Side by side

Islander Islander Saltaire 38mm Solar Dive Watch with Ink Black Dial #ISL-278vsGrand Seiko SBGW291

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

Islander Saltaire 38mm Solar Dive Watch with Ink Black Dial #ISL-278
IslanderIslander Saltaire 38mm Solar Dive Watch with Ink Black Dial #ISL-278
MSRP $395
SBGW291
Grand SeikoSBGW291
MSRP $5,300

At a glance

16 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Islander Saltaire 38mm Solar Dive Watch with Ink Black Dial #ISL-27838mm
SBGW29136.5mm
Power Reserve
Islander Saltaire 38mm Solar Dive Watch with Ink Black Dial #ISL-278
SBGW29172h
Water Resistance
Islander Saltaire 38mm Solar Dive Watch with Ink Black Dial #ISL-278200m
SBGW291100m
MSRP
Islander Saltaire 38mm Solar Dive Watch with Ink Black Dial #ISL-278$395
SBGW291$5,300

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
Diver
Dress
Diameter
38mm
36.5mm
Thickness
12.5mm
11.6mm
Lug-to-Lug
0mm
42.7mm
Lug Width
20mm
18mm
Finish
Brushed and polished
Water Resistance
200m
100m

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
AR Coating
Underside
Yes
Dial Color
Black
Indices
Applied

Movement

5 specs
Caliber
Miyota 2070
9S64
Type
Quartz
Manual
Beat Rate
0 vph
28,800 vph
Power Reserve
0h
72h
Jewels
0
25

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$395
$5,300

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What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

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

Islander Saltaire 38mm Solar Dive Watch with Ink Black Dial #ISL-278

The Islander Saltaire 38mm Solar Dive Watch with Ink Black Dial #ISL-278 is lauded for its appealing color and 38mm size, with owners calling it a keeper. Reviewers and owners alike praise its impressive specifications for the price and good finishing. However, some owners express a desire for a date complication, and one owner found the 38mm size too small, despite preferring smaller watches. The bezel is noted to be mineral crystal, not sapphire. Overall, owners rate the Islander Saltaire 38mm Solar Dive Watch with Ink Black Dial #ISL-278 highly for its value and wearability, with the primary praise centering on its color and compact dimensions.

Grand Seiko SBGW291

The Grand Seiko SBGW291 is praised for its charming 36.5mm size and a silver sunburst dial with sharply chamfered indices and dauphine hands. Reviewers note the hallmark Zaratsu polished surfaces and the hand-wound 9S64 movement, which provides accuracy between -3 to +5 seconds per day and a three-day power reserve. The case wears wonderfully on smaller wrists. However, its €5,200 price is considered high by one reviewer, especially without a steel bracelet, suggesting vintage options might be more appealing. Overall, reviewers consider the Grand Seiko SBGW291 a valid option for a simpler, smaller Grand Seiko experience, with its wearability and finishing being key strengths.

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