STEELDIVE 'Captain Willard' Review | BEST Vintage Seiko 6105 Homage! £150 WATCH?!
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- Today we dive deep into the STEELDIVE "Captain Willard" Homage, we also take a good look at the history of the Seiko 6105 'Captain Willard' that this watch is paying homage to, we also discuss other options from Seiko themselves. I look forward to hearing what you all think of this watch and this homage!
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Mine came today.£106.00 from Amazon.
Got it on the bracelet, but it came with a rubber ‘racing’ style strap. It’s a great watch, and I recommend it!
I got a waffle strap on order for that real ‘Willard’ experience.
Now I feel like I’m ready to hunt a renegade Colonal!
Great review.
I have the black dial, the green dial and the blue dial version of this watch, love them all!! Its a constant battle which one to wear! Thanks for the review it was spot on! 👍👍👍
I have several steeldive watches, specs are amazing for their price.
Will this watch last me 15,20 years?
How long are they lasting?
NH35A movements should be good for 5- 10 years +, and then you can buy a new movement, genuine Seiko for under £50, while a little fiddly, I think most people with a steady hand and the right tools (hand removal tool and hand press, case back opener, watchmaker's screwdriver set £25 ish) Unfortunately it would probably be cheaper to buy a new watch than it would be to have the movement replaced professionally, but I would encourage people to have a go themselves, by the time it needs replacing, you'll have had your money's worth. There are tutorials on RUclips, perhaps a lamp with magnifying lens built in would be a good idea to.
@Laticia Mory 🤣
I have four Steeldive watches and the "Willard" gives me a problem,I have real trouble taking it off.Apart from the quirky design it just feels so right and looks cool too.My others are the "tuna", The Blancpain fifty fathoms homage and the IWC MK9 homage.They are all very good,but the "Willard" is my favourite............................
Got one. Truly a wonderful watch. You can get one for less than 100$ and it' s a steal. Don't event think. Great quality watch with super fine lume and robust movement. Go 4 it.
Looking forward to receiving mine. Bought 10 days ago and still to be shipped
Thanks for a good review of a watch that is under my radar. I think the logo is supposed to be divers glasses in front of a divers tank, in front of a pair of flippers.
Good review? Really? The guys says at 5:55 "automatic NH35 which is essentially unbranded version of NH36" . He has no idea what he's talking about. Harsh, but so true.
I've owned mine for 3 mths and love it. I cracked the crystal the other day and ordered a dome shaped crystal for the replacement. The watch IMHO is a bargain.
Great review by the way.
Hi, Did your replacement dome shaped crystal give the desired Willard multiple image effect.
We ordered a 200 special edition on spanish watch forum ... with apocalipse now written in the dial instead of steeldive... backcase has 3 helicopters and the they put... i like the Smell of napalm in the morning... very cool ... just for 77 euros
Please share the link if possible
@@Darklanza It was only for spanish forum and the listo was closed... Sorry
GREAT video, I just got mine yesterday, and did the same thing, put a tropic strap on it, and it looks great ! Really nice watch that is very well made. I agree with you, if Seiko made this and charged $400-$500, I’d be all over it. But honestly, I’m fine with this great homage.
Just ordered the Blue version. Tried the Seiko, everyone said I have to look at this one!! Thanks for the excellent review James 😎👍👊
Bezel edge is better than on my Turtle. No lie.
Why didn't Seiko do that? 🤦🏾♂️
Also, logo is a Scuba Mask,2 oxygen tanks,with 2 flippers making the X.
Terrific review, awesome camera work. Ordered this watch and an additional milled clasp a few days ago
I got a sterile dial one, put on oem turtle hands, popped in a no AR flat, flush sapphire crystal and glued on an applied Seiko logo from an old dial. My very own frankenhommage for 150$.
Received mine yesterday in green love it and great quality and value
San Martin, Steeldive and Addiesdive all made in same factory. The San Martin version of this watch with NH35 mvt is US$210, while the Steeldive, almost an identical watch is now US$91.
Best value under the sun.
I'm waiting for their version of the mini turtle
I own one. Although spec-wise not actually a small watch, I find it undersized for my wrist. If possible: try one in person before you buy. Mine is leaving the collection. I wear my steeldive 75% of the time now anyways:)
Just got one. Im impressed and really like it. Agree with all you say... I might have liked a gloss dial too.
I just got the bronze version for £140 from SteeldiveUK. The lume on the dial and bezel is the same colour, the text on the dial is also bronze in colour so the logo is hardly noticeable. A quite remarkable watch for the money. They also offer a sterile version in black and blue now.
Just received mine. I was expecting a cheap chinese watch, and it's almost a Seiko premium. Mine is on a waffle strap, extremely comfy.
I think it’s better than a Seiko ...
@@Soggz7785 jajajajajjajja better ? jaajajajja ok
Mine gets more wrist time than my REAL turtle.
@@waterboy4922 What does "jajajajaja" mean ?
@@vikos78 i think it’s better than a Seiko… jajajajaj lol 🤪
I now have mine and have been wearing it a lot.I also have the Steeldive Tuna which is equally addictive.The bracelet I feel although crappy,is probably no worse than the Seiko version from that period.I love the irony of this watch utilizing the Seiko NH35 movement Which is an upgrade from the original used on the Seiko..............................
Glad you are enjoying yours and thank you for watching!
Excellent review man, super thorough. None of your negatives bother me so I just ordered one. Can't wait! Kicks the living shit out of my Seiko 5 I paid double for lol.
Thank you very much for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Also happy to hear the negatives don't bother you ;)
I just bought one of these. Its my first Steeldive and I'm amazed by the quality.
Seiko did release a $1000 willard after releasing the super expensive limited edition. It is called the SPB151. A head to head comparison of these watches would be interesting to see what Steeldive could do compared to Seiko when making an affordable Willard. Steeldive also makes a bronze version of the willard that is interesting.
I have three Steeldive watches including a 6105 homage. They are all amazing watches.
crap.
Superiority complex comes to mind when comparing Swiss watches to Japanese watches. To all the watch snobs the Chinese are catering for the budget market and they are doing a excellent job. San martin and steel dives are excellent for their value.
Have to say this watch review was very good. Covered all aspects a watch geek would want to know. Thank you
I do vietnam living history and struggled to find a old watch that worked ..then I came across this not sure how ....I paid £130 from ebay . Love it
Just ordered one from alibaba on a gray zulu, shipped, with a $5 coupon, for under 80 bucks. Very excited to receive. I'm all about high functionality at an affordable price, and I quite dig the retro seiko vibe. Great review.
Thanks for the review! I was suspicius about the price and how it might affect the quality of the watch, but after watching your review I felt like I just had to get one. Got one on rubber though, like you suggested. Thanks again!
Watch arrived the other day and wow, I'm very surprised by how well made the watch feels. Thanks for this review, it was spot on and I'm happy it convinced me to give steeldive a try. Now I've gotta get my hands on their 62mas homage.
One of my favourite reviewers on YT. Beautiful watch and lovely video. Keep it up mate
Absolutely excellent watch , got mine 2 mounts, savage bit of kit wear it every day , class bit of kit
The homage made by rdaunae rectangula is 1:1 to the original captain willard 1970. It can be purchased on aliexpress, worth looking into if you want exact to the original.
I just ordered one from Alibaba, directly from the manufacturer for 90 bucks shipped. I haven't had the best success with cheap Chinese homage watches, but this looks super solid. I collect Seikos as well and would love a Willard, but that's a little too deep for my pockets right now. This watch seems like the absolute sweet spot. If I really end up liking it, they sell several other styles with the same movement and specs. :)
I have one and another is on the way as I love this watch so much. I get a loss of 1 second per day so it is very accurate (your 8 seconds could be improved upon by making sure you hand wind a little every day, and keeping face up overnight) - I am not 100% sure the bezel really is ceramic as I bashed mine by accident and it is marked slightly. Also I am not sure it really is sapphire crystal - but maybe someone can test these specs? As I say, I have a 2nd one on the way, and struggle to want to wear my Seiko 5KX as I love the look of the Steeldive. It also looks more genuine than the Sharkey or Sam Martin, or the few other homages around. To be fair the Turtle SPB777 would make a good replacement for the 6105. I intend to wear different straps on the 2 Steeldives and swap over. I paid £119 each - from a guy on eBay - same price on AliExpress.
Thank you for watching and thanking you for sharing your experience with yours!
I’m surprised. I bought one and it struggled to maintain +20s per day every day. Some days it hit 15s but most days it is just over 20s. Even the supposedly Swiss sw200 based San Martin I just bought is just hitting 12s a day. This is the edge of their specified limit so I have no comeback. It does make me wonder if it is a sw200 though. If it didn’t require accessing the movement through the case front I would have looked myself.
I haven’t had a Sellita based watch before so I don’t know if they are often only this accurate. All my eta 2824 watches have been better with accuracy of around 4 to 8s a day on average.
This is why I find it surprising that SO people seem to report their cheap Chinese watches as being accurate to under COSC standards. I wonder if some of it is wishful thinking or if they managed to measure it to that figure once after many days of trying.
@@murph8411 wishful thinking ? No I check every day on Watch Check - between 1 and 3 seconds per day. Try lying them flat face up at night. Try hand winding a little when you put on and take off. But don't insult me by saying it is wishful thinking. Both Steeldives are accurate and slightly better than my Seiko 5KX. The Steeldive has a Seiko movement so why should it not be accurate?
@@garyshepherd9226 Maybe because the seiko NH35/4R35 movement is their most basic movement now with -35/+45s per day average accuracy according to Seiko's specs? Unless they still sell some watches with the 7s26 which is the older non hacking/hand winding version of this.
The accuracy I was talking about wasn't wearing accuracy as it varied much more but timing them sitting face up, face down and winder down for a week each.
Granted I don't have a number of nh35 based watches to go by but judging by the amount of evidence of poor handling I have seen in most chinese watches I wouldn't expect them to be assembled to the same standard or go through the same qc as actual Seiko watches.
If you unscrew the back, which is very easy granted you get the right tool, it is very easy to tune the watch one way or the other and get after a few tries to a +/- few seconds a day accuracy
I got mine about a week ago. Wanted EDW watch and this one fit the bill. Great looking watch, very impressive for the price. I've had it on a waffle strap ( to give it a vintage look) but have been wearing it on NATO and ZULU straps lately. This watch lends for a lot of wearing versatility. I also got the Steeldive Tuna. Love them both. If you're thinking about getting one, dont hesitate. They're a fantastic bargain!
Surprisingly high quality review a small channel I’m impressed, this may have swayed me to buy this as it seems to be the most affordable and best homage to the 6105, although I’m open to other suggestions, was looking for a modded seiko that looks like the captain Willard but they’re all at least double the price of this steeldive
Great review, thanks. Not a coincidence other people say that if some Chinese factory can offer this level of quality and specs and a perfectly alignment of bezel and dial for a fraction of the cost of a Seiko, why can they deliver a 6105 reinterpretation on their own at an affordable price? On another note, Steeldive, Heimdallr, San Martin are brands that seem to be using the same factory and adding particular elements and touches to their respective products.
Nice review well done.
My guess is that these ( among others ) are produced from the very same factories that produces Seiko, Timex, you name it.
They use the same parts, brand them and sell them through a retailer for extra cash and that's it. Higher benefits from sales but lower visibility, so they add better materials and good prices to attract people.
Btw, it's the same with other manufactured products.
chinese fancy watch i would say.. no value or not a good investment on the long run.... compare to Seiko or other good brands, you can resell them, put to auction, and more people would still love to get your valued watch.. probably get this one if you already own an original thing.. i would not stick on this brand though.. goodluck on this watch if your planning to sell them after 10yrs.
I have order this piece, and their fifty fathoms. I'm happy to see such a positive review, so I know I didn't waste my money. I will be swimming in them, so I will post another comment with the results once I receive them, and get them wet.
Ordered a blue one on bracelet for $120. I have three or four Seiko Turtles that cost two to three times more and they don't have a sapphire crystal. Good review.
Just bought the bronze version of that one: It's gorgeous!
Great video, i bought mine on Aliexpress for 60£ !! Incredible watch for the money !!
i just received my steeldive apocalypse homage. about 3hrs ago while typing this comment. i am very happy with the quality. i made a suggestion from the seller that it should be without a steeldive logo from the dial to the caseback. my plan is to mod it and make it like the original
I did. The bezel insert is something you will have to live with. it is an unconventional size diameter, and very thin as well. A replacement that fits would still likely stick out...
The nh35 and nh36 differ primarily in day date complications, contrary to your supposition.
From the looks of the logo, it appears to be O2 tanks, dive mask and flippers that resembles a kind of skull and bones look.
All the divers are thinking "It's not 02, it's just 'air,' and those are fins, 'flipper' was a dolphin."
The grey NATO strap at the bottom of this page looks brilliant on the SD1970. You can pick them up for about £8 on ebay!! homagewatch.co.uk/steeldive-sd1970-homage-to-seiko-6105/
Yes I have one and very happy with it. Well reviewed.👍
Brilliant, thank you very much!
One of my more outstanding watches, thanks for the review 100% right for me.
There is also a Seiko "prospex" reissue with a 6r35.
I've had one for about a month now, it's superb and has convinced me to consider further Steel dive pieces....⌚🏴⌚🏴
I bought mine a few days ago but the sterile one just with automatic and water 200m resist at 6 o'clock. As you said, I don't like the logo. Great review. Ne subscriber.
I have the unbranded and I love it! Just as you say in every way. I am less then 5 sec fast per day. I put mine on a 20mm NATO. Again, I love it, out classes my other watches that cost 10X as much! Highly Recommended. Get the unbranded version, looks great!
Just got mine today. *Incredible* value and great Build quality.
Hello. Thank you for your video, it has good sound and image quality. I have this same watch but the strile version as, like you, did not like the logo. I am very satisfied with it. You can buy it on Aliexpress for about 105 GBP or from Alibaba for around 79 GBP . There are also blue and green versions of the same watch. Mine came with a Zulu and an Isofrane strap but a waffle is in my opinion the best complement to the spirit of this piece.
Yours came with a strap that costs more than the watch? An isofrane?
Great review. I've had my steel dive for a week. It's great. I have several seikos I love them but the Captain Willard is way overpriced. The 777 looks like the same. But you are correct It's totally different. The steel dive is the answer.
Now for as little as £60 on AliExpress. There's a couple of others tho' which I think are worth a mention. For around £160-180 there's the Merkur version, not as faithful to Seiko's original but very nicely finished and if you prefer a more "original" look and want something higher quality then check out the Heimdallr Vintage Mechanical Diver available with the ETA 2824 Swiss hi beat movement, and a true vintage style (aluminium bezel insert and no AR coating) don't get me wrong the Steeldive is a brilliant watch especially if you get it for £60! It will also stay fresh looking with that very durable sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel, mine looks as good as the day I bought it. The Vintage Mechanical Diver tho' looks, well authentically vintage, it does have a domed sapphire crystal to make up for the lack of AR coating and the Matt black finish of the traditional aluminium bezel insert looks brilliant. It has amazing contrast and doesn't get lost in the reflection in the way that the ceramic one does. The Vintage Mechanical Diver has incredible light play, the hands have polished angled faces running down them, and it sparkles from every which-way. To be honest the Steeldive gives the Seiko Prospex re-issue Captain Willard a run for its money, the Vintage Mechanical Diver destroys it... Brilliant video about a fantastic bargain. I'm not affiliated with Heimdallr or any retail outlet.
Good review. Did you dive or swin with this watch and did you test its rust resistance in sea water?
i just received mine. I think the shape looks closer to that of the SLA033 than the original. I was a little disappointed that i took that for granted, as i wanted the fatter profile of the original. After a quick look, seems like the Heimdallr high-beat seems closer in terms of case shape, and the crown is directly at 4oclock as well instead of 415. despite this burst of negativity, my oh my what a cracking watch for the money. i have some scratches on the bracelet from the factory, but that aside i can see why people are falling head over heels for these Chinese homages. they're giving us the watches that seiko refuse to make, and the quality ain't half bad either.
@Tricky Tricky yeah with exception of the smiths homage they mostly don't but its definitely closer in feel than the spb.
I have the exact version of the watch and the strap you have and i love it, but now i put the waffle strap on and looks beatifull, really nice watch for the price, thanks for your video and your time, greetings
Where could I buy both of straps?
Nice review thanks. Just bought one with the supplied rubber strap and will fit on an isofrane silicone once I have the correct lug width measurement.
Yeah these watches are really good quality and easy to modify...the aftermarket 6105 dial,hands and doubled domed crystal really transform the watch into an affordable homage,a really well put together dive watch with a Seiko movement!!!.....Ali baba are your best bet price wise!!!
Thank you for watching and thank you for that extra information
Kibble Watches I’ve been waiting for a good honest review of this watch for a while👍🏼
Hi NJB where'd you get those mod parts from please?
eddies1980... You can pretty much get all you need off EBay...Dial and hands, doubled domed crystal and a waffle/Chocolate bar strap,you can also replace day date ring with a Lumed version from WR watchers!!!
Very cool to find you again, I used to watch your videos when I think you were just out of high school crashing your bicycle skinning yourself up and breaking a watch I think you said your dad gave you ! Way cool to see you doing so well!!
Haha trip down memory lane! Thank you very much Mark, things have certainly progressed and I couldn't be happier. I hope you're keeping well
I have 2 steel dive willards...one in bronze,and a San martin capt willard in bronze...buying another next week.
The seiko willards I've seen all have a mis aligned bezels..and at 1400.00 I can buy 6 of the steel dives.
@Tricky Tricky don't need one
Just found your channel. Very good review, you sound so professional! Love it.
That was a great review. untill that epic fumble with the reference numbers!
I like the logo , also get a woful strap, loom is outstanding.... ! Lasts all night , shines throw a long T-shirt...
Great review! 👍
Ordered mine a couple of weeks ago and can't wait for it to arrive. Living in the Caribbean and dealing with the crisis who knows when that will be or if it arrives at all.
Thank you for watching and I'm sure you'll enjoy it once it does arrive! Stay safe and well
We are in Hong Kong and we are in the middle of a crisis as well. Stay healthy . Stay safe and enjoy our steeldive gems.
I bought my Seiko Turtle three years ago, I much prefer these new homages. But the Willard was the one I really wanted, but the Turtle was as close as I could get.
I prefer this Steeldive over my Turtle.
Ditto. Had mine for a couple weeks and you are spot on. Thanks!
Thank you for watching Joe!
I have green dial Heimdallr version (same watch). It's absolutely fantastic, and probably better than the watch it homages to
What is the difference between Heimdallr, San Martin, Steeldive?
I love mine, added a vintage leather band with a butterfly deployment clasp and it looks incredible. I have a bronze fifty fathoms coming from them now and excited to get it. Would love to see you review that one. Could you provide a link to that band, I like it alot.
I think the Chinese made (with Seiko NH35 movt) Addies dive watches may fall into the same category as the Steel dive watch you've got here. They may come from the same company or factory in China, but it's very hard to find info about them, although they do have an online store through Aliexpress. I like the look, which imitates the more expensive Seiko's (for example, larger dial hands, metal trim around the date window, lumed bezel, use of the name marine master), though they seem to be chunkier (300M's are about 15mm thick). But the real draw is price; they are unbelievably cheap for the look you get (they may just be homage watches). I too wouldn't trust the depth ratings (how could a 1000M watch sell for USD 200??). Btw, Im not sure your info about Seiko movts is accurate. The NH35 and NH36 are movts Seiko sells to third parties to incorporate in their third-party watches and are day-only or day/date, respectively. Seiko uses the same movts in its watches but calls them 4R35 and 4R36. Both the NH's and 4R's are hackable and alternatively-windable automatics, a cut above the 7S26 which is not hackable/windable. That's my understanding of it, anyway.
If Seiko had a problem with it, they wouldn’t have sold the parts to Steeldive to assemble. It’s pretty much Seiko sanctioned.
Mine came don't like the metal bracelet but it came with two different straps so it's gone on the rubber strap and looks awesome it looks like it cost triple what I paid which was just over a ton, one hundred quid lol no money what so ever
I was going to the worst place in the world and I didn't even know it yet. Weeks away and hundreds of miles up a river that snaked through the war like a main circuit cable - plugged straight into Kurtz. It was no accident that I got to be the caretaker of Colonel Walter E. Kurtz's memory - any more than being back in Saigon was an accident. There is no way to tell his story without telling my own. And if his story really is a confession, then so is mine.
Looks soo good! 👍
Nice, if I didn't already have a srp777 I'd get one. Excellent value. Cheers 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you for watching Steve, SRP777 is a classic!
Great review! One question: where did you get the tropic strap?
Just ordered mine today from steeldive USA watch co. on ebay ( $ 145.00 ) dollars ! It comes on the steel bracelet with a extra tropic strap & sizing tool,2 extra spring bars ! Get over to eBay quick, because they only have a few left in stock. Ships free from usps USA !
Great vid! I will be modding this one with an OEM Seiko 6105 new version dial!
Turn it into a true ‘Feiko’!
I just ordered green one for 60$ :) Can't wait to get it
Great review the logo is a pair of flippers dive tanks and divers mask superb watch for the money
I must admit, I got my SRP777 half price, chapter ring a tiny bit out... But these Willards outspec my Seiko and it really gets my goat, especially as my friend's Willard is perfectly aligned everywhere. Why can't Seiko sort out their QC especially for their asking prices.
But I did get the watch I wanted as a kid. Great that they did a reissue.
date number is low to the window
Typically £85 at the moment - superb value.
Nice review, but the NH35 is not an unbranded NH36 or more correctly a 4R36. The date only NH35 is the Seiko Instruments equivalent of the branded 4R35 or more accurately 4R35A.The 4R36, now 4R36A is the Seiko day date version of the NH36A which is also a Seiko Instruments movement sold to 3rd party manufacturers. It's probably a good idea to get your movements information right......seeing as you're reviewing watches and all. 😉
You can get them on Alibaba for half that price now. Im looking at one here with delivery for 70 odd euro
You will not regret it.
Got mine today and love it!! I just need to change that awful strap and replace it with a black rubber or black leather one 👍👍
Hello can this be mod to 6105 aftermarket dial??
I got one, awesome 😎 watch.
Steel dive also offers a sterile dial, sterile mirror finish case back and unsigned crown model of this same watch
I didn't realise this, thank you for the information
just arrived... very good indeed.
Looks quite impressive for the price point and solid spec too, not a massive fan of their logo but the rest looks great. Brilliant job with the review.
Thank you very much for watching!
Just picked one up on Alibaba.com for $88 usd. Can’t wait till it arrives!
Nice presentation, with nice photography. I really like this, but I’m with you, on the logo. It would make a great beater.
Thank you for watching Raymond, wanted to cover all factors!
Great commentary, thanks 😊
I'm buying one of these I'm mad on these steeldive
Great price looks the part but mine stops as soon as you take it off the screw down crown is very random at best.
I actually like the "angry ninja" logo.
I like it too
If you watch closer, the logo is actually combination of diving gear pieces. Pretty original!
Zarko Veljovic I like the “angry ninja” metaphor!
Logo, at the background: Dive Fins, in the middle: Oxygen Diving Tank, in front: Diving goggles
@@TheJonhjonhz yes the motifs are not difficult to identify. But the angry ninja metaphor is just cute to reference.