SuperWatches

Smartwatches for the Space Age

dive watches

Rotating Bezel Watches

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Introduction 

Rotating Bezel Watches

The watch was one of the best inventions the world had seen, after the clock. The first example of a watch came about in the 1700s, in Germany. What was known as a watch then has developed a lot. Furthermore, a lot of technology has been injected. In fact, if you like smartwatches, you’ll know that the last feature to boast about them is the fact that they tell time.

Not long after the watch was invented it was obvious that the watch was going to be an invaluable tool as it was so convenient, being on the wrist. So it was also clear that watches were going to become very advanced pieces of kit.

In the development of the watch, the rotating bezel came about.

We’ll look at why a watch has a rotating bezel. We’ll also explain what one actually is. 

What is a rotating bezel?

This is an integral part of a dive watch. In fact, it’s probably the most important part of all. It’s what differentiates it from a classic watch. 

The bezel is a disc that sits on the outside of the dial. It has 60 divisions to represent 60 minutes. It can be moved – rotated – so the zero marker is aligned to the 12 position. Those 60 minute markers around the bezel outline an hour, which represents how long a standard scuba tank of oxygen will last.

How is this bezel used?

Before going into the water, a diver will place an arrow on the bezel at the 12 position on the watch. 

As you now know, there are 60 divisions and it can go from 0 to 60 or vice versa. It works the same either way. The goal is to let the diver know how many minutes have passed since the start of their dive. They can see how many minutes are left to enjoy the dive with sufficient oxygen left in the tank to resurface.

The time a diver gets under the water is really key to know. After the optimal time has passed, there is a risk of the body absorbing nitrogen. Once this process begins in the body, things get a little complicated. The diver can’t begin an ascent and must wait a given amount of time and be at a particular depth to decompress that nitrogen in the body.

Sensible divers know this and have what’s known as the “120” rule that prescribes an optimal time, in minutes, that a diver may spend at a given depth. This is worked out as 120 minus the depth. For example, say a diver goes on a 70 foot dive their bezel will indicate a no-decompression max as 30 minutes.

If the diver goes over this time, they have to then stay under for longer as it requires a much slower ascent. A dive should be carefully planned to allow for time, depth and oxygen levels. You’ll typically find the first 15 minutes on a bezel are highlighted.

Bit of background

The first rotating bezel made an appearance on a dive watch in the 50s. It came out of need rather than development of a nice-to-have. Divers needed to track their time at depth and wanted this function on a water-resistant watch. 

Rolex did attempt a similar bezel design in the 30s but it left some development to be desired. Blancpain came along in the early 50s and launched a much more functional bezel. 

Blancpain actually introduced the uni-directional rotating bezel which solved the issue where a bezel could easily be knocked out of place. When that happened, it posed a potentially fatal risk to the diver who no longer knew how much time was left and would have to resurface out of precaution.

The 60s saw the bezel move underneath the protective crystal in order to keep it safe from this accidental movement. An additional crown was added and boom, the dive watch became a ‘thing’ in its own right.

A brand called Doxa soon introduced a no-decompression marking on the bezel. This differed from time markings and Doxa developed this further and ended up making dive computers rather than watches.

In the 70s, Omega stepped up to the plate with their Plongeur Professionel which had a thickset case with a button on the side which had to be pushed in order to allow the bezel to be moved. 

Different features have been played with over time, some have lasted, some proved unworthy, but the bezel has basically stayed the same.

These days we have much smarter technology that can digitally store and display all the information one might need on a dive, but the smart divers will keep a watch on their wrist as a contingency against technological failure.

Luminox 3001 Dive Watch

For $375.00 you can get this analogue quartz Navy SEAL dive watch. The quartz movement is Swiss and it offers sapphire crystal protection, which is incredible value at this price. The case isn’t too chunky at only 43mm and as well as the rotating bezel it offers the day, date and even moon phase. 

It’s water-resistant to 200m which means, if you’re a beginner diver, this will suit you perfectly.

Summary

Hopefully, you’ve learned something useful. If you want to continue reading about what Luminox has to offer, we have a review right here.

You may also be interested in this article about the latest Seiko Dive Watch

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Seiko Watches for Men

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Seiko

Introduction

Seiko is known for being a leader in the watchmaker world. Here, you’ll learn about five of the best Seiko watches for men. They’re ranked in both popularity and function.

SGG711 

$185 / £135

The SGG711S has an elegant and traditional design. It’s a watch that will suit anyone who needs a reliable timepiece that won’t look out of place at any occasion. It offers affordability and functionality. All the quality of Seiko.

There is a titanium version ($215 / £185). In the watch world, this is a giveaway. The best watches are titanium and they offer durability that is second to none.

It’s lighter than steel but more sturdy. It’s also resistant to corrosion. The dial is protected by an equally scratch-resistant crystal. Inside, it’s powered by quartz movement.

The face is black with white numbers. It has a date window at the 3 position. It has both second and minute markers, which means it’s got great readability. The hands are also luminous, which is great for periods of low-light. 

The most common review of this watch is how easily it fits in with most outfits, on most occasions. 

For a reasonably low price, you get an exceptionally-built timepiece that will offer reliability and class. You can’t really go wrong!

SSC293 

Around $320 / £280 

Arguably a cooler-looking watch than already mentioned. The SSC293 has a little more of a masculine vibe and comes with a lot of features.

This watch is solar-powered so you never have to think about charging it. 

One awesome thing about it just how many features it has. It offers a chronograph function, a highly-readable date window, a compass and an alar. 

The face is black and the hands are white and luminous. The face is scratch-resistant thanks to mineral crystal. The case itself is 42mm. The wristband is a soft genuine leather. 

You could take this watch snorkelling, too, as it has a 100m water-resistance. 

Inside, it’s powered by Japanese quartz movement.

This watch simply looks cool. Not only that, but it gives its wearer an abundance of features that could rival any basic smartwatch. 

For the price, you get a lot of decent quality materials so you’ll find this watch will last you a good 5 years.

SNDC33

Sub $100 / £100 

This is a really classy offering. It carries a traditional design. The sub-dials bring something special to the look as well as the function. It would blend into a formal occasion just as perfectly as it would an office.

It has a black leather strap made of calfskin. It’s really very comfortable on the wrist. 

The face offers contrast as well as huge Arabic numerals. It’s easy to see what time it is. The hands are luminous, as are the hour markers, located every 3hours.

The case is made of stainless steel and is 40mm by 10mm. Inside, it’s powered by quartz movement. 

It has a chronograph function that’s easy to use, too and is water-resistant to 100m.

Overall, it might be too chunky for the smaller wrist, but saying that, the weight isn’t much. 

This is a very reliable timepiece. It has some handy functions and, at the price, it offers more value than it should.

SGG709 

Sub $100 / £90

Another excellent value option here. This one brings some colour. Silver and dark blue give this Seiko a striking look. It offers all the same elegance as its siblings, but makes a bigger statement. It screams expensive (but isn’t).

Another bargain titanium option. This is really light on the wrist. The deep blue face is nearly black. The polished hour markers stand out and it’s easy to read the time on the hands.

It has 3 hands movements and a date window situated on the 3 position. It has excellent readability and reliability. 

The case is 37mm by 8mm, so it’s fairly dainty for a men’s watch. 

It offered mineral glass protection and up to 50m water-resistance.

If you have a larger wrist, you might not like how lightweight this model feels. If you like colour contrast, though, this one’s for you.

It’s well-priced. You get something that is accurate and attractive.

SKA366

Around $200 / £180 

The classiest has been saved for last here. A gorgeous black and gold watch offers nothing but luxury. It has some awesome features to boot, but the main aspect is that this is a perfect dress watch. It’s masculine and bold enough to make a decadent statement. 

It belongs to the Kinetic line. This means it gets its power from the natural movement of the wearer’s wrist. There is a visible rotor on the back of the watch. It’s not automatic, either, it does have a full quartz movement.

At the 2 position you will notice a power reserve indicator. Press it and it will display how much power is left in a gold semi-circular inner-dial at the 12 position. If fully charged and left alone, this watch would give you 3-6 months operation. 

The hands are luminous as are the hour markers. So you can read it in most lighting conditions.

The case itself is just shy of 40mm and it’s 11mm thick. There’s a three-link stainless steel band. It’s got mineral crystal on top, and this offers a level of scratch-resistance. 

Inside, it’s powered by Japanese quarts movements. 

The look is what most people go for when they’re buying this watch. The features are an added bonus. It’s a well-built timepiece that offers accuracy as much as it does beauty.

Alternatives to Seiko?

If for some bizarre reason you’re not sold on the above, there are some alternatives you could look at. For starters, check out our review of Invicta as a brand. They offer excellent quality at modest prices.

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Luminox Watches Reviewed

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Luminox watches

Background 

Luminox watches is a Californian watchmaker, founded in 1989, however, their watches are technically Swiss-made. 

There are certainly many military watch brands out there made exclusively for military use. However, they come with stock numbers and you’ll only get your hands on one if you’ve been issued it. There are a few unofficial military-grade brands, however. Special forces favour them just as much as military personnel. The main reason is the level of visibility they offer the wearer at a quick glance. These watches are Luminox watches.

Let’s take a look at some of their most iconic watches

Recon-Nav-8831KM

$499.99

Firstly, this timepiece belongs to the ‘Land’ collection of the Luminox range. It’s been specially developed for the military. It offers more than the former Recon Point Man. That being a very accurate tachymeter.

What’s that, you ask? This measures your walking speed whilst undergoing any outdoor activity like hiking. Consequently, it can work out your distance travelled. This is perfect for working out how long it will take to reach a specific point. 

The case is 46mm by 14mm and is made of resin. It has a black dial with luminous hands. It offers Arabic hour markings and the time is 24 hour format. This is protected by sapphire crystal, subsequently anti-reflective. Inside is Japanese quartz movement and it’s also water-resistant to 100m.

Recon-NAV-SPC

$599.99

This Recon version is also 46mm and comes in a poly-carbonate case reinforced with carbon. It also offers an anti-reflective sapphire dome. It has a uni-directional diving bezel and the face offers you 24 hour format time-telling as well as a date window at the 3 position. Inside you’ll find quartz movement. 

There’s a 24mm interchangeable strap. The coolest part is the removable compass. It has a map scale as well as a chart that can convert cm and inches.

It has a 200m water-resistance and, of course, the luminosity you’d expect and need.

Luminox Navy Seal Colormark 3051

$289.99

Now we reach the ‘Sea’ collection. This is certainly a popular choice for master divers, special forces and the elite military.

There’s an abundance of style here in the matte black case. The strap is rubber.

The 3051 has a 44mm case which comes in carbon-reinforced polycarbonate. It’s light but durable. It’s also water-resistant to 200m.

The case back is super-secure, being screwed on. It has a unidirectional bezel, too.

There is quartz movement inside and the face offers the date at the 3 position. On top is a hardened mineral crystal, offering some anti-reflection as well as scratch-resistance.

Furthermore, it offers a bright luminosity and can be easily read underwater. This comes as bright green 12 hour markings and a white minute hand. The second hand is a bold blue.

You’ll notice ‘T25’ on the bottom of the face and it stands for Tritium, which is a small series of gas tubes that glow.

If you want a starter tactical watch, or you’ve only just discovered Luminox and want to start off with a safe option.

Colormark Men’s 3051 EVO Navy Seal

$218.90

Similarly, within the Colormark range you’ll notice a lot of the same specifications and features. They all have hardened mineral crystal protecting the face. Arabic numerals for hour markings. A uni-directional bezel. Night vision tubes in ice blue marking a 12 hour format and white hour, minute and second hands.

The case on the men’s version is 44mm and made of polyurethane. Inside is quartz movement with an analogue display. It’s water-resistant to 200m.

This range is considered to be unisex so if you and your significant other like to rock a matching watch, a Colourmark will suit you.

Men’s ANU – 4221.CW 

In addition, this watch has been authorised for actual Navy use. This isn’t some gimmick to sell more watches, it’s a genuine claim. It’s been developed for Luminox by US Navy Seal officers. It’s certainly one of the toughest Luminox watches you can get. It naturally falls under the ‘Sea’ collection. There are two versions, one with a nylon and one with a rubber strap.

The stainless steel case is 45mm by 13mm and the dial is protected by scratch-proof sapphire crystal.

Moreover, It’s powered by the signature light technology developed by Luminox. It has Swiss-made quartz inside and is water-resistant to 200m.

Deep-Diver 1500

$1,050.00

The Deep Diver series is an outstanding ISO-certified diving watch. You get a sensational 500m water-resistance. 

There are a few colour options which are brushed black with either blue, orange, white or yellow accents on the dial.

It contains a unique bezel locking technology that stops the bezel from moving for reliable time-keeping on a dive. This is done by locking the crown protector in place.

The case is stainless steel with a PVD coating and sapphire crystal. It’s 44mm by 17mm. The locking system does add a little thickness and weight to the whole thing.

Inside you’ll find Swiss-made automatic movement. It has an hour, minute, second and date function. As you’d expect, you’ll also find the night vision tubes for visibility, which you’ll need at those depths!

Summary

Luminox watches can certainly be relied upon. Regardless of location or situation, they are a reliable and sturdy piece of kit to have with you. They’re tough enough to be reliable companions for those in the most extreme jobs ever known. If a special forces operative wears one, you know it’ll serve you well. They’re certainly worth the investment.

Similarly, if you’re now curious about what type of watches outside of Luminox are worthy of a Navy Seal’s wrist, head over to our review of other brands they wear, here. 

Furthermore, if you’re more interested in learning more about dive watches, check out this article that reviews a fantastic dive watch.

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Types of Watches Explained

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A watch is essentially an extension of your personality. It’s a statement that lives on the wrist. It can tell other a lot about your fashion style, humour, athleticism, hobbies and wealth but with so many types of watches, where do you start.

Picking a watch that suits you can be daunting as there are so many things to think about. In this article you will find a rundown of the types of watch there are to help you choose. 

Analog

An analogue watch has a display that shows a small clock face in a 12 hour format with an hour, minute and often a second hand. Sometimes there are Roman numerals. You will most likely see 60 minute markers around the face, too.

Digital

Digital watches usually have hours, minutes and seconds expressed on a small screen in numbers, rather than by hands. 

The first digital watch appeared in the 1920s. By 1972, Hamilton marketed the first-ever commercial digital watch. It came with a price tag of £2,100. In today currency that would be around £13k. By the end of the 1970s you could pick up a digital watch for less than $10.

You can read more about the history and collections of Hamilton watches here.

Automatic

An automatic watch is one that winds continually thanks to the natural motion of the wearer. It uses a rotor that spins as the wrist moves and the energy created is used to wind the watch or charge a battery. It can give the power during periods of less movement, like at night or when the watch isn’t being worn. You can usually get power for 28-48 hours when it’s not worn.

James Bond wore some slick automatic watches over the years. Check them out in our review.

Quartz

A quartz watch uses a quartz crystal that is electronically oscillated to a specific frequency. This frequency gets broken down via a circuit and the power comes out of a tiny stepping motor which makes the hands of the watch move. A quartz watch will still require a battery every once in a while.

Mechanical

A mechanical watch is one that relies on a mechanism to operate. These are driven by a mainspring which requires winding once in a while. This is what creates the ticking sound of a watch!

Check out the Zodiac brand for some great mechanical watch options.

Smart

The smartwatch changed the entire industry forever. A wearable piece of technology designed to sit on the wrist. It has all the characteristics of a traditional watch. 

You can commonly pair your smartwatch with your smartphone. This will enhance your experience.

A smart watch can do many things – deliver notifications for things like calls (and some have the ability to let you answer them), text, emails, notifications from third-party apps like Facebook and WhatsApp. You can even call an Uber from some smartwatches. As long as there’s a dedicated app, there’s an abundance of things your smartwatch can do that your smartphone can, but with the added convenience of it being right there on your wrist.

Check out our recommendations of smartwatches for the whole family!

Fitness

Not all fitness watches are smartwatches and vice versa. You often find them sharing one another’s features, though. A fitness tracker will monitor aspects of your health. They track things like your steps, distance travelled over the course of a day, calories burned, sleep patterns and quality, heart rate. 

Some more expensive options advanced features like GPS functions and waterproofing so you’re able to take them on extreme adventures.

Check out our review of some of the best fitness trackers.

Dress

The dress watch is an elegant option in comparison to other types of watch. Its purpose is to tell time and look good. It’s not usually a complicated device.

They tend to be simple, minimalistic, but beautiful. Dress watches aren’t made to be worn every day. They’re a fashion accessory that tells time.

Certina offers some lovely dress watches. You can read our review of the brand here.

Luxury

A luxury watch is usually made of expensive materials like ceramic, 18 carat cold, titanium or high-grade stainless steel. They sometimes have precious stones on the face and cost many thousands upon thousands of dollars.

You don’t get much more luxurious than Cartier, read our buying here.

Chronograph

Chronograph is a nicer word than stopwatch, but that’s essentially that’s all it is. Using one is incredibly simple. All you have to do is press a dedicated button to stop and start it. You can press another button to reset it. They’re great for people who are into running! 

Dive

Dive watches are made to be extremely water-resistant to allow their wearer to go to great depths with a reliable watch on their wrist.  A watch that has water-resistance of up to 100m and over is best and may have features that tell their wearer how long they have left before they must surface. They also feature luminous faces, hands and markers so they’re easily readable underwater.

Check out our article explaining dive watches in more detail here.

Pilot

Pilots need a reliable watch. Aviation-specific timepieces sit at the apex of style and performance. They’re durable and they look fantastic at the same time.

Glycine watches are dedicated to meeting the needs of pilots. You can get a great overview of what an aviation watch should be like in our review of Glycine here.

Tactical and rugged

The terms tactical and rugged mean the same thing. These types are also known as ‘field’ watches. They’re designed for the extreme human being. Those in the special forces and/or into sports that require being exposed to extreme conditions like water pressure or hot and cold temperatures.

They are sports watches on steroids. They often have a military look and feel, are made of near-bullet-proof materials and have a plethora of features to help make adventures go smoothly – accurate GPS and cellular functions, to name just two. 

Take a few minutes to read our tactical watch buyer’s guide to learn more. 

Summary

There are so many kinds of watch it’s impossible to squeeze them all into one article. There are variants within these categories. Features range with budget, as does design. There’s certainly a unique timepiece to suit everyone.

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Oris Watches

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Oris watches

Oris watches was created over 100 years ago by partners Cattin and Christian. Interestingly, they named their company as a homage to a local brook in Switzerland and today the company is certainly known for producing some of the world’s most precise automatic watches.

The Oris Catalogue

There are 4 main collections of Oris watches to pick from.

Dive

The Dive collection offers three sub-categories, all designed for water sports enthusiasts. You can get your hands on the Aquis, Provider or Diver for around $1,500.

Culture

The Culture Collection has Oris’ in-house made calibres inside and includes an abundance of limited editions. Prices start at $1,000 and up (and up again).

Aviation

This collection is hardcore – made for pilots, aviators and even aeronauts. Their functions and features are faultless, according to experts. You can pick one up if you have a spare $5,500 to spend.

Motor–Sport

You can get hold of a TT1, Chronoris, Williams FW41 or the Artix GT with a motor racing theme for around $1,700.

Let’s have a closer look at three exceptional examples of Oris watches.

Propilot

($6,025 / £5,975)

Specification

This Oris has a 44mm black titanium case (as is the bezel) with a sapphire crystal dial that’s both anti-reflective and scratch-proof. The wristband is made of 22mm wide black leather with a folding clasp.

Inside it has in-house developed hand-winding calibre 115 mechanical movement. You can see this from the back of the case. It’s also water-resistant to 100m so you’ll rarely have to take it off.

The Crown Propilot boasts 10 days’ power reserve and an indicator will tell you how much juice is left.

Aesthetically, there are a lot of nods to aviation design. It’s fairly chunky, but it’s good-looking and comfortable. 

Advantages
  • Big and bold
  • Titanium makes it lightweight despite the size
  • Easily read in all lights
  • Excellent power reserve
Disadvantages
  • It’s perhaps a little too big

Divers Carl Brashear Chronograph

($5,000 / £4,700)

Specification

This Oris comes in a 43mm case that is made of bronze atop a stainless steel back. On the blue dial there’s sapphire crystal, which is anti-reflection and scratch-proof. The 21mm strap comes in a tan leather with a bronze buckle. Interestingly, it oxidises over time and renders an attractive patina.

Inside you’ll find in-house developed auto-winding chronograph calibre 771 movement. Like the Propilot – and many other Oris offerings – it’s water-resistant to 100m.

This watch is dedicated to the famous US Navy amputee and divemaster. Only 2,000 pieces were released onto the market. You can tell by the serial number stamped on the back. 

The face is purposely deep blue to reflect the sea. The hands are luminous for readability in poor lighting. 

Advantages
  • A strikingly good looking watch
  • Bronze is a niche material
  • Luminous hands for easy reading
Disadvantages
  • 100m water resistance doesn’t make it a diving watch
  • On the whole, doesn’t perform well underwater

Aquis Great Barrier Reef

$2,100 / £1,975

Specification

This beautiful timepiece comes in a hefty 43.5mm stainless steel case. The glass is sapphire and the dial is blue, with a sturdy ceramic bezel on top. The 24mm band matches the case in stainless steel.

Inside lives an automatic calibre 743 movement and the watch can go as deep as 300m.

The Aquis is part of Oris’ Ocean project and is limited edition. The Great Barrier Reef is a product of a joint venture with the Reef Restoration Foundation. The project aims to bring attention to the dangers to ocean life and supported the planting of coral.

This Oris timepiece is incredible. It’s high-function, weighing in with a water resistance of up to 300m. This is the diver’s Oris timepiece of choice.

Only 2,000 of these gorgeous watches were made. The beautiful blue bezel shines like the ocean. If you get your hands on one, it’s something to treasure for many, many years. If you’re someone who is passionate about the ocean, this Oris offering could not be more perfect.

Advantages
  • This is a stunning timepiece
  • Positive activism at the heart of its creation
  • The dial is niche-looking
  • Exceptional water-resistance for divers
  • Highly-functional and beautiful watch for the price
  • Not too many have been made
Disadvantages
  • Some are disappointed by the 38 hour power reserve

Which watches are the best alternative?

The Oris collection is pretty hard to beat. If you have the budget to spend on a luxury watch, you simply must do your research before you buy. Know what your requirements are, beyond just how it looks.

To add to your homework, take a look at the top five luxury watches for men in 2019.

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Dive Watches Explained

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Dive watches
Scuba divers plunging into the sea

Background

Are you a keen scuba diver or prefer to go without the tank and free dive? Either way, you should have a reliable dive watch. Being able to monitor how long you’ve been holding your breath for, or knowing how long you’ve been on the surface for is really key to your entire experience and safety. You need to know these things to an exact degree because there are limits to what the body can handle. Also, being able to monitor your time at depth means you can work out when you must start your slow ascent back to the top. Consequently, you’ll reduce the chance of getting the bends.

When you’re scuba diving, you’re diving deeper, for longer, compared to free diving or snorkelling. Your air supply is limited and time is a critical factor. Dive watches, therefore, have been designed to withstand an exceptional level of water pressure. But also to provide life-saving information that takes an element of diving away from potential human error and makes the experience all the easier.

These two major considerations went into the first dive watch, the Omega Marine, produced in the 30s. In order to keep it safe underwater, it was encased in a stainless steel case, designed to ensure durability. They put it under more pressure than a diver was ever likely to face, even, like intense heat, cold and depths for a long period of time.

How are dive watches tested?

If you’re going to wear a dive watch for diving, rather than fashion, it’s best to get an ISO rated watch. This is an internationally-recognised certificate that confirms the watch can resist moisture, pressure and will work underwater for sustained periods of time (50 hours, in testing).

During testing, the watch will also be subjected to 45 degrees Celsius for 20 mins. Testers also drip water onto the watch face during this time to test for condensation inside. The watch will be tested for the amount of pressure it can withstand, which is applied and monitored for 2 hours.

What to look for in a good dive watch 

Budget depending, there are other features to look out for in a dive watch. Some come with more than one gauge that measures the time elapsed that will alert you, either by flashing or vibrating (because being underwater will muffle any noise). 

Other watches are made from an advanced ceramic composite, which is the very latest material in pressure resistance, more so than titanium or steel. 

Some come with crystals in the display that reduce glare. 

Hands should be luminous and easily seen in dark water up to 25cm away.

Your dive watch should have a screw-in crown with an O-ring to ensure water resistance. 

For ISO certification, the watch must have an indicator, that is easily seen, to suggest that the watch is working (usually, the second hand is OK).

Look for an extendable strap which can go over a wet suit.

A depth gauge isn’t necessary, in fact, they can only be found on a few watches. It depends on your needs.

Design

Dive watches tend to have a rotating bezel, too, and there’s a lot to know as to why. The function is basic. Before descending, the 12 o’clock bezel marker is lined up with the minute hand, allowing 60 minutes to pass and be read on the bezel (you should notice that dive watches tend to have a noticeable minute hand). It’s positioned in such a way that if there’s any accidental movement of the bezel, it can only move forward, which suggests more time has been spent underwater, rather than giving an illusion that there is more time to be spent. A clever safety mechanism. 

A typical scuba dive lasts 30 minutes to an hour. It depends on the depths and the fitness of the diver. The first 15 minutes on a bezel inlay are therefore usually highlighted as the end of this time period indicates one should think about their ascent. Dive watches known for being exceptionally good for this are the Aquastar Benthos and IWC Aquatimer Chronograph. 

How waterproof should a dive watch be?

Some brands will sell their dive watches with a rating of 300m or more and this is perfect for scuba diving. Some say 200m would suffice. ISO dictates that for a dive watch to be classified as such, it needs to be 100m.

All of these depths are, realistically, deeper than a non-professional diver can or will go. Recreational divers will go to a max of about 40m. Anything after this point becomes much more complex and technical to manage. 

There’s a lot of discrepancies when it comes to testing, which is done in an artificial situation, far different from what the watch would face in reality. The watch is tested in a lab, in stationary water. The watch itself is brand new. What isn’t replicated, is the sudden change in water pressure when the diver enters or emerges from the water. It also doesn’t consider the change in temperature or general knocks to the case. Ageing affects the gaskets and generally, the components aren’t as tight as they were after a few years of use.

Do we actually need dive watches?

In this day and age, with dive computers, the short answer is, no, we don’t need dive watches. Divers might wear one as a plan B for their dive computer, should it run out of battery. Dive computers are now worn around the wrist and are on the market for reasonable prices. So with this in mind, it’s not uncommon to see divers wearing two computers, rather than a computer and a dive watch. There are things a watch can’t do, like offer a gauge for depth (as noted, only a few makes do this) and pressure, as well as dive tables, so it’s questionable why one might take more equipment than is needed.

Should I bother buying a dive watch?

If you want one, yes! Lots of divers like the waterproof promise of a dive watch. If it’s guaranteed to a certain depth for diving then it’ll definitely be good for snorkelling or general swimming activities. Some people like the features such as the easily spotted hands and the rotating bezel. Perhaps you’re not even into scuba diving and you simply like the technical and sporty look. There are still reasons why you might treat yourself!

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