Islander
Almost five years ago — September 1, 2021, to be exact — I paid $299 for the Islander ISL-44, sometimes called the Emerald Islander. The pitch was hard to pass up: the emerald-green boldness of a Rolex Hulk, the raised gray ceramic bezel styling of a Rolex Yacht-Master, and the case shape, 4 o’clock crown, NH36 movement, and day-date practicality that gives it strong Seiko DNA. It doesn’t copy any single watch — it borrows design language from three and lands somewhere distinct.
This isn’t a loaner. It’s my personal watch, bought with my own money, worn occasionally — usually a few times a month — ever since. No modification, no service, no repair. Five years later, the question is simple: was it worth it?
The emerald green dial remains my favorite part of this watch, and what impresses me most is how consistent the color stays. Some green dials look black indoors and only turn bright green in direct sunlight. The ISL-44 doesn’t do that — it stays emerald green in every lighting condition, just shifting between lighter and darker shades depending on the angle. Paired with the raised gray ceramic bezel, it gives the watch a more premium, luxury-inspired look than its price would suggest.
I checked the accuracy again the day I filmed this update: +1 second per day. After nearly five years with zero service, that’s an outstanding result for an NH36 — most watches with this movement don’t hit that mark even brand new. Cosmetically, the watch has aged just as well. The case and clasp are still in excellent condition, the sapphire crystal is unscratched, and the ceramic bezel still looks like new, with bezel action that’s still smooth — “like butter,” as I put it in the video.
The one recurring annoyance is the crown. The crown guards at 4 o’clock sometimes make it harder than it should be to unscrew and reseat the screw-down crown. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s the kind of small friction you notice on a watch you reach for regularly.
I own both Islander references, so I put them side by side for this review. The ISL-18’s blue dial leans into the classic SKX-inspired tool-watch formula — quieter, more traditional, more of a daily-wear watch. The ISL-44 is more expressive and design-focused, and dressier thanks to the Jubilee bracelet and raised bezel. I honestly love both colors; I originally wanted the blue ISL-18 first, but it kept selling out, so I grabbed the green ISL-44 and picked up the ISL-18 later.
Accuracy-wise, both have been remarkable after five years: the ISL-44 measures +1 second per day, while the ISL-18 runs at -4 seconds per day. Either result would be excellent for an NH36 on day one, let alone five years in.
The stainless steel Jubilee-style bracelet uses solid screw links and a solid clasp — genuinely good quality for the price. On my 8.3-inch wrist, it’s comfortable, doesn’t pull arm hair, and the clasp has never felt insecure or opened unexpectedly.
The case itself is where my main complaint lives. At roughly 14mm thick, the ISL-44 is a little taller than I’d prefer — if it were closer to 12mm, it would wear even better. The weight is only slightly noticeable after several hours, and it’s never been uncomfortable enough to keep me from wearing it, but the height is the one spec I’d change if I could.
The green Super-LumiNova is bright and holds up well in the dark — good enough to actually be useful at night, not just a novelty. I haven’t done much swimming with this particular watch, but it carries a 200m water resistance rating, which is more than enough for daily wear and the occasional splash.
Five years in, the ISL-44 still looks nearly as good as the day it arrived, and it’s still running better than watches twice its price have any right to. The emerald green dial, the ceramic bezel, and the Jubilee bracelet combine into a genuinely attractive package that borrows the best of a Rolex Hulk and Yacht-Master without imitating either one outright.
The catch is availability — Long Island Watch no longer sells the ISL-44 new, so today it’s a secondary-market hunt on places like eBay. If you can track one down and you have a wrist that can carry a 43mm case, it’s still an easy recommendation. And if the emerald green doesn’t speak to you, the more traditional Islander ISL-18 delivers the same long-term reliability in a quieter, more classic package.
Verdict
After almost five years of occasional-but-consistent wear, the ISL-44 has done everything I'd want a $299 watch to do: keep exceptional time, resist scratches on the crystal and bezel, and still turn heads with a dial color that photographs differently every time. The 14mm thickness and slightly fiddly crown guards are the only real complaints, and neither has stopped me from reaching for it. If you can still find one on the secondary market, it remains one of the best-looking ways to get Hulk and Yacht-Master styling without spending Rolex money.
Exceptionally well. The NH36 movement has never been serviced and currently runs at approximately +1 second per day. The sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel insert both still look brand new, and the case and clasp remain in excellent cosmetic condition despite regular wear a few times a month since September 2021.
No — it has been discontinued and is no longer sold through Long Island Watch. It can occasionally be found on the secondary market, including eBay.
Both share the same 43mm case, NH36 movement, sapphire crystal, and 200m water resistance, but the styling differs: the ISL-44's emerald green dial and raised ceramic bezel lean dressier and more Rolex Hulk/Yacht-Master inspired, while the ISL-18's blue dial and bracelet lean toward the classic Seiko SKX tool-watch formula. After five years, the ISL-44 runs at +1 second per day versus the ISL-18's -4 seconds per day — both excellent results for an NH36.
The Seiko Instruments NH36, a hacking, hand-winding automatic with a day-date complication. After nearly five years of ownership with no service, this particular watch measures at approximately +1 second per day — well inside factory spec and better than most NH36-equipped watches perform even when new.
At roughly 14mm thick, it wears taller than ideal — closer to 12mm would be more comfortable — but the weight is only slightly noticeable after several hours on the wrist. It hasn't been uncomfortable enough to keep it out of rotation.
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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