Android Divemaster Predator Review

I purchased the Android Divemaster (Orange watch) above to review after reading about them in several forums. This review is of the Swiss Automatic version of the watch with an Orange Sunray Dial. I ordered the Orange as Wing did not make this is green for Oregon football games and I do not have a watch with an Orange dial. I was not going to discuss the Presentation boxes as I either throw them away or put them aside until I sell or give the watch away but everyone seems to want to see them.

Gratuitous photos of box. The bottom opens and contains the instructions. The top opens and contains a watch. It is not cheesy yellow and that is a good thing.






The watch caught my attention after reading about it and knowing the reputation that Wing enjoys on many forums I was curious to see how this watch was constructed and presented itself.


Blends in well with the Oscar Myer Weiner mobile.




The watch is heavy but less than a T-Rex and about the same as my 43mm Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Reveil Globe. It fits well on the wrist and when the watch arrived, I was surprised by how comfortable the watch is. The bezel moved easily and with conviction into the place I wanted her without any drama by which I mean it is tight, not a loose fit. Compared to my Deep Blue Marine Diver, which has a similar style bezel, this one has cuts in the bezel edges broken up with an equal spacing of a smooth transition section. I like this bezel better than both the Invicta Grand Diver and Marine Diver.



Note the smooth edges of the Deep Blue Marine Diver which in my opinion is a major shortcoming. It also makes it appears almost as a clone to the Invicta Ocean Ghost in that regard.





Crown was easy to work, very smooth without drama setting the time, or the date wheel. I credit this to the movement, which is the workhorse Swiss ETA 2824 Automatic w/ 25 Jewels, which is 25 Jewel movement and an honest $60 will buy you a new movement these days. I like a three hand watch far more than a Chronograph so this works well for me. The Minute hand sweep is smooth, not jerky or does not stumble as some movements do.






A sapphire crystal as befits a dive watch and nice lume.

My one complaint is the bracelet on this. I do not like it so it will be swapped out for more to my liking. This strikes me as a concession to fashion rather than function. I would also like to see this on Rubber which is something I will look into in the future. A lot of ability to adjust this bracelet though. Micro adjustments and half links made this easy to size. A generous amount of bracelet also. I have a measured 8” wrist (no big deal, just using as a reference point) and there is room in this for a large wrist. Solid End links are also a selling point for me.










Compared to Deep Blue 1000 Meter and Invicta Grand Diver




Exhibition case back shows the ETA Movement and before anyone sends me an email, I had the case back opened by my watch guy who some in Salem also know and use. The movement is a REAL Swiss ETA 2824. Not a Swiss parts, nor Swiss/Asia.







The dial is easy to read and the lume ( sorry no lume shots) is excellent. The Cyclops over the date is great for people like me who hate to wear reading glasses while wearing the watch on shore.










Conclusion on the watch above, a keeper which I have worn for several days since it arrived. For the price point of $238.00 this was a steal IMHO. For those who need them, I think there were value pays on this one (?) Compare this to other offerings out there in this price range or $250-$400 and see what you find outside of Seiko and a few other Asian brands. Compare this to the current crop of watches sold on cable venues and this comes out heads and shoulders above many of those offerings. I would like to see this is a Green or Yellow, Sun Ray not required, so I can wear this to Autzen Stadium. I also like the Black version of this watch. A tip of the hat to Wing and Android for offering this watch at the price point is sold at with a SWISS movement.


• Movement: Swiss ETA 2824 Automatic w/ 25 Jewels
• Crystal: Sapphire
• Crown: Screw Down
• Clasp: Deployant
• Case Measurements: 48mm
• Water Resistance: 20 ATM - 200 meters - 660 feet
• Warranty: Two year limited warranty provided by Android.

Nice review. I agree that the Divemaster Predator is very nicely executed and at an attractive price point as well. Comfortable to wear to boot.

Thank you for that review Koi...I've been on the fence about that one and as you...I love the black dial...maybe I'll try to snag one now...I trust your word...

poot74 wrote:Thank you for that review Koi...I've been on the fence about that one and as you...I love the black dial...maybe I'll try to snag one now...I trust your word...

Thank you for the compliment. I really like this watch and for me it is a keeper.It is to me very comfortable. It looks good without the "in your face" I see now with some watch companies.

Great review, Alain. I've looked at that one, but it's just a bit too big. Your macro shots show it to be well made and machined. Bravo!

Great review and awesome pictures

Very good review and great pictures Koi, thank's for sharing.

Great review Alain! I agree with you that the breacelet does not go with this watch. I did not know that this watch was 48mm. Too big for me but on your wrist it fits and looks great.

conjurer wrote:Great review, Alain. I've looked at that one, but it's just a bit too big. Your macro shots show it to be well made and machined. Bravo!

I owned one last year for a few months and agree. A decent watch for the money, just too big for me.

Very thorough. Thanks koi. Makes me want to get one. Are they available anywhere besides SNBC?

Boscoe, my wife has called Android and ordered direct from them before. It would be worth a call.

Laid_Back_Dude wrote:Boscoe, my wife has called Android and ordered direct from them before. It would be worth a call.

http://www.android-usa.com/

They list their watches at full retail but if you call them and let them know that you saw the watch at shop, they will honor the price listed or sold at shop. Sometimes Wing will answer the phone himself. You can also email him direct, let him know that you would rather buy direct and he will give the shop price also.

Great review. Thanks.
Wing almost got me with this one.
But his coarse SS finishes continue to turn me off.

I had one and gave it away earlier this year. It was very easy to scratch. Very easy.

great review Alain, thanks for sharing.

Good review Koi. As I already pm'd you a week or so ago my purple version (high school color I help assist coaching) arrived dead. I've had good luck with Android so my replacement should be arriving any day now. I guess I could blame it on shipping....but the box was in perfect condition. Maybe it was that inertia thing that some people we know blame issues on... As we discussed, I think it was an anomaly and my hopes are that the replacement is in good working order.

Thanks again for the information and great pics.

Thanks for sharing...good review

Great review Koi, I like that watch too except its just a little large for me. I think Wing is a decent guy but as of late he seems to be following Jimblo's advice and making his stuff too big. He's been using more and more Seagull movements too. Those two factors make me look the other way.

Yeah...I know what your saying about following Jimblow..the other night Android was on so I looked in to see who Wing was with and it was Asswipe so I stayed on for a little while...I don't remember what watch he was showing but it was only one and it had a blue dial...So Shit for Brains said by wearing this watch...it made you cool...Wing said to Jaws...your cool without it and your a sexy man too...I was like...Holy Shit...He's up his ass big time...I wish someone else saw that...I changed it right after that...poor Wing...what he has to do to sell his products...he has to trick himself out to that Bitch Ass Pimp...

I wonder if Jimmy boy has a separate line item on his 1040 for "Anal Lube"... he certainly goes through a lot of it.

Oh wait, I forgot. Jimmy doesn't pay taxes.

I have wanted one for a while but that bullet shaped magnifier has kept me from buying. I assumed the watch was built pretty well so that was not an issue for me. I may give them another look after seeing those excellent pictures. Thanks

Great review. I like the Preditor.

@poot74 I saw that show. I'm a Wing fan. Wing behaved in a gentlemanly manner, as he always does.

@waynebaker06 i like big watches, and I've told Wing that, so I think he's listening to me, not JS. He listens to his customers. I think big ones sell well. As for the Sea Gull movements, Wing has said he is very impressed with their quality and accuracy. I expect he'll do more in the future.

@koi Nice review. Thanks for sharing. Good photos. I really like the bracelet on the Preditor. The loose rotating bezel is something some other people have noticed. Mine is just about perfect to my taste; easy to rotate, loud clicks, and well aligned.

IMAG0302 by bmaben_99, on Flickr

On the Beach in Florida . . . after a dive . . . perfect!

Great review and great looking watch.

That Oscar Meyer shot is both arty and hilarious. I don't know if it was intentional, but it's certainly classic.

This makes my day as I have this one in orange as well and I like it alot and now I feel my two Androids are a.o.k. the other one only cost me 80.00 and I took it off the rubber strap and put it on a nice black leather one, goes good with the white mop dial. ( hope it's mop?)

Kahuna74 wrote:This makes my day as I have this one in orange as well and I like it alot and now I feel my two Androids are a.o.k. the other one only cost me 80.00 and I took it off the rubber strap and put it on a nice black leather one, goes good with the white mop dial. ( hope it's mop?)

Android to my knowledge had good CS, and provides an honest description of their product. The usual hype of course but all watch companies have that. I have had two Androids including this one, my daughter has a trans-atlantic she likes. Never had an issue.

Way good stuff Koi, and I hope every one here has a great day.

Great watch

jawscollector wrote:Great watch

Jimmy? Dat you?

koimaster wrote:

Kahuna74 wrote:This makes my day as I have this one in orange as well and I like it alot and now I feel my two Androids are a.o.k. the other one only cost me 80.00 and I took it off the rubber strap and put it on a nice black leather one, goes good with the white mop dial. ( hope it's mop?)

Android to my knowledge had good CS, and provides an honest description of their product. The usual hype of course but all watch companies have that. I have had two Androids including this one, my daughter has a trans-atlantic she likes. Never had an issue.

Im very happy with my Miyota 9015 fitted Silverjet 500...including the fit /finish of the watch (too big been my only gripe)... that been said, fuck Wing.

Problem with the watchmaker mate!

koimaster wrote:
Problem with the watchmaker mate!

Nah... but at the end of the day, I'm yet to find one that doesn't remind me a snake oil salesman.......

eddiea wrote:

koimaster wrote:

Kahuna74 wrote:This makes my day as I have this one in orange as well and I like it alot and now I feel my two Androids are a.o.k. the other one only cost me 80.00 and I took it off the rubber strap and put it on a nice black leather one, goes good with the white mop dial. ( hope it's mop?)

Android to my knowledge had good CS, and provides an honest description of their product. The usual hype of course but all watch companies have that. I have had two Androids including this one, my daughter has a trans-atlantic she likes. Never had an issue.

Im very happy with my Miyota 9015 fitted Silverjet 500...including the fit /finish of the watch (too big been my only gripe)... that been said, fuck Wing.

So you do buy chinese shit after all.

Oh snap!

purpledc wrote:

eddiea wrote:

koimaster wrote:

Kahuna74 wrote:This makes my day as I have this one in orange as well and I like it alot and now I feel my two Androids are a.o.k. the other one only cost me 80.00 and I took it off the rubber strap and put it on a nice black leather one, goes good with the white mop dial. ( hope it's mop?)

Android to my knowledge had good CS, and provides an honest description of their product. The usual hype of course but all watch companies have that. I have had two Androids including this one, my daughter has a trans-atlantic she likes. Never had an issue.

Im very happy with my Miyota 9015 fitted Silverjet 500...including the fit /finish of the watch (too big been my only gripe)... that been said, fuck Wing.

So you do buy chinese shit after all.

Of course I do purple dude, I buy what I like ... just keeping things in perspective and been objective about the fact that, just because I may like it and buy it, doesn't make it anything more than what they are... shit.
That been said, is probably good to pause here and remember that not all Chinese shit were created equal....but that's another subjet for another day.

Great review. I like the Predator, and the Cartier Roadster type cyclops is a winner for me too. My only reservation is that the one and only Android I've ever owned had an ETA 2824-2, and the rotor fell off twice. I sent it for repair the first time, it now resides in the dead watch drawer with along with all the SW200's. This is the first one since that happened that has interested me enough to take another chance. I also like the stadium style cutouts for the hour markers. All in all a well written and thorough review of a winner for Wing, whose enthusiasm and passion for his craft is refreshing.

RaiderFan wrote:Great review. I like the Predator, and the Cartier Roadster type cyclops is a winner for me too. My only reservation is that the one and only Android I've ever owned had an ETA 2824-2, and the rotor fell off twice. I sent it for repair the first time, it now resides in the dead watch drawer with along with all the SW200's. This is the first one since that happened that has interested me enough to take another chance. I also like the stadium style cutouts for the hour markers. All in all a well written and thorough review of a winner for Wing, whose enthusiasm and passion for his craft is refreshing.

The 2824-2 is a great movement you can go just about anywhere and get it serviced.

oceanaut wrote:

RaiderFan wrote:Great review. I like the Predator, and the Cartier Roadster type cyclops is a winner for me too. My only reservation is that the one and only Android I've ever owned had an ETA 2824-2, and the rotor fell off twice. I sent it for repair the first time, it now resides in the dead watch drawer with along with all the SW200's. This is the first one since that happened that has interested me enough to take another chance. I also like the stadium style cutouts for the hour markers. All in all a well written and thorough review of a winner for Wing, whose enthusiasm and passion for his craft is refreshing.

The 2824-2 is a great movement you can go just about anywhere and get it serviced.

Iknow, I just got disgusted with it, and now it's too small. I figure that if nothing else I'll scavenge the movement for parts if I ever need to. I am beginning the "hmmmmmmmm.......I think that Android diver has become more interesting...." phase. I'll start keeping my eyes open for the right deal.

Has wing been aware of a known issue with this watch which involves a loose bezel? Has he known about it but continued to sell the watch to a unwary buying public?

Does Android consider this "normal"? I wonder if any others have run across this issue with this particular model.

Koi, I have a Predator quartz (charcoal with orange accents) and haven't noticed the bezel being loose. But, I'll certainly keep an eye on it.

Goddamn UPS

bsmith wrote:Koi, I have a Predator quartz (charcoal with orange accents) and haven't noticed the bezel being loose. But, I'll certainly keep an eye on it.

Wing is alleged to have made the comment that it was a known issue but normal to at least one person. I have email confirmation about it.

nn

Have the same orange dial predator, love it, but it does have a pretty loose bezel,much looser than my black dialed predator

Great review. I have looked at these for awhile, just never was too sure. Your review makes it appealing. Maybe someday.