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Dive watches are the final word time conserving software: They’re waterproof, straightforward to learn, illuminated, and have a timing bezel that’s helpful for greater than decompression stops. I’ve used my dive watch assortment to observe authorized capturing gentle, time dinner within the oven, and ensure I’m on time for the following assembly.
Whereas I’m a watch nerd and love divers, I wanted assist from somebody with critical diving expertise to make the most effective dive watch picks. So I known as up watch fanatic and army diver, Ashley Spurlin, to get his favorites.
Right here’s our mixed checklist of the highest dive watches throughout varied worth factors and use instances.
Spurlin’s Picks
Creator’s Picks
How I Selected the Finest Dive Watches
I believe it’s secure to say that should you’re coming to Outside Life for a watch suggestion, you need one thing that’s confirmed within the subject or on the water. That’s why I sought out suggestions from somebody who has used dive watches for his or her supposed objective.
Spurlin joined the army in 2000 and nonetheless serves as an advisor right this moment. He accomplished the Fight Diver Qualification Course and has dived all through the world as an Air Force Combat Controller on a particular operations staff. Along with his army diving profession, Spurlin grew up diving in Monterey Bay, California, which is among the nation’s premier diving locations. He’s additionally a watch man, and is obsessed with historic army designs and their ties to varied army diving communities.
As for me, almost all of the watches in my assortment are dive watches, and I’m at all times in search of yet one more. But, you received’t discover my identify on a Rolex waitlist. Whereas I love luxurious watches, they’re not in my worth vary. That’s why my dive watch picks are all value-oriented choices. I selected them primarily based on particular budgets, and plenty of of them I’ve owned or are on my need checklist.
The Finest Dive Watches Chosen by a Navy Diver
Finest Total: Tudor Pelagos FXD
Key Options
- Reference Quantity: M25717N-0001
- Fastened Spring Bars
- Motion: MT5602 (COSC)
- Titanium case
- 42mm in diameter
- 12.75mm thick
- 52mm from lug to lug
- 70-hour energy reserve
- Waterproof to 200 meters
- Ceramic, unidirectional bezel
- Matte black dial
- Cloth NATO Strap
Execs
- Sturdy motion
- Strong design
- Light-weight
- Good illumination
Cons
- Some customers will choose a watch suitable with a bracelet
The FXD, the brand new black dial FXD particularly, was our unanimous alternative as the most effective general dive watch. To us, it’s the proper software watch and one value saving up for.
“They hit a house run with that watch: the dimensions of it, how they designed it, why it makes use of mounted spring bars, and the face is clear and easy. It’s a stupendous, stunning watch. And it’s attainable by most watch fans,” Spurlin says.
Spurlin likes that the watch makes use of a dependable and sturdy motion, and has a matte, easy-to-read dial. He additionally appreciates the FXD’s ties to French fight swimmers, and is aware of of a number of elite U.S. items which have had particular FXDs made for them.
Finest for Precise Diving: Garmin Descent
Key Options
- Sapphire crystal
- DLC coated titanium bezel
- Fiber-reinforced polymer cae with titanium rear cowl
- Battery life: 25 days (smartwatch)
- Case Dimension: 43 or 51mm
- Waterproof to 200 meters
- Dive Options: Depth, Dive Timer, No Fly Time, Air Integration, Customizable Conservatism, Dive Ascent, Security Cease, Deep Cease, 3-Axis Dive Compass, and far more
- Appropriate with T2 Transceiver
Execs
- A dive laptop and each day smartwatch in a single
- Straightforward dive logs
Cons
- Giant watch
- Requires charging
When Spurlin is diving for work his analog diver serves as a backup, and his major watch is a Garmin Descent. He’s tried quite a lot of sensible dive watches, however likes the Garmin for its ease of use.
“If I’m underwater at evening doing a dive, I don’t wish to must look by way of menus to seek out the features I would like. I don’t have time for that,” he says. “That Garmin has all the pieces proper on the principle display screen.”
The Descent has quite a lot of features for leisure divers and even salvage divers utilizing blended air. It should day out your air, your decompression stops, and log the dive for you. However, Spurlin’s important use case is navigation.
“You’re hitting the water off a ship, and then you definitely’re on a Draeger or rebreather, and then you definitely’re utilizing your watch to maintain time as you’re navigating to your targets,” he says. “And you’ll put that Garmin watch proper subsequent to your dive compass. That factor is at all times useless nuts.”
Finest Worth: Sangin Neptune
Key Options
- Case Width: 40mm
- Lug to Lug Size: 49mm
- Case Thickness: 13.9mm
- Lug Width: 20mm
- Bezel Width: 41mm
- Case: 316L Stainless Metal
- Crystal: Double Domed sapphire crystal with a multi-layer blue anti-reflective coating utilized to the inside floor of the crystal.
- Luminous: SuperLumiNova BGW9 rated after full cost
- Bezel: 120-click unidirectional, nickel-edged bezel with aluminum insert
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Motion: SII NE15C – Guide winding / Automated winding with ball bearing Cease second system / Fast date correction / 21,600 bph / ISO 6425 attributes, equivalent to antimagnetic to 4800 Amp and shock-resistant (calibrated in three positions)
- Energy Reserve: 50 hours energy reserve (SPRON510 mainspring)
Execs
- Good high quality for the value
- Clear and useful design
Cons
The MARSOC raider-founded Sangin Devices gives a number of watches, however the Neptune is their flagship diver. It is available in at underneath $1,000 with a SEIKO computerized motion and a rubber dive strap. Additionally they provide it on a bracelet.
“The MARSOC guys do intensive dive operations,” Spurlin says. “Their dive college in Panama Metropolis, Florida, is known as the Marine Fight Dive Course. So he [Sangin’s founder] is aware of underwater operations, and he is aware of precisely what to construct at that worth level.”
I’ve been sporting a Neptune for the final 4 years, and it has serial quantity 51. It’s by no means been serviced and continues to remain inside its timekeeping spec. I’ve owned quite a lot of dive watches, however the Neptune is the one I put on most frequently due to its clear structure and wearable design.
Spurlin’s present each day put on is a Sangin Skilled, which makes use of a quartz motion and combines a dive watch with a pilot’s watch.
We clearly each love Sangin, however it’s vital to know that they’re a microbrand that makes their timepieces out there by drop. So, you’ve got to enroll in their e-newsletter or comply with them on social media to purchase one. After they have inventory, their watches usually promote out in a short time. Often they’ll additionally do pre-orders to alleviate the stress of getting in on a drop.
Extra Navy Divers
My interview with Spurlin was equal components watch speak and army historical past. He introduced up a number of manufacturers that have been new to me and have a wealthy historical past or ties with army divers. Listed below are extra of his favorites.
Tornek-Rayville
Most watch fans know of the French Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and its declare as the unique dive watch. However, I didn’t know that an American firm was secretly supplying a rebranded Fifty Fathoms to the U.S. Navy within the Sixties.
“On the time the American commandos wished the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms,” Spurlin says. “However there was the Purchase American Act, which prevented U.S. divers from getting the Fifty Fathoms.”
So an enterprising New York Importer, Allen Tornek, approached Blancpain with the thought of making a Fifty Fathoms with a USA-based firm’s identify on it. And so the Tornek-Rayville was born. The Rayville within the identify was created because the American-sounding counterpart to the city the place the Blancpains have been made, Villeret.
An authentic Tornek-Rayville will set you again effectively into the six figures at public sale. However, you should purchase the reissues from Tornek-Rayville for round $1,000.
ZRC
In accordance with Spurlin, ZRC is a favourite amongst French fight divers, and it’s one in all his favorites due to its distinctive 6 o’clock crown place.
“They found out by way of research of precise divers, army divers, after they would go to wind their watches generally they thought it was closed. And it seems that it wasn’t closed all the best way after which water would get into it,” he says. “If a ZRC’s crown shouldn’t be closed all the best way, you can’t put the watch on. The crown stops the band from wrapping round your wrist.”
Akrone
Akrone makes subject, pilot, and diving watches at inexpensive costs — most are $550 to $1,300. They’ve designed a number of watches at the side of the French army, however are comparatively unknown in North America.
“We don’t see these watches [Akrone] as a result of we’re not hanging out with French commandos or divers daily,” Spurlin says. “So that you don’t hear about this watch firm. Nevertheless it’s just like the Sangin watches to French army divers.”
Creator’s Picks
Finest for round $3,000: Longines Hydroconquest GMT
Key Options
- Chrome steel and ceramic bezel
- Sapphire crystal, with anti-reflective coating on either side
- Case: 41.00 mm
- Lug distance: 21 mm
- Thickness: 12.90 mm
- Waterproof to 30 bar
- Unidirectional rotating bezel
- Weight: 180.5 g
- Caliber: L844
- Energy reserve as much as 72 hours
Execs
- True GMT motion for an unbelievable worth
- Extremely legible dial structure
- Properly completed
- Good bracelet
Cons
- Further thickness to accommodate the GMT motion
The Hydroconquest GMT is equal components costume, software, and traveler’s watch. It’s additionally a Longines, which, to me, means worth for the greenback. It makes use of Longines’ in-house assembled, true GMT motion, has a powerful 72-hour energy reserve, and 300 meters of water resistance. The bracelet has a push-button micro alter and has a mix of brushed and polished ending. The 120-click, unidirectional bezel, has optimistic clicks and a 12 o’clock lume pip. I like the minimal dial textual content, which retains the face legible and clear. Whereas the Hydroconquest GMT isn’t COSC licensed it’s the identical motion you’ll discover within the COSC Spirit Zulu Time.
In the event you don’t want the GMT complication, the usual Hydroconquest prices round $1,200 and can also be an important purchase.
Finest for $1,000: Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300
Key Options
- Dimension 40mm
- Case Materials: Chrome steel
- Top: 11.3mm
- Lug-to-Lug: 47.45mm
- Case Weight: 68 grams
- Weight inc. Strap 160 grams
- Water Resistance 30 ATM (300 meters)
- Motion Sellita SW200-1
- Energy Reserve 38 hours
- No of Jewels: 26
- Vibrations 28,800 p/hr (4Hz)
- Timing Tolerance+/- 20 sec p/day
Execs
- Wonderful ending for the value
- Good bracelet with micro-adjust
Cons
In the event you’re a watch fanatic who enjoys a look ahead to greater than its skill to inform time, then check out Christopher Ward. The watchmakers there are producing a few of the finest worth, particularly on the subject of their bracelets and ending. The C60 Trident Professional 300 is a software watch with its utilized indices stuffed with lume, easy-to-grip bezel, clear dial structure, and easy-to-service motion. The watch wears small as a result of it’s skinny for its depth ranking. It has a show caseback, stunning brushing and sprucing, and well-executed bracelet. I like that it is available in quite a lot of dial colours and is constantly in inventory for buy.
Finest for $500: Seiko Turtle (SRPE05)
Key Options
- Water Resistance: 200 meters
- Weight: 124.0 grams
- Unidirectional rotating bezel
- Screw-down crown
- Screw case again
- Caliber Quantity: 4R36
- Motion Kind: Automated with handbook winding
- Precision: +45 to -35 seconds per day
- Energy reserve: Approx. 41 hours
- Jewels: 24
- Thickness:13.2mm
- Diameter:45.0mm
- Lug-to-lug:47.7mm
- Sapphire Crystal with Anti-reflective coating on inside floor
Execs
- Wonderful illumination
- Time-proven design
Cons
- Some received’t just like the “cyclops” day/date window
The SRPE05 takes the long-lasting Turtle design and makes some vital upgrades. The upgrades embody a sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel, and an improved bezel motion. It additionally sports activities a waffle dial design. You get all that and SEIKO’s legendary sturdiness in a sub-$500 watch.
Finest for $300: Citizen Promaster Dive Eco-Drive
Key Options
- Case Width: 45 mm
- Lug Width: 22 mm
- Water Resistance: 200 meters
- Mineral Crystal
- Stainless Metal
- Elapsed Time Bezel;Promaster Crown
- Aluminum bezel;One-Manner Rotating Elapsed Time Bezel
- E168
- Eco-Drive
- Powered by any gentle supply, constantly and sustainably, eliminating the necessity to substitute watch batteries.
Execs
Cons
- Strap isn’t ideally suited for each day put on
The Promaster is an ISO compliant dive watch that can run eternally. The Citizen Eco-Drive is a singular motion that may run indefinitely so long as it’s uncovered to a lightweight supply. You don’t have to fret about winding it or altering batteries. It comes with an extra-long strap for becoming over your wetsuit.
Finest for $50: Casio Duro
Key Options
- Chrome steel case
- Aluminum bezel
- Unidirectional bezel
- 200-meter water resistance
- 3-year battery life with a SR626SW
- Accuracy: ±20 seconds per 30 days
Execs
- Clear and easy-to-read design
- Comfy for each day put on
Cons
- Strap might use upgrading
The Casio Duro has achieved legendary standing by being a sub-$100 watch with 200 meter water resistance and an correct quartz motion. It’s effectively regarded by divers and watch collectors as among the best worth divers.
The way to Select a Dive Watch
Actions
After I first began amassing, I used to be obsessive about correct computerized actions. Now I notice it’s not an enormous deal if my watch is off 30 seconds per day or 30 seconds per 30 days. I can simply reset the watch each few weeks. In the event you really care about time-keeping accuracy, a quartz motion is way superior to any mechanical watch.
What I do care about in my actions is their skill to withstand magnetization and stand up to shock. Each can have an effect on your watch’s perform. Magnetization generally occurs from being uncovered to electronics, just like the laptop computer I sort on all day. Shock from capturing a gun or swinging a hammer can even harm intricate mechanical actions.
Producers are fortifying their actions to resist that sort of each day abuse. Bremont, for instance, makes use of a Faraday cage across the motion and designs their watches to resist extreme shock. Different producers use issues like silicon hairsprings to forestall magnetization.
One other characteristic I search for in a motion is ease of service. Unique, in-house actions are cool, however there’s one thing to be stated for with the ability to simply discover a half or actually have a motion swapped for little or no cash.
Waterproofness
For my part, 200 meters of water resistance is greater than sufficient. In the event you’re a salvage diver, then possibly you’ll use 300+ meters of water resistance. For the remainder of us, it’s only a cool characteristic we received’t use.
Dive Watches for Diving
It’s secure to say that the majority dive watches made right this moment won’t ever attain a depth past the deep finish of a pool. That’s as a result of divers now use dive computer systems or sensible watches just like the Garmin Descent. But, Spurlin says mechanical timepieces nonetheless have a job.
“For my part, I’d say that they do nonetheless fill a job for army divers,” he says. “Sure, we wish the pc as a result of it makes life simpler and it’s superior. However, if you’re 30 or 200 ft underwater, and your laptop fails, which might occur, you higher have a backup plan. And the backup plan is the only most rudimentary factor that at all times is there and at all times works — your watch.”
Remaining Ideas on the Finest Dive Watches
From retro 60s divers to trendy software watches, I believe dive watches are unmatched of their aesthetic and practicality. The issue is there are 1000’s out there, and new microbrands are popping up on a regular basis. How do you determine the suitable one to purchase?
I comply with the recommendation I heard from watch designer George Bamford, ‘purchase a watch that makes you smile.’ Whereas watches are sensible, they’re additionally deeply private, and you must like what’s in your wrist.
