What divers watch would you choose for this summer?

15 June 2019 | Diving Watches

Summer is right around the corner; this means that buying or replacing your divers' watch is a judgment call. Joking apart, most of us who keep buying watches over and over again, usually affirm they need a wristwatch for the summer season. These days, the offering of divers watches is immense and covers every price point; moreover, brands like Seiko have dramatically expanded their collection of Prospex watches retailed across Europe, especially in Italy, and Citizen watches has further reinforced its leadership in the low-end with the new Aqualand series. When choosing a new divers' watch, many factors are in the game: there are, on the one hand, people looking for rugged products with top-notch specs, others are seeking for items that blend performance and style instead, and work underwater as they appeal at a late afternoon beach party.

You might want it to be large and bold, or small and classy like a sports watch, yet performing underwater. Let's then try and draft a list of five options priced between 500€ and 5,000€: all the timepieces listed in-here were unveiled at Baselworld over the last two or three years. As I recently explained in an article regarding some Limited Edition Omegas, in fact, you might be surprised to discover how many options you are offered if you expand your search over a period that is longer than the current year. Last but not least, if you're eager to buy a new divers' watch, do hurry up; as soon as the product demand grows, so will the price lists too.

The Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80.

The Tissot Seastar 1000 is not a 2019 novelty but has achieved a good market success so far. Officially introduced at Baselworld 2017, it never went under the spotlight, compared to more popular Tissot watches, like the T-Touch for example. With that said, the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 has all the features that make a modern entry-level divers watch comfortable to wear and use, without being an extremely professional tool watch; the transparent case back is proof positive it is more on every day, dressy side.

Tissot designers' aim was perhaps to showcase the Powermatic caliber 80, that belongs to the family of automatic long power reserve calibers produced by ETA expressly for some brands belonging to the Swatch Group. Among its pros is the stunning smoked blue dial, that symbolizes the deep sea, where the sunlight tends to fade gradually. The price point set at 695€ makes it highly attractive, even more so if you opt for the quartz operated chronograph (€495), despite I believe the three-hand automatic version is the one to go.

The Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive Aqualand BN2037-11E 30^th Anniversary.

The Promaster saga has turned thirty this year: thirty years marked by remarkable achievements with the Citizen Aqualand being the world's first divers watch equipped with a digital depth gauge, other than setting several milestones in the history of modern professional diving.

The standard Aqualand is still very popular, and the new version that we got to know at Baselword 2019 holds to the legendary original model. At Citizen, the intention was to esthetically replicate the first Aqualand as faithfully as possible, while replacing the old quartz caliber with state-of-the-art Eco-Drive technology. The Anniversary edition, the Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive Aqualand BN2037-11E 30^th Anniversary, is the top of the line variation of the new Aqualand collection, hence the most expensive, yet the most attractive thanks to the signature gold tones on the case. The price list is around € 700.

The Seiko Sumo.

I have often discussed how many new cool watches we can buy since Seiko officially opened the head-office in Italy. This move has guaranteed fans full access to many new options, with particular regard to the remarkable Prospex collection. This year has marked the update of an icon among Seiko's most admired divers watches: the Seiko Sumo.

The 2019 Seiko Sumo improves on virtually every aspect, and its specification is now in line, on paper, with the benchmark: the automatic caliber offers 70 hours of maximum power reserve, and a flat sapphire crystal has replaced the Hardlex glass. You can now opt for the soon to be discontinued version (that is cheaper than the new one) or go for the refreshed version whose price (€800) to quality ratio is unmatched.

The Mido Ocean Star Captain Titanium caliber 80.

The highest-selling Mido watch to date that has been this year joined by a professional 600m water resistant variant (soon to be reviewed, by the way) is still the best option if you're looking for a titanium watch with a mechanical movement. The success factor to the Captain Titanium caliber 80 is in something that is not so common in this specific segment.

The case is large but thin and light compared to similar models. Among entry-level divers watches, it can be regarded as an all-rounder that easily adapts to most occasions. Without talking dress watches, as it might look inappropriate here, to say the least, I can confidently affirm the Mido Ocean Star Captain Titanium caliber 80 is the only divers watch that can virtually adapt to everything, in its price range (1,000€ approximate).

The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M.

We had to take into account a high-end divers watch as this list comes to an end. Although Omega watches is this year most associated with the Apollo 11 celebrations, we should never forget Omega offers one of the most wearable and refined divers watches in the world. After receiving several updates in 2018 (alongside a consistent price increase) that include a new Master Chronometer certified automatic caliber, the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M collection expanded this year with the addition of a stunning black ceramic and titanium case variant, with no date window.

Ceramics is therefore no longer a taboo on a divers watch, and the new Seamaster Diver 300M has a whole new positioning compared to the past, with the cheapest version for him, showcasing a 42mm wide case and a rubber strap, retailing for € 4,700. When paired to the signature Seamaster steel bracelet, it is the most elegant divers watch in this list. Can you remember how sophisticated was Pierce Brosnan while wearing a full steel Seamster 300M, as the secret agent James Bond?

(Photo credit: Peter Tung for Horbiter®)

Gaetano C @Horbiter®

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