Difference Between Deep Blue Sea Ram and Sea Ram Ii

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TITLE:
Deep Blue Sea Ram 500 Automatic

SPECS:
Case Diameter: 45mm
Case Length: 52mm
Case Thickness: 16mm
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Weight: 283g
Movement: Japanese Miyota 9015 Automatic
Bezel Type: Unidirectional
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel w/Ceramic Insert
Crystal Material: Sapphire
Crown: Screw down
Bracelet/Strap Width: 24mm
Bracelet/Strap Material: Stainless Steel
Clasp/Buckle Type: Standard Deployant Clasp w/Safety Latch
Water Resistance: 50ATM / 500m / 1650ft

INTRODUCTION:
I haven't done one of these for awhile but I liked this watch so much I decided to do a short review. If you are regularly on this forum you have heard of or experienced the quality of Deep Blue watches. Nothing new here. The same old great fit & finish applies to this watch. The Sea Ram has been around for some time and it is another model they got right, hence the numerous configurations that Deep Blue has produced.

PRESENTATION:
The watch comes in a now standard hard plastic, foam lined, pelican case. No leatherette multi box, thick manualed, fancy warranty card presentation for Deep Blue. Not needed when you're selling no nonsense dive watches.

CASE & BEZEL:
A heavy shouldered classic diver case with large rounded top crown guards is what DB decided to go with on this model. Mated with a heavy, thick case back, this watch looks like it could easily meet and exceed its 500m WR rating. The broad shouldered design wears a little larger than it's 45mm bezel width implies
The bezel's edge is midway between being what I would consider chunky and coin edge. It is very easy to grip and the action feels superb. It is both tight and precise with no decernable backlash.
This is the first "white" ceramic bezel insert I have ever purchased and I am glad that it matches the white enamal dial closely.

CRYSTAL & DIAL:
The previously mentioned enamel dial is crispy white and clean. I particularly like the extremely small print DB used to label and provide info on the dial, keeping it relatively uncluttered.
As with all Stan's models the dial is protected by a sapphire crystal.

MOVEMENT:
The Japanese Citizen Miyota 9015 automatic movement is universally accepted as a dependable, accurate, workhorse watch engine. The 28,600 BPH movement sweeps as nicely as any Swiss movement I own operating at that same rate.

TESTING:
No scientific testing done but I set it, it runs and keeps good time. Over the the first week I guess I'm gaining about 5 to 10 sec/day

BRACELET/STRAP:
One of the features I like most about this watch is the bracelet's dimensions. 4.7mm thick x 24mm wide with NO taper. Those dimensions make it heavy but the trade-off is IMHO balance and comfortability. Some have lamented about the bracelet not being a true fully articulated 5 link bracelet. The single 24mm wide links are so excellently designed, there is no way to know it's not 5 links visually. Until you handle or try to size it, you cannot tell.
As Stan likes to say this bracelet has all the bells (solid end-links, solid full and half links) ... but is missing one of it's whistles, namely the diver's extension. Not a deal breaker for me.

LUME:
Now this is one area I AM going to knitpick. Maybe I've been spoiled by the lume on my DB DM3K's flashlight like lume, but I am a little disappointed with lume on the dial of this Sea Ram 500. The hands glow bright and long enough but the hour markers are mediocre by other DB's I own standards. Luckily I'm not a lume junkie or I would really be upset.

COMPARISON:
For comparison I shot it next to my similarly sized CalDiver 500, who's bezel is 1mm wider and who's case is 1mm thicker. Both utilize movements from the same manufacturer, Miyota. The 9015 in the Sea Ram's case and the 9100 in the case of the CalDiver.

CONCLUSION:
I'm sure any Sea Ram owners out there will agree and know why I like this watch so much, and any one considering the purchase of a one, I say jump of the fence and land with both feets on the buy side. You will not be disappointed (unless you just HAVE to have brightly lumed hour markers) Like just about all Deep Blue models this watch is very well built and if you catch it on sale, a relatively good value for the dollar spent.

PROS:
Handsome appearance and good quality
When purchased on sale it can out-value many boutique diver with similar specs

CONS:
No diver's extension
Weak lume performance on hour markers