This posting on the forum is still pertinent and a great read. And the 009 "pepsi" dialed 7s26, while not available new-new- should be available somewhere with some sleuthing. It's a great watch.

Collector's Guide To All the seiko 7S26-0020/9...

As far as I can remember, here are all the variants of the base model Seiko divers using the 7s26-0020/0029 movement and case. As you can see, they are all the same watch, but with different combinations of dials, hands, chapter rings, bezels, bezel inserts, straps and/or bracelets. sometimes...

www.watchuseek.com

 

There's a pepsi dial variant of the Orient neptune and Kanno too... great watches for not too much $$

 

Seiko also has a Solar Pepsi diver with Sapphire the SNE591, crown at 3 though

 

Hardlex is somewhere between mineral and sapphire. Durable but not impervious. I have a small chunk in my SNDF93's crystal after it fell on concrete. 🥺

I know you are not diving so specs aren't important, but other than sapphire the Kamasu is 200mm and has a screw down crown.

If you want simplicity and don't want to worry about cross threading the crown then the the 53 might be for you. Seiko crowns are also bigger and easier to manipulate than the Orient's, moreso if you have thikk fingers.

Not a fan of the shape of Turtle cases so again the 53 over the 99 even if it's spec'd the same as the Kamasu.

 

Consider the Swiss Made Steinhart.

 

From your list, the Citizen

Also consider Aragon (USA company Japanese movement)

 

Also consider Deep Blue

 

Orient Star divers 200 , sapphire crystal, with power reserve. Pepsi. Bezel insert is not the currently popular glossy ceramic type, so has a more muted look.

Can be had for 500ish.

 

View attachment 17611182

Orient Star divers 200 , sapphire crystal, with power reserve. Pepsi. Bezel insert is not the currently popular glossy ceramic type, so has a more muted look.

Can be had for 500ish.

beat me to it. i weighed this one seriously, ended up with the same watch blue dial/blue bezel. Every bit as nice as mid-range Seiko that costs 2x.

 

The Citizen ProMaster series offers very good value for the price, IMHO.

 

All great suggestions. I'm partial to Seiko at this price point especially for a Pepsi. I've got a Turtle and Sumo in that configuration (their dimensions would compliment your wrist size). It satisfies my desire for that style. Rarely have I had an issue with Hardlex even though I have nicked the crystal on my 2nd Gen Monster. I've had a Pepsi Orient Mako but didn't like the bezel play and cumbersome stiff feel of the crown compared to Seikos. You also can't go wrong with the Citizen.

 

 

I recently went down a similar path on my hunt for a Pepsi diver, and I strongly recommend checking out the Islander ISL-19.

It's based off the now-discontinued Seiko SKX009 (same model the newer Seiko SRPD53 is based on), but the Islander features improvements over the original SKX009 or the newer SRPD53 in just about every way: Same Seiko NH36 movement, but better lume, better sapphire crystal, better applied indices, better quality bracelet, better sapphire bezel, etc.

Definitely the best bang-for-the-buck in a Pepsi diver in that $200-$300 price range.

Islander Automatic Dive Watch with Solid-Link Bracelet, AR Sapphire Crystal, and Luminous Sapphire Bezel Insert #ISL-19

Islander 43mm Automatic Dive Watch with AR sapphire crystal, all solid link bracelet, Luminous sapphire bezel insert, luminous hands and markers, and drilled end lugs.

longislandwatch.com

 

Seiko Sumo pepsi are nice. Size seems large but they wear smaller on wrist.
SBDC057
SBDC121

 

On the lower end price-wise with surprising quality look into the Casio Duro. I've had one for about six months now and it's hard to beat for around $50. Quartz with 200m water resistance, all indices line up perfectly (hello Seiko ) and mine runs at +1 sec/month.

 

In terms of watch quality per $ spent with Seiko specifically, nothing is going to touch the PADI MM200 SPB087.

 

I’d go for the Orient but remember that whatever watch you get has got to sing to you.

 

Another vote for steinhart but get the titanium model