Nice to see someone rotating the crown anticlockwise to feel where the thread starts. Crossing a thread is a nightmare, and doing that ensures it never happens, so it is strange most watch reviewers never do it. Good review 👍
I'm asking from every single reviewer to show and talk about the crown setup and they don't listen to me.I think on these watches that's one of the most important things. Obviously they don't think so.
First of all,great review and many thanks for sharing. I have the same watch but sterile and black dial on a waffle strap band. I bought it 4 months ago and I'm wearing it as a beat watch,I has been diving (between 30 to 80 meters deep) last summer and I'm really happy with it. Very positive experience and 100% recommended.
A fine practical appreciation. I bought the same one a few weeks ago. Whilst I am glad I hear nothing but good things about it from professional reviewers, it has more impact when someone reviews it after having lived with it. Thank you. Great review.
Just pulled the trigger on the willard today, and it's all thank's to your review, and i've written to Matthew from steeldive uk and told it's your review that won me over. ;-)
I really liked your reasonable and down to earth conclusions posted in your review, especially because a lot of people are really picky and they really miss the fact this is a 100 pound watch.
I just received my Captain Willard from steel dive. I'm in awe of the quality for the price. I have several seiko automatics. This has a seiko movement. It looks amazing. I'm glad you are still satisfied with yours after a year. Thanks for showcasing this watch.
It’s all your fault after your first unboxing I bought the lovely green one followed a couple of weeks later I got the bronze version and I love ‘em both. Super review as always, thanks
Got the Addiedive version for 74 quid on 11.11. Its absolutely bang on for that money. Looks excellent. Bracelet isn't the best but it's not horrible. But it's looks gorgeous and the fit and finish is crazy for the price.
Just checked my Willard and it's pretty much spot on. I also have one of their Tuna's but that does have some slight alignment issues. Still a very nice watches though.
Yesterday black Friday sale I got one OTW 4 $69! $74 in total. Incredible watch! Phenomenal $$$! Chose the steel strap. Gonna order a black waffle as well. New Sub cheers M8!
I got my heimdallr version of this for £90 from aliexpress. I also have the steeldive version, but trust me the heimdallr is better build and also has the dome Crystal same as original.
I just pulled the trigger on the Heimdallr version of this. Very reassuring to see how pleased you are with it, especially when you own an Omega grail watch. I've always wanted a Captain Willard but not enough to pay Seiko $1400 bucks for one.
Great review and a great watch. The SD1970 wipes the the floor with many dearer watches. I own a high end Seiko. But this watch is more Seiko than Seiko. Captain Willard would chose the Steeldive hands down👍
I went and bought the blue version. I like it. Something pretty unique from my other watches. I never really thought I'd like the cushion style case, but wow. I did put another bracelet in. Not because the metal bracelet was heavy (it was, but manageable) or because it was subpar (it is), but when I put a tropical rubber bracelet with it, I just fell in love. It looks really good with it. Surprising, really. I prefer metal bracelets but not on this watch.
Just watched this video again. The comments about the crown location being different than an original 6106-8110 (Capt Willard) are incorrect. The Steelduve sd1970 has the crown in pretty much the same position. The current - highly priced - Seiko recreation of the Capt Willard has the crown in a “higher position” relative to 4 o’clock.
I got the version 2. The lume is thin, so the bezel lume and dial lume fades at the same rate. But it last many hours. If I could have gotten the v1 them I might have been more happy. V1 weight less. I got a different bracelet and have a diver extension on it, the extension was very expensive for me, had to pay VAT. I recommend a diver extension so you can loosen up when you get warm. I regulated it to maximum deviation -2 to +3 seconds a day by just taking my time and a few days. 4 tries. There is some tropical rubber strap that is thicker on watchgecko I would like try that one day. The spring bar holes are abit round. It comes with spring bar where the smallest tip is 0.8mm. I have tried a 1mm tip spring bar and it doesn't fit. So I would try and find 0.9mm tip. There is some who sells that. I would not buy it with the metal bracelet, find another bracelet if you are considering the watch.
Hi buddy! Which one would you pick as your first automatic watch and your daily watch, the SD1962 or this one? Why? Daily, I would switch from the rubber to the steel strap, all depending on my outfit. I'm pretty active, and I want my watch to move with me; comfortability is a big thing for me. Btw I have a 17cm width wrist, so I wouldn't want a watch to look too big on my skinny wrist... Have a good one!
Great looking watch, outstanding value at the asking price, irrespective of the fact that it's a homage. I have a couple of watches that have the NH35 movement, both run within 2-3 secs per day, which considering their price, well, is a little short of miraculous and equals the performance of my more expensive Swiss movements. Personally I'd be very hesitant to buy an inexpensive automatic that doesn't have this movement powering it. Saw one of these SD 1970's on a "waffle" strap a few days ago, I have to say it looked fabulous, and within minutes I'd found both watch and strap online for under £130, also from a UK source, needless to say I ordered them immediately. Possibly the best looking "diver" combo for a pittance, it would be rude not to. Great video thanks.
I bought the SD 1980 better raised chapter ring with seconhand markers on the raised side.But this watches blow my mind too for such a small price.Im also Seiko fan but Steeldive get me the 👍 up higher.
Ooohh now that’s a good question. I’ll defo do a comparison video, but technically yes it’s better, it’s just as comfortable, it’s cheaper, not looking good for the citizen!
Good honest review .... Is it still keeping superb time? Ironic it's a homage Seiko, but has a Seiko movement. I wouldn't normally be interested in a homage watch, but this one does seem worth purchasing.. I had a Seiko Divers quartz 150m in the 80s sadly got lost or stolen when sending it off to Seiko, quality control on this was perfect in everyway not like the SKXs had in the past and one was the Japan version both had misaligned bezels and kept terrible time even after having them regulated by Seiko. I have a couple of Citizen Divers Eco drives and can't fault them quality control far better than Seiko now .... Ps crown stripped on the non Japan version. Would love to see a review of this SD 1970 after 3 plus years and how the crown holds up, and how it's kept its accuracy. For the price though it does certainly look like it's worth a punt, if you want a traditional mechanical diver.
Which is better between Steeldive and Saint Martin - I want to buy a Marinemaster 300 homage watch and see these two mostly for say, being the Saint Martin a little higher priced. Which Marinemaster homage do you recommend even out of the two. Thanks
A 600 seiko has a dealer cost of 250.00 a us import price of 125 to seiko usa which is called a landed price which means it cost seiko 50-60 to make, Granted seiko has sponsorships factories all over the world distributors thousands of employees etc. etc. etc. so it's not an impossibility that this watch cannot be made for $40-$50 they don't have all the overhead costs that seiko has therefore they can offer you a product that's as good as or better than the seiko for a direct price of $80-$100. Give you another example a Glock 19 for those of you who live in a free country like the United States retails for $700 cost $80 to make it Austria
Hi. Love my Steeldive. You must just be unlucky, as everything on mine lined up fine. Had it a year now and it’s still only gaining +2 seconds a day. Regards.
I dont know how steeldive does it either...fantastic quality for the money....no middle man i guess....wish didnt take so long to get one from China...a month or more..oh well..worth it..
After watch this review, i feel so dumb if i pull the trigger for any >$400 seiko diver, especially the $1200 willard. Save my purse for another hobby, lol
The heimdallr version of the willard is closer to the original 1970 willard and better than Steeldive version. Please do a heimdallr review. Also the homages àre copying from the original 1970 willard not from seiko's recent willards. The crown on the original 1970 willard is on the 4 o'clock position. This is the reason why the crown on the homages are on the 4 o'clock position.
You'll be well hard wearing a Willard The bezel misaligned because they copied a Seiko hahaha 'Who wants to see another Nh35'. . I nearly choked on my coffee at that
