Diving is a thrilling and exhilarating hobby, therefore having the appropriate equipment is crucial. Any serious diver should have a dive watch because it keeps you safe and allows you to monitor your progress underwater. Dive watches are not only practical pieces of gear, but they also have a chic and elegant appearance that immediately makes a powerful statement.
These classy timepieces, nevertheless, can be expensive if you don't know where to seek. Fortunately, upscale goods from well-known companies can be found at a discount on secondhand websites like eBay. In order to help you make an informed decision, we'll analyze the top diving watches available right now and contrast their features, designs, and price ranges.
There is a watch out there that is likely to suit your needs, whether you're searching for a tough watch with all the bells and whistles or something simple and stylish. We've also provided a useful buying guide to assist you choose the ideal watch for your needs and price range.
Citizen Promaster Aqualand
Since the initial watch in the Promaster series was debuted in 1989, the Citizen Promaster Aqualand has built on a tradition spanning more than 30 years. In a tough, resilient, and fashionable design, the Citizen Promaster Aqualand delivers straightforward dive functions including a rotating bezel and depth gauge. The watch has a distinctive design that is reminiscent of certain modern, high-end diving watches.
Citizen Promaster Aqualand has the following features:
- 200 m/660 ft of water resistance.
- Eco-Drive There is no need to replace batteries because movement converts all light, artificial or natural.
- Charge is visible on the power level indicator at the nine o'clock position.
- The diving depth indicator, as well as the hour and minute hands, are illuminated.
- Hour markers with illumination.
- rotatable bezel with a single direction.
- Dive depth gauge with nonlinear scale, emphasizing 0-40m/0-120ft, up to 70m/230ft.
- Stainless steel case with many different strap options. from plastic to metal.
Casio Classic
The Casio MDV106-1AV is the only option if you need a budget-friendly scuba diving watch. It is affordable without sacrificing durability or style. The MDV106-1AV is easy to use and has a rotating bezel, which makes it reminiscent of several diving watch legends. Despite being straightforward, the watch is tough and can resist even the most extreme underwater diving circumstances.
The Casio MDV106-1AV has the following features:
- 200 m/660 ft depth rating.
- On the watch face, the date window is at 3 o'clock.
- For precise, secure dive time estimates, use a unidirectional rotating bezel.
- glowing minute and hour hands.
- Hour indicators on the watch face are illuminated.
- With a stainless-steel case and resin band, it is tough and resilient.
Victorinox Professional Diver
Victorinox, the same company that creates the iconic Swiss Army Knife, puts its I.N.O.X. line of timepieces through a number of demanding tests before going on sale. You name it—they freeze, drop, vibrate, etc. The watch on your wrist is made to survive the daily wear and tear you may throw at it, and then some, despite the fact that some of these tests may be excessively harsh.
The I.N.O.X. Professional Diver is presented in a 45mm titanium case that is both strong and lightweight. Swiss Super-LumiNova is applied to a highly readable dial on the hour markers and hands so you can tell the time in even the darkest circumstances. If you ever find yourself in a sticky situation, you can unwind the watch's weaved paracord strap and use it.
Tissot Seastar
The Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 is as feature-packed as it is difficult to pronounce and is contemporary, bold, and easy to read. Putting jokes aside, this is a reliable dive watch built in Switzerland with one of the best movements available at the price point. The automated movement will run for 80 hours when fully wound, which is almost twice as long as the industry average. The watch's 43mm stainless steel body is the ideal size to look good on your wrist, and its 12.7mm thickness is about average for a full-fledged diving watch.
A sapphire crystal that resists scratches will also be included, shielding the attractive blue dial underneath. You don't need to worry about submerging the Seastar because it has a 300m/1000ft water resistance rating, making it a true dive watch. There are numerous designs and hues available, as well as rubber and stainless steel bracelet alternatives.
Orient Star
Making excellent watches at surprisingly reasonable rates is Orient's specialty. One of the most feature-rich watches is the Orient Star Sports diving watch, which costs only about $500. The 43mm stainless steel case and 200M water resistance of the Orient give it a traditional dive watch appearance. The dial adopts a more rounded style, with rounded edges on the hands and indexes for a smoother appearance. The watch's power reserve sub-dial, which is located at 12 o'clock, is one of its distinctive features. The watch can run for up to 50 hours when completely wound, and this complication will alert you when the battery is becoming low so you can quickly wind it or wear to recharge the mainspring.
Oris Aquis
Oris has been producing watches in Holstein, Switzerland, for about 120 years, thus they are experienced in the art of watchmaking. Their stunning 43.5mm dive watch, the Aquis, is a modern interpretation. The watch has a date display and an automatic movement inside. The dial color options are varied, ranging from a deep black to a vibrant blue. A polished ceramic bezel with engravings for timing dives on its surface surrounds the dial and sapphire crystal. The Aquis is a great option for all of your water-related activities because it is water-resistant up to 300M. For roughly $2,000, you may purchase an Aquis on a high-end stainless steel bracelet or a cozy rubber strap.
Omega Seamaster
The Omega Seamaster is a high-end tool watch that James Bond wears today and is loaded with dive-ready capabilities. The Seamaster is among the best dive watches available today because to its water resistance of up to 300 meters, robust sapphire crystal, helium escape valve for saturation diving, and super-accurate coaxial chronometer movement. The dial is attractive, with a deeply etched wave pattern and indexes that have been coated with lume. Its 42mm stainless steel case features premium brushed and polished surfaces in addition to Omega's recognizable twisted lyre lugs. The Seamaster is shipped with either a premium rubber strap or its instantly identifiable bracelet in the shape of a tank tread.
Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba
The list is short if you're seeking for a high-end, Swiss-made dive watch that costs less than $1,000. The Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba is a reliable option; even if it is not an ISO-certified diver, it should be more than adequate for the majority of dive watches' deep end of the swimming pool activities. The Khaki Navy Scuba has a sizeable 40mm case and an ISO-required water resistance of 100 meters, which is the minimum for a diver's watch.
There are several colors available, including black, blue and white, and blue and orange. It is internally driven by the Hamilton Caliber H-10, one of ETA's most recent movements with an excellent power reserve of 80 hours.
Longines Legend Diver
The Legend Diver was one of the earliest watches in the "heritage reissue" game, having been released back in 2009, even before the Tudor Black Bay in 2012. It is based on Longines' own Super Compressor-cased watches from the 1960s and 1970s. Although it has undergone a few small alterations throughout the years, it still mostly retains its original appearance.
The watch has undergone a significant alteration. The Legend Diver is now powered by the Caliber L888, which is based on the ETA A31, in place of the previously provided ETA 2824. For a larger 64-hour power reserve, the beat rate is sacrificed by reducing from 4 Hz to 3 Hz in this movement. The Longines Legend Diver is also offered in various case sizes, an all-black PVD casing, and even a bronze case with a green dial.
Breitling Superocean
Breitling has redesigned its Superocean line in 2019 and unveiled new iterations with case widths ranging from 36mm to 48mm. Many people will find the 42mm model to be just right. There isn't much of the market's current obsession with vintage inspiration in the design, which is unashamedly contemporary. The contemporary Superocean dial includes big hands and markers, a big date window at 3 o'clock, and nothing else you don't need. The Breitling 17's internal movement is an ETA 2824 that has received COSC certification as a chronometer. The new Superocean can be purchased with a premium rubber strap or a metal bracelet and comes in a variety of colors, including black, white, orange, and blue.
Panerai Luminor Submersible
The Luminor collection from Panerai, which is arguably one of the most divisive diving watch designs, has an unquestionable history that dates back to WWII, when Italian Navy frogmen employed Panerai watches made by Rolex as essential equipment for their underwater missions. Many of the most recent models of Panerai watches include entirely in-house calibers, such as this P.900 with a three-day power reserve, as opposed to the original models, which were powered by (very) cheap pocket watch calibers. Additionally, this specific Submersible measures 42mm in diameter, making it a mid-range alternative meant to appeal to customers who have been turned off by Panerai's customarily gigantic scale. This 47mm Submersible, with its classic style and authentic military diving background, may be just what more customers need to discover Panerai.
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