Vintage diver reissue

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khanmu

·Jan 7, 2023

I’m thinking of buying a circa £500-600 (new or good condition used) watch, it’ll be an every day beater, worn in the garden, workshop etc. So it needs to be robust and waterproof, and I’m tending to a vintage diver reissue. I’ve shortlisted the below, any thoughts from owners on these, and any others I should consider?

- Certina DS pH200
- Bulova mil ship
- Yema superman

I’ve discounted the Bulova Oceangrapher - nice but I’m not a fan of those round crystal markers

Thanks!

 

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janice&fred

·Jan 7, 2023

I like the Yema. Have you considered Seiko?

 

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khanmu

·Jan 7, 2023

janice&fred

I like the Yema. Have you considered Seiko?

Good call - I’ll add to the list - although I had a Seiko Pepsi beater a few years ago which, inevitably, stopped working a few days after the warranty finished..

 

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janice&fred

·Jan 7, 2023

The reissue Yema might be a bit cooler as you want retro 👍

 

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Dsloan

·Jan 7, 2023

Those are all really fun, and you can't go wrong, really. But others to consider:

- Bulova snorkel reissue
- As Janice&Fred suggested, there are so many cool Seiko reissue's right now - the 62mas, 6105-8000, and 6105-8110 reissue's can be had pre-owned in your price range.
- Baltic has some great vintage-inspired piece as well

 

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Spruce

·Jan 7, 2023·Sunburst dial fan

I’ve had older Seiko's that look great and are ideal for garden work except if subjected to vibration - ie hammering in posts, etc.

(Not with the watch but with a hammer/mallet. Being right handed, the wrist with the watch is the left hand, steadying the hammered item. TBH, it was only once - I take the watch off if there’s any risk)

 

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Dan S

·Jan 7, 2023

The Seiko reissue that looks like the 6105-8000 is nice, as is the Citizen Challenge Diver reissue. TBH, photos and info/data (size, materials, prices, etc.) would probably help people engage more with the thread.

 

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Fallout Boy

·Jan 7, 2023

Some cool "clean" watches:
https://www.serica-watches.com/en/

2nd hand:

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/serica-4512-commando-feld-uhr/2303588078-156-7522

 

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COYI

·Jan 7, 2023

I think the Certina PH500 is a fabulous reissue of a vintage watch. I really like how the company has kept the case dimensions the same as the vintage model. The lugs aren't as long as the PH200 models.

It is also robust with the unique Certina DS shock protection system (like on the vintage models), a sapphire crystal, 500m water resistance, 80 hour power reserve and anti-magnetic Nivachron hairspring.

IMO it compares very favourably to watches in a higher price bracket.

I was planning on starting a separate thread on the watch to see what others thought about it.

Edited: Jan 7, 2023

 

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pnwyankee

·Jan 7, 2023

Fallout Boy

Some cool "clean" watches:
https://www.serica-watches.com/en/

2nd hand:

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/serica-4512-commando-feld-uhr/2303588078-156-7522

I like the Serica GMT, price seems a bit high and the strap is kind of "ugly"

 

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Fallout Boy

·Jan 7, 2023

another start-up

https://ventuswatches.com/collections/mori-2-diver

 

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khanmu

·Jan 9, 2023

Thanks to everyone and especially to @COYI - I pushed the button on a DS2 PH500 - I found one for sale at £600, and hadn’t appreciated the blue dial version also includes a donation to Sea Turtle Conservancy.

Of course the curse of Watch buying struck - whilst looking at Yema I came across a nice vintage Yema Superman - so I bought that too 🤦 … photos of both to follow in due course.

 

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COYI

·Jan 9, 2023

Great choice!
I think the PH500 is a fabulous watch and excellent value when you consider the specification and it's historical pedigree.
I also like the Sea Turtle Conservancy connection

 

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khanmu

·Jan 10, 2023

So the DS2 PH500 arrived today, photos below. I also took some photos of it next to my SM300 (my usual weekend doing nice stuff watch), and I must say it compares very well, and at around 1/8 the price, is remarkably good value. I like the push down lock bezel, time will tell how robust this is. The blue dial is really great, the way it catches the light and overall the watch seems very well made:

 

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COYI

·Mar 1, 2023

I'm wearing mine on a mesh bracelet

 

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khanmu

·Mar 1, 2023

Wearing mine today - paint flecks on strap are from repainting the shed 😀

 

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JwRosenthal

·Mar 1, 2023

Late to this thread but that certina is fab! I have owned 2 of the 3 on your original list. I’ll have to check out the specs on the 500 since I had the PH200 and it was a beautiful watch but at 43mm it was just too big.
My review of it here:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/certina-ph200m-reissue.101298/

I ended up trading it to a member here who also ended up selling it for the same reason.

I can attest to the Miships being a spectacular watch in every way and a steal on the secondary market (commonly $4-500 on eBay). One was up sale last night (and still may be) , full kit for $500make offer. It does take 16mm straps (keeping it true to the original design) which was a turn off for the keyboard warriors who want to put their 20mm pilgrim straps on everything, but they lack a sense of history and imagination.

With the money you saved on that Certina, I think you should also add the Mils-ships- we all need a beater rotation as well.

 

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COYI

·Mar 1, 2023

I think the PH500M wears very well on my 7" wrist.

I was close to pulling the trigger on a PH200 a while ago but was not 100% convinced due to the lug to lug dimension. Certina to its credit kept the dimensions of the PH500m true to the original with a lug length of 48mm. When I saw it with a blue dial and a pop of orange I didn't hesitate to add it to the collection.

The Mil Ships is also a lovely watch and very tempting although I recently bought another Bulova military re-issue

 

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JwRosenthal

·Mar 1, 2023

COYI

I think the PH500M wears very well on my 7" wrist.

I was close to pulling the trigger on a PH200 a while ago but was not 100% convinced due to the lug to lug dimension. Certina to its credit kept the dimensions of the PH500m true to the original with a lug length of 48mm. When I saw it with a blue dial and a pop of orange I didn't hesitate to add it to the collection.

The Mil Ships is also a lovely watch and very tempting although I recently bought another Bulova military re-issue

Oh- you got the LE! I have the plain one but equally lovely I think.

 

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Albe100

·Mar 1, 2023

Another option is the Nivada Grenchen Depthmaster - I think they are pretty cool and are around that price range. Vintage charm with modern movement and construction. https://nivadagrenchenofficial.com/collections/depthmaster. They have a few different dial variation and colours.