TICKING UNDER PRESSURE
It’s whale shark and manta ray season in dive spots around the world now, so go ahead and pack one of these reliable dive watches with your gear.
OYSTER PERPETUAL ROLEX DEEPSEA
There is something reassuring about a watch that meets the exacting requirements of professional divers — a watch like the Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea, with its unbelievable depth rating of 3,900m. The Rolex Deepsea was updated in 2022 with the subtlest of changes, such as a slimmer bezel and larger date window, proving that this perennial diver’s favourite is still going strong. In 2014, Rolex released a commemorative version of the Rolex Deepsea sporting a deep-blue to pitch- black gradient dial, echoing James Cameron’s DEEPSEA CHALLENGE expedition to the deepest point in the ocean, partnered by Rolex and the National Geographic Society.
TUDOR BLACK BAY REF. 7941A1A0RU
Don’t mistake this for the same burgundy Black Bay from 2012. This popular diver has enjoyed some important improvements from last year, not the least of which is a METAS-certified manufacture calibre MT5602-U, which means it is accurate to 0/+5 seconds per day and resistant to magnetism to 15,000 gauss. The 41mm steel case is also a little thinner now at 13.6mm thick and comes with the option of a new five-link bracelet.
Find out more at TUDORWATCH.COM
GRAND SEIKO
EVOLUTION 9 SLGA023
Only Grand Seiko can combine the ruggedness of a tool watch with the elegance of nature. This bulky 43.8mm and 13.8mm thick blue diver is crafted from the brand’s High-Intensity Titanium so the heft is bearable and features a navy ceramic insert and a blue “Ushio” (Japanese for “tide”) textured dial that echoes the waves of the ocean. The 9RA5 Spring Drive calibre offers five days of power reserve and will beat safely in depths of up to 200m.
Find out more at GRAND-SEIKO.COM
BELL & ROSS
BR 03-92 DIVER BLACK & GREEN BRONZE
Bronze has been a fun alternative to traditional case materials precisely because of how imperfectly they maintain their appearance, taking on a charming patina over time as it oxidizes. But the alloy has always worked best with diving watches given bronze’s historical usefulness in maritime equipment due to their resistance to corrosion, and Bell & Ross’ latest diver now rocks a vibrant green dial with a black unidirectional bezel. The BR-CAL.302 automatic movement will be safe in depths up to 300m.
RADO
CAPTAIN COOK HIGH-TECH CERAMIC DIVER REF. R32144102
Stainless steel and titanium are common materials for dive watches, which makes Rado’s Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Diver such a refreshing proposition. Thanks to a plasma treatment, the monobloc ceramic case and bracelet links have contrasting matte and polished surfaces typically only achievable with metals, but retain ceramic’s light weight, scratch- resistance, and hypoallergenic properties. This is the first Rado watch to bear the ISO 6425 certification and is water resistant to 300m.
