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When Spinnaker brought the Fleuss 40 back as a standard collection model, the move made a lot of sense. The original release had quietly built a reputation among enthusiasts who appreciated its compact proportions and strong specifications. Instead of letting the model disappear into limited-edition obscurity, the brand decided to make it widely available again.
Spinnaker has built much of its identity around vintage-inspired dive watches, and the Fleuss line is one of the models that best reflects that approach. After spending time with the Royal Splash variant, it becomes clear why the Fleuss has become one of the most recognizable models in Spinnaker’s catalogue. It offers the kind of enthusiast-friendly specification list that many collectors now expect in the $500 category, including a sapphire crystal, solid lume, and the reliable Miyota 9039 automatic movement.
The real question is whether the Fleuss still holds its ground in a market that has become increasingly crowded with both microbrand divers and strong offerings from established Japanese brands. At roughly the $400–$500 enthusiast tier, the Fleuss enters one of the most competitive segments in affordable horology.
Rather than competing directly with tool-focused divers, the Fleuss is better understood as a vintage-inspired lifestyle diver. The design emphasizes classic proportions, playful dial variations, and everyday wearability rather than extreme specifications.
That places it between two categories:
Japanese entry-level divers (such as he Orient Kamasu or the Seiko Prospex Turtle), and vintage-inspired microbrand divers (such as the Baltic Aquascaphe or Lorier Neptune).
The Fleuss lands squarely between these worlds. It offers stronger specifications than many microbrands while maintaining the creative dial options and compact sizing that collectors enjoy.
One of the most appealing aspects of the Fleuss is its proportions.
At 40 mm in diameter, 11 mm thick, and 47 mm lug-to-lug, the watch wears far more comfortably than many dive watches in the same price range. These dimensions make it suitable for everyday wear. It sits just perfect on my 6.5″ wrist.
The stainless-steel case feels solid and well assembled. Nothing about the watch suggests looseness or cost-cutting. The bezel action is particularly impressive for the price bracket: clicks are crisp, with no noticeable backplay.
A screw-down crown reinforces the watch’s diving credentials, while the 150-meter water resistance is more than sufficient for swimming and recreational diving.
The overall impression is not luxury finishing, but rather tight tolerances and thoughtful engineering, which is exactly what matters most in this price range.
Dial and Design Execution
This Fleuss 40 collection is clearly about visual character.
The dial features applied indices with Swiss Super-LumiNova, giving the watch far more depth than simple printed markers. Combined with the blue sunburst effect, the result is a dial that catches light in different ways throughout the day.
With the Royal Splash colorway, the watch also gains a playful character. The strong red and blue combination inevitably brings Spider-Man to mind (maybe I’m too much of a fanboy). Rather than feeling gimmicky, however, the colors give the watch a sense of fun that many affordable divers lack.
You could also argue that it could be Bayern Munich’s official watch, but as a Real Madrid fan, I’ll stick with the Spider-Man resemblance. I think you already get why this is such a fun watch, each of the 5 colourways offers a different personality, making it easy for collectors to pick the one that suits them best.
Lume performance is excellent for an affordable diver. The application is generous and easily legible in low light.
Interestingly, while one would assume the Fleuss is directly inspired by the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, the resemblance is actually limited. The bezel shape echoes the classic Fifty Fathoms style, but the case design, handset, and dial layout give the watch its own identity.
The Fleuss therefore sits somewhere between homage and reinterpretation. It borrows familiar dive watch cues without copying a specific historic model outright.
Movement: Miyota 9039 and Why It Matters
Inside the Fleuss sits the Miyota 9039, one of the strongest movements commonly found in mid-tier microbrand watches. Before we continue, know that finding a watch with this movement at this price point is NOT common at all, which makes me appreciate Spinnaker even more.
Compared to the more common NH35-based divers in this price range, the 9039 offers several advantages:
- Higher beat rate (28,800 bph)
- Slimmer profile, enabling the 11 mm case thickness
- Smoother seconds hand sweep
In everyday use, the movement performs exactly as enthusiasts hope. Winding through the crown feels smooth and precise, with none of the gritty sensation sometimes associated with entry-level automatics. Rotor noise is minimal, and the movement runs quietly during wear.
The watch comes on a 20 mm stainless steel bracelet with a fold-over clasp and push-button safety.
While the bracelet itself feels more than excellent for the price point, the clasp is where some compromises appear. It offers three micro-adjustment holes, which is just about adequate for achieving a comfortable fit.
A tool-less mechanical adjustment system would have been a welcome addition, especially for a watch designed for everyday wear. That said, considering the overall specifications and the movement inside the Fleuss, this is not a deal-breaker.
At 190 grams, the watch has enough weight to feel substantial without becoming uncomfortable during long wear. The relatively short 47 mm lug-to-lug measurement also helps the watch sit flat on the wrist, reinforcing the Fleuss’s reputation as a highly wearable diver.
Pricing, Availability and Where to Get One
The Spinnaker Fleuss 40 Automatic Royal Splash SP-5133-DD sits right at the upper end of the affordable enthusiast segment, retailing for $500 USD.
At this level, buyers expect more than just an attractive design. Features like the Miyota 9039 automatic movement, sapphire crystal, and solid dive-watch construction become important benchmarks, and the Fleuss manages to deliver a strong specification package for the price.
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Case Thickness: 11 mm
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Water Resistance: 150 m (15 ATM)
Caliber: Miyota 9039 Automatic
Crystal: Anti-reflection coated sapphire
Function: Hours, Minutes, Seconds
Verdict
The Spinnaker Fleuss 40 Royal Splash demonstrates exactly why the Fleuss line has remained central to the brand’s identity. It combines a compact and wearable case, strong lume, a high-beat Japanese automatic movement, and distinctive design options at a price that remains accessible to most enthusiasts.
- Strong price-to-specification ratio, Miyota 9039 under $500 is uncommon
- Compact and wearable 40 mm case, comfortable for daily wear
- Crisp bezel action with no noticeable backplay
- Applied indices and strong Super-LumiNova lume
- Playful and distinctive colourways, the Royal Splash stands out
- Clasp could be better, only three micro-adjustment holes
- No on-the-fly adjustment system on the bracelet
- Colourways may be too bold for collectors who prefer traditional dive watches
- No date window version, for some people that is non-negotiable
The Spinnaker Fleuss 40 Automatic Royal Splash SP-5133-DD manages to strike a balance that many affordable dive watches struggle to achieve. It combines a compact and comfortable case, strong lume, and the excellent Miyota 9039 automatic movement in a package that remains accessible to most enthusiasts.
What really gives the Fleuss its character, however, is the personality of the design. The Royal Splash colourway, with its bold red and blue combination, adds a playful element that many dive watches in this price bracket lack. Whether it reminds you of the iconic web-slinger or something entirely different, it is difficult to accuse the watch of being boring.
Of course, it is not perfect. The clasp could offer more adjustment options, and some collectors may prefer the heritage of established Japanese or Swiss brands. But taken as a whole, the Fleuss delivers an impressive amount of watch for the money.
For collectors looking to explore the world of affordable microbrand dive watches, the Fleuss remains one of the most enjoyable and well-rounded options currently available at the $500 mark.
