One of the most typical varieties of sports activities timepieces is the beloved diver’s watch. The sheer variety of dive watches accessible in the marketplace is as huge because the planet’s oceans, and navigating the choices is not any simple process. So we’ve chosen our eight favourite dive watches — all outfitted with mechanical manufacture actions — to slim it down.
1 – Rolex Submariner – is the archetype dive watch. Its design is probably the most copied within the business. Rolex has well maintained a timeless aesthetic from 1953 to the current. On account of this evolutionary product lifecycle, Submariners (classic, pre-owned, new) maintain worth higher than some other dive watch in the marketplace. The fashionable Rolex Submariner (Ref. 124060-0001), proven above, includes a 41 mm diameter 904L chrome steel case with a ceramic bezel insert, 300 meters of water-resistance, and is powered by Rolex’s 4Hz caliber 3230 computerized motion with 70-hour energy reserve, which has been examined to an extremely exact -2/+2 seconds per day. $9,500
2 – Omega Seamaster 300M “Daniel Craig” – takes its helium-escape valve outfitted, 300-meter water-resistance, 42 mm diameter skilled dive watch case — particularly the titanium “No Time To Die” Bond Seamaster 300M model — and transforms it right into a extra reasonably priced chrome steel model. Just like the Bond 300M, a Grasp Chronometer Co-Axial motion powers the motion (on this case the automated caliber 8806), at a price of three.5Hz, for as much as 55 hours, with a precision degree of 0/-5 seconds per day. Nevertheless, the way in which Omega stripped away the gold accents, the titanium case, and made the Seamaster 300M (Ref. 210.30.42.20.01.010) absolutely monochromatic, whereas decreasing the worth, has resulted in a viable challenger to the venerable Submariner. Extra so than the opposite 300M fashions. Accessible in a snug and pliable black molded rubber strap for $6,500 or with a mesh bracelet as proven for $300 extra, you received’t go flawed with both choice. That stated, the Milanese mesh is each extremely snug and swanky to the purpose that we extremely advocate this selection over the opposite. $6,800
3 – Omega Seamaster 300 – that includes Omega’s classic dive watch design, with a sandwich dial, the Seamaster 300, which debuted in 2021, is a extra informal retro dive watch that has severe water-resistance of 300 meters, although it lacks a helium escape valve seen on skilled Seamasters. It’s going to ship the precision and robustness you count on from one of many world’s main Swiss watchmakers, but it does so in a swanky 41 mm diameter straight lug throwback case. The Seamaster 300 is powered by an computerized Grasp Chronometer Co-Axial caliber 8912, which beats at 3.5Hz and has two barrels which can be good for 60 hours of energy reserve. The watch’s accuracy is rated to a formidable -0/+5 seconds per day. With a stable coloured dial, the Seamaster 300 retails for $7,400 on a bracelet. As proven, with a gradient dial, for $400 greater than the usual dial. $7,800
4 – Tudor Pelagos Extremely – That includes a 43 mm diameter, ultralight, hyperallergenic, unalloyed grade 2 titanium case, with a grade 5 titanium caseback, a 1,000-meter water-resistance ranking, a helium escape valve, and an computerized 4Hz caliber MT5612-U Grasp Chronometer motion that’s good for 65-hours and rated to -2/+4 seconds per day — this is among the {most professional} dive watches in the marketplace, bar none. And it’s outfitted with a T-Match adjustable clasp bracelet with a brand new visible indication system, representing the most effective dive bracelet designs in the marketplace. It additionally comes with an extra black built-in black rubber strap. The Pelagos Extremely (M2543C1A7NU-0001) is a severe contender, even in opposition to its venerable older brothers, the Submariner and Sea-Dweller. $6,100
5 – Blancpain Fifty Fathoms – first debuted in 1953, the Fifty Fathoms is among the pioneers of dive watches, and has a pedigree simply as storied because the Submariner, which got here out the identical yr. It simply by no means grew to become a mainstream icon in the way in which Rolex has. Blancpain is probably going trying to change that, and after years of largely providing the Fifty Fathoms, with its signature sapphire crystal bezel insert, 300-meter water resistance ranking, accessible in a big 45 mm diameter case, the Le Sentier-based watchmaker is now providing the usual Fifty Fathoms dive watch in 38 mm, 42 mm, and 45 mm. The Fifty Fathoms (Ref. 5007), proven, includes a 3Hz computerized in-house motion, caliber 1150, which affords a formidable 100-hour energy reserve, and is available in a 38 mm diameter chrome steel case with an identical bracelet. $19,500
6 – TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300 Skilled – a formidable timepiece from one of many largest Swiss watch manufacturers, with quite a lot of configurations. Redesigned in 2024, the Aquaracer 300 Skilled is on the market in 36 mm and 42 mm diameter case choices; nevertheless, presently, solely the bigger variation is powered by an in-house motion. TAG Heuer caliber TH31-00 is a COSC-certified computerized motion with an 80-hour energy reserve and precision of -4/+6 seconds per day. Rated to 300 meters of water-resistance, and that includes distinguished palms, indices, dial markings, and bezel commencement, the Aquaracer 300 Skilled (Ref. WBP5111.BA0013) is a perfect companion in any aquatic atmosphere. $4,200
7 – IWC Aquatimer – the present 42 mm Aquatimer has been round eternally We reviewed the discontinued Aquatimer (Ref. IW329001) over a decade in the past (2014-2021), when it was powered by an outsourced ETA motion. As of 2022, IWC changed that mannequin with Aquatimer (Ref. IW328802), and whereas there was just one change, it was a giant one. IWC switched from the ETA caliber with a 42-hour energy reserve to an in-house computerized caliber 32111, which boasts a formidable 120-hour (or 5-day) energy reserve. Notably, the superior bezel system stays the identical, with an exterior bezel that you just flip to regulate the inner bezel, because of a sliding clutch system. The system ensures that the internal ring with the dive time scale at all times rotates counterclockwise. in order that, for security, the dive time can by no means be prolonged, similar to with a standard unidirectional bezel. The Aquatimer is water resistant to 300 meters and comes with a quick-release strap change system. $6,400
8 – Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date – doesn’t have the standard dive watch aesthetic. As a substitute options two crowns, certainly one of which controls the time and date, and the opposite to regulate the inner dive bezel. Introduced in a 42 mm diameter chrome steel case, with the bottom water-resistance ranking of our picks, at 200 meters, the Polaris Date (Ref. Q9068650) nonetheless holds its personal with its distinctive double gradient dial and non-ubiquitous aesthetic. The 4Hz computerized caliber 899 Jaeger-LeCoultre motion includes a 70-hour energy reserve, maintains a excessive degree of robustness, and is adorned with engaging Geneva stripes, perlage, blued screws, and a skeletonized rotor, all seen via a sapphire caseback. The stable black dial variant is $10,000; nevertheless, if you need a novel diver, it is going to price you $1,000 additional, however few different dive watches can be found can have such a novel dial. $11,100
Ideas
There are literally thousands of dive watch fashions on the market. And this specific best-of record is strictly restricted to our eight prime in-house dive watches. Nevertheless, there are lots of choices additionally value mentioning, together with however not restricted to: the Panerai Luminor Marina, Oris Sixty 5, Oris Aquis Professional, Breitling Superocean, Breitling Superocean Heritage, Longines Hydroconquest, Longines Legend, Rolex Deepsea, Rolex Sea-Dweller, Tudor Black Bay, Tudor Pelagos, and Omega Planet Ocean.
There are additionally good microbrand dive watches on the decrease finish of the worth spectrum; nevertheless, select properly as a result of there’s a giant distinction within the testing, high quality, motion, reliability, and resale on the microbrand degree.
Moreover, Citizen and Seiko make a plethora of respectable entry-level dive watches. Amongst mid-priced independents, the Sinn U1, U2, U50, and Tutima M2, in addition to Bremont’s newest Supermarine, are value a glance. On the high-end, dive watches from manufacturers like Audemars Piguet and Ulysse Nardin are notable.
Lastly, the Rolex Deepsea Problem (11,000 meters), and Omega Extremely Deep (6,000 meters) are the tremendous dive watches that push the boundaries of what a diving watch can do; nevertheless, as a result of they’re speciality dive watches which can be a lot bigger and costlier than the usual Submariner and Seamaster collections, we didn’t embrace them within the main record. Evidently, if you need the last word, highest-performance dive watches, these are it.
If you would like one of the best trendy in-house dive watch, look no additional than these elite eight: Submariner, Seamaster 300M, Seamaster 300, Pelagos Extremely, Aquaracer, Aquatimer, Fifty Fathoms, and Polaris Date.
When you favored this text, you may additionally like this: 4 Greatest Watches of 2024.
Images by Rolex, Omega, Tudor, Breitling, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Blancpain, IWC.
