Is a high-spec 1000m water-resistant diver suitable for everyday use? Edox Neptunian Automatic Review

In this series, the editorial staff of Chronos Japan gives their impressions and discusses popular models. This time, we will be giving our honest reviews of the Neptunian Automatic, an ambitious model by Edox, a manufacturer of waterproof watches for over half a century, including the Delphine, which attempts to achieve 1000m water resistance. While the dial and ceramic bezel are impressive, making it hard to believe it's priced in the 20 yen range, the bracelet leaves room for improvement.

A diver's watch bearing the name "King of the Sea"

HosodaThis time, we have the Edox Neptunian Automatic. Originally, the Neptunian was part of the Sky Diver collection, but recently, the Neptunian became an independent series, and the transition is currently underway. Currently, some models on sale have the Sky Diver NEPTUNIAN logo on the dial, but this will be gradually replaced with just the NEPTUNIAN logo. The watch we wore this time has the SKY DIVER logo.

(I.e.The price was 231,000 yen including tax, right?

HirotaWe've put a lot of effort into pricing this.

HosodaIt's incredibly cheap, and while it's probably not ISO compliant, it's water resistant to 1000m and even has a helium escape valve.

HirotaYes, there is no luminous material at the 3 o'clock position, so it is not compatible with the new ISO.

HirotaThis model is characterized by a very clear sense of how well it spends its money. The dial has a beautiful lacquer finish, and the bezel with its ceramic inserts looks high quality. Considering the price range, it's not a particularly sharp finish, but it has been designed with some thoughtful features, such as rounded corners on the head to prevent it from catching on your cuffs.

(I.e.That's right. The case is 15.6mm thick, so it's quite bulky, but I was able to wear it without it getting caught on my cuffs or getting in the way. It wasn't a thing in the past, but now there's a style where you pair a diver's watch with a suit to add a bit of flair, so I think it can be used with a variety of outfits and situations.

HosodaFor a watch in the 20 yen range, it gives a very good first impression, and it feels good to the touch too.

HirotaThe corners of the engraving on the back cover have been rounded off so that it won't leave marks on your wrist even when fastened tightly, giving it a sophisticated feel.

DoiAnother point is that the engraving on the case back reflects the name of the collection.

(I.e.People who own it may develop an attachment to it. There is a sense of satisfaction in seeing it when you take it off. The combination of the matte finish and the three-dimensional design.

The bracelet has room for improvement. Is the editorial department recommending rubber?

HirotaHowever, perhaps I spent too much money on the head, as the balance of the bracelet is...

(I.e.That's right. The bracelet and buckle are a bit flimsy. But as Hakase said, the bezel, dial, and chamfered case all make a good impression at first glance.

HosodaI spoke with the person in charge, and it seems that there have been many complaints about the bracelet being poor, so the bracelet itself has been changed to a slightly thicker one. However, I saw the new model the other day, and it was only noticeable by touching it, so to be honest, it still feels lacking. And... Speaking of the bracelet issue, Doi couldn't wear it, right?

DoiYes, even after removing all the adjustment links, it was still so big that I needed to remove 2-3 more. My wrist circumference is 14.7cm, which is certainly small, but I'm sure there are quite a few Japanese men whose wrists are under 15cm.

HosodaI'm looking forward to the Japanese version of the bracelet as well.

(I.e.There seems to be room for further reconsideration of the buckle as well.

HosodaThat's right. Recently, there are more and more buckles with fine adjustments, but most of them have a mechanism where the adjustment part is stored inside the buckle and can be adjusted from there, but this was different.

DoiThe fine adjustment part extends to the outside of the buckle, which increases the thin area and causes some play, so it can be a cause for concern.

HosodaFrom our perspective, we would be happy to raise the price by 5 yen if the bracelet and buckle were made more sturdy, but I think it's a compromise between whether the brand wants to keep the price in the low 20 yen range at all costs.

HirotaWell, if you want to seriously make a bracelet that is water resistant to 1000m, you have no choice but to screw it in. If you want to make the most of the specs, perhaps a thick rubber strap would be a good balance for your head?

HosodaThere is a model with a rubber strap, so I would recommend that one. The rubber version costs 22 yen including tax.

HirotaYep, rubber! I think this watch would look great on a rubber strap.

HosodaEdox has a lot of know-how when it comes to rubber straps, such as the Chrono Offshore 1, so I think they are better at that as a brand.

HirotaOr perhaps swap it for a heavy Milanese bracelet made in Germany.

(I.e.The head specs are 1000m, but overall it's a hill-spec diver.

HirotaOne other minor issue I noticed is that it's not an ISO diver, so it can't be helped, but when you rotate the bezel and return it to the center at 12 o'clock, there's a slight misalignment with the index. So, rather than using it underwater, I think it's best used to enjoy a luxurious atmosphere in town.