With a sapphire crystal, 46mm case, and powered by a Seiko NH36 movement, the Deep Blue Sunray Diver arrived today. It was on sale on ShopNBC, shipped for $221 and it sold out.
It plays slightly bigger than the Seiko Black Monster. Like the Monster, it's coated with heavy Superluminova on big markers.
The clasp is slightly thicker and better built than the Monster's. The bracelet seems slightly more upscale.
The NH36 movement, I've been told, is a Chinese made version of Seiko. Hopefully, the movement is as robust as the Singapore-made movement on the Seiko Black Monster.
Getting a Deep Blue diver watch, very high in lume and function, points toward a different direction in my watch tastes. I'm veering away from the oversized, ostentatious watches, especially those with insufficient lume and cheap mineral crystal.
Gut reaction to opening the Deep Blue was overwhelming, but I put it on and gave the lume markers a good look and they look promising and striking. I am eager to test their lume later tonight. It appears I'll need to remove two links for a loose, comfortable fit.
My understanding is that Deep Blue uses high quality diver watch materials and assembles them in China to keep costs down. Seems like a good formula. If this movement keeps fair time and proves robust, I may add a Deep Blue to my collection, especially if one has the look of the $1,200 Seiko Tuna at one third the price.
Update:
I'm liking it more and more as I wear it around. In the evening here in Torrance, the lume is strong and striking. I'm loving that of course.
Nice color dial. And it looks solid.
Posted by: Angelo | January 25, 2013 at 06:37 PM
I like it. The orange isn't for me - in that style I'd probably go blue or even green - but I like the overall look a lot.
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 25, 2013 at 06:49 PM
You can't go wrong with blue. I love orange. It has pop. But it isn't for everyone.
Posted by: herculodge | January 25, 2013 at 07:18 PM
I like the orange color too, and an additional benefit of it is that it's perfect for Halloween.
Posted by: Gary | January 25, 2013 at 07:34 PM
Normally don't like orange but they've given it a lot of depth with that sunburst pattern so it actually looks really nice. I'm a sucker for blue dials too, though you don't see many of them about any more.
Posted by: Ulysses | January 26, 2013 at 05:21 AM
I like yellow dials too. I think stainless and yellow looks good together----or black and yellow. Gunmetal and orange is nice, or orange and stainless too. Blue looks good with anything.
Posted by: Angelo | January 26, 2013 at 06:37 AM