The American-made-ish diver
By Dave Kowalski, Chicago ยท
Made-in-America (well, assembled) is a big part of the pitch with Vaer, a California brand. The D5 Tropic is their vintage-style diver. 39 mm, 12.5 mm thick, 20 mm lugs, black dial, date, rotating bezel, sapphire, steel bracelet. 200 m. Miyota 9015 with 42 hours. $750 flat.
Good size. The Miyota 9015 is a decent mid-range Japanese movement with a smoother seconds sweep than the cheaper Seikos. 42 hours is the downside, as always.
My question is whether the U.S. assembly is worth the premium. You can get a Zelos Helmsman with the same movement for $529. If buying American matters to you (and as a union guy, I get it), the Vaer is a good choice. If you just want the most watch for your money, you've got other options.