Recommendations on a dive watch

[kilyung]

I need a new watch to throw in my dive bag as backup to my dive comp. I like my luxury dive watches to be bigger than my usual sports watches. While I would wear it occasionally in casual settings, it's really going to be a diving tool. While a Sub or SD would be a no-brainer, I've already got a 116619 so would like to avoid overlap in my collection if possible - and no I'm not diving with my WG SubC. My dive watches get banged around.

Some common elements: thick, oversized, rubber and bracelet options, reliable, date/sec/rotating bezel features, less than $15k if possible. Beyond that anything goes. Thoughts? Here are some of my ideas.


Rolex Deepsea


Audemars Piguet Diver


IWC Deep TWO

[FeelingTheBlues]

Out of those three the AP gets my vote, I quite like its shape.

[Emilian25]

Deep sea I love it.

[T.S.Eliot]

How about the 50 fathoms Mike?

The JLC Navy Seals Auto comes to mind too.

[T.S.Eliot]

Originally Posted by tseliot

How about the 50 fathoms Mike?

The JLC Navy Seals Auto comes to mind too.

Forgot to add the Pelagos.

[jim251]

Mike, for $15K you can get a PO 8500, all wrapped up in a nice ten-thousand-dollar bill!

Just sayin'...

[capote]

Dedicated dive watch

[JP Chestnut]

I'd skip the Deep Two. That thing has a pathetic WR of 120m. I would suggest some flavor of the BP 50 Fathoms.

[h999r]

I have AP diver for sale .. cheap .. at classified section. :)

[AzPaul]

Seiko offers a number of well regarded options in a very wide range of prices.
Pretty sure the 15k limit isn't gonna be a problem.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by kilyung

My dive watches get banged around.

I wouldn't want to bang around any of those 3 beauties. How about a Doxa?

[liuk3]

I use this as a backup: http://www.princetonwatches.com/shop/JP104009TB.asp

Expanding from the concept in jim251's previous post: For $15K, you can get a Citizen Titanium Aqualand Duplex watch, wrapped in $14.5K worth of Apple stock. I think that Citizen may have discontinued this model. I has displays both, time elapsed, depth, and water temperature among other things.

[Rashid.bk]

Don't like the IWC at all for some reason. I love the AP but under water the dial and the inner bezel ring may be difficult to see clearly at a glance. I'd choose the DS hands down between those three. The Rolex bezel is more usable and the dial is more bland(compared to the beautiful AP) but easier to pick out under water.
This is all just based on use it's primary purpose as a tool.

However I might consider a the 45mm PO 8500 with the orange bezel and numbers or even a Doxa as someone said. Don't know which model Doxa but when I last researched them I saw some really nice tool watches. Readability is important underwater and Doxa has some good solutions for this in their line.

[Andrés G]

Originally Posted by capote

Dedicated dive watch

+1 on the Ploprof. The AP Diver would be my last choice to wear as a tool watch.

[psv]

Mike,

I've owned pretty much every good diver out there and I actually wouldn't go any of the option above. My number one choice would be the new SubC no date 114060. Number two choice would probably be one of the Omega divers, 45mm version if you really want to go big. Number three perhaps the Fifty Fathoms.

The DSSD is an epic watch, but it is just too unbalanced and over the top. Some people like over the top, I'm more zen-like (think Steve Jobs) who think less is more.

I love the AP brand but that Diver is not very accurate, the rotating bezel useless under water and the whole design with hand polished sides makes it too sensitive to bang against a reef somewhere.

[psv]

Originally Posted by capote

Dedicated dive watch

I heart that design!

[Demosthene]

SEIKO Marine Master Spring Drive SBDB001
If it’s just going to be a dive tool you may as well show some Springdrive love!

[VetteBandit]

A JLC diver. Less seen and every bit timepiece and tool watch. Bunch to choose from.

[malarky_hk]

The Marine Master has already been suggested; and I would second that. But more specifically the Marine Master Professional 300m Diver (SBDX001). A great looking watch and incredible value for money. The specs on this piece would seem to tick all the boxes you listed:

Movement: 8L35 Automatic 26j, Hack function & Hand winding, 50+ hour power reserve;
Case: One piece structure, stainless steel;
Crown: Screw-down crown
Bezel: Rotating with anti-reverse spin function - 42mm diameter;
Crystal: Dual-curved Hardlex with non-reflective upper coating;
Diameter: 44 mm (without the crown);
Thickness: 14.6 mm;
Weight (w/stainless steel bracelet): 210g;
Water resistance: 300 m water resistance for divers

Borrowed pics.

[psv]

On the IWC Deep Two: I had the Deep One. At least that one couldn't be serviced in the US, it had to go back to Switzerland and on top of that there are very few techs at even the factory service center that are properly trained in those one-offs designs. Very costly and time consuming to service. I suspect you might run into the same issue with the Deep 2.

[mjclark32]

I've been loving the AP diver lately, so it gets my pick here.
Good luck with your decision

[Cru Jones]

lots of good ideas here....and how about the pelagos??

the AP diver is GORGEOUS no doubt, but, the mechanism isn't the most practical and that bezel will suffer, as you say you "bang it around". i would think it would get the same treatment in your collection as the smurf.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by psv

On the IWC Deep Two: I had the Deep One. At least that one couldn't be serviced in the US, it had to go back to Switzerland and on top of that there are very few techs at even the factory service center that are properly trained in those one-offs designs. Very costly and time consuming to service. I suspect you might run into the same issue with the Deep 2.

The Deep One was a great looking watch that gave us a peak at where IWC was going with the 3538/3548. The Deep Two is... far less desirable IMO.

[psv]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

The Deep One was a great looking watch that gave us a peak at where IWC was going with the 3538/3548. The Deep Two is... far less desirable IMO.

Indeed, having owned the original I tried on the Deep Two at the IWC store in NYC but it didn't do much for me and overall I much prefer robustness over complications on my tool watches.

[masterserg]

Vote for the DSSD.

[sierra11b]

Originally Posted by McLovin

I wouldn't want to bang around any of those 3 beauties. How about a Doxa?

I was thinking Pelagos for this reason. You could get the Pelagos and have a PO 8500 as back-up for just under $10k

[Psmith]

You won't be surprised at my suggesting the Fifty Fathoms...

[dukerules]

The Fifty Fathoms Sport, the AP Diver, and the JLC NSA are my favorite non-Rolex high-end divers. Love all three, but when functionality, price, and design are factored together, I like the FF>Diver>NSA.

[kilyung]

Some great ideas and my thoughts in no particularly order...

BP FF: A pretty watch. I wasn't really enamored with the bracelet but the strap is nice. Flipped in search of the 40mm anniversary model which is difficult to find (anyone have one?) but may need to revisit this watch. It is one SHINY watch though - 'cuda bait?

JLC NSA: Awesome company. I've noticed the ceramic bezel gets marked up rather easily which raises questions about durability but a good contender. I'm not keen on the Teams association though.

Pelagos: An excellent recommendation but availability is an issue until later in the year (unless I want to pay over retail).

Omega PO: Nothing really bad to say about these but maybe a little too pretty?

Omega Ploprof: This is a bad ass dive watch and worth looking at but I'm not sure that I'd want to wear it out of the water?

Seikos: I've had any number of Seiko dive watches (tuna cans, MMs, stargate) and while they're tough as nails they tend to lack a certain "sexiness"? I haven't looked at the spring drive one though.

Doxa: Reputation for rugged watch but I'm not a fan of the case shape or orange.

Rolex 114060: Could also stick with the 14060M but I'm looking for a slightly larger size.

[WatchTimes]

Panerai PAM243!!!

LOVE MINE!!!

Super easy to change straps.