Watchdives WD1680Q V2 Review – The Slim Quartz Diver That Makes Automatics Sweat

Introduction

The Watchdives WD1680Q V2 is a sub-style quartz diver that makes a very strong case for choosing thinness, practicality, and value over an automatic movement. It brings a full stainless steel case and bracelet, sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel insert, 120-click unidirectional bezel, screw-in crown, screw-down caseback, screw-pin bracelet, and a Seiko VH31 hybrid quartz movement. This sits within one of the most competitive price brackets, just over $100, in the current watch landscape.

The key difference is the case thickness. At just 10mm, this is a genuinely slim diver-style watch, and that changes how it wears. It still looks like a familiar tool watch, but it feels lighter, flatter, and easier for everyday use. For the latest deals and pricing across the Watchdives lineup, you can browse our dedicated Watchdives Best Deals page.

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Design & Case

The Watchdives WD1680Q V2 follows a familiar Sub-style design language, but the quartz movement gives it one major practical advantage. The case can be far thinner than the automatic version of this kind of diver.

The case diameter is 41mm, while thickness comes in at just 10mm. For this style of diver, that is extremely slim. The lug-to-lug length is extended by the protruding male end links, coming in at 53mm. Lug width is 20mm, and the bracelet tapers down from 20mm at the lugs to 16mm at the clasp.

On the wrist, the slim case changes the whole experience. The polished flank looks elegant and thin, while the downward curve of the lugs appears even more pronounced because the midcase itself is so shallow.

The case still has layered construction. Beneath the polished flank, the lip of the screw-down caseback is visible. Above it sits the notchy scalloped edge of the 120-click unidirectional bezel.

The transitions from the polished flank into the vertically brushed lug hoods are crisp and well defined. The brushing direction on the lug hoods also closely matches the bracelet end links, making the integration look cohesive. For those exploring the wider diver watch space, there are plenty similarly positioned models worth considering.

Movement & Crown

Inside the WD1680Q V2 is the Seiko VH31 hybrid quartz movement. That is one of the reasons this watch works so well as a slim everyday diver.

Instead of the usual one-tick-per-second quartz motion, the VH31 gives four pulses per second. The seconds hand therefore moves with a smoother sweep across the dial, giving some of the visual feel of an automatic movement while retaining quartz practicality.

The movement does not offer a date complication, and that shapes the dial layout. There is no date window here, which keeps the dial nicely symmetrical and clean.

On the right-hand side, there is a guarded signed screw-in crown measuring 5.8mm across. Even with the thinner case, the crown still feels proportional, usable, and quite chunky.

The screw-in crown helps support the diver-style build, while the sterile screw-down caseback completes the practical case construction. This is a quartz watch, but it does not feel like Watchdives has treated it as a lesser model. Those interested in what else Watchdives has been doing recently may want to explore some of their other releases.

Bezel

The WD1680Q V2 uses a 120-click unidirectional bezel, and it keeps to a traditional diver format. Around the top edge, there are deep notchy scallops with only a slight overhang above the case flank.

That combination makes the bezel easy to grip and easy to rotate. The dark polished green ceramic insert carries a white 60-minute scale, and the full scale is luminous, which is always good to see on a diver-style watch.

The bezel action itself is satisfying. The sound is ratchety and distinct, with no mushiness in the click feel. Each detent gives clear tactile feedback through the fingertips, so the indexing feels properly defined.

Resistance sits around medium weight. It is not too heavy and not too light, and it remains even across the full rotation cycle. There are no hollow spots, no dead sections, and no sudden changes in character.

Mechanically, it is very good. You cannot land between clicks, and once the bezel is in a detent, there is no backplay. The only small issue is some lateral tolerance at the detent, but in normal use this is a very good bezel for the money.

Bracelet

The bracelet is one of the most impressive parts of the WD1680Q V2 because Watchdives uses screw-pin construction here. On a watch sitting just above the entry-budget level, that is a very welcome detail.

This is a three-link stainless steel bracelet, and visually it integrates cleanly into the head of the watch. The brushing direction works well with the brushed lug hoods, so the end links flow naturally into the case rather than looking like separate parts.

The brushed finish is also practical. On a daily wearer, brushed surfaces tend to disguise small scratches better than polished ones, which suits the everyday diver character of this piece.

The bracelet tapers from 20mm at the lugs down to 16mm at the clasp, giving the watch a more elegant profile on the wrist. The clasp is a signed milled unit with five micro-adjustment positions, and inside there is also a milled folding wing.

Tolerances are fairly average. There is some movement in the construction, and some gaps appear when the bracelet is stretched and flexed. But link fluidity and articulation are excellent, so the bracelet still drapes naturally and comfortably around the wrist.

Crystal & Dial

Under the flat sapphire crystal, the eye is led down toward the dial by an inward-sloping brushed rehaut. On a watch only 10mm thick, there is only so much physical depth available, but visually it still works.

That rehaut gives the dial some volume and stops the transition from crystal to dial from feeling completely flat. From there, the eye lands on a piano gloss black dial with white printed minute chaptering around the edge.

The marker layout is traditional diver style. There is a triangle at 12, elongated batons at 3, 6, and 9, and circular plots elsewhere. The indices are applied, edged in chrome, and filled with ivory-white lume plots.

Against the glossy black dial, that creates strong contrast and keeps the watch easy to read. The no-date layout also helps, giving the dial a clean, symmetrical appearance.

Branding is restrained. The Watchdives logo is applied under 12 in chrome, while above 6 there is “Pro Diver” and 200m water resistance text.

When the lights go off, Watchdives does what it does best. The bezel scale, dial furniture, hands, and seconds lollipop glow bright blue. The lume charges easily under natural light, indoor light, or artificial light, and it holds for a long time.

Summary

The Watchdives WD1680Q V2 is one of the most convincing budget quartz divers I have handled recently. It takes a familiar Sub-style format and gives it a practical twist through the Seiko VH31 movement and genuinely slim 10mm case.

The specification is strong: stainless steel case and bracelet, sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel insert, screw-in crown, screw-down caseback, 200 meters of water resistance, screw-pin bracelet, milled clasp, and a fully lumed bezel scale.

The bezel action is also better than expected. It is distinct, evenly weighted, properly indexed, and free of backplay, with only minor lateral tolerance if you deliberately go looking for it. The bracelet is not perfect, but the screw pins, taper, milled clasp, and excellent articulation make it feel like a strong everyday setup. For me, this is an easy recommendation if you want a slim, practical, budget-friendly diver with excellent lume.

Watchdives WD1680Q V2 Specifications