CWC E9 Automatic Diver WatchvsSeiko 5 Sports SKX series

Owners widely praise the CWC E9 Automatic Diver Watch for its military-spec toughness and satisfyingly easy-to-wind crown, with one owner calling it a perfect reissue due to its thin case, small size, and legibility. Some owners appreciate its durability and value as a beater or summer watch, noting its solid bars are a military requirement and highlighting its significant wrist presence and unique "Jolly Roger" dial design. Critics find the CWC E9 Automatic Diver Watch overpriced for its mineral crystal and 60-click bezel, despite its military heritage and HAQ movement, and its luminous paint is noted as low glow. Overall, owners rate the CWC E9 Automatic Diver Watch highly for its military-spec toughness and wrist presence, despite some reservations about its value proposition.

The Seiko 5 Sports SKX series is widely praised for its value, robust build, and powerful lume, with owners appreciating its comfortable bracelets and improved movement featuring hacking and hand-winding. Some owners find the original SKX models heavy and bulky, while others praise their ruggedness and iconic dive watch design. Reviewers note the 38mm models offer great value at around €350 and are exemplary gateway watches, though their 100m water resistance without a screw-down crown makes them unsuitable for diving. The Seiko 5 Sports SKX series is seen as a decent watch, especially under £200, but lacks the tool watch capabilities of the original SKX, missing a screw-down crown, bezel pip, and ISO rating. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Seiko 5 Sports SKX series well for its blend of value, improved movement, and tool-watch aesthetic, despite some missing dive certifications.