Aquadive BS100, Seiko SBDX001 or Stowa Prodiver + Halios Laguna?

[Inq]

Calling the MM300 a wannabe Rolex Sub is quite funny and not something I would expect from someone that handled both and knows a thing or two about watches (yes I know, both have black dials, a date at three and the hour markers are round :)). The heritage, the movement, the monocoque case, the lume on the Marinemaster 300 brush aside most boutique divers, including the AD and the Stowa.

IMHO, the MM300 competes with the Omega PO and the Rolex Sub. Testament to this statement are the large number of threads comparing these particular dive watches. I consider the Aquadive and the Stowa competitors for the Sumo at best.

[voodootomato]

This post is just plain silly....its the same mentaly as "its just a Seiko" Do you own a MM300 or a Rolex or have handle either?

You have alot to learn Jr!

I could never wear a wanna be Rolex look alike, thats why I chose the Stowa and will in the future a AD! Cool watches that never get confused with anyother brand. Oh and by the way the only part Aquadive uses from the far east is its bezel and you know who else sources from the same company,IWC. Everything else comes from Germany or from the Swiss. I have no problem with ETA movements, they are reliable and accurate. All in imho

I have several watches that I have had for sometime and when I wore them, I always got,I really like your fake Rolex! I nolonger wear them!

[Renisin]

The answer to your question is yes!!!! And it's not a matter of whether they are excellent watches,it never has been. For me it's a matter of style and Rolex subs and similar watches are just not to my taste!

I have friends that have alot more money than I, who own Rolex Daytonas,white 18kt IWC Big Pilot, Tags,Omegas and know far less about watches than I do! The point being is that they bought watches that they thought would impress others! Why because of all the money spent by these companies on advertizing, everybody knows what a Rolex looks like so they know the kind of money you spent, not that you got more watch, you just got more recognition!! I don't fall into that small frame of mind. If you like the Rolex Sub, great it is a fine watch,so is the 300MM,but for me it looks too close to the sub! If I hurt your feelings, sorry! Have a great day, Jr.

This post is just plain silly....its the same mentaly as "its just a Seiko" Do you own a MM300 or a Rolex or have handle either?

You have alot to learn Jr!

[Renisin]

I really don't have a problem with quality products made in the far east! Most of your big brand watch companies source from the far east as well,so why not be competitive and keep costs down! ...... you have an issue with anything Swiss, why is that?

The website indicates the dial and bezel are made in Asia and finished in Europe. The bracelet is also manufactured in 'undisclosed' (usually code for China) and finished in Germany.

[1R0NH31D3]

I think it would be hard to go wrong with any of those choices. I'll see if I can add something constructive.

Personally I would get the sbdx001 out of the choices you are offering. I have owned the prodiver for a few years, it gets a lot of wear time and I really love the unique look of it, it is refined yet industrial at the same time, the design really captures the German design aesthetic and speaks to me. All that being said I will buy an SBDX001 as my next watch and if I could only have one watch I would probably lean towards the Seiko over the Stowa.

I have held an SBDX001 and it is beautiful a great piece of work, but it is also double the cost of a prodiver, and the designs are quite different. I bought my Prodiver for 800 second hand and I think that is a steal for how great this watch is, even at MSRP the prodiver is a nice package.

I won't say much about the aquadive other than the look just doesn't do it for me. I don't like where the lugs attach to the strap, I think the crown looks like an afterthought and the I do not like the size of the numbers on the bezel. I do really like the shape of the bezel, the hands, and the indices though.

Bottom line is you should not care about what people are saying about the fit and finish about these watches, the are all up to the standard they should be for the price they sell at. Your choice is solely about looks. I have zero issues with my prodiver and I am very impressed with the fit and finish. From the SBDX001 that I looked at I would say fit and finish was a bit better but the design was also more complicated and gave opportunities to show off some better finishes.

[Inq]

I have never met anyone or heard anyone mistaking a Seiko Marinemaster for a Rolex Sub. The lack of cyclops alone would confuse most people that your friends would like to impress :))

Also, do a search on the movement in the BS100. Compare it to the 8L35 in the Seiko.

[bedlam]

...... you have an issue with anything Swiss, why is that?

I don't have any issue with something actually being Swiss. Not even a little.

I wouldn't pay lots more for things claimed to have 51% of their value related to something loosely Swiss though. You would have to be silly to do something like that.

[Renisin]

I'm glad you like your watch,it is a nice piece and with a fine movement! Still not my cup of tea! No one will care what kind of movement is in your watch,just does it keep good time. The Seiko has the better movement,all better now?

I have never met anyone or heard anyone mistaking a Seiko Marinemaster for a Rolex Sub. The lack of cyclops alone would confuse most people that your friends would like to impress :))

Also, do a search on the movement in the BS100. Compare it to the 8L35 in the Seiko.

[Inq]

No one will care what kind of movement is in your watch,just does it keep good time.

It's a watch, I would care. For the money, I think the BS100 should sport a top grade ETA movement, or at least an ETA2892.

I no longer have the MM300, I sold it in order to fund another Rolex wannabe: an Omega Planet Ocean 8500 :))

[clouser]

I have owned both the MM300 and the BS100. IMO, the MM300 wins this race by a nose. Everything about the MM300 is just plain sexy, and it's definitely one of those watches that needs to be seen in the flesh to be really appreciated. The quality of the case finishing, dial, and hands is off the charts. Having said that, I recently traded my MM300 for a Breitling Seawolf...not because I wasn't in love with the MM300 anymore, but because the Seawolf has been on my radar for so long. The MM300 was the only watch in my collection that was close to the price point of the Seawolf, so I sacrificed it for this damn hobby of mine. I'll see this week if the quality of the Seawolf matches that of the MM300.

The BS100 is definitely a nice piece, and it gets the most wrist time out of all the watches in my collection. It's definitely no slouch quality wise, but the MM300 edges it out.