Nice review John. I have the original Seiko Tuna and actually bought this one from the same Steeldive Engineer store over a year ago. I actually got the yellow one on the yellow rubber strap, a great summer colour. We live on the Mediterranean coast so scuba diving is a regular activity. I have used the watch as a dive computer backup and it's water tight with great lume. I've never dived anywhere even close to 300m, nobody really does, so can't say what's on the dial is real or not, but it's ok down to my maximum depth of around 60 to 70m. I definitely recommend it and after more than a year of regular use I'm happy with it. Well done on this review AND on the last Steeldive too. Honestly is what it's all about. 👍
Hi Brian and thanks for your true and well informed comments. The SD1970 caused a stir and a lot of people directed quite a bit of abuse at me which had to be deleted...even hateful emails! I do believe I have been extremely unlucky at getting three duds on the spin with this one given the time spread and three separate suppliers so I have ordered the latest 1970c with the tri- colour lume to see if I can finally get a good one to review!
Wow 70m. That's a very deep recreational dive. You must do that on tri-mix? In any case, good to know it's reliable to that depth. Thanks for confirming that.
Thanks for taking the time to make this review video. I appreciate your efforts to separate the wheat from the chaff amongst the modest budget watches.
Im so glad youve had a better experience with steeldive ,. Steeldive for me was my very first automatic,so i obviously love everything about steeldive, was sad to see about the c.willard homage you had as mine was perfect as was thousands of others but even the biggest brands f.up now and again lol fair play to you my friend you always say it as it is thats why i tune in, as always brilliant review.
I’ve got the blue version, bought about 3 years ago, and it looks gorgeous under its sapphire. The outer case has a bit of play, but it’s otherwise good value, I’d say. Only problem is that I never wear it because it’s just too big and heavy on my average 7 1/4” wrist.
I have a 1975 in tiffany blue , this thing is a beauty ! Every friend i have asked me about it , i did have a problem after 2-3 weeks of use tho , i lost 2 of the screws that keep the shroud in place(metal screws in metal don't like vibrations and unscrew themself - will threadlock them in place ) and in contrast to your experience the steeldive engineer store were VERY fast to help and send me the parts + the tool needed to fix it asap FOR FREE . Atm i plan to buy the sd1970 model but your videos made me order it from the engineer store rather than the normal one , cheers mate.
glad to hear the got your money back on the last one. honest reviews are the only way to go, tell it the way it is... always. This one is a bit of a beast, i do like that style of bracelet
Hi John! I hang on your every dang word cuz I have to due to your accent😂! Your review sealed it for me @ $68.20 otd to SF, Ca. locale via Ali…. Tiffany blue with 5 linker. I’m saying g’bye to Invicta now & due to your reviews? Sold!!!👍🏆🗽thx!!!!🥇
The S.D. tuna has been on my list for awhile but other watches keep cutting in line. It's nice to see the upgraded clasp, my 1970 has the cheaper, lighter, and still comfortable pressed clasp. Anyway, a good review.👍👍
You will like it. It's a tough little watch. The seiko model is really too much money. You are usually going to have alignment issues for that price. I have several steeldive, including 2 bronze, a 1901, and a Panerai style. They are one of my favorite brands. I've never seen another tuna on anyone. Cheers. I'm lucky enough to have no issue with any of them, but it happens. Choose a good store is what I recommend. Aliexpress steps in anyway.
I'm glad you found one to live up to Steeldive's reputation. I've been pleased enough to buy a SD1970, SD1975, and SD1980. I've just ordered the SD1972 in the 11.11 sale 2023. Any thoughts on the SD1972?
Hi there. I actually like steeldive and have the SD1953. The only model I take issue with is the SD1970. 3 bad uns on the spin is just not bad luck! My poll confirmed 32% of SD1970s received by my subs had at least 2 faults on receipt. Their results... not mine :(. Unfortunately I have not handled the watch you are asking about so I would not be able to comment. Thanks for watching and for reaching out :)
It is but it's one I had to review. Never had one in hand and surprisingly wearable. World of a difference in the quality between it and the 1970 from last week. Plain weird and quite worrying that there can be such differences out of the factory.....
I have a blue one of these from the same supplier, was thinking about doing the mod and swapping the outer bezel to black, also thinking of buying the green while it is on offer and swapping the bezel on that too.
That's what I was hoping. A good watch. I haven't had any problems with my watch and it is several years old now. I'm glad. Wear it in good health. 👍 Thanks for the review
@Johns Watch Joint I took my engineer and put it on my vostok. I purchased the rubber sd strap. Similar to a casio g shock resin strap. Really good buckle for 20 cdn bucks.
'I swim like a bus with the doors open', well, that has to be the quote of the year? I just love that, but I have quite a few SD watches and I have to say that they are all pretty good. I love my Marinemaster, Sumo and Tuna, plus the 'Willards'. I think that you've been unlucky or that as you've said there's someone recirculating returns into the retail market?
I have no issues with Steeldive. Just the SD1970. Had 4 now. None of them decent and this one completely failed after 3 weeks. See my Steeldive playlist and you'll hear the crown grinding properly when I could afford a mic! I bought one Addiesdive Willard... Perfect!
I have the Addiesdive version of this. Sterile dial. It is my favorite of these budget watches. I am keeping it. Sold the others. The Willard homage has small, short hands. I like this, maybe I would prefer a flat crystal.
Great review. Just ordered this one, it will be my 3rd SD Tuna variation. I had to comment…, love the comment “ I swim like a bus, with the doors open”…, hilarious!! Great reviews, keep em coming. 4 of the 5 watches on way to me were results of watching your reviews 👍🏽
This looks like a great watch, I love the attention to detail in colour match date wheel and finishing is good at this price… my shopping cart just shuddered
Had a feeling AX would have to step in and sort the last one but glad you got a good un finally even if its not the 1970,on the upside at least potential buyers know to steer clear of the store you purchased it from.
Hi Ted. Thx. Pretty annoyed at them but I can't win. One chap said I only got the refund because I am a reviewer... unbelievable. Like you my subscribers are great and knowledgeable but some visitors...Sheesh...just here to pick a fight haha, 😆
Got one from the same store and it's perfect. Wears best for me on a cheap Seiko style black rubber strap from AliX, seems smaller than when on a bracelet.
thanks for the thoroughly filmed video, I very much like the design, but I have tiny wrists too. They also released the new model SD1975V version with orange luminous indexes and hands, now I'm considering to buy that new version. Also if you happen to review that model I'll gladly see your review!
Hi there and thanks for watching. I won't review the newer version as it is pretty much the same watch apart from the colours... And I have a backlog of watches to get through haha! Merry Christmas :)
It wears pretty well on your wrist. Always wondered if I could get away with it on my 7 inch wrist. Think the answer is yes. Would go well with my 1970.
I got this tuna for 67 usd during one of the aliexpress sales with good quality. 1970 or 1975, if they are less than 70 dollars, great deal. If more than 100, no go for their random quality control issues.
I own 6 Steeldive, they're all great watches. That's 3 sub homages (black, blue and green, they were really cheap, great bang for the buck, and I like to color match my t-shirts and Jordans lol), an SKX homage, a fifty fathoms homage and just recently they released the monster homage with the blood dial on a bracelet, I immediately jumped it soon as there was another sale, no regrets. After a year or so one of the subs started losing power, even in a watchwinder, but oiling the rotor solved that. I was about to ship it back to Steeldive Store for a movement replacement but it's all good now. I already own the original Seiko Tuna prospex, bought it in 2015, still going strong.
I have been very unlucky with this model. Otherwise Steeldive are pretty solid. I still have a 1953 and it's fine. My poll confirms 1 in 3 SD1970's ship with 2 or more faults...not good :/
@@johnswatchjoint That's tough, could be a flaw in the model design... and just my luck I really don't like those turtle models, I own a few vintage hand wind ones but they are more for decoration than to actually wear them. I just ordered the SD1984 orange monster in 11/11 sale, I was torn between Steeldive and Sharkey because that's more like the original, but I like the orange with a twist, I know the quality and it was cheaper. I like watches but I'm also still trying to save up for a Gibson 70s Flying V lol.
Hi there. Removing a bracelet is easy. There are plenty of watch repair channels that will show you if you haven't done it before. I would suggest a 20 mm FKM rubber strap or FKM waffle strap. There are plenty to be found on eBay rather than waiting t o see what you get from AliExpress :)
I've got the SD1975 "honeycomb" version. Certainly it keeps time great and the build quality is as good as my Seiko Prospex 200m diver "Baby Tuna". Plus it has a very funky and long decay time triple phosphor coated face and bezel. Just reviewed it extensively too. I bought mine from a SteelDive authorized shop.
LOL! Well that's also a way to avoid relationship breakdowns/divorce proceedings/watches going into the skip/recycling etc.! My Baby Tuna was gifted to me by my mum and with the exception of that steel dive SD1975 and my Casio GWG1000, all other watches I own are secondhand (probably from a guy like you LOL!) @@johnswatchjoint
A watch with everything lining up 100 % would be inappropriate for a Seiko homage after all! 😆 Jokes aside, this is a nice one, I like it. It's reasonably well finished. They've got the handset and dial right, this even includes the font of the dial inscriptions. By the way I believe they uses to come with a pressed clasp so they must have upgraded it recently!
Sorry you had a bad experience with the SD 1970...I have a SD 1970 and an SD1980, 6 months in and I have had nothing but great pleasure from both watches, crown action, alignment etc was good. Accuracy well within claimed tolerance. I guess QC is a hit and miss affair from your experience. I will definitely buy another steeldive watch when i get the itch again :)
Hi and thanks for the respectful comment. Most seeing this review go on the attack with the " you are a liar" and "nothing's wrong with mine" shtick! Steeldive are pretty good in general but as per my follow up reviews and my poll the SD1970 is being produced too quickly and thrown out in big numbers without QC as it is so popular . When buying check everything thoroughly with Steeldive :)
@@johnswatchjoint No worries !, It's important to highlight any problems encountered with any watch..so the manufacturer can address them, or at least make the consumer aware of the risks. Some people takes things personally. I have one terrible experience with a Pagani. design and one excellent result with Pagani design. When you're chasing a bargain you have to expect a bad one every now and then.
@@johnswatchjointMine looked good, lines up. I set it and a month later lost five seconds. I've been to the beach swimming and showering with it on, no leaks. A hundred bucks.
Sorry but not my experience with this model and my subscribers backed that up in my poll. 34 percent of sd1970 buyers experienced at least two issues with their purchase. See my Steeldive playlist to get the full picture and hear that movment on a proper mic. It seized after a few weeks :(
@@johnswatchjoint It stopped running? That's very disappointing being it's a Seiko movement. I guess I got lucky with mine. Yeah my fault I didn't watch the complete video and others you have.
Hi Jon . I know it can come off on the Seiko version but another reviewer tried his recently and found that he couldn't remove it...I'm not gonna try as it took me long enough to find a good Steeldive!
It comes from China? Not good. I've bought two much more expensive watches from china, and not received either. The first watch seller told me to send it back if I had a complaint, the second ignored me completely.
Hi there. They certainly would not get away with that now! I have been doing this for 15 months now and have bought well over 100 watches and have not lost a penny. Sure there have been some issues but they got sorted fairly easily. Amazon and eBay however... They are a shambles now!
