Benyar BY5179 Review – Desperately Cheap Automatic 100m Diver

Few brands embody the phrase “value experiment” quite like Benyar. The BY5179 takes on one of the toughest challenges in the homage world — tributing its proportions and feel to the BB58 — and does so for around $30. That number seems hardly believable, yet here it is: a fully automatic diver-style watch with an exhibition caseback, anti-reflective crystal, and stainless-steel bracelet.

It’s rough around the edges, but also unexpectedly charming. The BY5179 may be flawed, yet it’s fascinating — a clear window into what’s possible when budget constraints meet ambition.

Benyar BY5179 – Automatic Diver Watch

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Design & Case

The Benyar BY5179 measures 41.5 mm in diameter, 15.5 mm thick, and 50 mm lug-to-lug. Around 2 mm of that height comes from the tall, boxed mineral crystal — a detail that dramatically improves the vintage proportions. Despite the size, it wears well thanks to inverted end links that curve immediately downward, allowing the bracelet to drape neatly even on a 6.5-inch wrist. For a truer homage look you may want to check out our review of the San Martin SN0004.

The case is alloy, fully polished, and carries more shine than texture — a common limitation of the material. At certain angles, the surfaces blur rather than reflect cleanly, but the geometry remains faithful to the diver archetype: broad lugs, vertical sidewalls, and a narrow mid-case.

A 7 mm signed push-pull crown sits at 3 o’clock, another surprise at this price point. The threading feels basic but consistent, and the logo engraving is sharp. The case weight is substantial at 163 g with all links fitted, giving it real wrist presence despite its budget construction.

Bezel

Visually, the coin-edge bezel looks the part — with deep notches, a black insert, and printed gilt numerals that match the dial accents. Up close, however, function doesn’t quite match form.

The 60-click unidirectional rotation is uneven and mushy, alternating between smooth sections and sticky resistance. The clicks lack definition and produce audible friction, with significant back-play once set. For those who plan to use the bezel regularly, it’s the weakest link in the design.

That said, the bezel insert itself — a black epoxy-style surface layer — is well executed, closely resembling ceramic at first glance. The gilt printing ties perfectly with the warm tones of the markers and hands, visually redeeming the tactile shortcomings.

Crystal & Dial

The boxed mineral crystal is the real surprise here. It’s not sapphire, but it’s treated with anti-reflective coating, producing a faint purple-blue hue under light. At this price, AR coating is practically unheard of, and it genuinely improves legibility.

Beneath it, the dial punches above its weight. The matte black surface is clean and uniform, with applied gilt indices: circular markers for most hours, elongated batons at 3, 6, and 9, and a downward triangle at 12. The absence of a date window preserves perfect symmetry.

Printed details — Benyar, Automatic, and 100M Water Resistant — are done in soft gold to complement the polished gold-tone hands. The combination of gilt print and beige lume produces a warm, cohesive vintage aesthetic.

The lume performance, however, is modest: it glows briefly and fades quickly, typical for painted lume at this level. But visually, the beige tone brings the warmth of faux patina without feeling cheap.

Bracelet & Clasp

The bracelet is the highlight of the BY5179. Unlike the case, it’s solid stainless steel, not alloy, giving the watch surprising heft and realism. The solid links measure 3.5 mm thick and form a three-link visual pattern, though it’s actually a single-piece construction designed for smoother articulation.

Finishing alternates between brushed outer surfaces and polished flanks, with clean edges and surprisingly tight tolerances. The inverted end links drop the effective lug-to-lug down to 50 mm, ensuring comfort.

At the clasp, Benyar adds another pleasant surprise — a signed, double-pusher deployant clasp. It’s pressed steel, not milled, but the mechanism feels firm and secure, locking confidently. For $27, it’s astonishingly well executed.

Movement & Caseback

Through the exhibition stainless-steel caseback, you’ll find the G3265Z automatic movement — a 21,600 bph caliber with 20 jewels and 36 hours of power reserve. It’s a low-cost but legitimate automatic movement, found in some Invicta and Pagani Design models.

It lacks hand-winding smoothness and can feel slightly coarse in action, but it keeps reliable time and gives a genuine mechanical heartbeat to a watch priced lower than a replacement strap for most automatics.

On-Wrist Feel

At 163 g, the BY5179 feels solid. The case curvature and compact lug span allow it to wear comfortably despite its visual bulk. On a 6.5-inch wrist, it sits flat, with excellent bracelet articulation keeping the profile balanced. The weight distribution is front-heavy due to the boxed crystal and alloy midcase, but it adds to the watch’s presence rather than discomfort.

Summary

The Benyar BY5179 is, in essence, a mechanical miracle of modern mass production — an automatic watch with a signed crown, AR-coated crystal, stainless bracelet, and exhibition caseback for under $30.

It’s not perfect: the bezel action is poor, the lume fades fast, and the alloy case lacks definition. Yet, the value equation is undeniable. The watch looks good, feels solid, and features a real automatic movement that alone costs more than the full retail price.

For collectors, tinkerers, or anyone curious about the boundaries of “how cheap can an automatic get?”, the BY5179 is a surprisingly rewarding answer. We have reviewed more sub-$50 watches here.

Specifications Table