Decisions, Decisions. Aquadive 100N or Crepas Tektite??

[wilko]

I like the Tektite...but the Crepas name sounds strange to me.

same here. i like the bs100,but i love the tektite.just got to get my grubby mits on one.

[ncmoto]

Two different price points. Crepas is 1/2 the $$$ of the current Aquadive.As I understand One Chinese assembled one All Swiss. For me IF I were to get one as a gift I'd choose Aquqdive. I own both also 1 Aquadive and 3 Crepas watches. IMHO Crepas is the better value...

[Ryeguy]

Two different price points. Crepas is 1/2 the $$$ of the current Aquadive.As I understand One Chinese assembled one All Swiss. For me IF I were to get one as a gift I'd choose Aquqdive. I own both also 1 Aquadive and 3 Crepas watches. IMHO Crepas is the better value...

After watching that MKii / Bill Yao video about "What takes us so .... Long" and seeing him have to disassemble and reassemble watches that he had originally had assembled for him in Switzerland but did not pass his QC, I'm kind of over the Swiss assembled / Chinese assembled value position. In reality, it all comes down to the QC of the seller as any assembly location can make mistakes. If Crepas has solid pre-delivery QC where they check each watch before it is sold, then I have no issue at all where it was assembled.

That said, since I have heard ofno issues with CREPAS QC and they have a US warranty support arrangement made (no need to send the watch back to Spain) I agree they are the better value. Both seem to be great watches though.

[Renisin]

Value is in the eye of the beholder and for me the real value is in the AquaDive! I like the way it looks and the fact that it is made by people who care about watch making, Swiss movement and German case certainly the best of both worlds. Yes it costs more but that doesn't scare me as much as the thought of getting something I will not be happy with. I am not a flipper of watches or anything else for that matter. I usually am quite pleased with my purchases because I know what I like and I like the AquaDive products!!

Two different price points. Crepas is 1/2 the $$$ of the current Aquadive.As I understand One Chinese assembled one All Swiss. For me IF I were to get one as a gift I'd choose Aquqdive. I own both also 1 Aquadive and 3 Crepas watches. IMHO Crepas is the better value...

[nam6869usmc]

[b2s]

FMV, I would take Aquadive any day. But for just a pure look of the watch, I just happen to like Tektite better. If Crepas will make it in 42mm, I buy one without a second thought.

By the way, even though I had never owned both watches, I handled Aquadive in fresh and steel before. As for Crepas, I bought the Le Grand, but sold it. Of course, Tektite and Le Grand are not the same watches, but I don't expect the workmanship to be that far off.

Good luck with the hunt.

[davidrrg]

Crepas for me...

[Montijo]

Aquadive looks great and I hope to get one soon, but my vote goes to the Tektite. Just an amazing watch for the money.

[jacklister]

Crepas is definitely on my list, the AD BS100 DLC is now on my wrist. crepas design reminds of something else,hmmm, I cant remember.

Both are great looking watches, and in terms of value, the crepas is fine, but the AD is light years ahead in its category. You dont get many real (not claimed) German crafted watches with those features below 2k. I missed the initial AD offering at $1290. IMO that was one of the best values ever for any boutique watch.

[PloProf Pimp]

Here are some quotes from actual owners (including jacklister) from the Aquadive thread from last week. There are many Aquadive owner and review threads here, and on their official forum. Always best to take advice or opinions from actual owners.

I've been reading some strong opinions from people who don't even own any an Aquadive Now for some Aquadive love

For me the Aquadive is an incredible diver.....it just ticks all my boxes. You really have to see it in person to fully understand how beautiful it is and the way it feels on the wrist. My BS300 gets 90% of the wrist time...it's freaking awesome! Their fit, finish and build quality is as good as it gets...the case is a work of machining art...perfect brushing and polishing. Their watch maker regulates these ETA movements to superb accuracy....when I wear my BS300 24/7 it gains about a second a week! When Aquadive releases the DLC BS300 series diver, I'll be the first in line Cheers, Shannon

Interesting thread. First to answer OP's question, since that it is our main goal - You cant go wrong with either of those since they are all good watches but you will be getting different kind of watches at different price point.

Aquadive again is a fantastic diver and I would listen only to those who have owned/handled one here as it is hard to appreciate the beauty and the quality without having one. I have owned a couple of watches over the years. Every time I pick up my AD, I spend a few seconds looking at the dial and the hands as it is just so darn good. The build quality is phenomenal and feels just so right on the wrist. I have every version put out by AD so far (100 S/S, 300 DLC, 100 Bronze and the Vintage NOS diver) and possibly will get every single one they put out in future. It does have a history and I wouldnt get too caught up in ownership issues. The service is fantastic.

This is indeed an Interesting thread. I have been collecting Dive Watches since the Mid 80`s and have been very fortunate to have owned and still own many great Divers. I own both an Aquadive BS100 DLC and a Bronze BS100 .

The Aquadive`s have been a wonderful surprise to me. The build quality is exceptional and on a par with many watches that I have costing 2-3 times the price. The Cases and Bezels in particular are very well done and I find the weight to be perfectly distributed on the Isofrane Straps (I am a little biased in that I wear Isofrane straps on many watches and love them). Both of my Aquadive`s keep time within COSC Specs and in particular my Bronze Aquadive has become a watch I grab very often. Good luck with your decision but I would say Aquadive will leave you very happy .

All the best,

Vic

I've owned watches from every brand imaginable including Panerai, Omega, IWC, JLC, Seiko, Stowa, Sinn and others. I'm a working divemaster, I'm chairman of an avocational maritime archaeology organization and I've logged a few dives in the last ten years or so.

With that being said I'll offer the following. Aquadive, a company reborn by people with a passion. I was lucky enough to dive two of their watches on loan, a BS300 and a Vintage NOS diver. There were zero issues and they performed flawlessly. Even the vintage diver, which I was a bit reticent to take to depth, did fine on reef dives to 45 fsw or so. The bronze BS100 I dove on several wreck dives so far this summer. No issues. Great build quality and superior luminescence. Superb time keeping. I think Aquadive will stand the test of time. From what I've experienced first hand they spend considerable effort building and regulating the watches before delivery. All of the AD watches I've worn have kept very, very good time. The fit and finish have been second to none. And to top it off, they've apparently been built by people who care about their products and their customers rather than by some faceless company that doesn't have the time to respond to emails.

Buy the watch that speaks to you. Buy the watch that smiles at you and you'll be happy you did.

Just my 2 cents.

AFAIK, Aquadive justify their prices by the German quality manufacturing, the all cnc machined case with no stamped parts, not by their history. Amazing quality piece, of all my watches, only the new Ploprof has that quality finished case feel.

jack