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Thread: Best bang for buck dive watch? Up to £200

  1. #1
    Master Sharky's Avatar
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    Best bang for buck dive watch? Up to £200

    Would like some recommendations please.

    I have been out of the watch game for a while.

    I want something I can use for swimming / holiday without fear of water ingress, so probably minimum, 200m.

    New or preowned doesn't matter, but the budget is £200 or less

    Thanks for any recommendations.

    Mark

  2. #2
    Master
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    Possibly a Divex or Apeks. I'm sure you could get a Citizen diver for that too.

    Or if not a diver a G-shock or that pvd CWC GS sapphire that's on sc at the moment.
    Last edited by markbannister; 22nd June 2022 at 15:52.

  3. #3
    Master PhilipK's Avatar
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    Scurfa. Rated to 300m or 500m (depending on the model) and should be achievable second-hand within your price range.

  4. #4
    Grand Master markrlondon's Avatar
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    G-Shock or Orient Mako/Kamasu/Ray.

  5. #5
    I have an Apeks 200m which would be easily in budget. It's a good size too (not too big). You'd get a Seiko 5 too if you wanted an auto.

    I picked up a Zeno PRS3 recently in budget, and it's got a 10yr battery life and 300m WR so perfect if you can find one.

    Casio MDV106 has 200m WR and you can get a new one for £50.

  6. #6
    Master davidj54's Avatar
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    A shade over budget but the Phoibos WaveMasters get very good reviews and look good, white dial with black bezel is nice.

    PHOIBOS Automatic Men's 300m Diver Watch with Wave Patterned Dial and Rubber Strap Wave Master PY010R https://amzn.eu/d/3lhzkrW

  7. #7
    Grand Master markrlondon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by twhp101 View Post
    You'd get a Seiko 5 too if you wanted an auto.
    I think the new generation of those are all 100m, though.

  8. #8
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipK View Post
    Scurfa. Rated to 300m or 500m (depending on the model) and should be achievable second-hand within your price range.
    Yes I'd agree great pickup on the used market and the rubber strap is really comfy.

  9. #9
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    Everything you need with change for beer:

    REDUCED: San Martin ‘Willard’ NOW GBP 90 (tz-uk.com)

  10. #10
    Master
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    This one.

    316L Stainless Steel Case.

    100m WR

    Screw back crown

    Miyota auto movement

    Sapphire Crystal.


  11. #11
    seiko solar tuna maybe ( used of course or you can get deals on new ones if you up your budget a bit )

  12. #12
    Master
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    As stated Apeks and Divex excellent value. Scurfas also fantastic watches.

    Personally, I’d try and stump up a little more and get an automatic Seiko diver. For all their alignment issues they are still pretty cool and some of them are iconic.

  13. #13
    Master earlofsodbury's Avatar
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    If you don't mind stretching the budget a bit, £255 will get you a brand new Titanium diver, with Tritium indexes, 300m WR, sapphire crystal, and a 10-year battery life. There's date and DLC versions, too.



    MWC haven't exactly been forum favourites, but I've owned 3 and they've been superb, and when I needed customer support they really came-up trumps.

  14. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by markrlondon View Post
    I think the new generation of those are all 100m, though.
    Quite right thanks

  15. #15
    Master
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    Heimdallr Sharkey of whatever style you like

  16. #16
    Master
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    You can't beat the Citizen Promaster Eco Drive (BN0151-17L), surely? Pretty much their all-time classic.

  17. #17
    Master Ruggertech's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LondonNeil View Post
    Heimdallr Sharkey of whatever style you like
    The fit and finish in these is excellent, awesome for the price. But has the water resistance been proven?

  18. #18
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ruggertech View Post
    The fit and finish in these is excellent, awesome for the price. But has the water resistance been proven?
    I thought somebody here did test one. (Maybe snowman - I might be wrong)
    I had a sharky tuna and it was great for the cash, lume and crystal were very good. As a smash about holiday watch I think it’s a good choice.

  19. #19
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
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    Could you get a Zelos for that budget? I've always been amazed just how much bang you get for the buck with those

  20. #20
    Master
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    I don't think you need a diver for a bit of sea side splashing about. I've swam and messed about in boats wearing a watch with 50m WR. But if you want a diver and are OK with a slightly bigger case the Casio Duro is great value and can be found for less than £50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyyLkXNWSvM

  21. #21
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    They’re excellent, I’ve had a few of them. I’d say they’re on par with San Martin.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ruggertech View Post
    The fit and finish in these is excellent, awesome for the price. But has the water resistance been proven?

  22. #22
    Grand Master Rod's Avatar
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    Steeldive Tuna, Seiko auto movement, (mine's within 3 secs per day) 300mtrs, sapphire glass, ceramic bezel, rubber & metal bracelet.... all for £135.
    Amazing value. 👍

  23. #23
    Master Ruggertech's Avatar
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    Sorry guys, by "has the water resistance been proven" I don't mean 200m+ pressure tests, just have people swam and snorkelled and dived into the hotel pool in one and not had any problems.

  24. #24
    Grand Master snowman's Avatar
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    I've scuba dived in a Heimdallr 6105 and a Steeldive 'Tuna' and MM300.

    Not super deep, but certainly enough to prove their WR for swimming or most recreational scuba diving.

    Obviously my 'tests' only proved those watches were water resistant, but I suspect you'll be unlucky to get one which isn't.

    My latest Steeldive 'Tuna' was only £80 delivered (from AliExpress).

    M

    Sent from my ASUS_X00PD using Tapatalk
    Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?

  25. #25
    Master Lampoc's Avatar
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    Orient Mako/Ray or one of the Geckota dive watches. The G-02 is pretty funky and brand new for £199.


  26. #26
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    Nobody has mentioned a Vostok yet…
    I will get my coat…

  27. #27
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    Nobody has mentioned a Vostok yet…
    I will get my coat…
    I was just about to mention this, you beat me to it....Vostok Amphibia, 200m practically indestructible and excellent value for the price point.

  28. #28
    Master Ruggertech's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by snowman View Post
    I've scuba dived in a Heimdallr 6105 and a Steeldive 'Tuna' and MM300.

    Not super deep, but certainly enough to prove their WR for swimming or most recreational scuba diving.

    Obviously my 'tests' only proved those watches were water resistant, but I suspect you'll be unlucky to get one which isn't.

    My latest Steeldive 'Tuna' was only £80 delivered (from AliExpress).

    M

    Sent from my ASUS_X00PD using Tapatalk
    That certainly sounds good enough, thank you.

  29. #29
    Master searat's Avatar
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    Another vote for Scurfa from me - I've had a couple of their quartz divers, outstanding value for money and beautifully engineered.
    Steve

  30. #30
    Master Routers's Avatar
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    BFK has got to be worth a shout


  31. #31
    Master Sharky's Avatar
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    Some great recommendations. Thanks everyone

    Mark

  32. #32
    Master earlofsodbury's Avatar
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    I'd also suggest a browse through Spinnaker's offerings - the quality is way better than they have any right to be at the price, and certainly better than their render-based web-pages suggest! Sign-up for emails and get another 15% off.

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