High specs mixed with affordability – The Wishdoit Diver

The watch scene is saturated with divers and for us consumer that is a good thing. One of the main reasons is that Seiko and Citizen decided to start selling their movements to third parties, this opens a world of possibilities. In other words, long gone are the days that you will have to spend high figures to get a good diver.

That is not to say that there aren’t many bad offerings out there, but there are brands that are getting a great reputation for affordable mechanical watches with quality. These brands can rub shoulder with more established names with watches that cost (at least)  3 times the price. Wishdoit is one of these brands.

This is not the first watch that I manage to get my hands on from Wishdoit. We review previously their Eternal Worldtimer, and we were very impressed to say the least. Today we have their newest offering, and we are keen to share it with you, yes, it is a diver and a good one.

Let’s begin to uncover their new take on the most popular category of watches.

The specifications

Think about all the specs that you want from a modern dive watch, and I can assure you that the Wishdoit Diver has it. Starting with the case measurements, the diver is 40mm in diameter with a lug to lug of under 46mm, this is spot on for us watch nerds. The brushed mid case is well executed and has great polished details to enhance the feel of a well crated watch. I quite enjoyed the transitions of finishing; it really makes a difference.

The dial is one of the nicest combinations in terms of colors that I’ve seen so far. The white contrast nicely with the green accents and applied numerals. The minute hand matches the green of the minute track and to break the color scheme, you have a black glossy ceramic bezel. Everything works, its elegant and playful at the same time.

I quite enjoy the symmetry of the dial, and although I am usually happier when there is no date, the rectangular shape of the markers are mimics the shape of the date window, it is executed to perfection.

The lume is also something that appears in the bezel, looks great and if a watch at this price range can do it, not sure why more established brands are not able to, it is a must for a diver.

Staying with the bezel action, it has the best mechanical sounds I’ve tested this year, is precise and also addictive. There is no play and lands where it needs to.

Turn the watch over and we are greeted by a closed case back with a boat motif, this is a perfect sign of a true diver. IT also has a screw down crown, and it delivers 150 meters of water resistance. Quite consistent with today’s offering.

Under the case back we can find the reliable Seiko NH35, it beats nicely, and it has 42 hours of power reserve. It also helps the watch to stay affordable, it is a tested workhorse, and we are glad to see it here.

On the wrist

There is no surprise that with these specs, the Wishdoit Diver wears nicely on my 6.25-inch wrist. The under 13mm thickness also helps when you wear the watch every day.

One of the big surprises of the watch is the bracelet. At the price point that Wishdoit operates, I was expecting something a bit more ordinary but instead, we got a bracelet with solid end links a long and 2-piece clasp and several points to adjust its length. The bracelet elevates the wearing experience of the watch and also creates a more cohesive product.

Being a diver, legibility is something to also highlight. The way that the colors work against the dial is a testament of good design.

Wishdoit did a great job creating something that somehow looks vintage but plays well with the modern materials, it doesn’t feel disconnected or done incorrectly, it feels like a new watch with familiar details, it really works.

I wore the Wiahdoit Diver in the gym and also doing sports , it felt right at home and although I did not try it in water, the screw down crown gave me the confidence I needed, basically it felt that the watch could take a beating.

The Diver looks great on the supplied bracelet and because of the quality, it would be hard to replace it with something else. That said I’ve tried different combination with several colorful nato straps, and it looks incredible, it makes me think of summer and how much I am going to wear this piece.

Concluding thoughts

I wanted to leave the price aside for a reason, my main idea  was for you to judge the watch for what it is and not falling into the rhetoric of “it’s good for this price…”, this is because I genuinely believe that this diver could cost much more.

The Wishdoit Diver is priced in Amazon at 89 GBP which makes it the most affordable and well-made watch I’ve ever reviewed. The bar is set, and it would be hard if not impossible to deliver a more compelling package than Wishdoit.

We quite enjoy the fresh approach of the watch, its technical capabilities and generous specifications, it delivers more than its being asked and, in our world, that’s quite a novelty 

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