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Top 10 diving watches

Along with chronographs, dive watches are among the most popular watches, so, then, we present you the top 10 dive watches. In addition to legends like the Rolex Submariner or the Omega Seamaster, the list also includes alternatives less known as the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms or the Oris Aquis.

Rolex Submariner and Sea-Dweller

The archetype of all diving watches is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner. It undoubtedly tops all lists of the most desired dive watches. Presented for the first time in its original form in 1953, it comes with all the necessary technical details for its use in the great depths: screw crown, rotating bezel to mark the immersion times and a great legibility underwater and in the dark thanks To materials with light intensity on the dial and the hands. Even in its most basic form, the Oyster waterproof case (ref. 6204) was designed to withstand dives at depths of 100 meters.

The first Submariner with its characteristic date display, with a magnifying glass, did not hit the market until 1969. Collectors are especially interested in models from those early decades until the 1980s. Many people remember the cult Submariner watch Thanks to several films of James Bond. The Submariner is the official watch of the Royal Navy, even in real life, specifically under the references 5513 and 5517.

Beginning in 1967, Rolex began offering a special version of the Submariner, the Sea-Dweller. The original Sea-Dweller were developed in collaboration with the French diving company Comex, which needed a professional diving watch. Rolex continued to extend the tightness of its watches in the following years. Thanks to these improvements, their latest models only start to run the risk of entering the water at a depth of more than 3900 meters.

Panerai Luminor

The Panerai Luminor has enjoyed a long career ranging from its use as a professional watch for military divers to obtaining the status of a cult object. Founded in 1860 in Florence, the Italian brand can look back enjoying an old tradition. Panerai began its collaboration with the Navy in 1900, with pocket watches and precision instruments. They developed new deals with autoiluminado based on the radio and patented like Radiomir. In the late 1940s, Panerai replaced Radiomir radioactive light material with Luminor, another self-illuminating material based on tritium. However, only a few clocks were made for the navies of Italy and Egypt over a period of 60 years.

It was not until the 1990s that the navy classic began to be sold to civilian clients. Panerai presented the first watches for the non-military market in 1993: the Luminor and Luminor Marina models. Actor Sylvester Stallone, a fan from the beginning, wore the Luminor in the 1996 film "Daylight," which caused a boom. His colleague, Arnold Schwarzenegger, also wore a Luminor in the 1996 film "Eraser". Boxes 44 mm in diameter and larger began to be considered acceptable since then. In 1997, the Vendôme Group, now Richemont, took over the brand, including all technical documents, patents, and shares.

Since its first appearance at the Geneva Watch Fair 1998, the specialist trade has rushed to take on one of the few licenses offered by Panerai, while collectors were expecting limited-edition models. Since 2005 several gauges of its own production have been created. One of the best sellers is the Luminor 1950 3 Days PAM 372. Today, there are the traditional lines Radiomir 1940 and Luminor 1950 and the contemporary lines Radiomir, Luminor, and Luminor Due.

IWC Schaffhausen Aquatimer

IWC reacted to the growing demand for dive watches by introducing the Aquatimer in 1967, with the reference 812AD, which is now a popular collector's item. This model had a rather large diameter (37.5 mm) for that period of time. The dive watch has two crowns: one for setting the time and one for operating the internal dive bezel. It is powered by the famous 8541 caliber of its own manufacture. 

Shortly after, the Aquatimer appeared with a new version with the reference 816AD with an extravagant box, in the form of cushion and a blue, red or black dial. In the late 1970s, this model was replaced by the reference 1822. In 1998, the IWC introduced a new line of sports watches under the name "GST" which included the GST Aquatimer, reference 3536, With automatic movement ETA 2892 inside and a resistance to pressure up to 200 bar. 

The GST line was discontinued in 2004. The Aquatimer becomes its own product family. The most spectacular model of the new generation is the Aquatimer Split Minute chronograph in titanium. An automatic clock with which two periods of time can be measured simultaneously.

Omega Seamaster

The Seamaster, first introduced by Omega in 1948, would become a story of economic success. This watch, which is elegant by today's standards, was not considered particularly robust at first. However, it had a bolted cap and the innovative O-ring rubber gasket. The automatic movements were already beating within the first Seamaster models, something that was not a matter of routine at that time. The Seamaster 300, introduced in 1957, first of its line that can be considered a dive watch tested, was able to withstand a pressure of 20 bar. This fact made him deserve the crown with double sealing of new development, and the glass three times thicker than a normal crystal, adjusted in its place with a ring of tension.

The next generation Seamaster 300 appeared in 1960. Although once again using the Arabic numerals 3, 6, 9 and 12 as indices, this model indicated the time innovatively with a rhomboid stylus for hours and a Pointy stick shape for minutes. Two years later, the Seamaster 300 had a pointed stick for hours, rectangular markers, and a large luminous triangle instead of the numeral 12. The rotating bezel with larger numbers and the brightest triangle came in 1964. The famous oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau tested this model.

In the movie Casino Royale, James Bond wore two different watches: the Seamaster Professional Diver and the Seamaster Planet Ocean. The Planet Ocean Chrono was launched in 2006. The Seamaster Aqua Terra line has existed since 2002. The Aqua Terra Seamaster> 15,000 Gauss, with Caliber automatic 8508, even has materials resistant to magnetic fields.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms

The presentation of a Blancpain watch with a 50-watt resistance (in English "Fifty Fathoms") in 1953 marked a milestone in the history of diving watches. It was built according to the specifications given by the two French naval officers Robert Maloubier and Claude Riffaud for a professional diving watch. Optimal legibility, accompanied by a rotating bezel to calculate the immersion time (an innovation in the moment, since it could be blocked) with auto-illuminated graduations of five minutes. It assumed water tightness of up to 50 fathoms, that is, 91.45 meters, and had an AS SA automatic movement inside.

In 1958, Blancpain Blancpain Fifty Fathoms introduced the Sportsman PF1, along with the Fifty Fathoms Professional PG model, now resistant up to 200 meters. Both professional divers and sports divers were impressed with both models. Over the next two decades, so-called frogmen, mine divers, and general dive services relied on their work on the different versions of this model. They continued using the name Fifty Fathoms even after the water tightness of the box had surpassed its original value several times.

With the Concept 2000 line, Blancpain offered three new models with a depth of immersion of up to 300 m, as well as sophisticated rubber overlays on the crown and new pushbuttons, just in time for the dawn of the new millennium. With its 2003/2004 edition of Fifty Fathoms, limited to 150 pieces, Blancpain went back to the 1950's decade with the design of the box, dial and needles. Instead of a sensitive rotating bezel, Blancpain first introduced a rotating ring made of reinforced sapphire crystal.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay

Tudor watches are meant to be more affordable than Rolex watches, but they have the same quality as their sister brand. Founded in 1946, Tudor introduced dive watches from the outset: with Rolex cases but offering more individual designs such as snowflake features. The Heritage Black Bay, launched in 2012, is reminiscent of the brand's first diving watches.

In fact, it seems to be a vintage watch at first glance. The dial displays the historical logo, the Tudor Rose, which was used until 1969, after which it was replaced by the company's coat of arms. The old Tudor dive watches with snowflake needles are famous and highly sought after at the auctions. The latest version of this beautiful retro-tribute watchmaker is still powered by a proprietary Tudor movement.

Breitling Superocean

The Breitling Superocean came on the market in 1957. Achieving perfect visibility in low light conditions in the depths of the oceans was a priority in the design of the dial and the needles. Although originally designed for professional and military divers, the model immediately impressed the first sports divers.

He laid the foundations for a whole series of chronographs and dive watches that are characterized by their robustness and extreme resistance to water, to a depth of 2000 meters. Breitling has been busy reactivating this legendary collection since 2010. With automatic movement technology, the new Superocean features the inner edges of the box in blue, yellow, red, silver and black. Another distinctive mark is the 9 o'clock safety valve, which balances the pressure differences inside and outside the watch.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver

The watch for divers Royal Oak Offshore, which Audemars Piguet introduced in 2010, is almost too beautiful to wear in a dive. The sportier version of this iconic watch born in 1972 is also one of the most expensive dive watches in history. It is resistant to a pressure of up to 30 bar and has a ring of immersion time with a luminous zero.

The watch has a 3120 automatic caliber inside. The beautifully decorated movement, however, is not visible because it is covered by the plate fixed by means of eight screws. This extraordinary watch is available in different materials, such as stainless steel, rose gold, tantalum, ceramic or carbon.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea

A dive watch with alarm is a rarity that Jaeger-LeCoultre offers since 1959: the Deep Sea has an alarm function that works even underwater. Jaeger-LeCoultre has continuously developed the caliber of its own manufacture for half a century and has completely changed it, especially in recent years. The reliable movement guarantees a 45-hour power reserve. The hanging gong, which receives hammer blows for 20 seconds when the alarm mechanism is fully charged, serves to remind the diver that it is time to return to the surface.

The Master Compressor Diving Alarm Navy Seals 2010 is quite popular among both professional and amateur divers. Since 2012, the Deep Sea is also available as a chronograph. A year later, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced the Deep Sea chronograph made of cermet, the new ultralight compound of ceramic materials and metals. Its aluminum base is impregnated with ceramic particles.

ORIS Aquis

Traditional Swiss manufacturer Oris offers in its collection many different versions of the Aquis diving watch. Founded in 1904, the company presents annual innovations since the end of 1980. The Aquis chronograph stands out for its high resistance to pressure, up to 50 bar. The box houses an ETA / Valjoux 7750 movement.

With the 2013 Aquis Depth Gauge model, Oris introduced a mechanical clock with integrated depth gauge. The watch uses a special patented technology: water flows through a twelve o'clock hole through a channel on the sapphire crystal during diving. The immersion depth is indicated on the left on a scale indicating the water level.

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Best Diving watch For The Money

The dive watch (or submersible watch) is part of the standard equipment of a diver. Also for snorkeling, it is nice to have a dive watch. There are several types available, from simple analog models with only one bezel (rotating), combined digital or analog models that also indicate depth and time of diving, to models that are more like a dive computer for all types of data Which can be viewed and saved. The latter type is also called a wrist diving computer. The prices of a dive watch start from about 90 euros and go up to more than 1,000 euros. Read the article on the best dive watches!

Waterproof and waterproof diving watch

Impermeability is generally indicated in the number of meters ( fixed water column ). Sometimes the impermeability in Bar or Atm (osmosis) is shown, in which 10 bar or 10 atm is equal to 100 meters of fixed water column. The greater the number of meters (or bar/atm), the deeper you can dive with it. If it just says 'waterproof', the watch is only splash resistant!

To what depth of a diving watch is water resistant depends on the model and the price, but in general, the diving watches are resistant to a depth of minimum 100 meters (according to ISO 6425). That's good for snorkeling and shallow snorkeling. Today most of the dive watches are water resistant to 200 meters (20 bars/atm).

The bezel and marker

A characteristic of a classic diving watch is, of course, the rotating ring. This ring is also called a bezel. Almost all analog dive watches have one. The hoop rotates only counterclockwise and is graduated in minutes. Often the large units 10, 20, 30 etc, are shown large and/or of the different color. Needles and time units also glow in the dark. The 60 minutes (or zero line) often has a clear marker. This marker is placed, when entering the water, in the big needle of the marker of the time. Thus you can read instantly and accurately during the dive how long you are already diving. There are also similar models in which the driving time can be adjusted and read separately.

Other features of diving watches

A classic analog diving watch is heavier than a normal watch. This is because the exterior and bevel have to be made of high-pressure resistant material and sea water, salad. The most commonly used materials are stainless steel and titanium. There are also synthetic diving watches. The watch strap is often made of rubber, polyurethane or stainless steel. Keep in mind that the strap is adjustable so that you can put it on top of the diving suit. The glass can be made from acrylic glass, mineral glass or sapphire crystal. Classic diving watches have a threaded crown that allows (out of the water) to set the time and date by "screwing the crown on top".

Other Functions of an Analog Dive Watch

It is impossible to list all the possible functions of a dive watch (digital). The market is also becoming more and more innovative and the difference with a dive computer issometimes small. Here are some functions that can probably be found in analog dive clocks (digital combo).

Date and/or calendar

Stopwatch: measures elapsed time and turns on / off

Charging mode: Indicates when the battery needs to be charged/replaced

Water sensor: Dive functions begin when the watch comes into contact with water.

Dive time meter: possibly with alarm function

Depth meter: measures the depth of the dive and/or the maximum depth of the dive

Decompression Alarm: The alarm sounds when the speed of the ascent is too high.