Watchdives Submariner WD7922

I noted that Watchdives had changed their logo from that Shield with the name in it to a Trident ... perhapsit was always like that and I missed it, but I thought I'd have a go at the Submariner 6538 style  (which turns out to be a homage of the Tudor Black Bay, itself a homage to the Sub 6538) that they sell under WD7922 with the Seiko VH31 mecha-quartz in it for that 4 ticks per second second hand (and the accuracy). It arrived today and I'm very happy to say its met and even exceeded my expectations. So firstly I'll show this picture of it on the strap I like to use (and because Blogger uses this as the thumbnail for the article)

Dimensions of the watch are:

• case width = 37mm
• bezel diameter = 38mm
• thickness = 11mm (10 not counting the rise of the glass)
• lug to lug = 45.5mm
• lug width = 20mm
• watch head (no band or bracelet) = 54g (Note, the Rolex is 73g)

Making it a very comfortable fit on a 6.5" wrist like mine.

The watch came in a nice carbon-fiber look case

with a nice touch on the zipper ...

Quality of the bracelet is perfect and clearly its end links are for this exact watch case.

note the double "quick release" heads there (which make removing the bacelet much easier than any bracelet I've taken off) and the beautiful job on the milled clasp).

That I bought this for US$92 (I don't know how they do it) the quality doesn't end there with a sapphire front glass that features AR (I guess on the inside).

The operation of the bezel is the best I've had yet on any watch and while I'm at it, I really like what they've done with the bezel. Gone is that bloody terrible full gloss polished ceramic found so many times and instead we've returned (I assume to) coated alluminium. I love the gold on black.

The lume is as I expected (good) but I haven't taken any lume shots yet.

The red triangle on the lume pip is somehow metalic looking and indeed the pip has a framing of gold just like the dial markers, hands and the Rolex of the day did.

So for someone with a preference for a light, no fuss accurate watch that needs no winding, but a new battery every couple of years. 

Now the question which I guess everyone is interested in is "how does it compare to the Bond"

so, let me leave you with this overlay which I've scaled based on the dial and dimensions of the case width (not the lug to lug). Photographic perspective (including lens) is slightly different (and I made a close guess on what they used in at Sotherbys).

Clearly there are differences in the case and the lugs between (not only) the Bond watch seems sligthly different to the version of that auction.  Lastly, let me put it up against my Seiko SRPE (which does not have a divers bezel)

Here the dial does look bigger but when overlaid its been done with the use of a chapter ring and a lot less bezel. If a divers bezel was to be included the diameter would need to be bigger or the chaper ring trimmed back (and a smaller glass like the Watchdives has).

To me, ultimately, for the price and for everything that it is as a watch: the Watchdives is a winner.

PS: I found this (link) an interesting read comparing the Black Bay to the Rolex 6538.