Steeldive SD1970 Steeldive "Captain Willard" Mens NH35 Dive Watch £61.32 @ AliExpress Steeldive Store

I work with SD as an importer it's 316L and not a pot metal type of alloy that's plated, the all of the watch is 316L apart from the inside.

420 SS would not be suitable for watches especially in the sea as it'd a lower chromium and high carbon steel.
It's great for cutlery, blades and some tools but not suitable for a watch.

With SS watches the golden standard is 316L as it has a high chromium content with low carbon , some people have kind of corrosive sweat, seawater also, it's used in marine applications.

It's nothing special in the watch world.
For SS in watches its 316L and a few brands use 904L but in my opinion brands like rolex only use 904L so they can say it'd a kind of precious metal and its not, just marketing.

Bought it. £61 hate this site (edited)

If you’re going to change out the dial then make sure the new one has the right dial feet for the movement and for the position of the crown. Use the old dial and check the position of the feet compared to the date window and the 12 to avoid fitting something that will put the dial on an angle and check is the right diameter for the case. If you get an appropriate one, it should be pretty easy to change the dial. Set the watch to 12 o’clock so all hands are straight and grouped. You have to open the back, remove the crown. There’s a release tab you press and then it pulls fully out. Cup your hand under and with a tiny bit of persuasion the movement should drop out. If you need to use tweezers or a cocktail stick to remove it, do that by making contact with the plastic spacer ring, not the movement. He second hardest part is removing the hands which you should do with lever tools made for the job and a ziplock bag over the dial and hands to avoid scratches. When replacing the dial take care to hold the movement by the plastic spacer ring and not put pressure on the back. The dial kind of plugs into the movement. If you get the wrong dial you can buy the right size of dial feet, file off what’s on the dial and affix new ones but it’s challenging to position the feet correctly on the dial if you do that. The hardest part is replacing the hands which you will need to gently press on one at a time using a tool made for the job. At 12, remember. The second hand fits on a pin about the size of a hair which can be easily bent and is a much bigger job to replace. Then pop it back in the case, replace the crown and the back.

Just like many Swiss brands, to be able to make the "Swiss made" claim only 51% of the watch has to come from Switzerland, the rest comes from China.

Seiko is stupid money now, but SD during a sale they can send ones with poor qc or returns.

Ali x has changed and sides with the seller.

If this is the case, then that's OK. I will go ahead and purchase!

Yeah I agree. It's a shame that so many Chinese companies make homage watches rather than their own designs. If they were a bit more inventive with aesthetics and used the same specs, I'm sure they could really make some great watches.

They're all good quality with Seiko NH35 movement. It just comes down to which design you prefer.

I guess you mean because it's a good price and from UK seller? Currently £89 if you select the voucher and posted free and quickly with Prime. I think they're the same factory/company, even similar logo, but I suppose that's Chinese clones for you?!

I tried to post it as a deal, but despite having 94% positive feedback over the last 12 months, the Amazon marketplace seller doesn't have the requisite 300 feedbacks so was deleted by hukd. (edited)

Im an SD importer and yes this stuff can happen, especially during sales.
Ali used to be better now they take the side of sellers.
PP is not great...

I buy a decent amount from them and I told them that any faults and I will send them back.
But I do know Chinese culture anyway I do my own qc checks, demagnetize, put on a timograph.

Less than 5 percent failure.

It is a good watch but they will try to get rid of customer returns during sales.

But a good one is really good, it's a fully loaded 21600bph auto.

In my opinion they are easily worth 150 when you compare them to the Seiko remake that's over a grand I think and it's closer in shape to the OG.

The only big watch brand worth the RRP is Orient, they are not even sold in the UK.

Ali express is getting more and more risky.

Like that one

I have 4 STEELDIVES currently at my parents address, I bought a set of 8 Nato Watch Straps on Amazon for £25.00 so swap them about a lot. STEELDIVE TUNA Version is one of my favourite watches right now and will be one I take snorkelling with me later in the year too.

The Youtube reviewer (above) doesn't seem to like the painted-on indices of the SD1975 - must admit it's put me off a bit. Think he got something of a dud as it's not running well, either.

He seems to prefer the SD1970S Bronze Case Steeldive, though it's considerably more expensive aliexpress.com/ite…tml
He reviews this SD1970S (Bronze) here (edited)

What bracelet did you go for if you don't mind me asking?

Usually people posting aliexpress deals forget the VAT, because it's only added on at the stage after OP's screenshot

54.73 * 1.2 = £65.67

If you pay in dollars using a fee free card you'll save a quid or so as well, always pay in dollars on aliexpress! And use topcashback. (edited)

Same for me but I assume this is normal for AliEx?

Strange, it shows as £55.31 for me at checkout - once "Spend & Save" discount is applied (£3.37 off every £16.86: 3 x £3.37 = £10.11). I don't see any taxes added when I ordered, nor was I charged for any... yet.

Potentially, as it is actually slightly bigger, but true to the side of the original! (edited)

In this case it's better than the original! But I agree it's a wanabee.

It's an AliEx watch and for £60 odd you are asking a lot. If you want a tested and ISO certified dive watch you need to be looking at either Citizen or Seiko. This will 'probably' be fine for skin diving, but there are never going to be guarantees with anything like this from AliEx.

it's by far the best value watch for the money if you get a good one.
In my opinion it's worth 150 with the specs you get if it'd a good exanoke me

Watches in the UK cost a fortune

They usually offload some scrap during sales, the higher QC stuff goes to SD importers like me but can also go on Ali.

Ali x is favoring sellers too much now m in the past they sided with buyers.

Unless you don't know to protect yourself on Ali it's a risk.

I've had mine for 2 years and its perfect, great for modders also.

A circle in the background, with crossed dive flippers then twin air tanks and a mask on top.

Unless you know how to do it and have all the tools and equipment dont bother, watchmakers in the UK would charge a hefty fee and some would refuse it would look stupid on a branded one with a SD crown and caseback, the sterile one is a little more money.
Official Seiko dials are pricy knowing where to get the good ones, most people don't tell.

People complained about it too much, it still has blue ar but it's not as tinted.

This is more true to the original Willard than Seiko's reissue, which 42.7mm. The original Willard, which was the first Turtle, was 44mm. The modern Turtles also have a slightly less square case, no pronounced upper crown guard and different hands/indices. (edited)

Just copped at £58