First the good news. My third generation Orient Saturation Diver arrived yesterday from Creation Watches in Singapore (a grand, about $300 less than usual going price, defrayed by the sale of two of my watches on eBay) and it really pops on the wrist. Its lume is topnotch, similar to my Seiko Sumo's, and it has a deep dish 3D quality that makes it very bold.
Its 46mm case looks very similar in design and size to the 44mm Seiko Sumo's. However, the Sumo uses more polished steel on its links and case. It's brushed steel as far as I can see on the OSD.
I had the OSD sized by Matt at Watch City last night and he was impressed with everything about it except for the clasp, which he showed me is very cheap and flimsy, a real disappointment for a watch at this price point. You don't want to see cut corners on a watch this price.
When I open my watch box and see the OSD and Sumo side by side they look almost the same. Of course there are differences. The OSD has more bulk and different indices but from a few feet their differences are minimal. A lot of buyers would find more value in the $500 Sumo.
In fact, I'd argue that the OSD, even at a grand, is overpriced. It should be in the $700 ballpark. The bracelet is less than inspiring even though the links are of high quality. I'm tempted to take off the bracelet and replace it with a 22mm Super Engineer II. This discussion seems to indicate brushed would be better than polished.
Conclusion: Love the watch. Love the pop. Love the boldness. Happy with it. But also glad I sold some watches to lower the cost. I'd tell new buyers to look at better deals from the microbrands like Helson Shark Diver 45 and Boschett Harpoon or get a $500 Sumo.
My advice: give it some time. Let the OSD grow on you. See if that initial "partial-wow" turns into a greater wow and deep appreciation, like it should with a quality timepiece like the OSD, or it ends up fading a bit, like an Invicta. If the latter, you can always sell it for close to what you paid; if the former, you've got yourself arguably the best dive watch a grand can buy. Give it time.
A quality watch is not the sexy, promiscuous girl you meet at a party whose appeal is highest upon first meeting her; a quality watch is more like the woman you marry, whose sexuality is deeper, coming from a deeper source and confident femininity (and I am not intending to objectify women here; this is an analogy!)
In terms of specifics, I can't agree that at a grand its over-priced. The overall quality is significantly higher than the Sumo - better movement, craftsmanship, bracelet and clasp. Remember, this is one that watch aficionados - not just myself, but many "in the know" - claim to be one of the best dive watches you can buy for less than $2K. There are reasons for it that aren't chimeric hype.
I'm also surprised that you and Matt find the clasp to be cheap. I'm not sure if yours has the same clasp as mine, but the ratcheting clasp is high quality - preferred by divers. Its not quite as aesthetically appealing as some of the non-diver clasps that are a bit thicker, like the one on my Oris or the Velatura, but the ratchet is very nice and functional.
It may also be that you find that the OSD and Sumo are too close, and that you get most of the appeal of the OSD in the Sumo and, because the OSD can be sold for about twice as much, you end up keeping the Sumo and selling the OSD. Both are similar in that they are "dressy divers." I could see you ending up selling one for a more toolish micro-diver. A trifecta of the Tuna, the Sumo or OSD, and a Helson or Boschett would cover just about all of the bases.
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 14, 2014 at 08:02 AM
(second post - the first hasn't shown up yet)
According to this video, the clasp is the same as mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r4MqPD8CDY
That's a quality, ratcheting clasp. When I first got it I didn't think it was quite as pretty or solid as, say, the clasp on my Velatura - and I was worried at first about that thin connecting part - but it is an excellent clasp, similar to the one on the Seiko MM300.
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 14, 2014 at 08:10 AM
The OSD is a keeper, for sure, but that clasp and the lock are flimsy and weak like beer can aluminum.
Posted by: herculodge | January 14, 2014 at 08:31 AM
Weird. I don't find that to be the case at all. I see the standard Seiko clasp as flimsy - the one on the Sumo and just about every affordable Seiko. But the OSD is pretty sturdy, functional, and high quality if not as sturdy as those on micro-divers and thicker bracelets in general. Maybe they changed it, or maybe we have different conceptions of flimsy and weak.
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 14, 2014 at 09:26 AM
Get the Super Oyster II instead of a Super Engineer II, maybe. It's a Rolex Submariner-like bracelet that feels just wonderful on the wrist.
Posted by: Dan | January 14, 2014 at 06:01 PM
It seems like a well designed ratcheting clasp would be useful to do on-the-fly micro adjustment of the size of the band. Here's a blog post that lists watches that have this type of clasp:
http://www.watchfreeks.com/34-dive-watches/22689-list-watches-ratcheting-dive-extension-clasp-so-far.html
Posted by: Gary | January 14, 2014 at 11:44 PM
Ariel Adams' review of the OSD back in 2009 has no complaints about the band or clasp. I'm not sure if the current OSD has the same band and clasp.
http://www.ablogtowatch.com/orient-diver-automatic-saturation-diver-cfd0c001b-watch-review/
Posted by: Gary | January 14, 2014 at 11:45 PM
The Hexa has a great ratcheting clasp - its on that list, Gary. As does the Tempest. Both have a slide, like the Boschett in the first picture.
I think Jeff just likes the thicker, more manly Super Engineer feel. The ratcheting clasp of the OSD has one very thin part that seems a bit dubious, which you can see on the far right side of the picture in that link. I've worried that it could be fragile but have had no problems. The functionality and design of it is terrific.
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 15, 2014 at 06:04 AM
Geez Jonny, when I wear either of my Invictas, it will represent me slumming it with party mattresses? Gives a whole new meaning to "Sunday Run."
Posted by: Angelo | January 18, 2014 at 06:07 AM
Great review! I just ordered the red face Orient Saturation Diver from Creation Watches as well.
Did your watch come with the original box and the additional rubber strap and strap removal tool? I couldn't find a definitive answer through a web search and figured you would know.
Any info is appreciated.
Thank you,
Alex
Posted by: Alex Moon | February 08, 2014 at 11:39 AM
Alex, yes, Creation sent me the original box and rubber strap. I upgraded the bracelet with a Super Engineer II because I prefer the thicker links.
Posted by: herculodge | February 08, 2014 at 12:10 PM
Thank for the reply. I emailed Creation Watches and this is the reply I got:
Dear Alexander,
For Orient we send in generic gift watch box.
Best regards,
Vanya
They didn't mention about the rubber strap and tool. I replied asking them again.
The watch will arrive in a few days and I'll update you on what I receive.
-Alex
Posted by: Alex Moon | February 10, 2014 at 08:52 AM
Alex, mine is the black dial; yours is red. I wonder if that results in a different package, box, strap or no strap.
Posted by: herculodge | February 10, 2014 at 09:15 AM
So the plot thickens... I got an email today from Vanya at Creation Watches saying that the Orient 300M Diver is sent in a generic gift box. She still hasn't answered my question of whether or not the rubber strap and removal tool come with the watch, I've asked twice so far.
In the same email, she sends me a link to their website and product # to the watch she says they have in stock. The link and product # are both for the black dial version.
I replied saying that I ordered the red dial version and sent a link to the red one their website.
It's been taking them about 12 hours to respond to each email I send, so I'll wait to see how they respond.
Posted by: Alex Moon | February 11, 2014 at 09:40 PM
Scenarios like that can give me ulcers. I hope Creation resolves their problem and fast.
Posted by: herculodge | February 11, 2014 at 09:44 PM