Preferred Brand of Dive Watches

[2Tours N Iraq`]

What is your favorite brand and type of dive watch? Do the more expensive watches with a more precise time keeping function make a difference or does a TIMEX™ get the job done? Digital or analog? Rubber watch band, stainless steel, or nylon and velcro? Put in your 2 cents worth and let the discussion begin!

[The Kraken]

2Tours,
A watch is pretty much a personal preference, as is most things related to scuba diving.
Is one watch any better than another? I doubt that anyone on the board has any empirical studies done showing the abilities of one watch over another.
That said . . .
I have two dive watches, the Luminox "Seal" watch and the Citizen Hyper Aqualand.
The Luminox is a very good, bright servicable watch.
I like the Citizen because it can serve as a back up timer and depth gauge for my dive computer. I also like it because it will store dive data and allow the user to download to a computer.

As far as a band goes, I ALWAYS REMOVE THE STANDARD BAND AND REPLACE WITH A VELCRO BAND. The reason I do this is that if one of the band pins breaks and falls away I won't lose the whole watch. I learned this the hard way many, many, many years ago.

[O2BBubbleFree]

As far as a band goes, I ALWAYS REMOVE THE STANDARD BAND AND REPLACE WITH A VELCRO BAND. The reason I do this is that if one of the band pins breaks and falls away I won't lose the whole watch. I learned this the hard way many, many, many years ago.

Yeah, I haven't lost one, but got warned early. I did find one, a real nice Casio 200m aviators watch that had one broken pin.

My watch (casio GShock) I have strapped to my wrist slate (got tired of so many straps around my wrist).

A trick I was told for the standard band is to tie a large rubber band to the buckle loop (you know, pass part of the rubber band through the buckle loop, then pass the rubber band through itself, tying it on with a 'lark's head' knot.) Then after you put the watch on pass the rubber band over your wrist. This way if one pin breaks the rubber band is still holding the watch band to your wrist.

Personally, I would rather replace the band.

[steve2281]

I use a Casio also. Six years on the same battery, this thing has been used and abused but still works great. Stopwatch function is good for a bottom timer or timing your safety stop. Works for me...steve

[RonFrank]

What is your favorite brand and type of dive watch? Do the more expensive watches with a more precise time keeping function make a difference or does a TIMEX™ get the job done? Digital or analog? Rubber watch band, stainless steel, or nylon and velcro? Put in your 2 cents worth and let the discussion begin!

I have a Atmos II, and it's the best dive *watch* one can get, or I should say that I use the dive computer much more than my watch.

I also have a Timex Helix el-cheapo dive watch. I dove with it a couple weeks back to 75', and for a bottom timer, and a depth guage it works well for the $30 I paid for it. My one complaint is that the band... barely.. goes over my 7mm suit. If I wear gloves and a 7mm suit, the band is too small.

I have a Citizen Chrono titanium watch as well. This is analog. This is my everyday watch, and it's great, but will NOT go over a wetsuit. I mainly like this watch because I don't like to have to remember to take off my watch before jumping into a shower, or the pool.

If you want status, you NEED a Rolex. Sure they don't keep time worth a damn, and they cost as much as a used car, but hey, it's a Rolex!!

[Stirling]

For ages I had a Seiko dive watch that worked beautifully and cost about $120 or so back in the early 70s. Last year it stopped keeping time accurately, and when I sent it in for cleaning and repair I was told that it could be repaired but not made waterproof again (change in design, the right parts no longer available).

After looking around for a while, I replaced it with a Tissot Seastar 1000. It says it can go down to 1000 feet, but the only way it's going that deep is by itself. In fact, the first one I got clouded up with condensation after being submerged in a swimming pool last summer, and it had to be replaced. I don't know if I screwed up, but I don't think I did; in any case, they replaced it without a fuss.

I got a Timex Ironman Triathlon or whatever they call it to have an inexpensive watch to wear traveling and diving, but I've discovered that I really can't read the digital display comfortably. So I'm wearing the Tissot, after all. It's a pretty nice watch, but I would have been happy to keep the Seiko for another 30 years if it hadn't given up on me.

[cudachaser]

My favorite,

Freestyle...plus if anything goes wrong with them even after warrenty...put it in a box and ship back to Freestyle with $15 and the send you a new watch

Joe

[jdf]

Luminox is a great dive watch. Very easy to turn the bezel underwater and the yellow face is very bright. Plus they don't cost a fortune, so if you lose it your not out hundreds of $$. I think mine was $125 online. Also, you don't have to take them off for airport security since they are all plastic and a breeze to go through the detectors. I flooded mine accidentally (my own fault) and they replaced it without any hassles. I had a freestyle before this one and it was very hard to see underwater, now I just keep it for everyday use.

Janet

[boxcar]

2Tours,
As far as a band goes, I ALWAYS REMOVE THE STANDARD BAND AND REPLACE WITH A VELCRO BAND. The reason I do this is that if one of the band pins breaks and falls away I won't lose the whole watch. I learned this the hard way many, many, many years ago.

FWIW you can also replace the 2 piece band with a branched strap that threads through itself so that it will hold the watch if one pin fails... The ones I've seen have a buckle and provided an alternative to Kraken's suggestion if you don't like velcro.

In response to the original topic, I have a Seiko automatic/selfwinding with a locking bracelet band which I wear everyday... that has served well for 4 years now...and looks as good as ever. No upkeep, no worries (touch wood). $150 well spent.

[Xman]

Astina 1000m with helium escape valve. Never know when I might need to do some extended saturation diving. Hang on, yes I do... Never.
Nice watch anyway, and you know that it isn't going to have any problems within the 70m that it might potentially get exposed to.

[Hoosier]

Whenever I got this kind of thread about the dive watch, I think it should be discussed separately on either a pure(?) dive watch (only time and bezzel) or a featured dive watch (including temp, depth, timer, etc....) Otherwise, it is hard to compare and discuss the watch. My 2 cent!

[MoonWrasse]

For the past decade I've been using a Timex Expedition watch for daily/beach/swim/diving. If I lose one I just go to my local Target boutique and buy a new one for 20 bucks. I've only lost one, in the surf, searching for a boy's lost frisbee.

For my main dive piece I use a Suunto Stinger, but I don't want to risk wearing it everyday walking around town.
The funny thing is that someone I know saved their Stinger from being lost in last December's tsunami because they wore it everyday. So much for logic ;)

[pjomm]

Hello,

My favourite dive watch is my OMEGA Seamaster. It is simply unlikely to fail. It doesn't need winding, batteries and should never leak (Water Resistant to 1000 feet)
I also like that th bezel stay in place unless you really turn it. I have found with some of my other watches that the bezel moves too easily.

I also dive with a citizen hyperaqualand. It is a dive logger and serves as a back up for my dive computer. It's a good watch. I think at some point I will invest in the NX. The only complaint I have about this watch is that the ascent alarm is a little too sensisitve. If I move my hand rapidly underwater it will go off.

All the best,

Paul

[kidspot]

Since no one has mentioned it yet (it seems to come up every time this topic is discussed) ... Walmart/K-Mart has $5 watches that are waterproof, plus if you loose it or it does happen to flood, it's only a $5 watch - so not a big loss. They are usually only waterproof to 50 or 100meters, still if it works for a year, that's a pretty good deal. I happened to already have a casio G-shock but when it breaks/floods/gets lost, I'll probably pick up one of those Walmart "Aqualand" watches again.

Aloha, Tim

[decoeric]

I have an Omega Seamaster and a Rolex Submariner. I love the Omega, the bezel is solid and only turns when you try to turn it, so it is a nice solid watch. It also has a helium release value, which is kind of cool...

My Rolex Submariner is completely bomb proof. That is all that is needed to be said about that watch, In my opinion the Rolex Sea Dweller is the only "dive" watch that is better that the Submariner. The Sea Dweller is good to 4000ft, come on.. So in order of hierarchy you got the King: The Rolex Sea Dweller, The Queen: The Rolex Submariner and all of the rest...

[sdstahl]

I have a Breitling Super Ocean, nice watch takes a beating and still looks great. Plus it's good to 5000 feet if you ever feel the urge.

[Geezer]

2Tours,
A watch is pretty much a personal preference, as is most things related to scuba diving.
Is one watch any better than another? I doubt that anyone on the board has any empirical studies done showing the abilities of one watch over another.
That said . . .
I have two dive watches, the Luminox "Seal" watch and the Citizen Hyper Aqualand.
The Luminox is a very good, bright servicable watch.
I like the Citizen because it can serve as a back up timer and depth gauge for my dive computer. I also like it because it will store dive data and allow the user to download to a computer.

As far as a band goes, I ALWAYS REMOVE THE STANDARD BAND AND REPLACE WITH A VELCRO BAND. The reason I do this is that if one of the band pins breaks and falls away I won't lose the whole watch. I learned this the hard way many, many, many years ago.

I'll second the above - because that's what I use as well, except for the band - I prefer "Waterborne" bands.

[Freeflyer]

Omega seamaster. Didn't buy it as a specific dive watch, but I was working offshore and wanted and automatic watch as batteries will always die when you can't get to a shop. Took me 3 years to realise you can't justify the money for an omega or rolex, I just wanted that watch, and could afford to buy it at the time.

Now that I dive regularly it's my back up timer.

A timex keeps more accurate time and is much cheaper, but I love my omega and will probably pass it on in my will.

J.

[grilla]

Agree with almost everything thats already been said - especially replacing the band with velcro. I too lost a nice Seiko when a pin broke. I recently went to New York City and bought an "alleged" Rolex Submariner for $50. Looks nice but I bet it wouldn't take more than a splash from a hose to flood it. The real reason I wanted to add my 2 cents worth - Aqua Tech. $5-6 at Wal Mart. Rated good to 3 atm. I've had mine to 120' and no problems. It has the basic stopwatch feature and relatively big buttons which are good for dry gloves. The real deal - if you lose it - so what. Like anything else - I buy the expensive sunglasses and lose them or break them in a week. The cheap ones - had them for years

[Hoosier]

I bet Omega Seamaster. It is a nice watch like its name. I can't deny that Rolex Sea Dweller is the best dive watch and put it on "King" position, but Submariner is~~~~'NO.'

Seamaster is the better deal in the relatively lower price range than the Submariner that is the entry level model in Rolex line. Rolex Sea Dweller is definately in my wish list.;)

[Firebrand]

I have a Seiko Kinetic dive watch. I love it, but I can't wear it with a wetsuit and gloves. However, if I forego the gloves, it fits.

[WellBelowH2O]

I bet Omega Seamaster. It is a nice watch like its name. I can't deny that Rolex Sea Dweller is the best dive watch and put it on "King" position, but Submariner is~~~~'NO.'

Seamaster is the better deal in the relatively lower price range than the Submariner that is the entry level model in Rolex line. Rolex Sea Dweller is definately in my wish list.;)

I love my Sea Dweller, and although it doesn't keep very good time, it is a great watch. I always joke with my wife that if something should happen while I'm diving and I sink to the bottom of the ocean, she can always get my Rolex back and it will still work. It won't have the right time, but it'll still work ;)

[Nemrod]

"I recently went to New York City and bought an "alleged" Rolex Submariner for $50. Looks nice but I bet it wouldn't take more than a splash from a hose to flood it."

It may say Rolex on it but it ain't no Rolex--it is a fake.

I think Rolex is a bit over rated, I would prefer Heuer, DOXA and Omega and maybe a few others but the Rolex is indeed a fine watch.

For those who do not know, there is a dive watch forum listed under equationoftime.com

N

[Hoosier]

You think so?

Rolex isn’t just watch. Like other member mentioned, it doesn’t keep very good time. It is still built with the traditional way, automatic design. Functional wise, I am sure that Timex DM is much better deal. But, people buy Rolex for their status, passion, artmanship.


I think Rolex is a bit over rated, I would prefer Heuer, DOXA and Omega and maybe a few others but the Rolex is indeed a fine watch. N

[wcl]

Hi,

I have had two so far:

- St. Moritz Momentum M1: Great basic dive watch, good bezel, fine to read underwater, decent value (~$70). Velcro band: easy to don and adjust, works over a range of skin and exposure suits, secure against single pin breakage; BUT: the end of the velcro strap really needs a keeper, or it can get peeled open when snagged (especially as it gets older ... my wife dropped hers once, furtunately recovered by another diver with us).

- Swatch Scuba Fun Watch: Newly acquired last Christmas, this is one of those new "toy" bottom timer and depth guage watches. Comes in many styles, so ease of reading is highly variable. Worked just fine on last trip, saved one of our boat dives when computer died (we were prepared with table info, so time and depth are all we really needed). Rubber strap: long enough for range of exposure suit use, pin is installed like door hinge (pin goes through several loops on both band and watch, interleaved ... can't see how it could break in any simple way and let go). Reliability still open question, of course, being new. It IS cool!

My US$0.02, adjust for inflation over time.

Cheers,
Walter

[2Tours N Iraq`]

Thanks for all the input but based on my limited budget, I decided to get a Luminox Navy SEALS series II dive watch. I should be getting it in a couple of days and I'll keep everyone posted on how it fairs against the sands of Iraq followed by how it performs when I get certified while on my R&R. Once again, thanks for all the input.

[dlndavid]

My favorite,

Freestyle...plus if anything goes wrong with them even after warrenty...put it in a box and ship back to Freestyle with $15 and the send you a new watch

Joe

Hey Joe,
Thanks for the input. I have a Freestyle Hammerhead, and the bezel ratcheting seems a little funny, I may have bumped it. Might try the $15 dollar return.

[ghrousseau]

I have a Tag 200 meter SS professional series. It's not a big as my friends Seamaster or his Submariner but it gets the job done. I wear it as my daily timepiece and as a backup to my computer. Nice watch.................a birthday gift 3 years ago. No regrets.

[Nemrod]

"Rolex isn’t just watch. Like other member mentioned, it doesn’t keep very good time. It is still built with the traditional way, automatic design. Functional wise, I am sure that Timex DM is much better deal. But, people buy Rolex for their status, passion, artmanship."

Not sure what you were saying when you quoted me Hoosier. I was not talking about a Timex. Heuer, DOXA and Oris and many others build mechanical autowinding and manual winding watches with equal quality to the Rolex. Rolex was just first to gain a large following in this country thus they are more widely known here than some other Swiss watches that are at least their equal. That is not to be taken as a bad statement against Rolex, they do make a fine watch. The Seiko Marine Master (japanese) and the DOXA Subs and the Heuer Aquagraph are all mechanical waches made with the same passion and detail as the Rolex and some are quite a bit rarer and come from very old companies that are quiet famous and equally legendary. Mechanical watches are the only way to go, quartz is good for a beater but real watches have gears and springs. N

[kgdiver]

I tend to agree with Nemrod. While Rolex does make a nice watch I don't think it is a better watch than many of the others mentioned above like Omega. Rolex is massed produced and far from unique. They are simple, fairly well made, but IMO overpriced for what you get. That said I am wearing one today from circa 1958 and own a few more.

Years ago Rolex was what we in America thought was the most prestigious watch out there. Now as other brands have become more main stream and the population becomes familiar with other brands Rolex is loosing there market share. Europe has long known about fine watches where the US is just coming around.

There are many many good watches out there. But if I am going to be paying that kind of money on a watch I don't want it to be that common (There are over 1,000,000.00 produced each year). I think brands like IWC, Panerai, Bell & Ross are a few examples of some great watches.

(Oh yeah. I'm in the fine watch business)

[dschonbrun]

KG, Rolex has never been the most prestigious watch, it was the most marketed... the most prestigious name was more likely Patek. But, it depends on the nature of timing... at moments, Heuer and Omega were top marketers as well.

[kgdiver]

KG, Rolex has never been the most prestigious watch, it was the most marketed... the most prestigious name was more likely Patek. But, it depends on the nature of timing... at moments, Heuer and Omega were top marketers as well.

Very true. But ask your average American what the most prestigious is. 9 times out of 10 I hear Rolex. Patek is for people that know better.

There are a few in this category. Patek, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantine, Breguet and on and on. They are known in the industry as "The Old Ladies of Watchmaking".

But even these prestigious brands are not nearly the most expensive pieces I sell. Currently that is Richard Mille at about $50,000-$500,000 depending on the model. I don't sell those one's every day though!

Sorry to have taken the thread off topic.

Back to dive watches....

[dschonbrun]

Mille is very nice, but there are far more exotic as you know. Baumgartner and the watches coming out of his partnership with Hysek is one thought. The Opus watches from HW... Opus V was designed by Baumgartner. The new Laboratory from Jaeger Lecoultre is the first mechanical that doesn't require lubrication... and then there are Oeschler's works for both the indi watchmakers and Nardin... the automaton, Freak, Freak Diamonsil, The famed Trio and many others. My most prized piece is a GP pocket repeater from 1865, all original, triple signed from Le Locle. So yes, it's all relative.

[kgdiver]

I think the Opus is a very innovative watch. Urwerk are very intriguing to me in general as well. I actually got to meet with Dr. Ludwig Oechslin in Le Loc at about 2 years ago at Rolf Schnyders house. He is absolutely brilliant. I have many watches in my collection but my Nardin seams to get the most wear these days. I dont have a JLC but respect the brand a lot.

[ACR]

St. Moritz Momentum M1: Great basic dive watch, good bezel, fine to read underwater, decent value (~$70).

Agreed, I'm wearing the M1 now... good to 200m though you can always get an upgraded model like the "superstorm" that'll handle 500m. They also have a great warranty.

[aquaticmatt]

Agreed, I'm wearing the M1 now... good to 200m though you can always get an upgraded model like the "superstorm" that'll handle 500m. They also have a great warranty.

Agreed as well. Have been wearing St. Moritz for over 10 years now.

[Nismo]

I like St Moritz due to it's service program. Their price range is great too. I got the Aquamatic since I wanted an Auto. I like the traditional diver style that Rolex seems to have started. It looks so simple, clean, elegant, and sporty. I wonder if people who say that their Rolex does not keep good enough time, don't understand an automatic watch, don't know they need routine service, it got damaged some how, or it's just bad. I know auto's aren't as good but my under $400 swiss auto is close enough that it only loses one minute a month. It may not be exact but it's sure good enough to time a dive if it's losing 2 seconds every 24 hours. Don't think I'm going to end up in a decompression dive over a fraction of a second. I think there are some good auto's out there for much cheaper than Rolex. Seiko's are good and can get them hacking and windable. St Moritz and Tissot are really good considering their price. Once you get to $1000 and up I feel you are paying for some fine tuning but I think mostly the name. However as a 007 fan I would buy a Seamaster tomorrow if funding allowed for it.

[mike_s]

. I like the traditional diver style that Rolex seems to have started. It looks so simple, clean, elegant, and sporty. .

You point out something that is worth noting....

the traditional style that Rolex seems to have started is the standard that many of the other analog dive watches with the racheting bezel have copied.

[DiverBizz]

I found a Tag Heuer Professional watch and it is great...I can use it to for my next dive...the face is large...

[dschonbrun]

The most important thing to me about a dive watch (assuming I also have a computer, and this is only being used to time the dive) is that it is large and readable... and that the bezel or rotateable with some kind of marker for start or finish.

[bvmjethead]

Watchuseek Watch Forums (http://forums.watchuseek.com)

[DiverBizz]

Originally Posted by dschonbrun http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/../images/pxnavyblue/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/91355-preferred-brand-dive-watches-4.html#post3326307)
KG, Rolex has never been the most prestigious watch, it was the most marketed... the most prestigious name was more likely Patek. But, it depends on the nature of timing... at moments, Heuer and Omega were top marketers as well.
I am not putting a watch that costs as much as my car in the ocean. Guess I am not buying a Rolex dive watch.