When it comes to style, function, history, and downright ruggedness, there’s nothing like a good dive watch. For decades, dive watches have stood stronger than most and have given us some of the more enduring designs in wristwatch history.
For the greater part of the 20th century, dive watches served as one of the single most important lifelines in a diver’s arsenal. They were (and still are) useful for tracking bottom time, decompression periods, safety stops, and more. With their sporty appeal, dive watches quickly grew in popularity among professionals, adventurers, and even the everyday desk job crowd. Today, you can find them serving dive masters everywhere and even hiding quietly under the shirt cuffs of some of the world’s most prominent national leaders.
There are several details that separate a dive watch from a regular sports watch:
Now that you know what to look for in a dive watch, there’s one thing you should know: you’ll rarely ever use all of its functions. Even dive computers have in essence eliminated some of the need for a dive watch. However, divers still prefer to use a mechanical watch in some capacity, even if it’s just for the redundancy.
As collectors, we’re still drawn to tool watches whether we use them for their intended purpose or not. Therefore, it’s best to really choose your dive watch based on your own specific needs.
You want to make sure that the watch you choose can handle your next underwater expedition and serve you well. Keep an eye out for these features which happen to be preferred for actual diving.
Our Pick: The Tudor Pelagos
If you just want a watch to take everywhere and handle anything, consider “hybrid” designs. Think about:
Our Pick: The OMEGA Seamaster GMT
Versatility is key when you find yourself in a variety of environments. You’ll need a dive watch that can dress up or down with you. Look for:
Our Pick: The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms
With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to see why watch enthusiasts are drawn to these sea-dwelling hunks of stainless steel. Dive watches provide a universal and appealing wearing experience. As a result, a diver may be the only watch you’ll ever need. But remember, always buy a watch that works for you. Be curious and dedicated to the hunt. Use your resources well because your next watch could be the one that stays with you for a very long time (so make sure you know how to take care of it).
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It is incorrect to state that dive watches need 200M of Water RESISTANCE.
The ISO 6425 standard defines dive watches as: A watch designed to withstand diving in water at depths of at least 100 m and possessing a system to control the time.
You're correct. To meet ISO standards, watches are only required to withstand depths of at least 100m. However, most luxury dive watches go beyond that to at least 200m. Our meaning on that wasn't entirely clear—we'll adjust to fix it.
Dive watches are multi-purpose as you pointed out. many people i know buy dive watches because of their aesthetics, and not necessarily their functionality. their intended purpose is incredibly useful for a diver, but they've become popular world wide among leaders of all sorts as you noted. Thanks for sharing I look forward to your other posts.