Islander
Four years ago — November 26, 2021, to be exact — I paid $275 for this Islander ISL-18. The reason was simple: I wanted that Rolex Yacht Master look without spending Rolex money. The dial, the bezel, the overall profile — it was hitting the right notes at a fraction of the price.
The big question, after five years of wearing it: was it just a cheap homage, or is it actually a great watch?
The dial is a deep blue that goes almost purple depending on the light, with a sunray finish that shifts as you move your wrist. It looks classy — not cheap, not too flashy. That combination has let me wear this watch to the beach, to church, to everyday errands. It genuinely goes with almost anything.
The lume is C3 Super-LumiNova across the hands and markers, and the Islander logo itself is also lumed — a nice touch. One thing worth noting: the lume photographs blue but reads green in real life. The camera lies on this one.
I have big wrists — eight and a quarter inches — and 43mm wears perfectly on me. After five years, the case shows light scratches, nothing terrible, nothing that bothers me. It’s a daily beater. That’s expected.
The double-domed sapphire crystal has held up completely. No visible scratches after five years of use including ocean swimming. The screw-down crown at the 4:00 position — same as the SKX — has kept water out without any drama. 200m water resistance, and I’ve tested it in practice.
The NH36 has run without any service needed. Accuracy is steady, and having both a hack and hand-wind function matters for a dive watch. The bezel action is still good, though it felt crisper when the watch was new.
Two things. First, the 14mm thickness. It wears tall on the wrist — if it were closer to 12mm, this watch would be significantly more comfortable and more versatile. It’s the one spec that holds it back.
Second, the bracelet doesn’t have micro-adjusters. Resizing requires a tool. At this price that’s understandable, and the bracelet itself is genuinely good quality — it flexes and hugs the wrist well — but it’s a convenience miss.
The price has moved since I bought it. At $275 in 2021, this was an extraordinary deal. At $369 today, it’s still a strong value proposition for what you’re getting: sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel insert, 200m water resistance, NH36 movement, and a dial that earns compliments from people who know nothing about watches.
Is it a cheap homage? No. After five years, I’d say it’s actually a great watch.
Verdict
After owning it since November 2021 — swimming in the ocean, wearing it to church, putting it through daily life — the ISL-18 has proven it's not just a cheap homage. It's actually a great watch. The deep blue sunray dial with that Yacht Master-like bezel still turns heads, the NH36 has never skipped a beat, and the build quality has held up far better than you'd expect at this price. If you have larger wrists and love the Yacht Master look but not the Yacht Master price, this is a compelling alternative.
Reviewed by
Five Minute Watch Reviews
Independent watch reviewer covering affordable mechanical watches. Every watch covered has been worn personally — purchased, gifted, or borrowed and disclosed. Review scores reflect genuine hands-on experience only. See our editorial policy.
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