Spinnaker Tesei Titanium Automatic Dive Watch Review

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Following the release of the Bronze Swiss Made Spinnaker Tesei, the hong kong based brand has decided to release a more affordable variation in grade 5 Titanium...Let’s take a look.

Case

So, the case itself seems well cut and smooth which is a good sign of quality and overall machining. The diameter comes in at 42MM which really is not all that big, but certainly wears a bit bigger than a 40. This model features all the goodies including 200M of water resistance, a domed Sapphire crystal with display back, and a very grippy 120 Click Matte finished ceramic bezel. In terms of thickness, my calipers are reading 15MM, which is pretty standard and not too thick for a capable dive watch. Nice features I did notice were the smooth integration of the crown guards which almost sits flush with the screw down signed crown. This crown is definitely well protected and will withstand your average doorknob knocks or desk diving incidents..

Dial

The dial on this example ( SP-5061-01 ) is a grainy textured black dial which matches the blue ceramic bezel just fine from my perspective. I like the fact that the applied hour markers are large and filled with C3 SuperLuminova ( bezel also ) for a really nice and easy to read time at any given moment. The hands are actually brushed and definitely play along with the aesthetic of the timepiece which is a good thing of course. I do like the small hint of red text above 6:00 for some “Red Rolex” vintage feel, as well as the matching date wheel at 3:00.

Movement

Now, the movement used in this watch is quite a common japanese automatic movement - being the Miyota 8215. This caliber does have a 42 hour power reserve, 21 jewels, hand winding, and no hacking. Some folks might absolutely hate the 8215 because it doesn’t hack...and well I can understand that. With all that being said at the end of the day it is indeed a very reliable and somewhat accurate movement that has stood the test of time.

Strap

I love when brands change things up on their newer models completely, and Spinnaker did it this time using a new MilSpec Back Cordura strap. The strap itself is actually water resistant even though the backside is genuine leather. It is a 22MM strap and is definitely wearable out of the box, and will slowly break into your wrist over a few days of daily wear.

Conclusion

Furthermore, it is not easy to find a grade 5 titanium dive watch with a set of decent specs for $349, which is the current deal they are offering on their website. The watch is well built and finished, has zero quality control issues, and has some neat features such as the lumed matte bezel, and Milspec style strap. I think overall it is a good pick if you are looking for a lightweight dive watch comprised of titanium under $500. Thanks for taking the time to read and please do check out the full hands on review on my YouTube channel.