Side by side

CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz WatchvsSeiko Essentials Quartz

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
CWCSBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
MSRP $666
Essentials Quartz
SeikoEssentials Quartz
MSRP $335
What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch

Owners widely praise the CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch for its legible, uncluttered dial, excellent Super-LumiNova lume, and robust build quality, noting its comfortable 12mm thickness and durable PVD coating. The bezel action is described as having zero back play, and the fixed lugs are appreciated for easy strap changes. One owner reported the lume is readable throughout the night, while another flagged a faulty mechanism requiring replacement and poor retailer customer service. The £700 price is considered high by some compared to similar quartz divers, leading to questions about its value. Overall, owners rate the CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch highly for its bombproof, toolish design and practical aesthetics.

Seiko Essentials Quartz

Seiko Essentials Quartz is widely praised for its exceptional value and comfortable, lightweight wearability, particularly the titanium models on mesh which weigh only 50g. Owners highlight the thin 8.4mm case, sapphire crystal, and 100m water resistance as key strengths. One owner noted the dark greenish dial was less impressive than a black alternative. The titanium bracelet's wider gaps due to its smaller center link drew criticism from one user. Overall, owners rate the Seiko Essentials Quartz highly for its comfortable, lightweight titanium build and impressive specifications at its price point.

At a glance

10 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40mm
Essentials Quartz38.9mm
Power Reserve
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40h
Essentials Quartz40h
Water Resistance
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch300m
Essentials Quartz100m
MSRP
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch$666
Essentials Quartz$335

Full specifications

Case

5 specs
Category
Diver
Dress
Diameter
40mm
38.9mm
Thickness
12mm
8.5mm
Lug-to-Lug
46mm
44.5mm
Water Resistance
300m
100m

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Dial Color
CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
Black
Lume
None
LumiBrite on hands and index(es)

Movement

1 specs
Caliber
Ronda 517
6N52

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$666
$335
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