April 2025 – Watch space

When I started my old page called “Beaters, Divers and Military” it was to highlight affordable models of these categories. And I meant affordable, which of course is a speculative term and means different values to different folks. But my rough guide was first for a decently made watch, which was available at a sensible everyday price. Now 10 years on from the first time I Posted the article (2014) my rough guide was intended to feature models costing no more than the mid hundreds at most, hopefully less.

For this Post, I decided to look at Diver models, as I have always reckoned this watch category have always made excellent “Daily Beaters”.

The First model I checked out is – the Cestrian CD911B0771 V2 Auto

– described as one of their Dive Series – this is the V2 Auto.
Cestrian I understand is a UK established Microbrand who offer their own branded models.

As with a many MB’s whilst their models are designed and specified in the UK, the case body is actually produced in China (as so many are) and the dial is populated to suit and then paired in this instance with the excellent Japanese Seiko NH35 Automatic movement.

The NH35 is known as reliable and durable and based on Seiko’s great 7S26 auto. It has a bi-directional rotor and is wound by movement or manually. It also is a hacking movement, so accurate setting is easy and it has a quick set date.

Power Reserve is around 41 hours and it has a dependable accuracy of around -20+40 seconds per day. It has 24 jewels and durability is enhanced by the Seiko Diashock anti-shock set up. This is an excellent, reliable work-horse movement and a good choice.

The watch has a very solid 316 stainless steel case at 42mm diameter and 13.8mm depth and features a 120-click high end unidirectional ceramic black bezel with Luminous datum marker. Note too that the luminous material applied is grade C3 Super-LumiNova, which is as good as it gets. This is applied to the nice super broad hour & minute hands, markers and the seconds hand tip. The dial has a clear Date window @3 and the solid well knurled crown is centred on the right of the case and well shrouded.

The crystal is made of scratch resistant Sapphire with the addition of an anti-reflective coating.

Already it seems that there are some good quality points here that are relatively rare on a watch of this price point. A further and real bonus is that the watch is Water Resistant to 300m, which somewhat more than expected at this price point.

On the dial face the luminous markers are applied, not painted and also raised (with metal edging) so have a perceived depth to them allowing better clarity. The dial itself (on this model) is matte black and there is a choice of bracelet or strap. Models come either with a bracelet version in a 5 link brushed Stainless steel with signature fold-over clasp, though my preference is for the 22mm wide silicon rubber strap with stainless pin/buckle option.

As expected with a 300m Water Resistant case, it has a solid screw down crown. I also note in addition to the luminous hands & numerals, the luminous coating is also applied to the Datum @12 on the ceramic bezel in true Diver fashion.

So, overall a solid, well balanced and rather well featured diver style watch. It looks pretty good with what appears decent quality throughout –
AND at a price of £160 discounted currently to around £130. It comes in various colourways (with my preference shown) dial background and bezel to suit all tastes. It also has a 2 year Warranty – all communication is local UK via Cestrian.

Value? – On the face of it, seems a viable alternative to mainstream Seiko for a third of the price, without sacrificing quality.

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The 2nd Model is the Deepwater Reef 200 GMT (TW2W75100) – from mainstream Brand Timex.

Once again a great looking model similarly specified to the Cestrian, as I tried to match the price as best I could. This model is powered by a Timex Quartz GMT analogue movement. It features a matte dial with Super-LumiNova coated Hour and Minute hands and a blue centre seconds hand with luminous tip PLUS a fourth 24hr GMT red pointer luminous ARROW hand to indicate a second time zone of your choice (24hrs = one dial revolution).

The dial also has luminous markers plus 24 hour index with 12hr colour index. There is also a large unidirectional 60 minute outer bezel, fully marked plus a luminous Datum Point @12. A magnified Date window features @3 and the dial Crystal if non-scratch Sapphire with Anti-reflect coating. So clarity should not be a problem.

The solid stainless Steel case is 41mm diameter and 13mm depth and has a Screw Down Crown, fully case shrouded and well knurled for ease of use. This model comes with a blue coloured 22mm wide synthetic Rubber strap with pin buckle.

The Water Resistance is 200m and this model is priced at around £215 or possibly discounted 15% (Timex) in the UK.

So, two really decent looking Diver models, similarly specified and priced and depending on your specific tastes, little to choose between them.

To summarize –
Water Resistance – Cestrian is 300m – Timex is 200m
Screw down crown – both
Super-LumiNova – both
Date window – Timex is magnified
Stainless Steel case – both
Uni-directional bezel – both
GMT – Timex – useful perhaps but adds dial clutter perhaps (the Cestrian is very clear to read)
Power – choices – Cestrian is Seiko mechanical Automatic – Timex is Quartz analogue.

So, for a first look this year I’ve managed to pick two similar specified models at remarkably similar prices. And from completely different backgrounds. The Timex mainstream Brand versus the Private Cestrian Brand – and to choose between them is quite a challenge.

But I’m not about to pick one – I leave that to anybody interested in a new affordable Diver.

Personally I like the clear uncluttered Cestrian dial and don’t really need the Timex GMT feature. I like the fact it’s also Automatic, so no battery worries. It IS somewhat heavier and thicker, but both are very good quality cases. Both have a Date which I personally consider essential. I do like the magnified date but never having used one, I’m used to not having that and the Cestrian Date is not small and it’s clear to read. Both have top notch luminous features.
I’m not fussed whether Quartz or Mechanical Auto as one of my all time favourite Diver models (my Apeks Diver) is Quartz and I’ve had it for years without any issues.
The Cestrian really scores with that Water Resistance – 300m, which is rare at this price point. But that said, 200m is perfectly fine for the recreational diver.

However the Cestrian price makes it very, very affordable for the specification offered.

But, that said, both are really good and at either price are solid performers at very affordable models – so choices, choices!

Note – I’m due to check out some more Diver offerings over the next few weeks and I’ll Post the results as I get them.

(Note the first model revised 25th April)
Just had a look around at the cheap & cheerful daily beaters. Models that cost virtual peanuts but manage do the job – to a lesser or greater degree. There are an amazing number of these around with some exceptional bargains to be had.

In no particular order here are four models that I particularly like.

Timex – well known reliable brand has this good looking model – the Timex Expedition T42571 – seen priced at around £35 – £45 today.
Powered with a Timex Quartz movement within a neat and quite small 38mm diameter x 10mm case of very light weight dark resin. The dial has a matte background, printed numerals with according to Timex, luminous hands. However in practice this is VERY poor.
Fortunately this model also has all dial *Indiglo (press the crown) which does allow night vision (although not my preferred choice). The glass is of acrylic and has 12/24 index marked on the dial. The crown is well protected by case shrouds.

Timex Expedition with my personal wrap strap

There is also a good size contrasting highlighted date window @3 which is very readable. Water Resistance is 5bar (50m), so fine for daily use.
It also has a 20mm nylon textured buckle strap (feels a bit plasticky for me) which is fine, though I’ve swapped it for one of the wrap straps I’m favouring at the moment just to see how it looks (shown in image 2).

And finally, a 12 month Warranty.

My verdict? (after wearing for a week)
It has a pleasing well balanced look and I like this particular case which is remarkably light. The dial is clear and easy to read. It also has a nice sized and clear Date. Clear outer perimeter minute chapter ring and overall, a good colour combination. However, I’d prefer much better luminosity, so would consider it as a cheap, neat watch – it is what it is.

And with the amazing low price – a good little travel watch.

This multi-function Casio AE1299WH-1A has been virtually the same for many years (since maybe 2012). Japanese Quartz powered (10 years battery life) with both digital and virtual analogue display. Black resin squared case just 39.5mm across and around 12mm depth, with 4 pushers. An Acrylic/mineral crystal protects the dial and the watch is multi-functional.

Classic, Retro? Value, World Timer, Gem? – the Casio AE1200WH-1AV

Time, including DST, Stopwatch, Countdown Timer, 48 city/31 time zone World Timer, 5 x Alarms with an integral LED “illuminator” dial light and with 100m (330ft) Water Resistance (so, swimming/snorkelling OK).

This is an amazingly well featured watch at any price, let alone the asking price of around £30 here in the UK. And with such a long production run history as a testament, this is difficult to beat as a Daily Beater.

What do I like about this one?
Great “at a glance” dial – shows the hour, minute, second, day, month and day. And – a sub analogue virtual dial with hour/minute & running seconds too. All functions are simple to set with the push buttons which are easily accessible (but not accidentally). The LED dial light is simple and effective.
I’ve had one since 2014 and it’s proved a winner. Cost me £17.00, so it’s gone up a bit since then, but still great value – (and I only changed the battery last month!).
It’s also unusual – a Digital display with virtual analogue (as opposed to an analogue dial + digital window). An obvious success for Casio, as it’s also been available for around 14 years – can’t say fairer than that.

So, if semi-digital is your thing – I can absolutely recommend it. And at this low price is a steal!

This is another Quartz but with a slight difference, as it’s powered by a Meca Quartz VH31 Automatic Seiko movement. This features a sweep seconds hand (similar look to a true mechanical automatic) which runs or sweeps at 4 “ticks” per second.

It is also very accurate at around +/- 15 seconds a month. The movement incorporates a number of plastic parts which reduces wear and gives added temperature resistance and has proved very reliable.

This is the Daily Beater Field Watch – from notostrapstore.com –

It features a 38mm diameter steel sandblasted case with a higher 100m Water Resistance v the Timex.
A large well knurled screw down crown, and a domed Sapphire non-scratch crystal with anti-reflection coating.

The dial has printed indices and numerals numerals on a dark background like the Timex above, though it does not have a Date display.
However, the broad analogue hands including the sweep second hand have C3 Super-LumiNova luminous coating, which is as good as it gets.
In looks, this model has a nice clear and simple Diver style and looks good.

What do I like about this one?

I like this solid basic “Beater” approach, with no frills or unwanted extras. It has good Water Resistance, a tough well finished case and an easy to read dial. AR Sapphire crystal is a bonus and I particularly like the large well knurled crown and matching NATO strap. The price is pretty good at around £75. Personally I would like a Date – useful at my age! But it is what it is.

This next model is from UK Chester based Cestrian Watches (launch partner & Authorised Dealer is WatchNation). The Cestrian Field series Automatic which is another good looking, well balanced model. This is also the first mechanical Automatic featured in this Post.

Cestrian Field model – Automatic with personal wrap strap

Powered by the Japanese Seiko NH35 Automatic movement, this is a really decent movement, 41hrs reserve, bi-directional rotor with manual wind if required and hacking allows precise time adjustment. Accuracy is solid at +/- 20-40 secs a day. A very reliable movement used worldwide.

At 40mm diameter, it wears small on the wrist though it is quite thick at a measured 12.8mm depth, it is also relatively heavy. This is a very solid matte finish sandblasted 316L stainless steel case is PVD coated Black.

This model comes with a green NATO ‘style’ strap. I say ‘style as this appears to have leather? keepers, whereas NATO spec’ straps are metal.
The dial is a matte dark khaki/green” with the excellent C3 Super-LumiNova coated nickel hour & minute hands. The centre seconds arrow hand has an orange tip and dot and the dial features a full 60 second track perimeter.

Cestrian 200m Automatic affordable beater

The inclusion of a scratch resistant Sapphire crystal with Anti-reflect coating, is a bonus, though oddly it sits slightly proud of the case.

The dial and case in this series comes with alternative finishes to suit your preferences.

Water Resistance is a very decent 200m coupled with a well knurled Screw Down crown. I note the screw down ‘screw’ is considerable and stiff which although unusual, works well.

Cestrian Field watch – C3 luminous – all night easy!

What do I like about this one?
This is a well specified model, without frills and is solidly practical. I like the dark khaki/green colour, which suits the black PVD coated case. The Screw Down crown and 200m WR, the Scratch resistant Sapphire crystal, C3 luminous properties and the low price, make for compelling affordability.
Personally I changed the strap for a “wrap” strap which does not go under the thick case – much better. Note – all images show with wrap strap.

Overall, an excellent watch with real quality features and at £120 – this is a very affordable alternative to mainstream Brands.

I was quite surprised to still see the Casio model, as I’ve had the same model for many years, so to include it here was a no brainer! The Cestrian Field model co-incidentally is a recent buy for me- and I am very pleased with it. However, I’d be equally pleased with either of the other two – as they are surprisingly good value in these trying times and nice to see.

Just a note on my strap change –
NATO style straps are fine if the watchcase is not too thick, as the strap is fed under the case twice, which in turn makes the watch overly thick on the wrist.
Most NATO spec’ straps are thin for that reason. They also use strong metal keepers. I changed to a velcro* wrap-strap, a personal preference.