Addiesdive AD2112 Review – The Sweet Spot Everyday Watch

The Addiesdive AD2112 represents that sweet spot between everyday wearability and enthusiast-grade value. It’s a watch that can dress up, tone down, or simply disappear into the background of daily life — an unpretentious tool built for use, not display. Clearly an homage to the Explorer, the AD2112 asks a simple question: can a sub $100 watch capture even a fraction of the appeal of a design icon costing over a hundred times more? For its price, it delivers far more than expected — stainless steel construction, NH35 automatic movement, boxed sapphire crystal, and 100 m of water resistance — all in a compact, balanced case.

Design & Case

At 38 mm in diameter, the AD2112 hits the versatile middle ground — a unisex size that flatters both smaller and average wrists. The 13.5 mm height owes mostly to the boxed, slightly domed sapphire crystal, lending a classic silhouette without feeling bulky. The lug-to-lug length of 48.5 mm and 20 mm lug width (tapering to 16 mm at the clasp) maintain a well-proportioned profile, while the 135 g weight provides reassuring substance without fatigue.
The side profile reveals high-polished flanks with a subtle convex curvature, transitioning smoothly into horizontally brushed lugs.

The angled lug hoods reduce visual length, helping the watch sit flat and comfortably — even on a 6.5-inch wrist, as tested. The interplay between brushed lugs, polished bezel, and the boxed crystal gives the watch layered visual depth, while the sky-blue dial adds a contemporary, summery tone that balances the Explorer-inspired form.

Movement & Crown

Inside beats the Seiko NH35 automatic movement, a 24-jewel caliber with a 42-hour power reserve and six beats per second sweep. It’s a dependable workhorse — easy to service, durable, and smooth in operation.

The 5.8 mm screw-down crown, signed and finely threaded, operates with precision and smooth resistance. It supports the AD2112’s 100 m water resistance, pairing practicality with a touch of refinement. Flip the watch over, and the screw-down stainless-steel caseback features engraved specifications around the perimeter, emphasizing the brand’s focus on durability and honest construction.

Bracelet

The bracelet plays a crucial role in the Addiesdive AD2112’s strong value proposition. It’s a three-link stainless-steel design with brushed surfaces and polished accents, aligning neatly with the brushing on the lugs and inverted end links. The consistency in finish helps the bracelet flow naturally into the case, avoiding that disjointed look common in many budget pieces.
Sizing is handled via push pins rather than screws — a cost-saving measure, but tolerances remain respectable.

The signed double-pusher clasp offers a secure fit, though its pressed mid-wing feels a touch basic compared to the rest of the build. Articulation is smooth, brushing is even, and overall comfort is excellent. For a budget automatic, it’s a surprisingly refined bracelet.

Crystal & Dial

Front and center lies the boxed synthetic sapphire crystal, a single dome that delivers remarkable clarity with anti-reflective coating visible as a soft green-blue sheen at certain angles. There’s no distortion even when viewed obliquely, reinforcing its quality feel.
Beneath it, the matte turquoise dial showcases textbook Explorer-style symmetry: applied markers, printed minute track, and Arabic numerals at 3, 6, and 9, anchored by a triangle at 12. The white markers contrast crisply against the blue, ensuring legibility in all conditions. Text is minimal — just the Addiesdive logo, “Automatic,” and “100 m” — leaving the dial open and balanced.

Lume performance is particularly strong for the price segment: chilly blue light, bright, evenly applied, and long-lasting across both hands and markers. It’s proof that Addiesdive, like its sibling brand SteelDive, continues to prioritize functionality alongside aesthetics.

Summary

The Addiesdive AD2112 stands as one of the most coherent executions of the Explorer formula in the sub-$100 automatic category. Its sapphire crystal, NH35 movement, and 100 m rating anchor it in legitimacy, while the matte blue dial and clean proportions lend individuality. There are compromises — push pins, a pressed clasp wing — but none that diminish the integrity of what’s offered here. The AD2112 doesn’t try to redefine anything; instead, it refines the essentials, offering genuine watchmaking value for those who simply love the feel of a well-made mechanical watch.

Specifications Table