Islander Saltaire Ring Solar Dive Watch Review - ISL281

It's rare that a new movement comes along, especially one with a new way of doing things. That's why I was interested when Islander released its Saltaire diver with Miyota's ring solar movement. Adding solar charging to a quartz watch is a great upgrade, as it eliminates the hassle of changing batteries every few years.

Until recently, though, any solar watches I've seen either used a translucent dial or the dial itself was the solar panel. Dial options are limited, as light needs to be able to pass through the dial to reach the solar panel. The ring solar movement eliminates this concern, as it places the solar panel in a thin section between the dial and the chapter ring.

Islander Saltaire Ring Solar Dive Watch Review - ISL281

As a result, Islander was able to produce the Saltaire with a pure white dial, complete with a rectangular pattern (plus a few other dial colors including blue, orange, and gray). I wanted to try one out, so I dropped a line to my buddy Marc, and he sent over his personal watch for me to borrow and review.

First Impressions of the Islander Saltaire

Islander's earliest watches were largely inspired by Seiko designs, but in recent years, the brand has developed more of its own design language. The Saltaire has a cohesive design, with enough detail to look interesting but subtle enough to wear in a variety of situations. Its size also makes it more wearable, and I found it to be a great fit for my wrist.

Islander Saltaire Details

The Saltaire features a flat sapphire crystal with inner AR coating, as well as a mineral crystal bezel insert. A white chapter ring sits above the solar panel, which sits above the aforementioned pure white dial.

The dial features minimal text, including the Islander wordmark, solar, and water resistance.

The case finishing is nice as well, with polished chamfers above brushed sides and tops on the lugs and case flanks.

Wearing the Islander Saltaire

I worried the solar ring would make the Saltaire need a thick, bulky case, but Islander kept the entire package to just 12.5mm thick. This is a similar thickness to a lot of automatic dive watches. The dial is just recessed a bit more on this one.

The 38mm case diameter is also a great size, offering a smaller option than Islander's bread-and-butter SKX platform.

I like how Islander outlined the hands in black, as it improves legibility and ties in with the bezel's black accents.

I do wish the hour markers had wider lume application, but the dial looks cleaner with the smaller indices. It's still easy to read the green glow in the dark, and the blue lumed bezel also makes timing at night possible.

The large crown is easy to grip, and setting the time is a breeze, as there is no date (or phantom date position) to worry about. Compared to Islanders I've reviewed in the past, they have really stepped up the bezel game, too. The Saltaire has crisp, precise bezel clicks, giving the quality feel of a watch costing much more. Unlike many Seiko watches, it also lines up accurately at 12. The smooth yet chunky sides are also easy to grip.

The bracelet and replacement straps for the Islander Saltaire

I was also impressed with Islander's Jubilee bracelet. It features quick-release curved end links, screwed links, and a clean, slim push-button quick-adjust mechanism hidden inside.

It was nice, but I still had to swap on some straps. I found the white Tropical strap my favorite, but a red Pro Diver highlights the red dial accents and matches the Saltaire's tool-diver aesthetic.

Here is a list of some other straps that will complement this watch well. At the end of the article, you'll also find photos of some of our favorite combinations. You can also view our Guide to Choosing a Watch Strap.

-Hook and Loop Elastic
-Hook and Loop Single Pass
-Ribbed Rubber Pass-Through
-Ridge Rubber
-Tropical Rubber
-Pro Diver Rubber
-Divecore x StrapHabit WFL Waffle
-Locking Keeper Rubber
-CTS Deployant Smooth Rubber
-Premium Sailcloth
-Rubber and Sailcloth Hybrid Straps
-Vented Rubber
-Waffle Rubber
-Elastic
-FlexHook Elastic

Islander Saltaire Movement

Besides the unique construction, the ring solar movement can start operating from dead with only about 10 seconds of exposure to sunlight. It also has an end-of-life (EOL) indicator. When the charge starts to get low, it will tick at 2-second intervals to warn the wearer that it needs to see some light. You can also pull the crown out to conserve energy if you're not going to see the sun for a while for some reason. It's rated at +/-20 seconds per month and can store up to about 4 months of energy.

It all sits behind a solid embossed caseback. I was impressed by the depth of the graphics on Islander's MWP watch collaboration we did, as well as the Republic GMT, so it wasn't a surprise to see it on the Saltaire.

Islander Saltaire Conclusion

I enjoyed my time with the Saltaire and was impressed by the build quality and design, especially for under $400. Unfortunately, I recently learned that Miyota is discontinuing the ring solar movement, with cost and complexity of manufacture being the reported reasons. This is disappointing, as I could think of a number of compelling applications for such a movement. Still, I believe Islander will be able to produce the Saltaire for some time. If you're looking for a great daily grab-and-go dive watch, it's a compelling option that should be considered.

Islander Saltaire ISL-281 Specifications

Name: Islander Saltaire 38mm Solar Dive Watch with Pure White Dial
Reference Number: ISL-281
MSRP: $349
Diameter: 38mm
Height: 46mm
Thickness: 12.5mm
Weight: 146g
Lug Width: 20mm
Movement: Miyota 2070 Ring Solar Quartz
Power Reserve: 4 months
Water Resistance: 200m
Crystal: Flat sapphire with inner AR
Crown: Screw-down
Bezel: Uni-directional, 120 click
Bracelet: Stainless steel Jubilee style with quick adjust and deployant clasp

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Islander Saltaire Ring Solar Dive Watch Review - ISL281