The secret to the most popular dive watches
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- Опубликовано: 18 авг 2024
- Potentially it's the steel sports watch that's most popular, but up there is definitely the dive watch. We love the dive watch style and it's definitely popular. The question is why are dive watches so popular? What makes a good dive watch and finally - What's the problem with all these popular dive watches?
Hope you enjoy the video. As always, share your thoughts in the comments section. Be sure to click the like button and also subscribe to stay updated on my videos.
Cheers.
For inquiries and collabs: twtw.mike@gmail.com
0:00 Intro
0:45 What is a dive watch?
1:30 The three keys to making a dive watch: Quality
3:14 Aesthetic
4:08 Specifications
5:03 Examples of good divers
6:44 Why divers are so popular
8:54 Why some divers fail to become popular
11:24 Conventional is ... and ...
15:31 Who is making ground breaking designs?
"it's a low bar, but that's the bar" Another great quote hidden in your content.
Low brow.
5 Bar
😂😂
I like this, can be a team building slogan!!
Hi I’m Mike and it’s been 139 days since my last watch purchase……………and the 12 step meeting continues 😎!
HI MIKE
I saw him at the AD in Copenhagen 3 weeks ago. 😅 strangely enough he didn’t buy a watch? They knew him by first name there
There's some great watches, at reduced prices out there. It's time to buy! A watch collection limit is just a number. Go out a smash it. Perhaps you could move some old ones on?
@patrik3450 Lol.... Yeah. I have unfortunately bought at retail too many times at the local AD. I'm sure I have a checkbox in their database that says "easy mark"... 😀😀😂
Was there to sell a watch and have them order something else that should join my collection in a couple of weeks time... 😀
@@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch I was being light hearted, acknowledging the addiction, in a humourous way....... hopefully.
When you have 3+ watches, the problems start.
In my free time, I was a Dive instructor we talked 30-40 years ago with 1280 dives under my belt. I used only Seiko and Citizen which at that time cost 300 to 400US Dollar . They did the job and never let me down! If you are a serious diver, there is no need to buy a luxury Dive watch but some people have plenty of money to spend.
Subtle, dry humor paired with tons of information all wrapped up in a no-nonsense presentation. I cannot believe that this is „free content“. Amazing work Mike.
Wow, thank you! 😀
You nailed it Nils. Sitting here watching in Kathmandu 😮 Absolutely love Mike's channel and never miss an episode. Super quality insight and watch nerd presentation!
Aside from water resistance and a rotating bezel, I'd say LUME is a must! And good amounts of it :)
Love your videos, thanks for posting!
Have you tried tritium tube dials?
My beater dive watch is the Casio Duro (MDV106-1A). 200m, feels decent on the wrist, good bezel action. $50, reliable, and good on an actual dive. I’ve got other dive watches - Seiko, Christopher Ward, and Tudor… but my Duro is my beater. When I dive I wear my dive computer on one wrist, and my Duro on the other.
Amen to that. When I'm wearing my Duro I'm truely enjoy my watch because I don't really care what I'm doing, if it gets a scratch, whatever. And it feels like a million dollars on my wrist since I put it on a metal bracelet from Aliexpress...
As usual Mike did a fantastic job answering the question of why dive watches are so popular. Using the KIS approach I would add that dive watches are so popular because they are a true sports watch! Whether you wear a dive watch on land or swim in the pool or snorkel in the ocean or are a sports or professional diver, there is a watch for you. No other watch says "sporty" like a dive watch!
🤝 to me a sports watch means ‘numbers on the bezel’; chronos are a different variant - the sport is car racing.
To me the APs & Patek Aquanauts are just sporty dress watches.
@@WestCoastAce27 FYI...they call it a sports watch because sports watches are tool watches. They were made for use, worn by athletes, adventurers or soldiers - or for timing the likes of athletic events and even scientific endeavors. They're watches of action. They were made to endure rough conditions.
Just bought a boring diver - the Tudor Pelagos 39 in titanium. Although it does not do anything different than the rest, it just checks all the boxes for me and fits my lifestyle. I guess that is exactly why this category is so popular as you said. Not risky and can be worn anywhere. It is just an easy choice.
I have mine for a year now and love it to bits. One of my most worn divers. I got the uncle straps jubilee titanium bracelet on it and it’s sooo cool. It is such a nice watch. It competes and holds up well with my other dive watches Blancpain Bathyscaphe, Breitling SuperOcean arrow hand (2009) and even my VC overseas…..
I think the Pelagos is doing something different. Lume plot markers, titanium, fixed lugs, the lumed bezel, matte ceramic bezel, and a few other design cues weren't very common when the watch was originally released.
Love mine. It’s a Sub, but lighter and even more masculine looking - and I used the leftover $7k for an international trip in Biz class.
Love my Pelegos LHD. One and done!!
@@koolpep I'm right there with you. I've had my Pelagos 39 about a year and like it more now than when I bought it.
Best and highest quality watch youtuber I have ever seen. Thumbs up 👍👍
Thank a ton 😀😀
I like how you added the “x days since last watch purchase”. Let’s see what happens to that number after a couple more months.
Not quite sure if I want it to reset or not 😂😂
I love the new Zenith divers, they are doing something different and I applaud them for it!
Another fantastic video, Mike. It warms my heart to see your number of subscribers gradually continue to rise day after day; you're absolutely killing it and your numbers reflect just that. Cheers from Texas.
Glad to hear you enjoy my vids. Been a while since I last was in Texas. I believe I was inebriated, lying on an inner tube floating down a river as far as I recall.... 😀
You didn’t say ‘let’s dive in!’ 🤣
Great perspectives. Bond switching from the wet suit to the tux in Dr No in his Submariner set the diver up as the best all arounder.
139 days? That’s ridiculous. I’ve bought 3… or is it 4? 😀
Wish I had the money for just one
😂
Love your videos. Congrats on the 139-day hiatus from watch buying. My favorite diver is the gunmetal Seiko LX SNR043/SBDC037, but only 200 exist.
I think most people don't dive with a Submariner, but I did. Dived all over the world for over 40 years with my beloved Subby. Looks as good now as it did when I bought it :)
A rare actual submariner that submarined.... 😀😀💪
I agree with you about the Sinn Hydro having specs that are incredibly niche. That said, a standard U50 has unique looks (well, comparatively) and very good specs and is also very wearable (just 11mm thickness). I think Sinn should be applauded for that combination.
Speaking of Sinn, any news about on the supposedly new navitimer.
The Sinn U50 is killer. It is on my shortlist 😊😊
The best conventional ultra-beater is likely the Casio MDV106 "Duro" -- 600,000 worldwide sales in the last 12 years or so.
Its too cheap for a beater. Maybe disposable category. Can't take it seriously when Walmart clears it for $14.
@@ultimaetsoldermine has been on around 10 dives so far and it's doing great. It has one single scratch and I wear it daily. I wouldn't call it disposable.
@@ultimaetsolderdisposable means you use it a set number of times and it has to be thrown out (like nitrile gloves). What is the wear count and timeline until a Duro breaks/disintegrates?
Yeah, thought it really odd to make this video without referencing the Duro.
@@StandAloneState enjoy your $14 Casio.
Your point on specs don’t sell they just drive up the cost is (for the most part) very true and I never thought about it that way. I’m wearing a Pelagos 39, which has 200m of water resistance. Would I have been more likely to buy it at 300m? No, I bought it for the materials, design, and build quality. It’s not often in a video someone says something, I take a step back and say wow they are right
… I didn’t know that’s what sold me on the product. Great job, keep on making these amazing videos please!
Many good points here. Thank you. One related, but slightly off-topic idea that comes to mind idea is that brands need, at their core, an icon. Almost Rolex' entire line-up (Explorer, Submariner, Daytona) are icons where the design can be traced back several generations and the purchase is seen in that continuum. Changes to these watches are iterative. To purchase a Submariner today, for example, is a choice to join in an historical progression, to become a part of a storied, popular history. At a glance, a modern Submariner is a successor to the first models produced. Doxa Sub 300s are also icons. You buy one today, and you've established a connection with Jacques Cousteau and Clive Cussler. For Seiko Willards, also, their military history is a link to the past where the purchaser becomes part of the story. This is where Omega is flailing. Their only icon is the Speedmaster, imho, and its not a diver. The Seamaster has come in so many different styles and configurations that none are truly iconic. Iconography and our respect for traditional forms represents a deep-seated human desire, perhaps representing stability and permanence in an often chaotic world. The most successful watches understand this, imho. All the best.
You’re absolutely right about the icons. Lately I’ve been considering getting rid of my Breitling Superocean Heritage which I never really bonded with and get the Navitimer instead.
Agree - I think most brands try to chase that elusive icon. Everybody would like their "submariner" or "reverso" to prop up their brand. But only so many can be iconic 😊
I disagree about the SMP 300. Imo, it absolutely is an icon.
The Doxa Sub 300 is on my list of to buy watches.
So, by your definition, my 43mm Aragon DiveMaster 4 EVO with Platinum MoP dial is a true GADA. Tough enough for work and play, yet it has the looks for a suit and tie. A $165 winner 🏆 😊
The original JLC Polaris with the memovox and inner rotating bezel insert
You mentioned them without focusing on them, but your concluding passage (with which I agree, fwiw) points to why Sinn is successful. A distinctive style, sets them apart from the pack but instantly recognizable as "Premium Diver".
It’s a joy to listen to your views. And it’s hard not to agree :). Personally, my divers are more in the entry level luxury or premium segment and my dress watches, chronographs and GMTs are higher-end. I’m just more comfortable with a slightly lower end diver.
That being said, I do prefere my more expensive pieces to fly a bit under the radar, maybe that’s why I prefere dress/casual pieces at the higher end.
Cheers from Portugal (just got back from Mozambique)
20+ years of collecting, and I'm finally branching out of my "Diver's" phase 😅
LOL nice
"They tried to make me go to rehab...." 😊
Meanwhile, I branching out of chronos, and INTO divers 😅
@@vaughan2203 cheaper servicing costs, at least.
As a dive master with over 4 decades of experience, I started out with a Seiko Capt. Willard, and other brands before going to dive computers. The lesson I learned early was the value of a crown guard after tearing the crown off of a Certina as I was gearing up for a dive.
Hi! Today I actually had the Bremont SUPERMARINE in my hand and wow. I was surprised. It’s really good. The 904L steel does indeed shine quite well and the bracelet and case are extremely well made. I was way more impressed than I would have thought. In hand it’s a brilliant watch.
Interesting
I’m v curious to see it. I’m rooting for them and great to see a take from someone who’s actually seen the watch.
I have a video coming out today about Bremont. In regards to the SM that I saw at W&W - I like it. It's good looking. I don't think it's going to be a smash hit like the BB was for tudor back in 2012 just because the competition is so much greater, but overall a very competently designed watch 😀
@@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch Looking forward to see it. I also really liked the Terra Nova line but preferred the time only and Date versions as I am not a fan of a compass bezel. In my mind a very nice evolution of Bremont vs the doomsday scnearios from other people who often never had the watch in hand.
At a certain point as a collector it is tempting to want to graduate from the generic sub to the more niche fifty fathoms - but even price aside how do you reconcile a tool watch having those materials and finishing? It is like paying extra for features that undermine the very idea of the diver concept.
ISO 6425:2018 Horology Divers' watches is an international standard for a dive watch.
Many “true” Seiko dive watches have “Diver’s” on a dial. Meaning they are compliant to the ISO 6425. As is my Marathon GSAR.
Then there are watches that have just the design clues of a dive watch. Newer Seiko SKX models come to mind.
Steel Rolex Sub is still the dive watch for me regardless of the price.
CWC dive watches look great imho.
If you want a true pedigree for a reasonable price then there is Zodiac Sea Wolf. One of the OG dive watches alongside Blancpain FF and Rolex Sub.
After several years buying and owning dive watches I’ve realised I’ve turned away from the generic submariner look. The ones I’ve kept have been a Sinn, a Zelos bronze and a Marathon GSAR. It has just struck me that, unconsciously, I’ve been drawn to these watches BECAUSE they look different. They may be polarising but they definitely stand out and fulfil their role extremely well. Great discussion. I enjoyed it immensely. 👍🏼
Glad to hear it 😀
I believe a compass is a must in any practical dive watch . The casio frogman is the one u really need when it comes to diving .
I plan to be one of the few people buying the Zenith Defy revival diver
That's why I love the Zenith DED. Fantastic looking diver that stands out in a sea of conforming designs.
As always, your analysis is superb! Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the hobby.
Excellent content as always. I can't imagine parting with my BB54 😊
Your channel, along with Watch Chris have become my two favorite to watch, excellent point of view as usual. 🙏🏾
I appreciate that 😊😊
I must admit Seiko is probably the best right now in terms of churning out both unique and classic divers. I like the approach of using vintage designs with modern upgrades. I think the new 62mas 3 day is going to be a massive hit.
Still haven't fixed accuracy, but I love their designs and the new SPB453 - wow... 😀😀
Great insight as always. I love your channel and content. Finally a channel that doesn't just cover Rolex or Tudor but pushes people to buck the trends.
I like the looks of the Tuseno Shell back diver. Interesting design with the use of a sandwich dial, and incorporating the date. It looks in a rudimentary way like a Rolex sub (the looks say "I'm a drive watch!)...but NO, its design is fresh, and no one would mistake it for a Sub.
Looks really cool!
I think I agree? I've ordered the V2 and looking forward to delivery. The last thing I need is another diver but I loved the Shell Back design so much that I caved, again.
Very good content, a distinct lack of stealth sales so common on RUclips watch channels.
I was not expecting to reflect philosophically about modern customs with the excuse of a talk about dive watches, but then I clearly understood why this channel is so interesting...
Thank you. Hope you stick around 😃
Dive watches are fantastic! Great value and flexibility. Usually more experimental and robust and in spite of mine never going deeper than a meter or two, the reassurance the ISO ratings and water resistance brings make them tough great all rounders and GADA watches! Take care Mike!
As usual, let's talk about diving watches without talking about Diving, or Divers ( professional or amateur) or certifications and what they mean. Why some watches have the word "diver" written on the dial and others don't. Are divers in general watch enthusiasts or collectors? Do they even use a dive watch or need it? I think people would be shocked about the number of Citizen promaster QUARTZ that actually goes on the wrist of professional divers when they go underwater and they have to take off the smart watch. Love your videos anyway 😉
Oh look! Captain Obvious is back!
It’s also crucial to have a seconds hand to be able to check that the watch is still running.
I own a pre-redesign Supermarine from Bremont, and it is one of my daily drivers. I held the new green Supermarine a couple of days ago from my local AD, and was very pleasantly surprised - it is MUCH better in person than in pictures - it is really very high quality for about a $1,000 less than the prior version. Yes, it is very traditional, and I am sad to see the unique case design of the predecessors leave the lineup, but properly marketed, I think it will do just fine - the new Supermarine solves for the "Bremont is too expensive for what you get" complaint and is still a very high quality watch in person. I also own a BB58 - different vibe, and now more expensive.
With its sculpted bezel, skeleton hands and cupcake, the Omega 300M is one of those less conventional divers, but it still suits the casual and office wearer.
Indeed, I also thought “what about the 300M?”. Mike - what’s your take on this diver family?
I'd buy one if it wasn't for that God awful bracelet. They need to release a tapered version.
He normally criticizes omega, so don’t expect anything there. I get some of his criticism which is justified, but it seems he isn’t the biggest fan regardless.
Omega have some really great watches smp300 is that watch.
I'll be a voice of dissent here, I think the Omega 300M diver is one of the least attractive watches on the market. To me, it is overdone, the waves on the dial look tacky and the bezel is one of the worst looking out there and that's not even mentioning what most think is it's weak point ,the bracelet. The watch does absolutely nothing for me and I am a fan of Omega.
@@TheSlowoldman I'm the same on every point, but I can't deny that it's versatile and popular despite being unconventional.
I'm a certified rescue diver.
I have a Sinn diver and an ORIS. Wear what you want. Deepest I've gone is 32m. My Sinn is rated to 5000m. Go figure.
Which Oris?
Are scratches truly an inevitability while diving? I don’t mean microscratches from clothing; I’m talking deep scratches, gouges, and dents. I have a Rolex Deepsea, but I’m thinking I’ll probably get a Citizen or Seiko (or maybe Scurfa) just for actual diving. I’ve started taking lessons for recreational diving. I brought a Casio to my first pool session but couldn’t fit the strap over the wetsuit. The strap was too short!
You can hydrofill a casio 200 h with silicone oil, and have a Water Resistance of 4000m+ for €35,- or so 😂
But my favourite divers are the Aquaracer night diver, 42mm case, and the 63MAS , 38mm case (both of which I built Seiko Mod homages in 40mm for).
Seiko does it well. They do both the conventional designs and esoteric designs at various different price points. Their brand heritage for divers is also top notch which trickles down to all their dive watches even if the specfic model deserves it or not.
I just noticed the MG Wing gundam kit on the back. I like building gunpla and because of the intricacies in details on some of the kit, I became appreciative on intricate detailed craftsmanship. This is why I started being fascinated by antique furniture, architecture and finally mechanical watches.
I like a dive watch to be large and well designed, like the Willard or MM300
I also like a small slim skin diver, a black bay or 62 Mas
Not interested in luxury in a diver but I am in a sports watch or dress
Here is my list of fantastic Dive watches, Longines Hydroconquest, Oris Aquis, Doxa sub 200, 300. Tudor BB58 and 41, Squale 50 Atmos Omega Seamaster, Rolex Submariner. Christopher Ward Trident line is great bang for the buck.
These are some great, generally pretty conventional choices - and I do enjoy my Hydroconquest, but don't tend to wear it all that much... As a daily, my Formex Essence is a more comfortable proposition, so that gets more wrist time - and my Eterna Kontiki 4-hands is a more interesting/different dial so that tends to get work plenty too (and the bracelet on that is in a totally different league to the HC).
There are divers I'd consider buying, but they'd have to be different enough (or much much nicer) to differentiate themselves from that fairly generic diver I already have - an Oris Aquis is a superb watch, but I don't really have much need of one... Something a bit different but not too out there, perhaps, as a "second diver" would be more tempting - I've always liked the Rado Captain Cook, for example, in that it's different enough to give a slightly different vibe whilst still immediately recognisably a dive watch with all the strengths that divers have.
Lots of good options there 😀
I see what you did Mike, an entire video on Divers and no mention of Omega Seamaster 300M. Well, since you give us an opportunity to state a Non Conventional Successful Diver, let me state the obvious, it is the 300M. While the Submariner design makes it the staple for Divers, 300M to me is the unique and yet massively popular one. A unique case, distinct lugs, distinct He escape valve (also shared in the Omega family though), distinct bezel (docagonal) and a very distinct and easily recognisable movement. This is the most mainstream yet one of the most distinct divers. You can recognise it from its shadow.
PS 139 days of no purchase, implies a big purchase on the horizon?
I mean, does he really need to say anything about the Seamaster? The watch he's wearing says it all...
@@zaneperron great catch. Is it the No time to die version on a Nato?
Indeed, I know that watch anywhere lol. It's my favorite watch for daily wear.
We all have great taste 👍
Check my wrist 😉
@@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch Perfect mention without mentioning. Nice! 👌🏻
Mike I really do enjoy your video insights into WATCHES and obviously the same ideas apply to many other products we buy!
Taking your comments on dive watches, it shows why I enjoy my current car and the ideal replacement. Many thanks.
The same ideas apply in the medical world although people do not realise the SCOPE available . . . average . . . or . . . ideal.
Important video. Change is good. Encourage innovation.
I don't have anything like the extreme diver, but I will have one once it touches down in Las Vegas.
Ah do your videos only come out on Saturdays? Now I can save time from refreshing and checking RUclips every day 😂
Thanks Mike. Loving your vids! Isn't lume (including on the seconds hand) not as well a criterion in addition to depth rating and bezel?
Possibly. It could be there with the 200m and the bezel .😊
I think Doxa, Seiko and partly Oris with their vintage divers 65 (vintage 12, 3, 6 and 9 markers) are doing a great job of offering something different.
Thanks for the upload Mike
I would say Squale (1521, Matic, Master) and Sinn are trying in their own way and the Aquaracer is quite a different looking diver. Omega does a good job sticking to the HEV, without it I think it will look much more generic.
Good options 😊
The relaunched Aquastar Deepstar II with it smaller case, small seconds and gorgeous color ways is doing the retro diver thing just right.
Best way to start my weekend
I recently picked up an Ocean Crowler Core Diver and for the price, I am beyond happy. It is surprising well finished, its different enough to stand out without getting ridiculous, has serious specs, and gets far more complements than my much more expensive watches.
I agree. I have had one for about two years. I am a professional boat captain and it’s my primary work watch. It’s in for a covered warranty repair. The owner is customer focused, reasonable and an excellent communicator. I would 100% buy another from them, however it’s been almost two months since I have seen it as a part needed to be ordered from a supplier and the brand outsources repairs of all types to an experienced third party.
One I do really like as a slightly different diver is the Rado Captain Cook.
Its immediately recognisable as a dive watch... But then the doomed saphhire and in-sloping bezel mean it catches the light differently and feels both slightly more dainty and yet somehow rather like a nautical instrument in a way that really holds appeal on a watch which associates with water.
Been tempted and not jumped, but I don't wear my diver all that much as it is.
The Ploprof is my favourite dress watch
Who is different in the dive space? Has to be Tudor, first they put out the Tudor P01, then the Tudor FXD. Two watches built to be dive tools first.
"Stand out from the crowd..
." I have several divers and the only one that gets comments/compliments is my titanium Ploprof.
It's a ridiculously ugly, chunky watch.
I, too, would compliment someone having the guts to wear it outside of one of the hardly existing usecases 😂
I never understood it until I tried one on at Omega's factory boutique. I wouldn't wear it every day but it's sure fun a few times a month. And it's remarkablely comfortable on the wrist.
bingo. Ploprof ftw. 😀
I liked dive watches untill I went diving. They are seriously useless compared to dive computers 😅. Just kidding still like divers, they just look great.
You first and second sentences had me like 😠 Your last sentence had me like 😅😆 You invoked my bipolar roller coaster
Love your content and style - would very much enjoy to hear your views of the AP Royal Oak Offshore Diver - thanks for all of your content creation
Another profound analysis, thank you, Sir. You always open up new perspectives.
One short comment on Sinn's Hydro watches: The development goal was a watch that is readible under any angle under water. The 5000m WD is just a side effect.
Thanks for sharing 😀
Hey, I am diving for the last 20 years multiple PADI certifications, etc) But not earning money by it. And honestly dive computer is the only thing I am using underwater. For the hype or to “show off” that I am a diver (like it is something to be proud of) I would go for Aquastar (because of the history), Farer Endeavor Ocean White (you can use them as a back up time keeping during both night/day dives), almost any Oris (I would go with the depth gauge - at least something useful), CW C60 Elite 1000 (great value/price), or Rolex (because you can resell anytime and lose your money)
Valid perspective - I would also never expect people to use anything other than a real dive computer... 😀
Excellent as always. I'm wearing my Sub 14060 on a RubberB strap, very comfortable, very boring and I love it. Reality is, I don't need other watches with this, but have them because I enjoy watches. ( office watch, dress watch etc)
GP Sea Hawks are a cool innovative design which I have loved for years. Currently they are discontinued. One of my grail watches GP Sea Hawk in Titanium with a rose gold bezel. From the early 2010s. Wow are they beautiful!
To me the ultimate dive watch is the 44mm Rolex Deepsea but nobody sane is actually diving with that watch. If you want a brilliant beater watch I have always used a Citizen Pro Master when going scuba diving alongside my proper dive computer. If you want something really nice that is rugged and could be a serious dive watch down at 30m then the Tudor Pelagos 42mm in Blue - the OG Pelagos is an absolute winner - a proper tool watch but brilliantly built and finished. Just some thoughts….
I have a Deepsea (in D-blue) and, in my [biased] opinion, I agree! The Ring Lock System doesn’t get enough credit for allowing the watch to have such compact dimensions relative to its depth rating. Any other mechanical watch that has a depth rating that is equal to or greater than that of the Deepsea’s is much larger. The compact lug-to-lug length and the way the bracelet hangs straight down from the case allows it to be worn even on my 6.0” wrist with no overhang. You’re also right, though, that I’d never take it diving-it’s jewelry, and I like to take good care of my nice things.
@@vincent67239 yep the Deepsea is amazing and wears wonderfully for a big watch. I have the original 116660, and it is my favourite watch by far. But then again I have 19cm wrists so a Submariner is too small for me anyway.... wear your watch in good health buddy
I got a Vostok amphibia 510059 scuba dude for my 1st anniversary from my wife. Put an orange sailcloth/rubber strap on it and looks great, I've got it dialed in to +/- 1 sec/day.
Divers,.my favourite watch category owning a Sinn U1, Planet ocean (first gen), Seiko orange monster, MKII Stingray (50fantoms homage), Bulova Snorkel 666 accutron (1970). Would love to add a Doxa 300t. I agree however that a lot of divers coming out are boring submariner copies.
Go for the Doxa 300t. I have it. I love it. 😀😀
a seiko dive watch is a thing of beauty. i love my bb58 too
Excellent take on the industry. I have the older iteration of the Longines Hydroconquest with a green dial and feel, whilst the new version is a nice watch, Longines have played it a bit too safe in my opinion with the updated model and the old watch had more unique styling when pitted against its similar priced competitors.
As always you're adapt at puting your watcher's thoughs into words.
Thanks 😊
The new zenith and the panerai submersible, both look a bit different from the regular divers (tudor, rolex, monta, etc)
Zodiac stands out from the crowd simply by using bright colors. It's not only good branding, but helps to create a sense that watches represent a lifestyle. That used to be the notion behind tool watches in general. If smart watches are to be driven into retreat, more brands need to understand the lifestyle aspect of mechanical watches outside of the context of wealth.
Agree completely on Zodiac 😀
Little meta-commentary with the No Time to Die on wrist? ;)
You noticed 😉💪
This is why I am leaning heavily towards the Ulysse Nardin Divers (specifically the Diver 44mm). They are a bit on the larger side, but I have a 7.5" wrist so I can wear it comfortably. It is clearly a diver, but it definitely looks different enough - small seconds, circular date window, power reserve indicator - from the conventional design to be appealing to me. And being UN, they have great history and experience in the marine timekeeping world.
Microbrands that do it well, IMHO:
RZE - sharp modern design. Stands out, feels fresh. When it gets dated, it will be a 2020's watch, not a 2020's generic conservative retro inspired watch.
Wise - top notch dressy diver. Familar template, but the designers went to town with it. It's original, ornate, attractive. The specs are also nice: It's crazy thin and it has a display case back! Shiny 904 steel is another plus.
Erebus -generic tool diver. The only stand-out feature are the colour options. But! Jody has made customers from his viewers. Genious move. That's a way to build a business, start with your personality. His second watch is much more attractive and I would buy it if I was buying a sports watch. I don't doubt he will refine the Origin into something nicer, or replace it with something nicer.
San Martin - the king of clomages. People like Rolex. People can't afford Rolex. People buy clomages. But it's not as simple: San Martin also copy Seiko and they have their own diver design, which is safe, but it standa out with the colour options. No idea what's their best seller, but they do business right.
I bought my seiko sne589, because i was looking for 1 watch for everything. I wear it for work, beach, hiking and traveling. I have it with a rubber strap. It is always spot-on: maybe 2 seconds per month. I do not mind scratches on it, this way it ot only tells time, it also keeps it, my memory logbook. I may consider a turtle or a captain willard in the future. I am not a fan of small diameters.
Parts of the Seiko, Oris and Longines lineups have you covered in terms of less conventional. As for Tudor (and it leans into premium lux for me) it has to be the P01. It’s fun + ugly.
What would you recommend as a watch to wear while surfing or swimming but can also be worn at work or dressed up. Budget $150. I love the look of Blancpain 50 fathoms. Hate the swatch collaboration
I just love this channel. Keep it up!
will try to 😀
Love the count up day counter at the end 👌🏻
I recently bought the Oris Aquis Bracenet. The relief bezel and super unique dial first grabbed my attention. But I keep finding more details, like the applied indices reflection of light or the subtle changes in the bracelet center link, that keeps holding my gaze.
The Supermarine is just a sleeper to me. I have no reason to even consider it when making a purchase. I do have a lot of dive watches, with my favorites being my Clerc Hydroscaph Vancouver Bay and GMT watches. The only Rolex diver I'm really interested in is the Yacht-Master with the rhodium dial. I had the original Yacht-Master many years ago, but it was the version with the cheap, stamped clasp, which annoyed me.
The supermarine is nice, but forgettable in a see of very similar offers 😊😊
Great Video! I’ve not watched anyone yet put out so much insight about a specific topic.
What do you think about Aquastar? Or Yema with their Morteau movement?
Lorier Neptune 4 is a microbrand that played it safe, like you said, and also not. Safe in that the inspiration was well known classic divers. Not safe in insisting on the hesalite crystal. In person that crystal is wonderful IMO.
A couple of points:
- This is one of the few video essays on dive watches that *doesn’t* bring up the ISO6425 manufacturing standard. Funnily enough, I’d say that’s a marketing point, especially for consumers looking at the “beater” category of dive watches. There’s nothing quite like the impression that the maker is being held to an outside universal standard, even if the legal force of that standard has the strength of soaked tissue paper.
- If I had to name a successful brand for the dive watch category, it’d be Seiko. At the higher end price points they offer conservative features such as different dial surfaces and designs, at the lower end they offer more functional features like solar quartz and digital displays. Citizen is even more successful at the beater end with its eco-drive features.
I don't take about ISO and METAS and german DIN standards often. They all have their place as approvals / certifications 😃
I really enjoy your themed videos! I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on other categories: pilot watches, GADA watches, etc
I think Tudor has been dominating the divers market for the last couple of years. Out of all of their offerings, there is something out there for everyone and they keep that classic timeless diver aesthetic.
Domination is spot on description of Tudor 😀😀
Another great video thank you, thought provoking as always. You're right about a convergence around design but isn't that the same with most retail segments. I would say it's less likely given the amount spent on watches versus shirts or sneakers but what if someone likes the brand Bremont (not me, ruined the logo) but wants something similar to a Submariner. The suits in corporate are saying we need to check a box in our lineup, copy something that works. Yes, it makes a world fairly uniform but the suits leave it up to another brand to be the guinea pig and try something new. If it works copy it. If not, they lean over to the next guy and are like "I told you it wasn't going to work."
Bingo. It is this corporate decision process that leads to these bland designs... 😀
The Citizen Orca (also the limited all black / PVD), The Citizen Aqualand JP2000 (+ the full lume dial version) are great dive watches, original, functional and attractive. The Orca may be polarizing. Great legibility. and they are iconic and on the budget side.
Mike -- I encourage you to take a look at Serica, in particular the 5303 COSC Chronometre 300m diver. It has a design aesthetic unlike anything else I've seen -- part Art-Deco'ish, part modern -- and comes with an absolutely sublime mesh bracelet. About as "non-convergent" as any diver I've ever seen. Black enamel dial, dual ceramic/stainless steel bezel, soft-iron cage. Having recently acquired and experienced the 5303, I feel it punches well above its weight.
Serica is a young (5 years old) Paris-based company taking an entirely different approach to watch design. Their 8315 GMT is also extremely unique. I'm tempted to pull the trigger on that one too.
I need a U50 for sure 👍🏻
If only it was about $750 cheaper. I still can’t see the value. Love the unique look.
@@WestCoastAce27 I am going to buy the all black with the hole luminor dial! I love sinn I live in Frankfurt 😜
@@affegorilla1299👍 - the previous all blk variant of the U50 is what I’d buy but unfortunately here in the States there’s no ability to get any type of deal. I’m hoping my company sends me back to Düsseldorf this yr.
It's on my list as well 😊😊
I'm surprised you didn't mention the Oris Aquis. Oris seem to have managed to do well with something of a unique innovative design, despite the non standard strap attachment mechanism.
Probably should have... Sometimes I just have to pick a few examples. The video would get even longer if I had to name drop even more 😀