Island Watch Sands Point Titanium Dive Review

There’s quite a bit to be mentioned for sincerity. Whether you’re designing, writing, or manufacturing, displaying open respect in your sources is a good way to make sure the integrity of your product.

This is likely one of the causes I’ve developed a keenness for New York’s Long Island Watch. True, its Islander line started with a sequence of homages. But beginning with the ISL-88 and progressing with the offbeat Ameriquartz Field, the model’s efforts really feel well-intentioned. And it’s since damaged floor of its personal.

Now, with the discharge of the brand new Sands Point Titanium Diver ($395), it feels as if we’ve come to the becoming a member of of a near-perfect circle.

I’ll save the plain comparability for later, however in the event you’re even casually conscious of wristwatches, this design will look considerably acquainted (and if not, maintain studying to search out out). After spending a while with the Sands Point, I can let you know it doesn’t dwell as much as the legend.

Instead, it wholly surpasses it, together with a lot of the different divers at this value level.

In quick: Long Island Watch has carried out it once more with the Sands Point Diver. From its excellent sizing to its accuracy and a spotlight to element, this timepiece manages to be each a profitable homage and a next-gen evolution for its maker. The supplies, performance, and total magnificence far outshine any qualms you would possibly really feel about its inspiration. If you’re trying to scratch your classic dive-watch itch, skip the eBay auctions and gray market websites and steer your pockets to Sands Point.

Islander Sands Point Titanium Diver Watch: Review

My first standards when reviewing a watch is easy: How lengthy can it sit on my wrist earlier than I really feel like taking it off? Well, I’m sending this loaner again tomorrow, and I’m nonetheless not prepared to maneuver on to my subsequent tester.

The sizing of its titanium case is ideal. At 43 mm throughout, 14 mm excessive, and 47 mm from lug to lug, it wears a lot smaller than you’d anticipate. This is due partially to its slight 108g weight and wonderful 4-o’clock crown.

Then we come to the dial. Just have a look at it — intricate blue waves, massive indices, and pops of shade on the Islander brand and on the tip of the second hand.

The firm’s description is correct: “Using gun metal polished hands and markers, all filled with BGW9 Super-LumiNova, means the watch is easy to read both in daytime and nighttime when the hands and indices glow a cool blue.”

The bezel (120-click, unidirectional) matches the face and band with an insert of brushed ceramic. All the titanium {hardware}, from the coin edge to the case, clasp, and screw-down crown, are brushed to the identical look.

The crystal consists of sapphire with an antireflective coating, and the chassis is sweet for 200 m of water resistance.

A Question of Movement

Beneath the waves beats the Sands Point’s coronary heart of gold (or no less than, of jewels). Its Seiko NH38 motion “features hand winding and hacking, and a 40-hour power reserve.”

This is a confirmed mechanism, just like the shockingly correct NH35 that powered our Spinnaker Piccard tester. The primary distinction between the 2 is easy — the NH35 has a date complication, and the NH38 doesn’t.

Beyond this, they’re each working on the identical foundational Seiko tech. The spec sheet will let you know that the actions are manufactured to a tolerance of between -20 and +40 seconds per day. But after practically every week on the wrist, the Sands Point ran simply 12 seconds quick. That’s not fairly as profitable because the +1 on the Piccard, nevertheless it’s fairly rattling respectable.

And I’m a giant fan of the FKM rubber strap and the six micro-adjust holes within the mechanism. You’ll want these, together with a spring bar instrument and a pointy pair of scissors, to trim and match the strap.

I’ve solely a single grievance with this watch: Somewhere within the clasp sits a tiny piece of metallic that may be simply the slightest bit rattly. But it’s so minor (we’re speaking “bubble popping in your La Croix” decibels) that it’s barely value mentioning.

Succeeding a Legend

Let’s handle the elephant within the room. The Sands Point appears like a Seiko SKX — not somewhat, however quite a bit. Island Watch, to its credit score, isn’t shy about this truth.

“The Sands Point is based off the SKX007 platform; therefore, straps, bezel inserts, hands, and crystals made for the SKX007 will fit,” the model mentioned.

Frankly, this look-alike high quality sparked my curiosity within the first place, particularly in its ISL-158 black trim. But supplied the selection of loaners, I adopted my convictions and went with the ISL-159 and its textured blue-wave dial.

Why? Because sooner or later, we, collectively, as followers of wristwatches, might want to recover from that specific (although venerable) icon.

Sapphire crystal versus Hardlex. A hacking motion versus none. And a titanium case, higher strap, and considerably simpler availability. From its development to its perform, I really feel the ISL-159 is a greater timepiece in practically each means.

What’s it lacking? Well, the historic pedigree, I suppose. But the homage is so tastefully carried out as to seize the spirit of the unique whereas surpassing its varied shortfalls.

Think alongside the traces of a well-done restomod on a traditional automobile, and your thoughts is heading in the right direction.

Islander Sands Point Titanium Diver Watch: Conclusion

We’re solely midway via February, and I really feel assured stating the Sands Point shall be among the many finest new watches of 2023.

With an absence of a date window or further sub-dials, this lovingly-crafted instrument has precisely one perform: Measure the second-to-second time on a easy 12-hour scale. At this, it excels whereas wanting merely attractive within the course of. If this isn’t one of the best diver underneath $400, then rattling if it isn’t tied for the crown.

I’m enamored with this watch, and I’m unhappy to see it head again to the workforce in Long Island. If you want what you see right here, I strongly encourage you to select one up for your self.

Seiko itself won’t be eager on offering a (fairly priced) successor to the SKX. But with upgraded appears and a motion derived from the exact same firm, the Sands Point has the center and elegance of the unique, each figuratively and actually.