Islander #ISL-101 Review

Islander #ISL-101

Dimensions: 46mm lug to lug, 43 mm wide, 13.5mm thick

Case: stainless steel

Case Back: stainless steel screw-on

Strap: bracelet

Crystal: sapphire

Movement: Ameriquartz 7122

Water Resistance: 200m

I have had my Islander #ISL-101 for a few weeks now, and I wanted to share my thoughts about it. I have made no bones about being a huge fan of Marc and his line of Islander watches. I believe he offers some of the best value options on the market for the different types of watches he offers, whether it be a field watch, a pilot’s watch, a dress watch, or a diver’s watch, the last of which make up about half of the different Islander models. Marc started with two diver’s models in 2019 and since then has offered over one hundred different models. These watches are assembled in China and the majority of them have NH movements with a smaller number that have the new Miyota 9015 movements. I hold no illusions about what I am getting, which is essentially a watch similar to what I could get on AliExpress but with better QC, warranty, and customer service. This watch represents something different than that.

This watch is the second Islander watch model with an Ameriquartz movement and is part of the resurgence of watchmaking in the US. It is assembled at the Fine Timepiece Solutions factory in Fountain Hills, Arizona, which is outside Phoenix. It has an Ameriquartz movement, an all metal, one jewel movement made in the US at FTS. The Islander #ISL-101 is one of the diver’s models, as is the #ISL-100, the black dial version of the Ameriquartz diver, and while it is not an ISO rated Diver’s watch, each individual #ISL-100 and #ISL-101 has been tested for 200M WR at the FTS factory as part of the assembly process. Currently, FTS can only produce watches assembled in the US, but they are moving towards being able to produce all the components necessary to produce a watch made in the US.

I think this is a great go anywhere, do anything watch. It looks nice enough for situations needing a dress watch but is tough enough for most outdoor or sporting situations, along with being a good grab and go option owing to its quartz movement. The movement is an accurate movement, having lost only a second since I set it three weeks ago, at least according to my GWM5610. The second hand hits the indices all the way around the dial, which has its own appearance, although it is easy to see the SKX influences on its design, especially the hands. I especially like the longer and narrower dual trapezoidal bars at 12:00; they set it apart from the other Islander diver’s models in appearance. Even the signature logo on the crown is distinct from other Islanders, having a polished logo on what is almost a blasted crown surface, adding some nice contrast on the crown. The case and bracelet are both brushed and match very closely. It is a 120 click unidirectional ratcheting bezel with a nice blue ceramic insert and a blue chapter ring, giving the watch an overall nice aesthetic. The chapter ring is slightly misaligned with the indices and bezel markers, but it is barely noticeable, and only with close scrutiny. That is my one moan and niggle, as Jody at JOMW would say.

At a $279 retail price, it is a bit expensive for a watch with a quartz movement, but it is also not a low price Miyota quartz movement, it is a full metal, one jewel, US made movement, and it is at least the quality equivalent of an ETA quartz movement or a Ronda quartz movement. The movement in the #ISL-100 and #ISL-101 is the Ameriquartz 7122, which is the day/date movement. FTS also produces a date movement, a no-date movement, a moon phase movement, a small second movement, and they just recently released a chronograph movement, all of which are in the Ameriquartz line. They are also working on a mechanical movement; the Americhron.

Overall, I would recommend this watch to anyone wanting a nice quartz wristwatch for a go anywhere, do anything option, and it would also be a great one watch collection. As TGV would say, I am chuffed to bits with this one.