Dive Watches

I agree that the dive watch is the perfect outdoor/adventure watch, and truly the best all around watch as well. I use the bezel all the time; from timing my start time on hikes, grilling, or even just keeping track of when it's time to pick up the take-out. I even use it to keep track of a second time zone since I live back and forth between Eastern and Western time, by putting the 12:00 pip at 9 or 3 o'clock respectively. Plus they look great on the bracelet, mesh, rubber, even leather, or NATO for added security. I often wear mine on a "Shark Leash" strap, which for those who have never heard of that is a strap from an 80's digital surf watch (the Freestyle Shark Watch). These straps hold a particularly nostalgic place for me as a reminder of my childhood growing up in a surf town, come in all the funky colors y'all know I dig, and I also enjoy the juxtaposition of a fine Swiss timepiece on a cheap fun velcro strap.

When I significantly slimmed my watch collection a few years ago I wanted to pick the one perfect watch to be my main modern watch. One that I could wear out to dinner (about as dressy as I need to be these days), as well as one that could stand up to all of my outdoor adventures. I wear it camping, kayaking, and hiking with zero hesitation. I chose the first generation (2500D) Omega Planet Ocean. I specifically chose this model because it is thinner than the newer iterations, and because I really think they nailed the design on the first go-round with this one, perfectly capturing that classic Seamaster heritage in a modern watch.

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Seiko Monster as my first automatic diver. The large screw-down crown with no guards makes time setting a breeze rather than a chore.
 
tinfoil hat timmy said:
ok. being new to watches in general I've got to ask.

what makes a dive watch a ''dive watch''?
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jbmonkey said:
to be labeled divers watch on the dial or case it has to pass iso6425. which is a bunch of testing. some brands do it on their divers watches like citizen as an example, many dont. iso6425 has a series of tests and requirements. some brand do their own tests same as or even more, as I hear rolex does. some do less. regardless, wr rating and a bezel and looking like one doesn't make it a divers watch.

you can though recreational open water dive with watches that aren't divers certified. ive done it many times and deep. ive taken a seiko 50m non screw down crown that looked liked a divers watch on many dives as kid and as far down as 61m with no issues.



^this citizen being tested for pressure isn't a divers watch. it looks like one but it is only rated for 100m wr. it has no screw down crown and isn't setup to handle the pressure but it does pretty well considering it isnt a diver certified watch. the iso6425 testing is much more than just pressure testing. worth a read if bored or curious....Google and you'll find lots of info on its testing and requirements.
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So, according to what I could actually find of the ISO6425 specs, the minimum for a diver's watch IS 100m. But there is the whole set of other tests that it much pass to actually be a "diver's" watch, and to be marked that way, as you said. And the official markings to indicate passing the ISO specs are "DIVER'S XXX M" or "DIVER'S WATCH XXX M."

Knives&Lint said:
I agree that the dive watch is the perfect outdoor/adventure watch, and truly the best all around watch as well. I use the bezel all the time; from timing my start time on hikes, grilling, or even just keeping track of when it's time to pick up the take-out. I even use it to keep track of a second time zone since I live back and forth between Eastern and Western time, by putting the 12:00 pip at 9 or 3 o'clock respectively. Plus they look great on the bracelet, mesh, rubber, even leather, or NATO for added security. I often wear mine on a "Shark Leash" strap, which for those who have never heard of that is a strap from an 80's digital surf watch (the Freestyle Shark Watch). These straps hold a particularly nostalgic place for me as a reminder of my childhood growing up in a surf town, come in all the funky colors y'all know I dig, and I also enjoy the juxtaposition of a fine Swiss timepiece on a cheap fun velcro strap.

When I significantly slimmed my watch collection a few years ago I wanted to pick the one perfect watch to be my main modern watch. One that I could wear out to dinner (about as dressy as I need to be these days), as well as one that could stand up to all of my outdoor adventures. I wear it camping, kayaking, and hiking with zero hesitation. I chose the first generation (2500D) Omega Planet Ocean. I specifically chose this model because it is thinner than the newer iterations, and because I really think they nailed the design on the first go-round with this one, perfectly capturing that classic Seamaster heritage in a modern watch.

If9hcHO.jpg


gDbrJeP.jpg


P6rdVa2.jpg


Gepobif.jpg


rLUgIU4.jpg


weMAjSW.jpg


WfYDmuB.jpg


n1xjcu4.jpg
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Man, that Omega looks SICK on that funky Shark Leash strap! Love it!

Lenny said:
I've owned Omegas, Rolexes, IWC's, Doxas, you name it.
But this is the best watch I've ever owned!


View attachment 1947655
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My grail Diver's watch is a Sinn and/or a Doxa (I don't care that Doxa has changed hands, what, several times?).

Currently, I have a stable of Seiko Diver's, including SKX's, a Monster, and more Turtles than I care to admit. Yeah... I kinda have a Seiko thing. My current everyday wear is the latest classic Turtle (I think of it that way), the SRPE93. With the update of a luminous pip at the 3 o'clock position. Supposedly that has something to do with an ISO spec update... but it really doesn't do much, as it is small enough the lume is pretty weak.
 
dogboye said:
So, according to what I could actually find of the ISO6425 specs, the minimum for a diver's watch IS 100m. But there is the whole set of other tests that it much pass to actually be a "diver's" watch, and to be marked that way, as you said. And the official markings to indicate passing the ISO specs are "DIVER'S XXX M" or "DIVER'S WATCH XXX M."
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yeah pretty much. requires some anti- magnetism and other requirements...yeah not just water resistance. not sure how many times this iso has been changed or updated......if at all?
 
drj211 said:
I’ve thought about it, but for now I’m sticking with gears, rotors and jewels!
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I prefer mechanical watches for most use but sometimes they don't get along with my lifestyle. I've ended up with more quartz watches in my collection but I still prefer to wear mechanical watches.
When I was wearing automatic watches to the office 5 days a week, I could normally get along with them pretty well. But working from home most days of the week and my irregular schedule that goes along with it, my automatic watches sometimes run out of power reserve. I was used to wearing Seiko 7s26 watches that can't be hand wound, then I realized that some of my current watches CAN be handwound so before I start wearing one I'll wind it and it will be good all week even with my irregular schedule.
 
bdmicarta said:
I prefer mechanical watches for most use but sometimes they don't get along with my lifestyle. I've ended up with more quartz watches in my collection but I still prefer to wear mechanical watches.
When I was wearing automatic watches to the office 5 days a week, I could normally get along with them pretty well. But working from home most days of the week and my irregular schedule that goes along with it, my automatic watches sometimes run out of power reserve. I was used to wearing Seiko 7s26 watches that can't be hand wound, then I realized that some of my current watches CAN be handwound so before I start wearing one I'll wind it and it will be good all week even with my irregular schedule.
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You're sitting too long. You should get up every hour and walk around the interior of the house, at least. Not just to wind your 7s26.
Or go for a walk before work. Or both. Keep that blood circulating. As you get older, you'll be glad.

Geez.... I sound like an old mother....

Wearing the classic black Turtle again today. SRPE93.
 
dogboye said:
You're sitting too long. You should get up every hour and walk around the interior of the house, at least. Not just to wind your 7s26.
Or go for a walk before work. Or both. Keep that blood circulating. As you get older, you'll be glad.

Geez.... I sound like an old mother....

Wearing the classic black Turtle again today. SRPE93.
Click to expand...
Yes it's pretty sad when your self-winding watch won't stay powered.
I have a problem on weekends because if I'm working in the yard or working on my car I will take the watch off, so it doesn't get worn the whole day, but weekdays when I was going to my office I would get up early, put on the watch, and wear it all day until I got ready to go to bed at night. That should be enough to generate plenty of power reserve but sometimes wasn't.
 
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