DEEP DIVE

A beginners guide to dive watches

A diver’s watch is another specialized type of tool watch specifically designed for use by scuba divers and other underwater enthusiasts.  These watches must primarily be capable of two things: withstand the pressures of deep water, and provide accurate timekeeping while doing it.

This is why the best diver’s watches typically have several key features that make them the most suitable for underwater use.  This includes a tough and robust construction that allows the timepiece to withstand the rough handling that comes with the rigors of deep underwater use; a minimum water resistance of up to 300 meters and more; a screw down crown; a unidirectional bezel that rotates only in a counterclockwise direction to allow divers to track how much time they have spent underwater; and last but not least, an easy-to-read dial with highly luminescent markers that optimize visibility even during the darkest conditions.

One of the best examples of the dive watch is the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, which set the standard for dive watches with hour markers of different shapes for intuitive use, a unidirectional rotating bezel with 15-minute scale, and an automatic movement back in 1953.

The gold standard of dive watches, however, is the Rolex Submariner, which has dominated the diver’s watch market for the longest time, and has long been the diver’s watch benchmark in design and capability that all other watch brands emulate

Other well known diver's watches are the Omega Seamaster, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer, and the Seiko SKX007, watches have become popular not just among scuba divers, but also among watch collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate their robust design and unique features.