wish it was 22mm. Neither is really an issue on steel but on NATO's it's not ideal. Does the new Seiko have 22mm lug width? Looks bigger than the SD here.

Please tell me how much luminophore the Chinese copy has? The video shows that the original has a luminophore glow brighter and longer.

Hello. In my opinion Seiko needs a framed date window, ceramic bezel and an applied logo.......cheers!.

Vintage designs from Seiko are great but much higher prices put them out of my reach which is why I prefer Steeldive, Heimdalr, San Martin, etc. over Seiko. I only buy one Seiko a year now sticking to Save The Ocean models as I find good deals. A Samarai in 2020, King Turtle last year and a mini Tuna this year. Not limited but all less common Special Editions. Good review.

Does anybody know if the Bezel or Dial of the SKX007 fits the Steelie?

Okay okay .. .subscription earned. I like your easy style and we share much in common. The smaller numbers on the bezel for the steeldive are also reminiscent to the original the one is I instead of 1. (san serif).

The crown position is nicer in the Steeldive.

Do a comparison with Seiko 6105 with heimdallr 6105.

The bezel markers on the Steeldive looks closer to the 6105.

How is the water-resistants of the steeldive? Is it really waterproof?

I actually regret the steeldive a lot now Except it had good hands for my skx013 build ajd excellent lume but you can only swap dials and hands on this thing and the crown placement makes it worse The bezel uses a wire pin rotating bezel and there's less ability to use seiko parts I look at the thing in a bit of shame like it was just a fad of the past and I'm done with the steeldive, best thing it has tho is you can put a seiko 5 caseback on it and get down go extremely lightweight and thin down to 12.4 thick

Just got the 1970 steel dive for 79 euro. Its fantastic.

I would Buy the Chinese Steeldive every time: if you have QC issue you are not too much out of pocket. Alternatively, pay 10 times as much for the SEIKO and you can be certain of QC issues - usually regarding alignment... also, when will they start putting Sapphire crystals on their more expensive models???

Just got the Steeldive. The quality for the money is unbelievable!

Both are pretty nice 👌

Steeldive hands down, the Seiko is just far too expensive for the features it offers.

I just don’t get knock-offs. Is the SD good for the money? Certainly seems so. Is the Seiko overpriced? Ya I would agree. But as someone who loves the Willard as well as apocalypse now and uemura, it will have to be the real Seiko for me.

If that steel dive use the same rotating click spring as Seiko then that is a big deal.

I have three of these Steeldive watches in my rotation. An all green on a nylon strap, a "Great Wave" on original bracelet and an all black modded with a Seiko Prospex dial and a waffle strap. When they come to need servicing I will just swap in a new movement for about £40. Cheap, and cheerful!

Love Seiko

Does the steel dive use regular size or seiko fat springbars?

Good vdo but you should have used a black one…

I am a collector of retro things from nintendos to PS, to EDC gears. Started fancying watches which with clinical eye funneled the searches to the Seiko's after realizing the value for money on watches lies on Seiko signatured watches rather than high end Swiss Made. Rolex, PP and AP maybe called investment by very few but with the same amount of investment I can build an apartment and or buy and sell real estate properties or autoproperties. Besides the "rolex bubble" is nearing its peak. To own the original Willard its almost impossible to find one in great condition even at the price its selling now. Then came this chinese homages which after seiko started selling their old movement took advantage and now created comparable watches. As a new collector, an SD1970 can easily be modded to look like a better OG Willard. Dial swap and back case change and you are done. OG Willard Hybrid 3.0. For collections its great to have specially that you put some personal touch to it. This is where value for money can be achieved. Having a feel of the original thing at price cheaper than the original with original movement and having the higher present standard of watches. Damn I am loving this hobby even more than the electronics or my gears. If you can bring anything anywhere you go. It would be a good quality Diver's watch for sure.

How can you wear a watch to bed? I'd be worried about smashing it on something while sleeping plus it's uncomfortable!

Cool

Would look nice with Seiko hands...

Bought my 1970 steeldive for $100 usd dollars

I purchased the willard and the steel dive I can tell you, the steeldive doesn’t get wrist time, maybe if I was still in my 20s, it just looks like a toy If you’re planning on handing your watches to your son, or daughters husband, then go with willard. If you want to just add a watch to your collection, sure steel dive. The clasp, bracelet, bezel, branding all feel a little cheap.

The real Seiko reissue (the second cheaper one) is smaller than the original. The Steeldive is not.

You can find the Steel Dive Willard Homage for 75,- €

The steeldive does not ask anything of the seiko. A beauty that steeldive

The Steeldive Willard in bronze is 😍

are the caps the same?

The Steeldive looks better on your wrist imo 😊

Quality ,price, look solid steeldive is the best ...

Nice steel dive nice price too👍👍👍

Blue

Addiesdive Willard is even better

The $90 tool can do the same job as the $1,000 tool... I think that is a no-brainer.

There really is no reason to buy the Seiko when the Steeldive is such a fantastic value. I have both the stainless steel one and the bronze and they’re awesome.

When the cheaper watch looks way better than the Seiko lol

If you don't care for the "SEIKO" on the dial, then go the Steeldive every day of the week. It's a no-brainer.

I like the logo on the steeldive. Just having Seiko looks boring!