I can hear the watch snobs…sipping on their Haterades as I type this review. The first time I bought the Steinhart Ocean Vintage Military I was very happy with it. Then I started to read the reviews, damning this homage watch to being no better than a fake. So I sold it…I felt a bit dirty. But no one could say that it was a bad watch? I would hear, ‘After collecting several homage watches, you could sell them all and buy a real Rolex or Omega!’ Who cares? Enjoy your watches! So I bought another to reevaluate.

This watch has it’s own character. Firstly it’s quite large at 42mm, has a domed sapphire crystal with anti reflective coating, a beautiful tapered bracelet, a stunning dial, sword hands, and a 0-60 type, nipple pip bezel for that true vintage MilSub look. It is a joy to wear! There have been several different versions of this OVM. The MK1 is the best in my opinion. The dial is a lot less cluttered, and it has held its price, and in some cases, they’ve gone up in value!

After a couple of years of production, they discontinued this model and replaced it with a different dial. Those were known as the MK2 and 2.5 with a supposed grey (aged look) with an extra ‘Ocean one’ line under the Steinhart brand name. The dial became a little cluttered and less desirable. So Steinhart reverted back to the black dial, but sadly kept the extra line.

I can’t knock this piece much, but if I had to change anything, the vintage colored lumed hands & indices could match better, the outer nipple pip is quite prominent and might be knocked off easily, in a catastrophic desk diving accident! Plus the bezel doesn’t line up perfectly on a lot of the early Steinies. But then again, even some high end brands have that problem. The ETA 2824-2 movement is a joy, and the Posseidon engraving on the caseback is superb! I’ve owned several Steinharts, but this is my favorite. It was quite controversial with its Rolex 5517 looks. But it’s no rip off. It’s got its own character & it’s a future investment in my opinion. But if you can afford a Rolex, you don’t need a Steinhart Ocean Vintage Military like mine!