The Greatest Dive Watches of 2024, Chosen by a Army Diver

Dive watches are the last word time conserving device: They’re waterproof, simple to learn, illuminated, and have a timing bezel that’s helpful for greater than decompression stops. I’ve used my dive watch assortment to observe authorized taking pictures gentle, time dinner within the oven, and ensure I’m on time for the subsequent assembly. 

Whereas I’m a watch nerd and love divers, I wanted assist from somebody with severe diving expertise to make one of the best dive watch picks. So I referred to as up watch fanatic and army diver, Ashley Spurlin, to get his favorites.

Right here’s our mixed record of the highest dive watches throughout varied value factors and use instances. 

Spurlin’s Picks

Writer’s Picks

How I Selected the Greatest Dive Watches

I feel it’s protected to say that if you happen to’re coming to Outside Life for a watch suggestion, you need one thing that’s confirmed within the subject or on the water. That’s why I sought out suggestions from somebody who has used dive watches for his or her meant function. 

Spurlin joined the army in 2000 and nonetheless serves as an advisor as we speak. He accomplished the Fight Diver Qualification Course and has dived all through the world as an Air Drive Fight Controller on a particular operations staff. Along with his army diving profession, Spurlin grew up diving in Monterey Bay, California, which is likely one of the nation’s premier diving locations. He’s additionally a watch man, and is enthusiastic about historic army designs and their ties to varied army diving communities. 

As for me, practically all of the watches in my assortment are dive watches, and I’m at all times searching for yet another. But, you gained’t discover my identify on a Rolex waitlist. Whereas I love luxurious watches, they’re not in my value vary. That’s why my dive watch picks are all value-oriented choices. I selected them based mostly on particular budgets, and plenty of of them I’ve owned or are on my need record. 

The Greatest Dive Watches Chosen by a Army Diver 

Greatest General: Tudor Pelagos FXD

Key Options

• Reference Quantity: M25717N-0001
• Mounted Spring Bars 
• Motion: MT5602 (COSC)
• Titanium case
• 42mm in diameter
• 12.75mm thick
• 52mm from lug to lug
• 70-hour energy reserve
• Waterproof to 200 meters
• Ceramic, unidirectional bezel
• Matte black dial
• Cloth NATO Strap 

Execs

• Sturdy motion
• Strong design
• Light-weight
• Good illumination 

Cons

• Some customers will favor a watch appropriate with a bracelet

The FXD, the brand new black dial FXD specifically, was our unanimous alternative as one of the best general dive watch. To us, it’s the proper device watch and one value saving up for. 

“They hit a house run with that watch: the scale of it, how they designed it, why it makes use of mounted spring bars, and the face is clear and easy. It’s a ravishing, stunning watch. And it’s attainable by most watch fanatics,” Spurlin says. 

Spurlin likes that the watch makes use of a dependable and strong motion, and has a matte, easy-to-read dial. He additionally appreciates the FXD’s ties to French fight swimmers, and is aware of of a number of elite U.S. items which have had particular FXDs made for them. 

Shortly after my interview with Spurlin I picked up an FXD. It’s been on my wrist nonstop since and it truly is the best look ahead to outdoorsmen. The one huge change I made is including an Erika’s Authentic MN strap, which is an extremely snug elastic strap. It’s definitely an improve over the inventory rubber and cloth straps.

Greatest for Precise Diving: Garmin Descent

Key Options

• Sapphire crystal
• DLC coated titanium bezel
• Fiber-reinforced polymer cae with titanium rear cowl
• Battery Life: 25 days (smartwatch)
• Case Measurement: 43 or 51mm
• Waterproof to 200 meters
• Dive Options: Depth, dive timer, no fly time, air integration, customizable conservatism, dive ascent, security cease, deep cease, 3-axis dive compass, and way more 
• Appropriate with T2 Transceiver 

Execs

• A dive laptop and each day smartwatch in a single 
• Straightforward dive logs

Cons

• Giant watch
• Requires charging 

When Spurlin is diving for work his analog diver serves as a backup, and his main watch is a Garmin Descent. He’s tried quite a lot of sensible dive watches, however likes the Garmin for its ease of use. 

“If I’m underwater at evening doing a dive, I don’t wish to need to look via menus to seek out the features I want. I don’t have time for that,” he says. “That Garmin has the whole lot proper on the primary display.” 

The Descent has quite a lot of features for leisure divers and even salvage divers utilizing combined air. It can day trip your air, your decompression stops, and log the dive for you. However, Spurlin’s principal use case is navigation.

“You’re hitting the water off a ship, and then you definately’re on a Draeger or rebreather, and then you definately’re utilizing your watch to maintain time as you’re navigating to your targets,” he says. “And you’ll put that Garmin watch proper subsequent to your dive compass. That factor is at all times useless nuts.”

Learn Subsequent: Greatest GPS Watches

Greatest Worth: Sangin Neptune

Key Options

• Case Width: 40mm
• Lug to Lug Size: 49mm
• Case Thickness: 13.9mm
• Lug Width: 20mm
• Bezel Width: 41mm
• Case: 316L chrome steel 
• Crystal: Double domed sapphire crystal with a multi-layer blue anti-reflective coating utilized to the inside floor of the crystal
• Luminous: SuperLumiNova BGW9 rated after full cost
• Bezel: 120-click unidirectional, nickel-edged bezel with aluminum insert
• Water Resistance: 200m 
• Motion: SII NE15C – guide winding / computerized winding with ball bearing cease second machine / Fast date correction / 21,600 bph / ISO 6425 attributes, equivalent to antimagnetic to 4800 Amp and shock-resistant (calibrated in three positions)
• Energy Reserve: 50 hours energy reserve (SPRON510 mainspring)

Execs

• Good high quality for the value 
• Clear and practical design

Cons

The MARSOC raider-founded Sangin Devices presents a number of watches, however the Neptune is their flagship diver. It is available in at underneath $1,000 with a SEIKO computerized motion and a rubber dive strap. In addition they supply it on a bracelet. 

“The MARSOC guys do intensive dive operations,” Spurlin says. “Their dive college in Panama Metropolis, Florida, known as the Marine Fight Dive Course. So he [Sangin’s founder] is aware of underwater operations, and he is aware of precisely what to construct at that value level.” 

I’ve been sporting a Neptune for the final 4 years, and it has serial quantity 51. It’s by no means been serviced and continues to remain inside its timekeeping spec. I’ve owned quite a lot of dive watches, however the Neptune is the one I put on most frequently due to its clear structure and wearable design. 

Spurlin’s present each day put on is a Sangin Skilled, which makes use of a quartz motion and combines a dive watch with a pilot’s watch. 

We clearly each love Sangin, however it’s necessary to know that they’re a microbrand that makes their timepieces obtainable by drop. So, you will have to enroll in their publication or comply with them on social media to purchase one. Once they have inventory, their watches usually promote out in a short time. Often they’ll additionally do pre-orders to alleviate the stress of getting in on a drop. 

Extra Army Divers

My interview with Spurlin was equal components watch discuss and army historical past. He introduced up a number of manufacturers that have been new to me and have a wealthy historical past or ties with army divers. Listed below are extra of his favorites.  

Tornek-Rayville

Most watch fanatics know of the French Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and its declare as the unique dive watch. However, I didn’t know that an American firm was secretly supplying a rebranded Fifty Fathoms to the U.S. Army within the Sixties. 

“On the time the American commandos wished the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms,” Spurlin says. “However there was the Purchase American Act, which prevented U.S. divers from getting the Fifty Fathoms.”

So an enterprising New York Importer, Allen Tornek, approached Blancpain with the concept of making a Fifty Fathoms with a USA-based firm’s identify on it. And so the Tornek-Rayville was born. The Rayville within the identify was created because the American-sounding counterpart to the city the place the Blancpains have been made, Villeret. 

An authentic Tornek-Rayville will set you again effectively into the six figures at public sale. However, you should purchase the reissues from Tornek-Rayville for round $1,000. 

ZRC

In keeping with Spurlin, ZRC is a favourite amongst French fight divers, and it’s one in all his favorites due to its distinctive 6 o’clock crown place. 

“They found out via research of precise divers, army divers, once they would go to wind their watches generally they thought it was closed. And it seems that it wasn’t closed all the best way after which water would get into it,” he says. “If a ZRC’s crown isn’t closed all the best way, you can not put the watch on. The crown stops the band from wrapping round your wrist.”

Akrone

Akrone makes subject, pilot, and diving watches at reasonably priced costs — most are $550 to $1,300. They’ve designed a number of watches at the side of the French army, however are comparatively unknown in North America. 

“We don’t see these watches [Akrone] as a result of we’re not hanging out with French commandos or divers each day,” Spurlin says. “So that you don’t hear about this watch firm. However it’s just like the Sangin watches to French army divers.” 

Writer’s Picks

Greatest for $3,000: Longines Hydroconquest GMT

Key Options 

• Stainless-steel and ceramic bezel
• Sapphire crystal, with anti-reflective coating on either side
• Case: 41.00 mm
• Lug Distance: 21 mm
• Thickness: 12.90 mm
• Waterproof to 30 bar
• Unidirectional rotating bezel
• Weight: 180.5 g
• Caliber: L844
• Energy reserve as much as 72 hours

Execs

• True GMT motion for an unimaginable value
• Extremely legible dial structure
• Effectively completed
• Good bracelet

Cons

• Further thickness to deal with the GMT motion

The Hydroconquest GMT is equal components costume, device, and traveler’s watch. It’s additionally a Longines, which, to me, means worth for the greenback. It makes use of Longines’ in-house assembled, true GMT motion, has a powerful 72-hour energy reserve, and 300 meters of water resistance. The bracelet has a push-button micro regulate and has a mix of brushed and polished ending. The 120-click, unidirectional bezel, has constructive clicks and a 12 o’clock lume pip. I really like the minimal dial textual content, which retains the face legible and clear. Whereas the Hydroconquest GMT isn’t COSC licensed it’s the similar motion you’ll discover within the COSC Spirit Zulu Time. 

In the event you don’t want the GMT complication, the usual Hydroconquest prices round $1,200 and can also be a terrific purchase. 

Greatest for $1,000: Christopher Ward C60 Trident Professional 300

Key Options

• Measurement 40mm
• Case Materials: Stainless-steel
• Peak: 11.3mm
• Lug-to-Lug: 47.45mm
• Case Weight: 68 grams
• Weight inc. strap 160 grams
• Water Resistance: 30 ATM (300 meters)
• Motion: Sellita SW200-1
• Energy Reserve: 38 hours
• No. of Jewels: 26
• Vibrations: 28,800 p/hr (4Hz)
• Timing Tolerance: +/- 20 sec p/day

Execs

• Glorious ending for the value
• Good bracelet with micro-adjust 

Cons

In the event you’re a watch fanatic who enjoys a look ahead to greater than its capability to inform time, then check out Christopher Ward. The watchmakers there are producing a number of the greatest worth, particularly on the subject of their bracelets and ending. The C60 Trident Professional 300 is a device watch with its utilized indices stuffed with lume, easy-to-grip bezel, clear dial structure, and easy-to-service motion. The watch wears small as a result of it’s skinny for its depth ranking. It has a show caseback, stunning brushing and sharpening, and well-executed bracelet. I like that it is available in a wide range of dial colours and is constantly in inventory for buy. 

Greatest for $500: Seiko Turtle (SRPE05)

Key Options

• Water Resistance: 200 meters
• Weight: 124.0 grams
• Unidirectional rotating bezel
• Screw-down crown
• Screw case again
• Caliber Quantity: 4R36
• Motion Kind: Computerized with guide winding
• Precision: +45 to -35 seconds per day
• Energy Reserve: Approx. 41 hours
• Jewels: 24
• Thickness: 13.2mm
• Diameter: 45.0mm
• Lug-to-Lug: 47.7mm
• Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on internal floor

Execs

• Glorious illumination
• Time-proven design 

Cons

• Some gained’t just like the “cyclops” day/date window

The SRPE05 takes the long-lasting Turtle design and makes some vital upgrades. The upgrades embody a sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel, and an improved bezel motion. It additionally sports activities a waffle dial design. You get all that and SEIKO’s legendary sturdiness in a sub-$500 watch. 

Learn Subsequent: Garmin Fenix 6s Evaluate

Greatest for $300: Citizen Promaster Dive Eco-Drive

Key Options

• Case Width: 45 mm
• Lug Width: 22 mm
• Water Resistance: 200 meters
• Mineral crystal
• Stainless-steel
• Elapsed time bezel; Promaster crown
• Aluminum bezel; one-way rotating elapsed time bezel
• E168
• Eco-Drive
• Powered by any gentle supply, constantly and sustainably, eliminating the necessity to exchange watch batteries.

Execs

Cons

• Strap isn’t superb for each day put on

The Promaster is an ISO compliant dive watch that may run endlessly. The Citizen Eco-Drive is a novel motion that may run indefinitely so long as it’s uncovered to a lightweight supply. You don’t have to fret about winding it or altering batteries. It comes with an extra-long strap for becoming over your wetsuit. 

Greatest for $50: Casio Duro

Key Options

• Stainless-steel case
• Aluminum bezel
• Unidirectional bezel 
• 200-meter water resistance
• Three-year battery life with a SR626SW
• Accuracy: ±20 seconds monthly

Execs

• Clear and easy-to-read design
• Snug for each day put on

Cons

• Strap might use upgrading 

The Casio Duro has achieved legendary standing by being a sub-$100 watch with 200 meter water resistance and an correct quartz motion. It’s effectively regarded by divers and watch collectors as among the best worth divers.  

Easy methods to Select a Dive Watch

Actions

Once I first began gathering, I used to be obsessive about correct computerized actions. Now I notice it’s not an enormous deal if my watch is off 30 seconds per day or 30 seconds monthly. I can simply reset the watch each few weeks. In the event you actually care about time-keeping accuracy, a quartz motion is much superior to any mechanical watch.

What I do care about in my actions is their capability to withstand magnetization and face up to shock. Each can have an effect on your watch’s perform. Magnetization generally occurs from being uncovered to electronics, just like the laptop computer I kind on all day. Shock from taking pictures a gun or swinging a hammer may also harm intricate mechanical actions. 

Producers are fortifying their actions to resist that kind of each day abuse. Bremont, for instance, makes use of a Faraday cage across the motion and designs their watches to resist extreme shock. Different producers use issues like silicon hairsprings to forestall magnetization. 

One other characteristic I search for in a motion is ease of service. Unique, in-house actions are cool, however there’s one thing to be stated for with the ability to simply discover a half or actually have a motion swapped for little or no cash. 

Waterproofness

In my view, 200 meters of water resistance is greater than sufficient. In the event you’re a salvage diver, then perhaps you’ll use 300+ meters of water resistance. For the remainder of us, it’s only a cool characteristic we gained’t use. 

Dive Watches for Diving

It’s protected to say that almost all dive watches made as we speak won’t ever attain a depth past the deep finish of a pool. That’s as a result of divers now use dive computer systems or sensible watches just like the Garmin Descent. But, Spurlin says mechanical timepieces nonetheless have a job. 

“In my view, I’d say that they do nonetheless fill a job for army divers,” he says. “Sure, we wish the pc as a result of it makes life simpler and it’s superior. However, whenever you’re 30 or 200 ft underwater, and your laptop fails, which might occur, you higher have a backup plan. And the backup plan is the best most rudimentary factor that at all times is there and at all times works — your watch.”

Last Ideas on the Greatest Dive Watches

From retro 60s divers to fashionable device watches, I feel dive watches are unmatched of their aesthetic and practicality. The issue is there are 1000’s obtainable, and new microbrands are popping up on a regular basis. How do you determine the fitting one to purchase? 

I comply with the recommendation I heard from watch designer George Bamford, “purchase a watch that makes you smile.” Whereas watches are sensible, they’re additionally deeply private, and you must like what’s in your wrist.