I make a selection of the best alternative dive watches that stand out from the usual suspects, each having a unique story and aesthetic moulded by the love of diving.
Aera D1 Diver
British design meets Swiss engineering with the Aera D–1 Diver which features a minimal design in a modern and rugged 904L brushed stainless steel case with ceramic unidirectional bezel. Housing a Sellita SW200-1 movement, it’s three-hand display is hand filled with high visibility Swiss Super LumiNova®. The dished, single-piece dial is etched to form a well for the application of the lume.
SPECS
Diameter: 44mm
Movement: Sellita SW200-1 Automatic
Case and buckle: 904L stainless steel
Water resistance: 30ATM / 300M
www.aera.co
Tusenö Shellback V2 Divers Watch
Tusenö's elegant Shellback features a sandwich construction dial – the lower dial serving a practical purpose as Super-LumiNova is applied to its which illuminates the hour indices. These indices are hollowed out in the upper layer of the dial, creating an intriguing play of depth and light. The Shellback dial incorporates unique design elements that draw inspiration from nautical charts with he minute rail showcasing a variety of single, fixed, and flashing lighthouse characters.
SPECS
Diameter: 40 mmLug-to-lug: 47 mm
Thickness: 11,9 mm (sapphire excl.)
Movement: Sellita SW-200 (standard)
Dial: Sandwich construction.
Glass: Double domed sapphire crystal (AR coated)
Bezel: Stainless steel bezel. Luminova in triangle, oil black deep etched markings. 120 click uni-directional.
Crown: Screw-in big crown with moulded artwork
Water resistance: 20 ATM / 200 meters
Lume: BGW9 Swiss Super-LumiNova
www.tuseno.com
Farer Endeavour Titanium Series II Aqua Compressor Dive Watch
Named after Captain Cook’s Royal Navy research vessel, HMS Endeavour this watch features screw-down crowns are machined from solid grade 2 titanium. The dial is in a rich abyss black which is incredibly light-absorbant that offers extreme contrast against the polished steel hands and markers, which are filled with luminous X1 Super-LumiNova. Unlike more conventional dive watches, the Aqua Compressor features an internal rotating bezel in the same super-matte abyss black as the dial. Luminous white minute markers are printed, along with graduations up to the 20-minute mark.
SPECS
Case size: 41mm x 45mm x 12.5mm
Case Material: Grade 2 Titanium
Water Resistance: 300M / 30 ATM
Movement: Swiss Made Sellita SW200-1 Elaboré Calibre
Power Reserve: 41 hours
www.farer.com
Oceaneva Deep Marine Explorer II
The Oceaneva Deep Marine Explorer II is a statement of quality that matches and even surpasses some of the most venerable names in luxury timekeeping. Made using a BWG9 Swiss super luminova, 316L stainless steel construction with a helium escape valve. This watch has an epic water resistance depth which is backed up by Oceaneva testing and development as they're the only USA based watch brand to ever send their watches to deep depths of the ocean for real word testing (and only the 6th brand globally to ever do so).
SPECS
Movement: Sellita SW200-1 Automatic
Case material: 316L Surgical Stainless Steel
Case diameter: 42mm
Lug to lug: 49.5mm
Thickness: 14.8mm
Lug width: 22mm
Bezel: Ceramic uni-directional rotating 120 click
Glass: Scratchproof anti-reflective domed sapphire
Super-Luminova®: BGW9
Power reserve: 38 hours
Water resistance: 1250m
www.oceaneva.com
Baltic Aquascaphe Dual Crown Dive Watch
Designed to push the limits, the compressor case stands out thanks to its dual crowns. The first allows the internal bezel to be adjusted, thus avoiding any risk of inadvertent manipulation. It is not screwed onto the case to allow its adjustment underwater, while maintaining the water resistance of 200m (20 ATM). The second crown at 4 o’clock is used to wind the automatic movement and to set the time.
The Aquascaphe Dual-Crown features a bidirectional internal bezel, an iconic feature of Compressor watches. Like a unidirectional rotating bezel, it allows precise measurement of the dive time thanks to the triangle at 12 o’clock and the 60-minute graduation. It is adjustable using the crown placed at 2 o’clock, thus avoiding any accidental manipulation. Placed under the sapphire crystal, the bezel is also protected from any shock
SPECS
Movement: Automatic Miyota 9039
Case material: Stainless steel 316L
Case diameter: 39mm
Lug to lug: 47mm
Thickness: 11.9mm (10mm without glass)
Lug width: 20mm
Bezel: Internal and bidirectional
Glass: Single dome sapphire
Super-Luminova®: BGW9
Power reserve: 42 hours
Water resistance: 200m (20ATM)
www.baltic-watches.com
RZE Endeavour Dive Watch
RZE's Endeavour dive watch is an ultra-durable, ultra-light water-resistant titanium dive watch. Perfect for deep sea expeditions as well lounging by the pool. Available on a titanium bracelet, featuring a new buckle allowing for “on-the-fly” adjustments or a premium HexaFlex strap, for those gritty, grimy, rinse and repeat adventures.
SPECS
Case: Solid Titanium with UltraHex™ Coating (up to ~1200Hv hardness)
Movement: NH38A(No-Date) Automatic Movement
Water resistance: 200m (660ft) / 20ATM
Dial: Sand textured dials with applied indexes
Lume: Swiss Superluminova C3 & BGW9
Glass: Sapphire Crystal with inner-side Super-AR
Bracelet: Solid Titanium bracelet with UltraHex™ Coating (On-the-fly quick adjust buckle and quick release spring bars)
Case: Screw-down solid titanium caseback with VITON® gasket
www.rzewatches.com
Nomadic Marai 401 Dive Watch
The Maraí, meaning 'sea farer' in Irish, is a classic yet distinctive dive watch that nods to the watch’s birthplace, Belfast. Nomadic Watches are assemble by their master watchmaker in Belfast, where they also pressure test every piece and adjust for accuracy. The bright yellow second hand echos the iconic yellow cranes of the Belfast shipyard that built RMS Titanic.
SPECS
Movement: Sellita SW200-1
Case material: 316L stainless steel fine-brushed/polished
Case diameter: 40mm
Lug to lug: 48mm
Thickness: 11.5mm
Water Resistance: 200m (660ft)
SuperLumiNova®: Blue BGW9
www.nomadicwatches.com
Walterai Oceaner 500
The Walterai Oceaner 500 is a military inspired matte dive dial with super-luminova luminescent markers matches with the white inlay numbers of the bezel.Time is indicated thanks to the signature arrow hands set and the lollipop second hand, all super-luminova as well.The anti-reflective sapphire crystal provide the best performance in every light condition. The Oceaner 500 comes with 2 straps: a black heavy-duty NATO and a quick release black rubber, both with stainless steel brushed buckle signed Walteri.
SPECS
Movement: Sellita SW200
Case material: 316L stainless steel with monobloc middle case
Case diameter: 44mm
Bezel: Ceramic unidirectional rotating 120 clics
Glass: Scratch-resistant anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Water Resistance: 500m / 1640ft / 50 atm
Power reserve: 41 hours
SuperLumiNova®:
www.walteri.net
Charlie Paris Concordia Automatic
The Concordia Automatic was designed as a tool to carry everywhere, every day and forever. Designed and assembled in France, equipped with the Swiss Soprod P024 automatic movement, readable in the dark, waterproof to 300m, this men's watch with a diameter of 40mm and a black dial asserts itself as a sporty timepiece which strikes a perfect balance between strength and refinement.
SPECS
Movement: Soprod P024 caliber
Case material: 316L steel
Case diameter: 40mm
Lug tolug: 47.5mm
Thickness: 12.5mm
Bezel: Unidirectional rotating bezel, eloxed aluminum insert, hour scale and special symbol at 12 o'clock
Glass: Domed sapphire, anti-reflective, 3mm thick
Water Resistance:
Power reserve: 40 hours
SuperLumiNova®: 300m / 30ATM
