Marc & Sons Diver Sport | Hands On Review

Marc & Sons Diver Sport

We have reviewed many Marc & Sons watches over the years and they have always proved to be a decent value and good quality for the price, especially the ones with ETA movements. The Marc & Sons Diver Sport is built as well as the others we have reviewed and while it definitely is a familiar style, there are a few differences that allow it to not be a straight copy. Unfortunately though, the color is not what I thought it was going to be.

Marc & Sons Diver Sport MSD-046-4S Specifications:

• 42mm by 50mm Stainless Steel Case
• 22m Lug Width
• 22mm Non-Tapering Bracelet
• 15.4mm Thick
• 244 Grams
• Sapphire Crystal
• Ceramic Bezel Insert
• Seiko NH35 Automatic Movement
• 300 Meters Water Resistant

Price $335 USD (Approximatley)
https://www.marcandsons.de/en/collection/new-models/marc-sons-diver-watch-serie-sport-msd-046-4s/a-2249/

There is no need to beat around the bush here.  The simple fact is that if you go to the Marc & Sons website and look at this watch, it shows the color is an almost chocolate brown. In real life, that is not the case. That is a simple fact. It is also an unfortunate fact. Since I cover this heavily in the video, I do not want to dwell on it here in every paragraph, but anyone reading this or interested in this watch should know that this is the actual color of the brown Marc & Sons Diver Sport. There are other colors available on the website as well and I suggest if interested maybe emailing and asking for a real-world photo before you order.

In initial postings of this model on social media, reception towards the dial color has been positive and to be honest, I had forgotten what the rendering on the website looked like until I started gathering info for the review. The dial is more of a caramel color and the ceramic bezel insert is almost a dark cherry brown, so there is a definite contrast. Beyond the dial color, I like the choice of hour and minute hand and the applied markers are not only bright white but they have a 3-D effect which is a nice touch. One thing I noticed though is the second hand is a little bit short and also on the thin side as well.

The bezel of the Marc & Sons Diver Sport rachets firmly but it does have a little bit of back play, but nothing that is severe or gives me pause. The ceramic insert looks nice from a distance but when you get a little bit closer you can see that the lume paint was not applied very well and looks, well it looks a little sloppy. I understand that we are looking at a price of under $350 but it was still a little disappointing. Crown action on this 300m diver, on the other hand, was very nice and I have no complaints in that department.

It seems that in many models Marc & Sons has started using the Seiko NH35 automatic movement and to be fair, many microbrands in this price range use it as well, so I really can not dog on it for that, especially at the price. If this were $100 more, that would be different. The case back is what I like to refer to as the salt shaker style and while it is nothing special or has no artistic engravings or any other gimmicks, it is a screw down case back and it serves its purpose.

The stainless steel bracelet is massive and chunky, though, with the case of the Marc and Sons Diver Sport being almost 16mm thick, you need a thick bracelet to balance it all out. Finishing off the bracelet is a nice ratchet style dive clasp with slide out extension, a nice upgrade to previous Marc and Sons bracelets. I took out 4 links for my 7 1/2 inch wrist, and the links are on the larger side, so it should fit much larger wrists out of the box. The bracelet uses friction pins instead of screws which was somewhat of a downer, but I had no problem sizing it at all. Pretty standard. At 244 grams, it is a beast to wear though, at least for me.

Overall finishing is similar to a Steinhart Ocean model in my opinion. If you are not familiar with Steinhart that puts the Marc and Sons Diver Sport in good company as they are a very popular brand with watch enthusiasts, especially in the homage category. I will say I wish the crown was signed with a logo of some sorts and the case side polishing is a little puzzling seeing as the rest of the watch is all brush satin, including the sides of the bracelet. When it comes to lume, the BGW9 Superluminova glows nice and bright.

Color not matching what they show you on the website aside, or if other colors are a little more comparable to what you will actually get, the Marc & Sons Diver Sport is a nice chunky option of the Rolex Sub style case with large legible hands and markers. As I said, the biggest issue for me is the actual dial and bezel color not being accurately displayed on their website, the watch itself is not a bad offering at all, but I would be lying if I did not say the color issue did not sour me a bit on this model.

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Lum-tec Combat Field X1 | Hands on Review

Lum-tec Combat Field X1

I have long been a fan of Lum-tec watches and I have shared that here many times. Their latest model, the Combat Field X1 might rank at the top if not be the definitive Lum-tec for me to date. The X1 at first glance might look like  other Combat models from Lum-tec, but is actually a modernized version of a field or trench watch. I love when a brand can think outside the box and bring us something familiar while still putting their own twist on it. While the price is up there at $895, the Combat Field X1 uses a Sellita SW200 automatic movement and nothing for this watch was off the shelf. Couple that with being assembled and tested in Ohio, and you can see where the price comes from.

Lum-tec Combat Field X1 Specifications:

44mm case width excluding crown
22mm lug width, but accepts a 24mm military style strap
Surgical grade 316L stainless steel
Threaded solid case back
Bead blasted finish
Double curved sapphire crystal with a military grade anti-reflective coating
Swiss Sellita SW200 automatic movement
Anti-Shock movement mounting system
100 meters/330 ft. water resistance
Bead blasted black PVD dial base
MDV Technology® dial and hands with grade X1 LOR Super-Luminova®
Screw lock crown with double diamond sealing system
High tech Viton® gaskets
Black nylon military strap with 316L bead blasted hardware
Brown leather military strap with 316L bead blasted hardware
Lifetime free movement timing regulation
Lifetime free pressure testing and seal lubrication/cleaning
2-year international limited warranty (fully transferable)
Limited and numbered series of 100 worldwide

Price $895 USD 

https://lum-tec.com/collections/combat-field-series/products/combat-field-x1?variant=12618295246890

Right out of the gate, I will tell you the only one thing that about the Lum-tec Combat Field X1 that it is not perfect out of the box, and to be fair, it is extremely minor. One is the straps that come with it. This watch is of course military inspired, so it comes with two NATO straps, one fabric, and one leather, and both are of good quality. I am just not a NATO strap guy at all. I would have preferred a canvas two-piece strap or even a leather two-piece strap. That said, it is easy rectified and you can see in the video review that I put it on one of my own canvas straps and it is fantastic this way. If you may be worried about those wired lugs, don’t be. They use traditional spring pins to allow mounting of any strap you want.

Some people may take issue that the Combat Field X1 case is bead blasted, but I personally love that look to watches, especially with a watch such as this. Brushed or fully polished would not look right and while it is true that bead blasted surfaces are prone to marring or scratching, if you are really hard on your watches or just not a fan of the bead blasted look you can opt for the titanium carbide black PVD version, which will hold up better to your rough adventures. Below is a look at the PVD version.

One of the major highlights of the Lum-tec Combat Field X1 is large boxed sapphire crystal. I have been outspoken that I am not always fond of dome crystals and to tell the truth, it depends on the crystal used and the type of watch. Another big factor is the legibility. I hate when massive crystals cause not just distortion but also have so much glare that it makes it hard to read the time at a glance. This is a tool watch and its main purpose is to tell the time, and fortunately, this crystal accomplishes both. I had no issues at all seeing the dial and hands and I found myself admiring the crystal from time to time, especially from its profile.

The screw down pumpkin style crown is easy to grasp and wind and because of Lum-tec assembles and regulates the watches themselves, I have found the SW200 movement to be running at -3 seconds a day, which is pretty darn good in my book. Below I show what it looks like on my 7 1/2 inch wrist with the stock NATO strap, and even though I do not like this style of strap, I will admit it is comfortable.

Honestly, as I type this review and looking at the pictures as I upload them to the site, I am admiring this watch even more. There is just something about the Lum-tec Combat Field X1 that captivates me. I love the blasted finish and the dial is easy to read with the large numbers and markers, but Lum-tec also kept it clean and chose to go with no date. I know for some that may be a deal breaker, but I love a no date watch. It keeps the symmetry of the dial and I personally do not look at my watch for the date, at least not these days.

Obviously, with a name like Lum-tec, I always expect the lume to be fantastic and I am not disappointed with the Combat Field X1. Using the latest X1 Superluminova, this watch is a torch. Not only is the lume bright, but extremely long lasting. I wore it to bed for a few nights and found that 6 hours later when waking up, it was still glowing and I could easily see the time in a dark room.

I remember earlier this year when Lum-tec showed their upcoming models on their Instagram page and instantly being excited when I saw the initial renderings of the Lum-tec Combat Field X1. We keep an eye on Lum-tec’s page regularly as they take phenomenal photos of their watches and when the prototypes of this model landed, it was one of those few times where the real deal looked even better than the rendering. For me, this model takes their Combat line to another level. It is sleek and sexy while still being rugged and I have very much enjoyed wearing it off and on the past few weeks. As I said, I am a big fan of Lum-tec and there have been many models over the years that I have like and a few that I have loved, but this one may be the crème de la crème. It ticks all the boxes for me and while I am never here to sell anything, the direct link is in the specifications section above in case it does for you as well.

 

 

 

 

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Scurfa Bell Diver | Hands on Watch Review

Scurfa Bell Diver

Some of you reading this may already be familiar with the Scurfa Bell Diver and it might seem like this review is a bit late. Yes, Paul from Scurfa came out with this watch over a year ago, and I have just recently got one in hand. For whatever reason, I never reviewed this watch when it originally debuted, and to be honest, I am glad that I didn’t, because now it comes with a solid link bracelet that perfectly matches with this chunky dive watch. Adding the bracelet did not add a crazy price increase either, as this beauty can be purchased for just about $460 USD and that includes the DHL shipping. I review a lot of watches here and I try and stay as objective as possible, but I have to say that Scurfa is definitely one of my favorite microbrands, and with good reason.

Scurfa Bell Diver Specifications:

• Case size 43mm Lug to Lug 51mm and 16mm thickness, 22mm bracelet size
• 8mm screw down crown with three gasket seals
• Working Heliox Escape Valve (tested by myself from 151m of decompression)
• Domed Sapphire Crystal with blue Anti Reflective coating on the underside
• 500m ~ 1640ft
• Grade A Super Luminova SL-BGW9 Blue on the dial, hands and bezel insert
• Ceramic bezel insert with matching Super Luminova SL-BGW9 markings
• Miyota cal. 9015 Automatic movement, beat rate 28,800 BPH, accuracy -10~+30 seconds a day
• Movement protected with a brass cover for the low levels of magnetism experienced offshore
• Matt grey dial with gloss black markers, gloss black hour and minute hands and gloss red second hand
• Raised gloss dial printing for Scurfa Watches and Bell Diver 1 logos
• Stainless steel bracelet with solid end links and a clasp with a ratchet type divers extension
• Fitted genuine rubber strap with the Bell Diver 1 logo also provided

Price $427 USD plus shipping 

https://www.scurfawatches.com/bell-diver-1-automatic-stainless-steel

Yes, I consider Paul to be somewhat of a friend at this point. I interacted with Paul many years ago before the Scurfa Brand was formed on various watch forums. Us forum goers saw some of the initial drawings and ideas of the first Scurfa model, the Diver One, and today he has a full line of new and improved Diver One models that seem to sell out quick and now two new releases of the Bell Diver, the one you see here and also a full DLC versions which also includes the bracelet.

As you can see from the specifications listed above, the Scurfa Bell Diver comes with all the bells and whistles most of us look for these days; hi-beat automatic movement, applied indices, domed sapphire crystal, solid end links and bracelet, screw down crown, high water resistance, etc. Many brands have these features as well, so these are not the things that set the Bell Diver apart. It is more about the design and the overall fit and assembly that matter here. Frankly speaking, if you are not into microbrand watches, or “inexpensive watches”, the Scurfa Bell Diver could convert you and take away all your preconceived notions about microbrands.

The Bell Diver is not a massive watch at 43mm, but it is a little on the chunky side at 16mm. Keep in mind, this is watch is rated to 500m and is manufactured to Pauls exact specifications. While of course at this price Paul is not manufacturing or assembling these watches himself in the UK, he seems to have a great factory that he deals with that not only produces a fantastic watch but seems to get it right when it comes to what he wants. The Bell Diver is not a catalog case or one that is an homage to another design, and while it is not revolutionary in design, hell you could call it even generic if just looking at it like any other dive watch, it is the little details that make it stand out to me.

The biggest standouts here are the grey dial and the choice of the multilink bracelet. Yes, the Scurfa is a damn well put together watch, you can see that in the video above. The grey dial is an interesting choice because it is the only choice. No black dials, no blue dials, no orange etc. Just grey. That has not changed with the latest release that now comes with the bracelets, the only dial color available-grey. That is a bold move and one I appreciate. Now, I may be biased, I LOVE grey dials. While I am not the biggest fan of red when it comes to watches, the red against the grey dial pops, is not overdone and just makes the Scurfa Bell Diver stand out.

On to the bracelet, the other star of the Bell Diver. This new bracelet is fantastic. At a quick glance, some might say it is similar to the 5 link or super engineer style bracelet we have seen on many dive watches such as the Boschett Cave Dweller or many others. It is not though. When you actually look at it instead of dismissing it, you will see it is much more a jubilee style bracelet, but a beefed-up jubilee style bracelet. The jubilee on steroids if you will.  The bracelet is long and should fit up to an 8 1/2 inch wrist out of the box and if you need a little more room, the ratchet extension clasp should help with that. Of course, if that is not enough and you have giant wrists, Paul should be able to get you a few more extra links, just ask when ordering. I would say my only real complaint about the bracelet is that it uses friction pins instead of screws. That is something of a personal preference of mine though and easy to overlook when this beauty drapes on the wrist.

7 1/2 inch wrist 

As I discuss in the video, the lume was a little bit of a letdown. Now, let me be clear here, the lume on the Scurfa Bell Diver is in no way poor or ill coated or anything like that. It is just not a strong as I was personally hoping for. The markers and hands light up nice and even, it is just not as bright as I would have wanted. It is above average for sure, it is just not a lume torch. Personally, lume is less and less of an importance to me these days, but I report on it here because I know so many others are interested. The lume here will still do the job with ease, just do not expect to read a book by it.

I think it is pretty clear that I am a fan of Scurfa Watches and the Bell Diver is no exception. The addition of the link bracelet takes it to another level and if you want to reduce the weight or are not a bracelet guy, it still comes with the fitted natural rubber strap which will mold to your wrist and feel great. Looking at the pic above, I think I am probably too harsh on the lume, I mean, it’s more than adequate, sometimes I think I am jaded as well and can expect too much. The Scurfa Bell Diver is not only a value but one hell of a dive watch that you should be able to take into the ocean or lake or river with ease. If you are like me, it is great at the desk as well or the occasional rain shower.  There is a lot of competition out there these days, but I will always say you can not go wrong with purchasing a Scurfa Watch. I will not tell you to buy one or say you will love it if you did, only that I love it and find it to be not just a great value, but a great watch, period.

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