In the Francis Ford Coppola 1979 movie “Apocalypse Now,” Captain Benjamin L. Willard, played by Martin Sheen, wears a Seiko 6105 dive watch. This watch has become iconic among watch collectors, and it is often referred to as the “Captain Willard.” The Steeldive SD1970 Willard watch is an almost perfect clomage of the Seiko, with a superbly robust build and particular attention to minute details; in both design and craftsmanship, it excels and the price is truly, really ridiculous (the Seiko is more than $1,000 and the Steeldive less than $100). The movement is precise, the cushion case solid, the water resistance enough for most divers and the lume, oh the lume, absolutely spectacular.

While the Steeldive SD1970 Willard offers an accessible entry into the world of dive watches, it does depart somewhat from the original Seiko 6105, with its case being more rounded and the dial a little too shiny — the case is partly brushed and partly polished and the bezel is uncharacteristically blingy for a supposedly rough-and-tumble beater military timepiece. The most disappointing feature though is the subpar bracelet. Rough in places and with a clasp that lacks closing and opening smoothness, it begs to be replaced with a NATO or even better a khaki French parachutist’s strap.