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Todays Contenders of Best Luxury Dive Watches
Good day everyone, thought about dive watches today and these 10 great pieces in today's market immediately came to my mind.
Please help chip in your thoughts on which are the best-of-the-best and could-be-best, and what watches should be included=D.
Blancpain 500 Fathoms, Source: Blancpainblog
Omega Seamaster Professional. Source: Hodinkee
Tudor Pelagos. Source: Luxuo
Made of titanium and featuring a lightweight case in titanium, this could be the perfect diver. It has a Helium Escape Valve, and a nifty dive extension bracelet. It ranks very highly on my list of best divers.Only gripe is the ceramic bezel (it seems to be ceramic bonded to titanium - not a perfect bezel design). But the luminosity of the bezel is 2nd to none.
Rolex Seadweller. Source: Hodinkee
Credit: Hautetime
Source: Timeandtide
Source: Professionalwatches
Source: Hodinkee
The Sinn U1 could be the top contender. Great legibility, lots of straps, tough metal. But I once held back on purchasing one, because the crown seemed very feeble (needle-like) when I pulled it out to adjust the date. If they fixed that, and also a better dive extension micro-adjuster, I think this may be among the most perfect pieces to me.
Source: Monochrome
To limit the scope of the post, let's imagine a hypothetical scenario where one is a weekend hobbyist diver, who does some "technical" diving at times (night dives, cave dives, deeper dives on mixed-gases). What would he/she want in the design. Here are the 5 components:
1) High Water Resistance
2) Great legibility
3) A great dive bezel
4) A proper strap system with preferably a dive strap extension system
5) After-sales Serviceability
Here are some I can immediately think of:
1) Blancpain X Fathoms
2) Blancpain 500 Fathoms
3) Omega Seamaster Professional
4) Tudor Pelagos
5) Rolex Seadweller
6) Glashutte Original SeaQ Big Date
7) Panerai Submersible
8) Doxa Sub300
9) Sinn U1
10) Breitling Supercoean
Blancpain 500 Fathoms, Source: Blancpainblog
The BP 500 Fathoms never fails to make my jaw drop. It is suitable for saturation diving with the Helium Escape Crown at 11pm. Unlike the FF with the odd 23mm lug widths, this has a 24mm lug with, making it easier to source for aftermarket rubber/tropic straps. I like the movement too. The only things that makes me hold back on purchasing this is the size (48mm) and the price (north of 25k USD). Mamma mia!
Omega Seamaster Professional. Source: Hodinkee
Watching a Netflix programme on saturation diving, I saw a saturation diver on a North Sea saturation dive using an Omega SM Professional 300. I guess he really uses the Helium Escape Valve. I think this is most perfect design so far in terms of functionality, size, and pricing. Movements used are great too.
Tudor Pelagos. Source: Luxuo
Made of titanium and featuring a lightweight case in titanium, this could be the perfect diver. It has a Helium Escape Valve, and a nifty dive extension bracelet. It ranks very highly on my list of best divers.Only gripe is the ceramic bezel (it seems to be ceramic bonded to titanium - not a perfect bezel design). But the luminosity of the bezel is 2nd to none.
Rolex Seadweller. Source: Hodinkee
Wow, this has got to be on the list. I wanted to include the submariner, but it seems the recent grey market prices for the submariner have exceeded the more capable brother, the Seadweller with Red Wordings. I'd have utmost trust in using this for diving. Would have preferred they kept the aluminium bezel instead of using the ceramic bezel (because of how ceramic bezels are made and bonded to steel, it isn't a perfect design). But as long as it doesn't fall off, it's fine. Love the bracelet design too with the ratcheting microadjustors.
Credit: Hautetime
I tried to love the Panerai submersible. It remains on my mind frequently, but I am still unlikely to purchase one. I like the rubber strap, the supreme legibility, and the bezel (especially the solid metal bezels, which remind me of the Big Egyptian piece). If they created a 42-25mm piece with a Helium Escape Valve, if the La Bomba shrunk a little, I'd beeline to the e-boutique for an immediate purchase. But in the real world, resources are finite, so I had to purchase another piece with more technical plus-points. But sadly, the La Bomba is out of production and a little bigger than I can wear. But in my dreams I'd wear this for diving. It is beautiful, hauntingly beautiful.
Source: Timeandtide
The Glashutte Original SeaQ big date is a really really beautiful dive watch. The straps are great, and the bracelet has a great dive adjustor. I have seen this piece in real life and it ranks very high on my list of Best-of-the-Best. I wish they released the 39.5mm version with a 300m instead of 200m Water Resistance (pretty strange they seem to have done that on purpose, perhaps to gravitate people to the larger Big Date version, but to the consumer, it seems like they didn't think for the customer even when they could have easily done it).
Source: Professionalwatches
This Doxa Carbon 300 is simply breathtaking. I really like the legibility of the dial, with the contrast coloured minute hand. I heard it is really lightweight too. Pity that the sales/AD network is quite limited on Doxa that one cannot see it in real life.
Source: Hodinkee
The Sinn U1 could be the top contender. Great legibility, lots of straps, tough metal. But I once held back on purchasing one, because the crown seemed very feeble (needle-like) when I pulled it out to adjust the date. If they fixed that, and also a better dive extension micro-adjuster, I think this may be among the most perfect pieces to me.
Source: Monochrome
Great design, tonnes of strap options, and good value. But I don't know why I have not gotten it yet? Maybe the competition is too strong from other brands with the nautical history. Maybe the pieces are too similar to other designs, lacking a distinct design DNA. I don't know why I did not get it, but I should start liking this.
More posts:
Todays Contenders of Best Luxury Dive Watches
Good day everyone, thought about dive watches today and these 10 great pieces in today's market immediately came to my mind. Please help chip in your thoughts on which are the best-of-the-best and could-be-best, and what watches should be included=D. To l...
Great choices
Blancpain FF is the most beautiful. Ceramic domed bezel, nice polished case. It is almost like the Ferrari of Dive Watches. Submariner is the quintessential piece. If they have the kermit with aluminium bezel, and the newer bracelet design. It will take t...
Plus one
The 5015 FF is the perfect diver under water, due to incomparable legibility of the relevant information and easiness to manipulate the bezel. All the best, Alex
Wow I didn’t know abt this marvel
It has an incredible design behind it. I just read the review on it, and it is mindblowing how they used magnets to set the time. Ingenious design. It is a pretty expensive piece too, at 4.8k Euros, but worth it, due to the research costs for this pioneer...
Aniceto Jiménez Pita has
created some amazing novelties.I see the Sarpaneva has been suggested, another excellent choice.
Ah the JLCs
U know I really like it and bought it once. Would prefer a solid steel bezel for it though. I still had so many great memories with that loud alarm underwater. How about this: Credit: GPHG If the re-released this today, it would still be a great piece. ...
Looks at this jaw dropper
If I had the chance to retire, wearing this piece out on a luxury dive in Oman/Maldives/Okinawa will be a dream. Then I wish I could find a dive buddy with a similar watch interest to take these ultra lux technical pieces to their habitat. (And hopefully ...
Laurant Ballesta and his badass XF
Wow i just searched up the video on youtube. The stuff of dreams!
If diving regularly, my vote would be for the x fathoms
Why? Because all the other watches can make great daily wearers but the x fathoms is so extreme it kinda needs an excuse to wear, it needs to be around water to look at home. I wish I had the $ and mind to have bought an X Fathoms when I lived in the Cari...
Yes the X Fathoms!
Among the most over-engineered pieces, which is so specialized. It is about the price of an FPJ CS so far. I’d pick this over a RM diver.
How about this piece
Avante garde and ultra lux. This is more for a luxury private dive, off the back of a beautiful yacht. Credit: monochrome ...
I would also add the Rolex Submariner 41 LV...
and if you sincerely want one for diving maybe there’s an AD who’d respect that and make it happen. ...
Yes that is one great piece
I tried. I give up trying. Maybe one day they’d call me up. Well if they do I’ll reserve enough for the deepsea any day. So far the only call I got was for a pink ladies datejust. it feels like fishing for days, and one only caught a sunken shoe. No AD he...
That sounds like a tough spot to be in. All the guys on here with the 41 sub love them. It's surpassed my expectations. Keep the faith!
That Doxa has an aura, at least a couple members on here were seduced by it. My AP forged carbon has blown me away with it's wearability. Fantastic experience on the wrist. The material is friendly and easy to bond with, highly recommend trying one.
When this pandemic clears
A day out in the sea, wearing this is the day to live for. Imagine wearing the RM28 on a boat while fishing the day away - that is heaven
This piece makes my heart beat faster
The ultimate macho man’s watch. I actually watched the Expendibles 3 to catch a glimpse of Stallone’s RM. The ultimate baller dive watch it is. I believe it causes an “oh my goodness” reaction in most WIS.
I‘d add the Bucherer Scubatec
Seems like a well-made piece that can be worn at the office as well as on a wetsuit without looking out of place. ...
Ah that is really good
Seldom seen piece, and very capable too. It is beautiful. Have u taken her for a dip yet? It begs to be given a dip in the deep blue reefs.
I don’t own the Scubatec
so I can’t comment on diving with it. But it looks well spec‘d to do the job. I was checking it out last month when looking for a watch for my nephew, that’s where the pic is from. He decided on a vintage Yacht Master in the end. Best, Daniel
In the legacy of Jaques Yves Cousteau
Why i see no IWC Aquatimer into your list? Jaques Yves Cousteau dived all world oceans. If i was a diver, i want a IWC Aquatimer Jaques Yves Cousteau edition on my wrist. Me as an Omega fan, the Seamaster Professional would be my first choice. A planet Oc...
Yes the aquatimer!
Ok, i admit I like the newer Aquatimer. But the king of it is the Deep One/Two/Three. IWC Deep Two. Source: Watchanalyser ...
I seen IWC
put a brand new patented watch strap quick release system on the new Aquatimers. With the thumb pulling a nipple reverse, than the strap comes loose. Fastening, click the strap on the push bars. ‘Click’ and the strap attached.
Buddy the new range
Has a quick change strap system. I recalled seeing it in action. The rubber strap can be pulled off like a hook. U eyeing an IWC Aquatimer buddy? It is a great product and fun to play with the bezel system that can be rotated back and forth.
Omega safety rotation
I must see it in flesh. Aquatimer buddy. Unidirectional bezel, can be a risk. Omega used the anti clockwise rotation of the bezel.
Unidirectional but it goes one way only
It’s quite special. You can watch it on youtube.
Yes indeed the maxi marines
Actually I wrote a draft and placed UN on the list. But when I rewrote it using a computer, I forgot completely to add the Maxi Marine. Yes, so tropical, so Russian-styled, so good. My favourite UN diver is the yellow version of the older Maxi Marine.
Yes Seiko makes fantastic dive pieces
The marinemaster is beautiful. I like this version here: Credit: Worldtempus ...
Oh yes
Muhle Glashutte has really beautiful designs. Tutima released a new diver recently - the M2 Seven Seas. It is an extremely strong contender for a purposeful dive watch at excellent value. Titanium, 500m WR and great legibility. This is very suitable for b...
