All photography is curtesy of Simen Ravnlie. To see more of his work head over to his website or Instagram @wildbezel.
If you are on the hunt for a highly capable dive watch with a charming vintage aesthetic, the Geckota Sea Hunter Jade Green bezel is most definitely worth a closer look. In this review we’ll dive a bit deeper into what makes this watch a great pick in the sub £500 category.
Geckota Sea Hunter - Jade Green Bezel | Image Credit: wildbezel
The first thing that really catches my eye is the beautiful combination of Jade green and gilt. This watch will look the part whether you go diving in the ocean or desk diving. With a case size of 40mm and a lug to lug length of 47mm it sits nicely on my 7” (approximately 18cm) And with a thickness of 13,5mm it still slides nicely under most cuffs. The case is made of 316L stainless steel and is beautifully finished with both polished and brushed surfaces. Both the case back and crown is screw-down, which gives this watch a water resistance of 200m or 660ft. The Bracelet is a lovely jubilee bracelet with polished center links and brushed outer links. The only thing that could be improved is the clasp. It’s tiny, and that is for the most part a great thing. But with a tiny clasp, there is little room for micro adjustment holes. Luckily I found the perfect fit for me.
A little cool detail is that Jade green bezel. The insert is a sunburst-finished steel ring that’s covered in epoxy resin. That also means that the lume pip is covered, which makes it a lot harder to lose. I’m not sure how the epoxy resin will hold up against scratches over time, but to my knowledge epoxy resin is actually polishable.
Geckota Sea Hunter - Jade Green Bezel | Image Credit: wildbezel
The dial is glossy black with applied gilt indices that contrast nicely and make the watch highly legible. I’m also happy to report that Geckota didn’t see the need to add a bunch of text on the dial, which keeps everything nice and tidy. One thing I’d like to see improved is the lume. Don’t get me wrong. There is lume, and plenty of it but I just wish it was a tad bit longer lasting.
Geckota Sea Hunter - Jade Green Bezel | Image Credit: wildbezel
The movement used in this watch is a PT5000 made by HK Precision Technologies. It’s the closest one can get to an ETA2824 without being part of the Swatch group. My watch is running within COSC standards (Around +5 seconds a day).
I also want to give the quality controllers over at Geckota the pat on the back that they deserve. Everything lines up perfectly and is finished way better than the price range would suggest.
In summary:
A 40mm diver watch with a lovely vintage aesthetic that has a WR of 200m, A sapphire crystal with AR coating (Underside only), and A reliable movement that runs within COSC standards says it all. It’s a watch that punches way over Its price range and is most definitely worth the money.
