One of the great moments in a watch nerd's progress is the day you realize that watches can come from places other than Switzerland
,
Japan, or China. Through the wonders of globalized production and
Internet sales, it is possible to find watches from some far-flung and
sometimes seemingly unlikely places. Many are merely novelties, but some
are genuine bargains with a unique character, like the Israeli made Adi
221 diver's watch. It has an attractive design, an interesting story,
and 200m water resistance, for only about $90 new. Sadly, it has been
discontinued, but every now and then, one will pop up for sale in an
enthusiast's forum. That is how I found mine. Here is why you should
look for one of your own.
Adi watches are designed in Israel
and assembled on Kibbutz Yavne, south of Tel Aviv. There is not much
information about them on line, at least not in English as the Adi website
is entirely in Hebrew, but it appears the company sells Timex, Citizen,
and Torgoen watches in addition to their own line. The range includes a
mix of dress and casual pieces, as well as a series of tool watches,
some of which have been supplied to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
The watch arrived in a clever little metal box, embossed with the Adi
logo and secured with two clips. I am not generally impressed with watch
display boxes, but this was a nice touch.
The 221 features a bezel shroud that
has drawn comparison to the same feature on the enormous Seiko Marine
Master Professional. As a result, the Adi now shares the enthusiast
nickname "Tuna" (for tuna can, a reference to the Seiko's prodigious
45mm girth); however, that is about as far as the similarities go. The
Adi 221 is in no way a Seiko homage. It has a comparatively modest,
round 42mm stainless steel case with a satin finish, giving it a flat
grey cast that also extends to the bezel and shroud. While 42mm is still
a healthy size for a man's
watch, the Adi is designed to minimize size, not accentuate it.
Everything about the watch appears soft, from the sober grey color, to
the radiused bezel, to the corners of the shroud. The bezel teeth are a
series of convex dents in the upper part of the bezel. They are clearly
defined and easy to grasp, but not angular like the gear teeth of some
other dive bezels. The bezel is marked in increments of ten, filled in
black with a lume pip at the topmost point. It is unidirectional and
moves with a firm click. The crown is located at 4 o'clock, and its
stubby lugs curve downwards. Both of these elements act to further
reduce the appearance of size. Overall, the watch wears more like a 40mm than a 42mm.
The dial continues the silver-grey
color scheme. The hour markers are raised and filled with a green-white
lume, as are the diver hands. The markers are round with a five sided
"home plate" at 12 o'clock, which along with the 6 and 9 o'clock
markers, has a short dart pointing to the center of the dial. A small
black triangle occupies the 3 o'clock position, pointing to the back
framed window for the black-on-white day and date complication. A black
printed chapter index rings the dial. Text is kept to a tasteful minimum
with the Adi script at the top, and 20 ATM at the bottom. The 221 is
functional and understated, yet still distinctive. Grey on grey with
greenish markers is not a particularly common combination, but rather
attractive one.
The case back is simple but
attractive, with a polished finish and engraved with the Adi logo and a
leaping dolphin. It also declares its 20 ATM (200m) water resistance,
which is achieved with a double gasket system, but not a screw down
crown. Underneath is a quartz movement supplied by Miyota. It is nothing
fancy, but accurate, reliable, and easy to replace if it becomes
necessary. In what is no less than a minor miracle at this price point,
the second hand hits every mark, every time. Up front, it wears a flat
mineral crystal. The watch left the factory with a 22mm rubber strap
with a printed wind velocity chart and an Adi logo buckle. This strap
had long since disappeared from the watch I purchased. Instead, I
ordered a grey and black RAF style nylon strap with blasted hardware
from Time Factors
and found it was a perfect pairing. The matte finish hardware matched
the Adi's case just as the grey and black regimental stripe echoed the
black and grey of the bezel. I really can't imagine anything better.
The language barrier may prove a
problem when ordering from the Adi site - assuming they even offer
international sales. I found it impossible to tell. English speaking
shoppers will have an easier time at IsraeliProducts.com.
This U.S. based importer operates a warehouse in Baltimore, Maryland
and carries several Adi watches, including some of the odder
analog/digital military models. Sadly, the 221 is no longer among them.
The model 229 is similar to the 221
sharing the quartz movement, 4 o'clock crown, and 200m water
resistance, but it is a far more conventional design, looking more like a
Seiko SKX007. If you really crave a 221 Tuna, I suggest you log into
Watch Recon and set a search for Adi. It may take some time, but if you
find one, you will be rewarded with a unique and useful watch, for very
little money.
Pro: Cheap, attractive, and capable
Con: Discontinued and hard to find
Sum: Happy hunting!
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