REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 500 Automatic

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TymeBandit

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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












 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Cool review. Thank you! I like the case, which has become all the rave recently.
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Nicely done, Arthur. I think you covered all the bases.[br]Thanks for a fine review and all the cool pics.
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Another Great Review RTB!
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

[font size=4] Well done. Well thought out. Thanks. [/font]
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Great review and a great looking timepiece
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

[font face=georgia][font size=4][font color=#)979e6][em]Outstanding photos, and review, Arthur. Thanks for sharing your insights on this piece with us.[/em][a href=]
http://www.pic4ever.com/images/8.gif][/url][/a][a href=]
[img src=[url]http://s)83)2.storage.proboards.com/56583)2/t/6gEcMqDf8)XDCJ_4EzuZ.gif][/url][/a][/font][/font][/font]
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Nice review TB. I have this very model and enjoy it each time I wear it. I love the blue hands and blue markings on the bezel. I'm thinking about putting some new pair of shoes on this bad boy. A white leather strap, white NATO, or a leather (brownish) NATO would give it a fresh look. :)
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Thanks for schooling me on a watch I want with the green dial. Great job.
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Well done TB! Thanks for putting this together. Great review!
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Wonderful review. Thanks for posting
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Very nice - love that CalDiver 5)), too!
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Great review! How does it compare to the sun diver? Stupid to get both?
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

[quote timestamp=)447867)6) source=/post/28562)/thread author=@bevhillstrainer]Great review! How does it compare to the sun diver? Stupid to get both?[/quote][font face=comic sans ms size=4]Good question BHT, This is just my opinion but I look at the SunDiver as more of an entry level Deep Blue, one I would buy as my first, to see if I'm gonna like the brand. The SD's a great watch and I see nothing stupid about having both. [br]But the Sea Ram 5)) is one of the best mid-level divers from ANY brand IMHO![/font]
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Thanks for the nice review. :)[br][br][br](I do take off more points due to a lack of a true 5 link bracelet....not a deal breaker but it turns a great watch into something ordinary......common Stan...how much more does it really cost....must we always succumb to TV price points..) :(
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

[quote author=@realtymebandit timestamp=)447869)55 source=/post/285653/thread][quote source=/post/28562)/thread timestamp=)447867)6) author=@bevhillstrainer]Great review! How does it compare to the sun diver? Stupid to get both?[/quote][font size=4 face=comic sans ms]Good question BHT, This is just my opinion but I look at the SunDiver as more of an entry level Deep Blue, one I would buy as my first, to see if I'm gonna like the brand. The SD's a great watch and I see nothing stupid about having both. [br]But the Sea Ram 5)) is one of the best mid-level divers from ANY brand IMHO![/font][/quote]Thanks, I'm thinking I'll hold off for the depthmaster 3))), been looking around 2nd hand market for a while.
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

[br][quote author=@bevhillstrainer source=/post/285737/thread timestamp=)447879899][quote author=@realtymebandit timestamp=)447869)55 source=/post/285653/thread][font face=comic sans ms size=4]Good question BHT, This is just my opinion but I look at the SunDiver as more of an entry level Deep Blue, one I would buy as my first, to see if I'm gonna like the brand. The SD's a great watch and I see nothing stupid about having both. [br]But the Sea Ram 5)) is one of the best mid-level divers from ANY brand IMHO![/font][/quote]Thanks, I'm thinking I'll hold off for the depthmaster 3))), been looking around 2nd hand market for a while.[/quote][br]Me too but damn folks are proud of them.
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

[font face=comic sans ms size=4]Arthur,[br]Great review. I was wondering about the lume on this model Ram.[br]I do DRIVE a Ram though[br]Thanks for the review 8-)[/font]
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

Nice review, outstanding photos.
 
REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

REVIEW: Deep Blue Sea Ram 5)) Automatic

[font face=times new roman][font size=3]I thoroughly enjoyed your fine review. Well done![/font][/font]
 
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