A traditional-looking dive watch, the Spinnaker Hunley is a nice variation of a classic design. The Ocean Green model in particular showcases a textured green dial, a color that is not really reproduced by any other brand.
For those who aren’t already aware, Spinnaker are a watch brand that operates out of Hong Kong. This may put off people who are closed-minded, but Spinnaker operates very differently to your average Chinese brand and produce watches to a much higher standard.
The Hunley sits around the middle of Spinnaker watches price range. It’s not the most expensive watch they offer, but neither is it the budget choice. Of course, this is as expected given that the watch has 200 meters water resistance and uses an automatic movement. Whilst these complications are not the most insanely difficult to produce, they do cost a lot more money than typical fashion timepieces.
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Specifications
The Spinnaker Hunley has a uni-directional bezel with a serrated edge. Some people complain about the bezel being too tight when they first buy the watch. However, as I purchased this second-hand from eBay, there was no issue at all. The bezel turned exactly as expected so I was surprised to see this mentioned online.
As Spinnaker are a budget brand and not too expensive, they rely on the Seiko NH35 for the Hunley. This is great since you cannot really go wrong with a Japanese classic that has been tried and tested. Whilst the NH35 is certainly not the best movement in the world, it has been used in the Seiko 5 for decades so has a very solid and deserved reputation.
In terms of size, the Hunley uses a 41.5mm case, which is 1.5mm bigger than the classic Rolex Submariner. As the crown is significantly larger, this size differential is not really noticeable. The movement is displayed through the transparent case back. Although the NH35 might not be the best-looking movement, Spinnaker have customized it with their own rotor. This gives the watch a nice aesthetic edge over other brands using the NH35 in their own automatic models.
As you can see, the crown is very big when compared with other watches such as the Rolex Submariner. I wouldn’t say this looks out of place, but it is certainly unusual for a modern dive watch. Of course, just like everything in life, some people will hate this whilst others will love it.
Worth mentioning is that Spinnaker uses sapphire glass with AR coating. This is another nice feature and shows that the brand has not skimped and cut costs on inferior quality production. For a watch costing above $300, sapphire crystal should be standard, but unfortunately, it isn’t in the watch industry. Spinnaker have used very good quality parts given the cost of the watch.
Originality & Design
Dive watches always follow a formula, so it would be unfair to criticize the Hunley in terms of being unoriginal. The submariner style of watch sells, so it only makes sense to give people what they want.
The textured dial is very original. Almost every other brand is used a solid primary color or copying the Hulk, using a Pepsi style bezel, etc. Spinnaker has actually put some unique thought into making a dial that is different from everything else.
As previously mentioned, the crown on the Hunley is also overly large. Due to the fact that this is a screw-down crown with reasonably sized crown guards, this is not an issue in terms of damage. If anything, it makes life easier to adjust the time, especially if you have short nails, you do not need to dig under a tiny crown and prise it out.
Lastly, the fact that you get this particular model with a leather strap is a good thing. This makes the watch sizeable, but not overly heavy and makes a nice change from the norm.
Overall Thoughts
In summary, the Spinnaker Hunley Ocean Green is good value for money. At $350, it is a little cheaper than the other variations of Hunley that use stainless steel bracelets. As this watch is going nowhere near the ocean, a leather strap suits it just fine and is not necessary for a dive watch that will not get wet.
There are hundreds of rival brands trying to create similar dive watches, but the Hunley is somewhat original. Its textured dial sets it apart from the competition and its oversized crown makes it very different. The color scheme is neither boring nor loud and brash.
You can wear this watch every day which is what makes it well worth the money. It’s nice enough to wear to the office or just casually on a day out, but not nice enough to attract unwanted attention.
Overall, the Spinnaker Hunley is very reasonable value for money. You will be able to find cheaper watches with similar movements, but they do not look as good. Spinnaker has invested time and money into making their watch stand out – and this is why I would recommend it.
