What Is A Dive Watch: Where Practicality Meets Style
While most watches feature a minimum of 30m water resistance, not all watches are dive watches. There are specific characteristics that a dive watch must feature, just because a watch has a high water resistance it doesn’t mean it is automatically suitable for deep dives. Today, dive watches must be in accordance with the ISO 6425 standard. Learn more about the sporty watch style and what makes these watches popular for deep diving and on land.
What is a dive watch?
The ISO 6425 standard was introduced in 1996 and defines watches as “designed to withstand diving in water at depths of at least 100m and possessing a system to control the time.” Dive watches existed before this standard was introduced, with water resistant watches emerging in the late 1920s when the Rolex Oyster was introduced.
As diving became a popular sport in the mid-1950s the watches were updated and some of the earliest dive watches are still on the market today.
Characteristics Of A Dive Watch
The ISO 6425 Standard
As stated by the ISO 6425 standard, a dive watch must have a minimum water resistance of 100m and control the time. Most dive watches today feature a 600m+ water resistance, with the Rolex Deep Sea Sea-Dweller rated at 3,900m and the Omega Ultra Deep Professional rated to 15,000m.
Dive watches also feature a constant seconds indicator, either as a central seconds hand or found in a sub-dial. This is also lumed, as an indication the watch is running in total darkness. This ensures that the diver knows the watch has not stopped working. Another important feature is the dive bezel. To be a dive watch, the bezel must be uni-directional rotating. If the bezel is bi-directional, any knock could rotate and the diver can lose the important tracking and risk running into issues underwater. Some diver bezels also include a scale to show the diver’s depth.
Other characteristics of the ISO 6425 Standard that are important in a dive watch include:
- Legibility at a distance of 25cm in the dark
- Hour and minute hand clearly distinguishable
- Magnetic resistance
- Shock resistance
- Resistance to salt water
- Strong strap or bracelet
- Condensation test
- Marked specifically for diving (if sent through ISO testing)
Helium Escape Valves in Dive Watches
Some dive watches even feature a helium escape valve, found in watches for mixed-gas diving. Most helium release valves are not something the diver would have to manually use, instead it automatically releases the gas built up within the case upon ascension. Some are flush against the case, while others look like they could be an extra crown on the side of the case. There are some valves that are backed up by a screw-down crown on the side of the case, which is unscrewed at the start of decompression.
Not all brands submit their watches for the specific ISO 6425 standard tests, performing the tests in-house.
Popular Dive Watch Brands
There are quite a few brands creating dive watches ready to withstand water pressure and are also perfect for daily wear. Some of the most popular luxury dive watch brands include:
Why Are Dive Watches So Popular?
Even if you’re not a diver, dive watches are some of the most popular models on the market, they are tool watches and by nature of design they are extremely robust. With these watches, you don’t have to worry about the water resistance, meaning you can easily take the piece swimming while on vacation.
They are strong by design, with materials designed to withstand salt corrosion and strong bracelet and strap integrations. Now this doesn’t mean that the watch shouldn’t still be taken care of, after wearing in salt water or around chemicals (such as in a pool) the watch should be rinsed with fresh water. Every few years the watch should also be serviced to ensure the case is still fully water resistant.
Best Diving Watches
The best dive watch all depends on what your needs for the watch include. One of the most popular diving watches is the Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller, which you can read more about in our deep dive into The Most Extreme Rolex Dive Watch Offered to the Public.
If the Deepsea isn’t your style, there are still plenty of other favorites on the market.
The versatile Seamster Diver 300m comes in a variety of case materials, dial colors and strap options. The well known model is rated to 300m and features the iconic crown-like helium escape valve at 10 o’clock and wave patterned dial.
The Aquatimer was first released in 1967, this modern version is devoted to Jacques-Yves Cousteau. IWC supports the Cousteau Society and the projects for the protection of marine life. This dive watch has a water resistance of 300m and features an internal rotating bezel with SafeDive system. This internal bezel is another way to protect dive watches from getting bumped.
The Submersible draws inspiration from the history of Panerai but is designed for the modern diver. This model is a professional divers watch with large luminous hands, constant seconds found at 9 o’clock and a water resistance of 300m. The bright orange rubber strap has a unique look with hills and valleys but these are actually built in extensions for wrist expansion when diving.
The Breitling Superocean II boasts a water resistance of 2000m and features a helium release valve flush to the case at 9 o’clock. It has an ultra-legible high-contrast yellow dial and white indices. The Blacksteel case is secured to the wrist with the Breitling Diver Pro III rubber strap.
Ready to learn more about some other favorite dive watches? Continue reading: Dive Watches For The Record Books.