Aquastar Deepstar IIvsSeiko 5 Sports SKX series

Owners widely praise the Aquastar Deepstar II for its comfortable 37mm wearability, vintage aesthetic, and excellent value. Reviewers and owners alike highlight its smooth-winding Sellita SW290-1 movement, remarkable timekeeping, and legible dial with excellent lume. The updated beads-of-rice bracelet with a diver extension is considered a worthwhile upgrade, and the included grey tropic strap is notably supple. Some owners, however, find the 37mm case diameter too small, despite the 47mm lug-to-lug contributing to a larger perceived wrist presence. One owner dislikes the small seconds subdial, finding it interrupts the dial's aesthetic. Overall, owners and reviewers rate the Aquastar Deepstar II highly for its vintage charm, comfortable wearability, and strong value proposition.

The Seiko 5 Sports SKX series is widely praised as an excellent value gateway watch, with owners and reviewers highlighting its solid build and powerful lume. The 22mm bracelet is noted for its comfort, and the watch offers numerous style options. Some owners find the original SKX models heavy and bulky, while others appreciate their ruggedness and iconic dive watch design. The Seiko 5 Sports SKX series offers an upgraded movement with hacking and hand-winding, and standard spring bars for easier strap changes. However, it lacks the screw-down crown and ISO certification of the original SKX, leading some to consider it less of a tool watch. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Seiko 5 Sports SKX series highly for its value and modern features, despite some preferring the tool watch capabilities of its predecessor.