Posted: 4/17/2025 10:05:10 AM EDT
| I want to simplify my life and part of that is going back to a traditional watch. Before getting on the smart watch bandwagon, I always had a diver, in part because I used to dive and I preferred, the look, function, and utility. It wasn't as though I used the watch as part of my dive equipment, it was more just as an accoutrement. Anyway, I'm looking at the SBDC197, SBEJ011, and the SBDY131 as really budget friendly option. Does anyone have any of these models and if so, what can you tell me about them? |
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| my everyday FOREVER was a citizen eco-drive the titanium model, not the blue angels one but the same watch without the paint. I loved it, kept perfect time, was pretty feature rich, perpetual so i didn't have to remember to charger or wind it, but wasn't so expensive that I didn't mind getting into the muck with it, it was tough as nails and kept right on ticking. |
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Best Guntech, Daddy, King of all the wild things.
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Tbh you really can't go wrong on any of those. Aside from the gmt I believe the other two are using the same movement. Really just depends what you like most visually as under the hood they are pretty similar. I think the other two non gmt's are using the 6r movement, but if im wrong someone please step in. It's been a minute since I've looked at Seiko's. Eta: few seiko divers i got. Honestly didn't think it would ring true but the Solar Quartz(sbdn075) is my edc work watch and has been one of my most worn and dare i say one of my favorites. This coming from a guy who loves his autos(obviously). Admittedly however, I do switch over to an auto after work hours. But if I were going on a trip somewhere and could only bring one watch, that sbdn might get a serious consideration, a good cleaning, and come along for the journey. 
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I've hesitated to buy any of the Seiko's with the 6R35 movements, as they seem to be somewhat random accuracy. The problem, then, is that you need to step up to a $2800 Seiko to get a better movement (if I understand their Prospex lines). But, the 6R35 is a workhorse for Seiko, so it's probably fine. I just got used to +1 sec/day accuracy with my Tudor FXD and it's hard to go back to +/-15 sec/day. |
Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics, died in 1906, by his own hand, Paul Bhranfest, carrying on the work, died similarly in 1933, Now it is our turn to study statistical mechanics...
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Originally Posted By WWolfe: I've hesitated to buy any of the Seiko's with the 6R35 movements, as they seem to be somewhat random accuracy. The problem, then, is that you need to step up to a $2800 Seiko to get a better movement (if I understand their Prospex lines). But, the 6R35 is a workhorse for Seiko, so it's probably fine. I just got used to +1 sec/day accuracy with my Tudor FXD and it's hard to go back to +/-15 sec/day. I've heard this as well, which has also caused me to look at the Marinemaster with the 8L35 movement, but that is way more than I want to spend at the moment. Is there any reason getting it regulated wouldn't solve the problem the 6R movements? |
I can’t stand it to think my life is going so fast and I’m not really living it.
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Originally Posted By Dissident: I've heard this as well, which has also caused me to look at the Marinemaster with the 8L35 movement, but that is way more than I want to spend at the moment. Is there any reason getting it regulated wouldn't solve the problem the 6R movements? Not sure if they can be regulated to be consistent or not. It's not a huge deal - I think it's a very reliable movement. And what I'm reading.... most are accurate. I have a MM300 from about 20 years ago. Never serviced. Beat on it regularly. Runs like a top! +4 sec/day. |
Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics, died in 1906, by his own hand, Paul Bhranfest, carrying on the work, died similarly in 1933, Now it is our turn to study statistical mechanics...
| Keep an eye on exquisite time pieces. They've been blowing out mm300's of different flavors for around 1400-1700 as of the last few months. I got an sla047 for iirc about 1580 that was marked as used, but it still had all the packaging/hang tags/stickers on it. Very satisfied. Had to haggle a little bit, but good crew from what I can tell and interacted with. Very responsive and kept in great contact, texting me pictures throughout the process. As I did it all electronically/online. |
I think the Samurai is one of the best value dive watches out there, and the Dark Manta is a fucking stunner! I also have what they nicknamed a MM200, gorgeous watch, not sure the model number. Had a set of MM300 hands installed and it gets a shit ton of compliments. 
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The duty of a patriot is to protect his nation from its government.
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
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Originally Posted By HiramRanger: I think the Samurai is one of the best value dive watches out there, and the Dark Manta is a fucking stunner! I also have what they nicknamed a MM200, gorgeous watch, not sure the model number. Had a set of MM300 hands installed and it gets a shit ton of compliments. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/218/DA208922-C60A-4833-91C8-DF03D00E5E44-2764908.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/218/D0BD9268-62C5-48F4-8136-E98F7C85A733-1755691.jpg I had this same watch on a Maratac strap 2 weeks ago while mountain biking - somehow the pin came out I didn’t notice it missing until I got home. Went back but couldn’t find it . 20 mile ride so it could have dropped off my wrist anywhere, Sucks!! Still so bummed |
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Originally Posted By HiramRanger: I also have what they nicknamed a MM200, gorgeous watch, not sure the model number. That one (MM200) is my personal favorite. Looks, size, design, etc. |
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I vote SBDC197 but I am a huge 62mas fan. I have been wearing the previous model spb143 with the 6R35 movement for almost 4 years and have now worn it almost everyday for over a year, accuracy was something around -10 seconds a day for the first 3.5 years but recently it went off a cliff and is at -30 a day. I have beat the crap out of it and it has been an absolute tank until the recent accuracy issue. I have not sent it in for service yet due to recovering from a hip injury but once I do I am sure Seiko will fix it. To put it in perspective I pretty much stopped buying watches because I just wore my stupid Seiko all the time because it made me happy, if something happened to mine I would 100% buy the same watch again. Attached File Attached File |
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Modded. Domed sapphire eteched with a tiny sea turtle. Attached File Attached File |
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USN, Ret.
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Seiko? Diver? Tuna. Lol. I love the tunas though. They wear great, have distinct look and have great history in regards to seiko’s diving watches. I have a SNE498 - solar tuna. I’m reasonably convinced it’s a nokia in watch form. My domed sbbn031 attracts scratches like I like tuna’s. |