If you had to pick 1 company that best exemplifies sub $500 watches, chances are that you would pick the Japanese big-brand Seiko. And so, nobody should be surprised that there are many homages to the brand. Today we take a look at the AddiesDive AD2104, a homage of the Seiko Willard, done entirely in CUSN8 Bronze.
Brand
Addiesdive is, as its name suggests, focused mostly on homage dive watches at the lower end of the market. Known for their faithful homages of Seiko’s, the brand often delivers a product with insane value. With specs that often exceed their inspirations, and prices that are usually under $100, it’s easy to see why the brand is popular. As with most brands in its category, don’t expect any customer service or warranty with your purchase.
Value
At a shocking $121, this piece’s value is hard to argue with. With an exotic case material, reliable movement, and excellent build quality, what is there to say? The steel Seiko which is being homaged is over $1000 new, and has nearly identical specs. Chinese brands are unmatched in value, and Addiesdive doesn’t break the trend.
Case
Featuring a flat, AR-coated sapphire crystal and 200m water resistance, the specs are there. The CUSN8 solid bronze case is truly the highlight of the watch, and it is done quite well. The crown is screw-down and even has a little Addiesdive logo signed on it.
The 120-click, dive-time bezel is bronze as well. The coin edge makes it easy to grip, and there is just a smidge of back-play. The markings are raised, and there is a triangle denoting the 0 minute mark. One warning is that, because the bezel is bronze, it will patina and lock up if you are not careful. There is a simple fix, however: just give it a turn every now and then - especially after swimming.
Now, bronze watches aren’t for everyone. This watch is not coated, and so that means that it will patina through time and use, at a rather fast pace. The watch also has a steel case back to prevent any reaction where it makes contact with your skin, which is an important and necessary feature if you like having wrists that don’t change colors. The photos included in this review are actually of a watch that has been used and abused for about a year. It’s been in lakes and the ocean, and it shows. Take a look at the photos above, and compare it to the render. The watch will lose its luster and accumulate black and green marks- but that’s the fun! Bronze watches are a bit of a fad of the past couple years, and it’s all because it forces you to remember that watches are meant to be worn, and to embrace the wear and tear. And this watch does just that.
Dial and Hands
The hands and markers all feature the blocky style you would expect from the original, all done up in a gold-tone against a matte black dial. Every marker and hand encapsulates a sizable area of lume, making them extremely legible at a glance against the dial. The date wheel is, unfortunately white, though. It would have been great to see a color-matched black date wheel, but it doesn’t look too out of place- the other markers are nearly white, so it doesn’t stand out too much. The Addiesdive logo and the watch specs are printed in a brown color that matches the case. One common gripe with Addiesdive is that they always print their logo too large, which actually isn’t a problem here. Since the design as a whole is chunky and dive-themed, the large diving inspired logo fits pretty well. All told, it is a pretty cohesive and attractive package.
Lume
There are sizable lume sections in each marker, the hands, and the bezel even has a pip. Aliexpress lume tends to be pretty affordable stuff, but not here! Whether the paint is high-quality or there is just so much of it to be effective doesn’t really matter, as it glows late into the night, and at all the right places. That is, besides the bezel pip, which is so small that it fades pretty quickly.
Movement
Inside the AD2104 is the Seiko NH35, perhaps the most commonly used movement in the price segment, and a benchmark for reliability. The date complication is included in this model. It has a standard 40 hr power reserve, and 6 ticks per second. The caseback is closed, so it is assumed that it is not decorated.
Bracelet or Strap
The watch comes on your choice of a brown suede strap, or a black rubber strap(not shown). The suede strap is thick and durable, which fits the style of watch. It is sort of “rubberized” on the sides, which makes me doubtful of its being genuine leather. What doesn’t fit the style of watch is the fact that on either option, you get a steel buckle. While not a part of the watch that you’ll see, it really should have been bronze to match the other metal used. Yes, it would make a small contact with your skin, which could be reactive, but brands like Oris have shown that a bronze clasp is a winner on a bronze watch.
Fit
One thing to note are the dimensions: this is not a small watch on paper. At a large 43mm width, it is chunky, and heavy. But don’t let that turn you off completely. Because the bezel and cushion-style case are wide, the dial is actually fairly small, making this watch wear quite a bit smaller than you’d guess. Its lug to lug is also only 46.8 mm, which is actually below average. I have an average 7-inch wrist, and it fits perfectly. Plus, with the 20mm lugwidth, its easy to switch straps around to figure out what you like best. Personally, I switched to my Barton Elite Silicone Strap for mine, and it looks spectacular.
Versatility
Chunky, patina-ridden copper dive watches on rubber straps aren’t known for their place under a tuxedo sleeve. The style works very well in casual scenes, and especially around water, but really doesn’t have a place among any attire even remotely dressy.
Originality
No surprises here, this watch is anything but an original design. While Addiesdive do get points for the use of Bronze, something Seiko hasn’t thought of for this model yet, they can’t get too many points. The case, bezel, dial, hands, and markers are all borrowed designs, and so, even, is the non-matching date wheel. That doesn’t leave much else to judge, does it?
Diameter: 43.8 mm
Lug-to-Lug: 46.8mm
Lug width: 20mm
Case Material: CUSN8 Bronze
Strap: Suede or Black Rubber
Crystal Material: Sapphire
Movement: NH35 Automatic with Date
Water Resistance: 200m
Lume: Yes
Crown: Screw-Down
Color Options: Bronze
Heritage: 2/10
Value: 8/10
Case: 8/10
Dial and Hands: 6/10
Lume: 8/10
Movement: 4/10
Bracelet or Strap: 3/10
Fit: 8/10
Versatility: 5/10
Originality: 2/10
WatchScore: 54/100
So what’s the verdict? At the end of the day, this is a clear homage to a very famous, and relatively affordable watch, and that immediately will turn some folks off. With that being said, the AddiesDive AD2104 has both better specs and a better price than the original, and this particular model adds a fully bronze case, which Seiko would charge an arm and a leg for, if they could manufacture it. This is a total win, and if you haven’t picked up a watch from Aliexpress yet, this is your cue: start your collection with this or its steel sister, and you will understand why people love the new Chinese watchmaking scene.
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