Steeldive SD1979 with a Steeldive Tropic strap fitted compares well to the Squale 1521 Classic COSC that is 10 x the price (Squale is over $1,600 vs under $150 for Steeldive). I'm a desk bound diver so I'd never test the 200M of the Steeldive let alone the 500M of the Squale. https://www.squale.ch/en/1521-classic-cosc¤cy=TkhXQ2NXOHc1Q0U3WWgzSW9RNVRjdz09 Would still buy real deal Squale 1521 if I won Lotto though. Highly rate Steeldive Tropic rubber strap (https://www.steeldives.com/collections/watch-straps-accessories/products/soft-breatherable-rubber-watch-band) over the Steeldive Waffle rubber strap (https://www.steeldives.com/collections/watch-straps-accessories/products/waffle-rubber-watch-band). Transforms the daily wearability of the SD1979 for me. Original 5-link Engineer was a heavy and bulky band. Always felt it on. Waffle was lighter but still thick. Tropic is lighter than Waffle and thinner and perforated. No wrist sweat wearing it. Hardly notice the weight of it. 42mm is about the biggest for my wrist size. Was thinking of other Steeldive watches like the SKX007 with a 5-link Jubiliee as a Seiko homage but it'd be bulky and heavy compared to Squale homage.
Ordered and fitted the Tropic perforated silicon rubber strap. Good resemblance to Squale 1521 model blasted tropic strap that sell for around 1000 Swiss Francs. Very comfortable strap. Previously fitted the Waffle Silicon rubber strap. Decent but thicker and heavier strap. Tropic strap is lighter and thinner. Big difference to weight on wrist with original Engineer steel strap.
Bought it with the Engineer strap and then bought the Waffle Silicon strap for it. Just bought a Tropic Silicon strap seeing that this is what is fitted to the Squale that this is a homage to. Looks pretty similar at a distance. Squale cost over 1000 Swiss Francs so over 2000 Dollars. Nice, but should be for the price. Only issue I noticed with the Seiko automatic movement in this is you need to keep wearing it and not put it away. To get the day updated you have to wind the hands round for 24 hrs per day date. Can need a lot of winding as days only increment forward so if it ran down on 1 for the day date and it is now day 30 that will need a lot of winding to update the date. Will post a photo when I get the Tropic strap fitted next to an actual Squale with the Tropic strap fitted as standard. Good looking homage with black face and strap. Would look good with a blue face and blue strap too that is a combination often used on sports and dive watches 👍
The Squale homage arrived today, it is just great. But having a Willard, I knew it would not disappoint. Only problem is, I am loving the Willard and hate to take it off. But want to give the Squale a test run, so it is on my wrist now. I am really glad that I found the Steeldive people, it is a very cool company!!!
Added photo of the SD1979 lume. Love the way the numbers on the bezel have great lume as well as the hands. Will get the Steeldive NATO Spectre strap to go with it: https://www.steeldives.com/collections/watch-straps-accessories/products/universal-type-soft-nato-nylon-watch-band?variant=40964774133930
Got mine in NZ. Not common. Think we need more resellers in NZ. I think its a stunning watch. Fits me fine after I got a jeweler to take 4 links out of engineer strap to fit my 7.5" wrist as sized for 8.5" wrist and the adjustments on clasp that are straightforward to do would reduce about 0.25" for fine adjustment after removing links first. Photo shows almost blue face with black bezel. But on my wrist not in the photo it has a black face and black bezel. Think the blue face and bezel would look good. I've gone from a 38mm case to a 42mm case and an 18mm strap to a 22mm strap. It fits well and looks solid but I don't think I could wear a bigger watch like 44mm case. Engineer strap feels good after adjustment. May also get a rubber strap for it after seeing how I go with the steel strap. Not light. Not heavy. Feels solid on your wrist Will check the lume tonight and will update my post with a photo of the lume. I find a divers watch with lume as incredibly handy to check time late with lights off. Looking forward to having an automatic instead of a quartz. Was getting fed up with getting batteries changed on quartz watch. Hope to just keep this on to run it. I'd also be interested if Steeldive make smaller cases. Found my 38mm divers was pretty unobtrusive. Maybe a slightly smaller 40mm next. I wouldn't get a 44mm.
What great value! Solid build, top-notch finish, great details & the Lume…. Their Lume game is just on another level compared to the rest! Makes you wonder why $5k worth watches can’t come close. Overall a great watch that any enthusiast can appreciate & respect the details & finish while giving you value for money to the single dollar.
Great dive watch! Just got it today. It’s all what the reviews promised. Well made with a super sleek design and a nice mecanical steel finish. Came with an extra dark blue NATO strap! Arrived one day late, but FedEx was informative to let me know all the way. 5 out of 5 for this little dive watch! 😄👌