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I owned an original Seiko 6105 bought in Ubon while flying out of Vietnam in 1970. I feel the Steeldive and Addiesdive homages are very close and worth every penny. They are actually better than what I wore during the Vietnam war. I have the blue Steeldive version and gave my brother the black version as I wore in 1970 with a picture of myself wearing the Seiko then.

If I can afford the modern Willard releases, I would buy them right away. However, I'm broke. But I am happy with my Steeldive 1970.

I have the Steeldive 1970 with the updated crystal with clear AR coating and bracelet with a milled clasp with Steeldive logo and brand name etched into it and 6 micro adjust holes. I paid £63 in the Aliexpress sale including taxes and delivery and the watch is absolutely sensational the movement running at less then minus 5 seconds per day. This watch gets more wrist time than my Longines Hydroconquest or Panerai Marina Luminor

The Steeldive has a Seiko movement, so to me, the difference is just in looks. I have two Steeldive, and both are great. All the best.👍🏾🇬🇧

Hi, My first watch at the age of 16 was a 1970s Willard, it cost me $80.00 NZ dollars which was a lot of money at the time. I owned this watch for 5 years then sold for $60.00 NZ. I recently had the opportunity to purchase a Steel Dive version which I am very happy with, especially as I still had fond memories of the the original model. As much as I which like to own an original again the second hand prices are ridiculous at the age of 72 I am very happy with the Steel Dive.

I appreciate you synchronised the seconds hand. The refurbishment video was excellent, this one was very informative, well done sir.

Very nice side by side comparison; much appreciated and helpful in decision making.

Your restoration video of the Willard was great, with a fascinating backstory on it. The Steeldive homage is well done and quite appealing. fyi I think the Willard bezel would be called bidirectional and the Steeldive unidirectional. Very much looking forward to the video on the Seiko chrono quartz!

I injoyed the restoration video, it really was a great story. I had the Steeldive 1970 for a couple years now and it's been a great watch. I'll be looking forward to the Seiko digital review. Thanks

For what it is, an everyday wearer, the SD1970 is terrific watch for the money, no question. The Willard is a safe queen. One day if I can find a good one, I may pick one up. For now though I'm not afraid to wear the SD doing anything. Great video Mike.

Wonderful video, very interesting to see the two side by side. The history and patina of the original cannot be beat. When you look at something original like that that has not been over restored it shows its history, its stories, it wears its ding and dents with pride. I also have a Steeldive that I have regulated a bit and modified with a Seiko dial, for what you get you cannot beat it for the money.

Wow, thanks for this video! So interesting to see them side by side

Good video. Apart from nostalgia and status, applying the law of diminishing returns, I would choose the Steeldive, which I did. Got the one with the rubber waffle strap, which really is rubber. Finding a good 6105 from the 70's is almost like winning the lottery, because they weren't put in the safe as an investment, like a Rolex Daytona. They were worn and used by divers, soldiers etc. They were put through their paces. Then there is the issue of price. Anyone willing to part with one wants the going rate, which is quite high. Even a pretty knackered one. A Steeldive actually has better stats than the original.. It has a modern Seiko movement, sapphire glass, a screw down crown and don't get me going about the lume, which sensational on the SD. Maybe people will be asking 3000 whatever in 40 years time for a Steeldive. Oh, and I wouldn't want to buy one of the new Seikos, as they don't possess the charm. Strange, that a 68 quid watch is the one to buy, but life is strange sometimes.

Nice video, great info, well-summarized, and friendly narration. Ace!

Great video Mike. It’s awesome your doing this because no one else is. Your a true pioneer

Hi Mike, I just received SD1970 in Green today and I have to say that it’s an awesome watch for the money. I paid just over AUD $120 and consider this is one of my best watch purchases by far when it comes to Bang for Buck. Feels really nice on my wrist, I wear my watches on my right wrist so never feel that the crown can catch on things anyway. Really enjoyed your comparison. Having never seen a Capt Willard in person I can’t comment on how they compare but I’m really happy with the SD. Keep up the great vids!

I’ve had the steeldive for about eighteen months. You can’t beat it for value and I do enjoy wearing it. At the end of the day though it is an homage, a copy and that’s something I’ve found is always in mind when I’m wearing it. I’m looking to buy the re-isssued Seiko version when I can find a decent deal. Great vid, thanks

Loved both videos. Love my SD1970😊

Thanks for the video, I’ve been considering a Steeldive as my next watch 👍🏻

As a diver I cant believe that the Seiko didnt have a unidirectional bezel, as its absolutely essential for a dive watch as any backward movement could end up giving you the wrong decompression times. Interesting to see them both together though as Ive just ordered the Steeldive SD1970 at a pretty good price I thought, £65.91 incl tax and postage. Anyway thanks for a great comparison video.

Thank you I bought the watch using your link! Many thanks!

Regarding replacement hands, ask Seiko directly at the Seiko museum in Tokyo. They are really helpful and proud of their products.

Great video, thanks!

Great vid, and Aloha enjoy your stay here, always love the videos.

Never heard of Steeldive. I might look into them now. Thanks .

I just got one of those Captain Willards, not bad not bad at all; running right on spec for the NH35 movement. Also have a SD1975 also running spot on. Reviewed them both as well. That Seiko's was popular when I was at school, all the rich kids owned them LOL.

I Am saving my bucks for a Willard but for that price… the steel dive can’t be skipped .. thanks Mike for posting always great videos and content.

I have a Steeldive Willard. It’s a great watch, with a Seiko movement. To me, it’s as good, if not better, than a Seiko, simply on the cost of it. All the best.👍🏾🇬🇧

Hi Mike everyone else. Just purchased a SD on the bay then decided to research Capt Willard then came accross your video, good job on the comp, just like to add somethings like the red coloured dive meterage pluss its 50 meters more, also the signal seconds hand on the SD for me is better as it is a lot closer to the seconds markers around the outside of the indices plus it has a red dot where the original has not. That two colour lume on the SD is a great feature. Ended up paying $102 AU and it comes with an upgraded solid steel bracelet, box and plastic cards. Ciao all enjoy.

Excellent story and video!

Good video nice to see the comparison.

Great review comparison ‼️ great back story ‼️ have now the Steeldive. Quite good hefty Diver. Very value 4 money. Get going 🚀

I just got my SD1970 following the November sale 2023. I put a black 20mm NATO strap on it, cut and melted the double strap, so it acts as a single, and it looks and feels fantastic, sitting flush on the wrist. The watch is a keeper, it has fantastic time keeping, only 5 seconds slow per day, which is so close that I probably won't bother adjusting the setting. It looks great, get fantastic comments, I am very happy with it. I fell out of love with Seiko when they stopped production of the Seiko quartz diver. That was my preferred dive watch in the Navy, operationally it went with me on every dive, rescued people while wearing it, night diving and lume was critical for me. Nothing was so accurate, useful and practical as that dive watch, it spoiled me for anything else. I will put the SD1970 through its paces diving, I note a lot of people use if for that purpose.

I've just pulled the trigger on a steeldive with the green face, i have too many dark/black faced watches and wanted something different, cant wait to get hold of it, I also got mine from AliExpress and it cost me £64.10 cracking video Mike👍

Good to see a watch which is/was actually used for diving.

Muy buena tu reseña !!

Great video, I hope everything is going well with your health.

Where else can you find such thorough reviewing? - Still watching Mike.

I did picked mine last year, I love it, needs a bit of a clean there's a bit of a control issue in the dial, for now I'm dallying a 6139-020

Excellent review!

Hi Mike. Good overview. I had an original but sold it a while back and have the Steeldive now as well as the Rdunae version which is a pretty much spot on 1:1 copy. Something of note that I wish the Steeldive had was a more angled bevel on the crystal. If you look straight down on the original Seiko there is a starburst effect of the minute marks. On the Steeldive it's not really there and that is one visual that I really dig on the original.

Classic good looks..👍🏻

Incredible, but the Steel Dive is more exciting then the Seiko. But the best homage 6105 for me of course, is the Heimdalr. Very very nice watch. Thanks for the interesting revue.

I watched you repair that original and had to join your second channel. I found the SteelDive is actually a copy of the newer versions and not the original version. God bless love Seiko now.

Great video, I'm in the same boat, I'd love to own the original but the Steeldive will have to do for now!

Partially on the strength of this comparison, I bought the slightly different SD1972 (the more recent iteration with the Tuna hands) with the blue dial and stainless bracelet. I actually wanted the full day/date complication and although the crown is not as deeply recessed I still truly love the look as well - I echo your words about it and I still pine for the Seikos and will own one some day, but right now the money situation lets me indulge my fascination just a bit with the Steeldive for a price I can afford. Stay strong, Mike!

Good review. Thanks. Just bought with your aliexpress link. Cheers from Australia

I have the Steeldive in blue with a sterile dial - It's been modded a bit and now has a Seiko dial - best value watch pound for pound in my entire collection!👍👍

I love Seiko watches, but for some reason I'm always interested in the ones that end up costing more than my car. LOL I'm about to order this watch, which is more my speed, price-wise. I'm just looking for confirmation that this watch is worth my hard earned cash, of course. :) On a more personal note: I do hope that your health issues are a thing of the past, Mike. Glad to hear that you made a good friend in the process though. Keith sounds like a gem.

I have a Seiko Willard. I have the SKX. I have the Seiko Tuna and I have the Steeldive Tuna and it's great. I got the yellow dial Tuna as I love it. I also have a 3rd gen Monster but I still bought the red dial pointy teeth 2nd Gen Heimdallr Monster in red and I love it! I got both because I loved the colours and Seiko never made them. And yes, the Heimdallr and Steeldive have a better sapphire crystal and the Heimdallr also has a better bracelet than my Seiko ones..........but Seiko is Seiko...can't beat them. Honestly I wouldn't buy a homage that can be confused with an original, hence the dial colours Seiko never made. Personal choice for me and not a criticism of people who get ones that do look like the original. If you get a good deal with better crystals and bracelet to boot with the original Seiko movement inside, go for it!!

Check out the Rdunae willard. It is a much more accurate homage, even down to the 4 o'clock crown, 19mm lug, dial details and bezel shape. At £150 I'm pleased with mine. I've got the seiko 151 and it's a bit small. 6105 is on it's way from the U S, But I think the Rdunae will still be a great daily.

Awesome comparison! You got a new suscriber today.

I love that steeldive, i wish i had one.

great video

Interesting enjoyed the vid. Luv my steeldives I have 3 now, latest has small but noticeable improvements to quality and Finnish.

I own the Willard Hommage from Heimdallr and find it much more accurate than the Steeldive in terms of design. The quality of workmanship is also much better with Heimdallr. However, it also costs a little more than the Steeldive and is probably only surpassed by the San Martin Willard. But that doesn't make the Steeldive a worse watch, on the contrary, it's worth every cent.

I have the 1980 version, identical to the 1970 except the minute track is on the rehaut rather than the dial. Gives the impression of being slightly larger. Steeldive are definitely my fave micro for quality/price - twice as good as PD for the same price, score slightly less that San Martin but you pay at least double for a SM.

I love the look of my Steeldive on my wrist. And one day I’ll get the Willard.

You didn't show the case backs side by side. Loved the Willard resto vid. In fact, love most of your vids. Please keep up your good work, and your good health.

I have a black Steeldive and an Addiesdive with a white textured dial. My Steeldive has a milled clasp and the Addiesdive has a pressed clasp. I think I paid around $80 for the SD and around $55 for the AD. They seem to be the same watch with different dials, bezels, and clasps.

Looks great! I wear my Steeldive 1996 all the time on a nato and looks sweet. I would 'upgrade' to an skx if a sensibly priced one came along, but I'd miss the hacking. I wouldn't miss the horrible blue AR coating though.

I just won a Heimdallr “Willard” homage on eBay $63.00 USD). It’s amazing. The only difference my amateur eye can see is the PIP is raise, the coin edge is similar to the Steeldive and the crystal is sapphire with AR-coating.

I bought a Steeldive sterile dial and couldn't be happier with the value for money. Loses less than 2 seconds average per day. Awesome. A solid chunk of metal too.

Excellent video! I think i prefer the slight visual distortion the original domed crystal has. Also the crown guards and larger undercut would appear to make the crown easier to wind and set. I find the Steeldive's hard to grasp.

I was a paratrooper in 1971 and almost bought one at the PX but $95 was a lot of money back then 😢

I bought the addiesdive sterl version with no logos on the steel bracelet it's a good watch for everyday wear holds up decent I have no complaints all I've ever done to it was to size the bracelet and oil the bracelet and rotating bezel with gun oil and wipe it all down

I was just showing my original Willard and Pogue to my son last night.

I own the Seiko in blue. It is very close to the newer anniversary edition Seiko. I am a Vietnam pilot flying F-4C/Ds out of Ubon. I owned an original. Lost it when I popped out 100 clicks north of Udorn coming home.

Thanks Mike, - not wanting to "blow smoke" anywhere but you do have an honest relaxing presentation style AND more importantly - content that is fact based & interesting. I'd buy a 'Steeldive' no worries about "copying". - Surely it is a fact that EVERY wristwatch with hands, a strap or bracelet, and a crown is copying every previously made piece. The rest of that discussion is just about style & dimensions. - 'FORGERY' using fake logos etc is something other eh. As I already have a few original SEIKOS including my 6309-7040 TURTLE from 1978 I'm in no rush for a "Willard" look alike .. but one is on the list. Cheers mate and Thank You.

Thanks for this comparison. I wish you had compared their lumes, though the Seiko wouldn't fair well given it's age.

I bought a "San Martin" branded variant of this watch about 2 years ago. All I had to compare it to was one of the re-issue turtles. I can tell you that the San Martin is better in every single way to the overpriced Seiko turtle which is at best an entry level watch despite the prospex designation. Seiko came with hardlex crystal, aluminium bezel insert, very poor quality janky bracelet, and of course the obligatory chapter ring misalignment all for the price of NZD $899. For $170 the San Martin 6105 had far superior build, fit and finish. Perfect bezel, dial, chapter ring alignment. White date wheel, Ceramic lumed bezel, Domed sapphire crystal, NH36 (4R36) movement with hacking, smoother bezel movement with no play, beautiful signed crown, signed solid stainless buckle and stamped thick soft silicone strap, etc... Honestly I will never buy another Seiko again due to the price to value comparison. Seiko are simply poor value for money and the prices keep rising. I don't care for resale values etc... I keep watches for life, not to flip, and a lot of these homages offer far better quality and value than anything in Seiko's current lineup.

At least I am helping support Seiko when buying all my homage watches since they all use Seiko movements.

Picked mine at £46 on rubber strap (inc tax and VAT). The price fluctuates each day but the lowest I've seen is £37 with a steel bracelet

My 1970 was the 2nd watch in my collection. Still gets a lot of wrist time. Find the case shape real comfy. Looking at buying another so i can mod the dial and hands.

Iam actually looking at buying the Rdunae R2x Like the look of it

I own a addiesdive willard homage. I wouldn't spend the money for the seiko the addiesdive as well as the steeldive have sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel and the nh35 seiko movment is a major upgrade as well. Thank you seiko for the design but my vote goes to the modern version and you can't beat the price and if it fails throwing away and buy a new one . I have the strap and don't like it I have huge wrists and the strap is way to long and stiff as a board. The tropic strap is the strap for this watch.

'True homages' describe watches that take inspiration from existing timepieces while maintaining their own unique elements. 'Clone homages' are those brands that copy and paste existing famous designs and rebadge them.

I love copy's. I'm very poor.

There’s an ebay seller from the Philippines who sells the dial and hands for the 6105. Unfortunately you cant buy them separately, you have to buy the dial as well. Maybe you could use the dial on your steeldive

I might just have to buy an SL a051 now I do love my steeldive though

Most accurate homage is probably the Rdunae RX2. Would love to see that one pairing up with the original.

Any of the NH movements can be timegraphed to 1-2spd if you have the time to adjust them. I adjust every one I buy.

very interesting review. have you made a review for the seiko tuna homage? Cheers

Currently wearing my Rdunae which is soooo close in case and crystal to my 6105-8000 that it's unreal.

I have the Steeldive and mostly love it. However i hate the shine between the lugs when it is with a rubber strap. (Someone should make a curved rubber strap with an endlink sized thickness at the watch case) Has anyone de-shined theirs and how did you do it?

Hey I have a couple of lovely 1969 seiko navigators if you want to review ... Also if you want a Willand I have a lovely original one with diver history and letter with an original box I might sell in the future

Bonjour Belle présentation ! Je suis vraiment tenté, pensez vous que la steeldive peut être révisée facilement en cas de problème ? J'aimerai également acheter un bracelet caoutchouc gaufré quel modèle conseillé vous ? En vous remerciant par avance ! Goudi

The bezel diameter and dial diameter on the Steeldive look slightly smaller to me. And the Seiko definately looks larger overall.

The 1st video of yours I saw was where you did up Keith's watch & it was a top video & I recomend it for anyone who hasn't seen it. I have only started watching watch restorations recently & one you may know is Marshall at Wristwatch Revival & he has replaced the lume on the original hands so they would be the same parts, had you considered doing that ?. I have also looked at the Steeldive tribute watch but I'm not a collector so maybe in the future.

You should check out the rdunae. It’s very true to the original

👍👍

I wouldn't spend the money on the Seiko, they can keep the nostalgia. The first off the movement is dated, it comes with a domed minerals crystal that's hard to read in the sun light and aluminium bezel insert, the steel dive comes with a hand wind hacking nh35 Sapphire crystal and a ceramic bezel insert all of Wich is a upgrade from the Seiko at a small fraction of the price. A original captain Willard in perfect condition can cost as much as 3,000 dollars. You can buy a steeldive or Addiesdive for 100 bucks and I forgot about the loom the loom is absolutely fantastic.

Honestly I don't hate the Steeldive. It's a 2020s take on a 60 year old design whilst still using a Seiko movement. I think the number of people that save 1200 quid for the original and then decide to buy the 80 quid homage is going to be very low. If you want the Willard that's what you buy. If you want a nice dive watch with a classic design on a budget, the Steeldive is the way to go. To each their own :)

I got the new it cost me 1200 us my dad still got the old one he got at the p x in 1972

HI sure i like yourself are a watch collector i have the hulk green dial which I personally prefer due to owning a variety of dive watches so my conclusion it's a no brainer a real value for money great watch.

Don’t get that watch anywhere near that legend!!!!!!!;)

Seiko bezel is Bidirectional not unidirectional.

Are these two casebacks able to interchange?

How about changing the hands and bezel of the steeldive to match the green lume of the dial brining it closer to the seiko-ish lumibrite.