Top 5 Dive watches you can buy

Dive watches have been around since the turn of the 20th century and continue to be among the most fashionable and coolest tool watches to keep track of time while descending deep underwater. While they’re sporty and designed for deep-sea diving, most dive watches certainly merit everyday wear. 

What to look for when buying a dive watch?

For a watch to be to be declared as a ‘dive watch,’ it must comply with certain guidelines from the International Organization for Standardization. A few of these essential elements include 

• Water resistance to a minimum of 100 meters
• Helium escape valve
• Screw-down crown
• Precise levels of visibility and legibility in total darkness
• Rotating bezel
• Magnetic, shock, and chemical resistance
• Large and glowing indices that are easy to read even in complete darkness 

For dive watches, these features are critical as divers entrust their watches with their lives to be able to know precisely how much time they have underwater. 

Our picks for the best dive watches 

Read on to discover the top 5 dive watches of 2020, but be cautioned: Deciding on just one favorite will be difficult. 

Breitling Superocean Héritage II (MODEL NO. : AB0162121C1S1)

Breitling Superocean Image 

The Superocean features a shock- and scratch-resistant unidirectional ceramic bezel with black Ocean Classic rubber strap, giving the watch a shiny and clean newlook. The self-winding chronometer is water-resistant up to 200 meters and uses the original Superocean logo, Calibre B20 movement with a power reserve of around 70 hours. The Breitling watch remains among the best-selling and best-reviewed lines and is perfect for those ‘eager to explore the ocean’ in myriad forms. 

IWC Schaffhausen Aquatimer Expedition Jacques-Yves Cousteau (MODEL NO. : IW376805)

IWC Schaffhausen Aquatimer Image

Named after the French scuba-diving icon, inventor and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau, this 42-mm timepiece is a chronograph dive watch that features a special back engraving and signature blue dial. It has an internal and external rotating bezel with a SafeDive system designed to prevent any timing errors out in the water and comes with a 44-hour power reserve. This sporty and wrist-friendly IWC timepiece looks great with a laidback casual attire—perhaps a summer shirt and sunglasses. 

Ulysse Nardin Diver Chronograph (MODEL NO. : 1502-151-3/93)

Ulysse Nardin Diver Image

With a titanium case and a black rubber strap, this is an elegant and sporty option regarded by many as the quintessential dive watch. Clean, classic and trendy, the new rose gold version of this well-presented Ulysse Nardin dive watch joins blue and black renditions in the line-up. The wrist chronograph features a 48-hour power reserve, 18 carat rose gold case and rubberized black unidirectional rotating bezel. The screw-in solid caseback and screwdown offset crown ensure water resistance to 300 meters. 

Rolex Submariner 16800

Rolex Submariner Image

The Rolex Submariner is arguably the most influential watch of all time, inspiring countless other sports watches since its inception in 1953. Featuring an automatic movement, a ceramic bezel and a 40mm case water-resistant to 300 metres, there’s no other scuba dive watch out there that has the same instantaneous name recognition. This specific edition features sapphire crystal, Rolex’s calibre 3035 and a matte dial with painted hour markers, which lends it some additional vintage charm. Power reserve is approximately 48 hours. 

Omega Seamaster Diver (MODEL NO. : 210.22.44.51.03.001)

Omega Seamaster Image

Another modern homage to a vintage dive watch, this is James Bond’s watch of choice and retains the pioneering appearance of Omega’s longest-running line. It is water resistant to a depth of 300 meters, is driven by the OMEGA Master Chronometer Calibre 9900 and has a power reserve of up to 60 hours. The addition of those scintillating waves in the background captures the aquatic mood perfectly. It’s crafted from stainless steel and a polished blue ceramic bezel, making it a versatile buy. 

While a dive watch looks great to have on your wrist and is truly capable of surviving nautical expeditions, you don’t need to be a diver to cherish these high-performing, beautifully designed and utilitarian timepieces for daily use.