Your Favorite Auto Dive Watch???

Megalobyte

Megalobyte

Joined
Jun 5, 2002
Messages
2,761
Hi all. Just back from my honeymoon, and while in St. Thomas, i convinced my new wife, somehow, to let me buy a new watch (excellent precedent to set), i ended up getting a Ti Breitling Avenger Seawolf.

I must say i love this watch. Its huge, which is good for me since im equally big at 6'8 375 lbs. Solid, very thick Ti case, waterproof to 3000M!!! No, not 300, 3 THOUSAND! I know, i know, my head would implode long before, but i really like watches which are exceptionally waterproof. The double glareproofed sapphire crystal is nearly 5mm thick! The hands and markers are very bright and easy to read in any light, this often is not the case. The movement is a certified chronometer, and i opted for the rubber dive strap. Now, i know that Breitling's movements arent considered to be exceptionally accurate, but this one seems to be pretty good, about 3 seconds fast per day which i believe puts it well within the criteria for a certified swiss chronometer.

In any case, im very happy with it, its on my wrist as i type, and i was wondering what your favorite dive watches are, well, actually my primary reason for posting was simple gloating, but i really am interested in hearing what your favorite dive watches are and why. Do me a favor though, please dont bash Breitling so that i can continue to enjoy my new watch. :)

Here's a pic:
Info-E17370_l.gif
 
Cool watch, even if it is a Breitling;) .
On a more serious note, I've been wearing an Omega SMP for about a month now.:cool: It looks like my watch hunting days are done.

Paul
 
Favorite?

Hmm... toss up between my Marathon SAR and Rolex Submariner. However, my Panerai PAM-24 is also in the running as one of my favorites.
 
Bob,
You got a bright yellow Corvette that you drive at breakneck speeds while wearing said Panerai?
 
rolex seadweller is my fav dive watch, rolex GMT is my fav edc watch, and i drive a white 'vette too fast lol

greg
 
I like my Avenger (Thanks Jerry!) better than my AT. Love them Ti watches! It is a huge watch, but "readable." The thickness worried me, but after almost a weeks wrist-time, I am comfortable with it. The Ti bracelet is more flexible than the AT, but not as easy to adjust. The AT's "toolkit" makes adjustments a snap. Also the Avenger is spot on timed. My AT gains almost three seconds a week.
 
Originally posted by MelancholyMutt
Bob,
You got a bright yellow Corvette that you drive at breakneck speeds while wearing said Panerai?
Click to expand...

Yeah, and I wave at people with my .45 in my hand...
 
I will 2nd that Omega with the black rubber strap, I have the GMT version of that watch that is my daily timekeeper. Although I just ordered a "frankenwatch" Seiko from IWW. Can't wait to see how that turns out.

Simon
 
Greg,
Great pic! I love that SMP

As for myself, it will be a little while before I have an Omega on my wrist so this will do for now. I got this one from MasterChef and it is just plain awesome. It is a very large, hefty watch that is just a tank. I haven't tested the movement but it seems to do pretty well. Best I can do is a link....
http://www.princetonwatches.com/shop/SKXA33.asp
Matt
 
The one I have is what I assume is the older version of this:
SKX173.jpg

Mine just has the date, not the day.
Got it while going through Airborne school in '91, and wore it every day until a couple of years ago. The crystal is all marked up, with dings around the edges, and covered with pits from welding splatter. Still waterproof, still runs fine, but the face came loose, and moved around some. One of these days, maybe I'll send it off to be repaired, unless the cost gives me an excuse for a new one.
'Til then, I just wear a Timex for work, and make do with this ti Seiko everywhere else.
I can't bring myself to lay out the cash for something like those Omegas, IWCs, and Breitlings, but they sure look nice.
 
Mine is a Breitling Shark(discontinued) love it!! Had a metal Breitling band($210 when I got it) pin broke,dealer said couldn't be fixed!! Forget the new metal band,got a thick rubber dive band(don't know the make only$20)love it!!
jim
 
Originally posted by OwenM

I can't bring myself to lay out the cash for something like those Omegas, IWCs, and Breitlings, but they sure look nice.
Click to expand...


I understand your point, however, think of it this way, had you bought a used Rolex Submariner 10 years ago, and wore it every day for 10 years, you could sell it right now for just about what you paid, maybe a little more. So, you wear a great watch for 10 years for free! True, Rolex holds its value better than most, but, if you buy an Omega SMP now for lets say $1100 (Breitlings, Omegas and most high end watches can be bought online for about 40% off retail), in 10 years, i bet you could sell it for about $800 or so, so, for a measly $20 a year, you owned a great watch. Thats a perspective i have desperately tried to relate to my wife, she aint buying it... :( Nevertheless, its very true, a good watch will give you great satisfaction for a long time, and in the end, you get the majority of your money back when you sell as long as you didnt pay retail for it.
 
Good Evening All-

Originally posted by Lenny in Post# 7
Arguably the best Diver, the IWC Aquatimer!
Click to expand...

What makes the IWC Aquatimer so nice is its supreme simplicity. No unnecessary subdials, markers, or measures...just super-legible white on black with central seconds indicator.

Great choice in either titantium (skin-friendly and no-nonsense) or stainless steel, which I think is a bit more "flexible" to dress-up or dress-down as needed. This is a LARGE watch with considerable heft, so the toughness and weight-savings of the titantium will appeal to many.

Regards,

~ Blue Jays ~
 
There are 2 other factors that make the Aquatimer a great watch:
- They take a tried and true ETA (I believe) movement, work on it by replacing critical components with their own design and manufacture, decrease all tolerances, and voila, virtually a custom movement for a bargain price.
They did that with the Valjoux 7750 in my Fliegerchrono Auto.
- The fit and finish is incredible. Hold one side by side with both a Submariner and a Seamaster. (I'm not biased, I've owned both of these watches before I bought the Flieger). The Rolex is a joke compared to both other watches. The Omega comes close, but look carefully, with a magnifying glass even. The quality is very apparent.
IWC is one of those rare manufacturers that offers solid extremely well made sports watches like the Flieger, Aquatimer, and the GST line, and also offers top shelf dress watches like the Portugieser, Portifino, and the ultra complex complications like the Destriero Scafusia (sp).
Check out the IWC Site
Lenny
 
IWC and Ventura treat their titanium-cased watches with a process that makes them just about as scratch-resistant as sapphire crystal. I wish Omega would do the same.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top