Dive Watches: A Comparison of 6,500 Meters' Worth

mycroft · 2024-10-14T20:18:51Z

Left to right: Panerai Luminor Submersible - 300m (cal. Valjoux 7750 derivative) weight=133g; case material - Ti Seiko Prospex MarineMaster 1000m SBDX 011 (cal.

Left to right:

Panerai Luminor Submersible - 300m (cal. Valjoux 7750 derivative)

weight=133g; case material - Ti

Seiko Prospex MarineMaster 1000m SBDX 011 (cal. 8L35C - 9S55 Grand Seiko derivative; Power Reserve=50hrs)

weight=147g; case material - Ti monocoque, hard-coated, Ceramic shroud)

Omerga Seamaster PloProf 1200m (cal, 8500 co-axial, dual barrels; Power Reserve=60hrs)

weight=272g; case material - SS 316L

Sinn U1 Limited Black Tegmented coating 1000m (cal ETA 2824 derivative)

weight=161g; Submarine SS, surface treatment, tegmented-coating

IWC Porsche Design Ocean 2000 (cal. 375 - ETA 2892-A2 derivative; Power Reserve=42hrs)

weight=111g; case material - Ti

Decided not to get the DeepSea for the moment.

MY VIEWS ONLY:

Most comfortable watch - Ocean 2000
Most practical dive watch - MM 1000
Best Movement (arguably) - tie between MM1000 & PloProf
Best decorated movement - Cal 8500
Most technologically advanced case - MM 1000, (monocoque Ti hard-coated; ceramic shroud, L-shaped crystal & gasket)
Best legibility - U1, followed by Ocean 2000
Best night luminescence - not tested
Helium impermiable cases (eliminates need for He valve as point of weakness in case design) - MM 1000, Ocean 2000, U1
Largest & thickest watch - PloProf, closely followed by MM 1000

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congrats on the Ploprof!

By: SJX : August 30th, 2009-04:34

I agree wholeheartedly with the verdict of ocean 2000 as most comfortable. - SJX

The PloProf caseback ...

By: mycroft : August 30th, 2009-08:23

... is a strange beast. The original casework was a singlepiece monocoque SS case. The latest version is said to be a 2 piece caseback. I am not sure how this is executed, but could it have adopted the DeepSea Ti/SS caseback principle with a compression r...

I'll do my own comparison soon...

By: SJX : August 30th, 2009-20:03

after you inspired me. My collection is but a fraction of yours though; I only have two of the five you picture. Maybe a third will be trundling along soon thanks to some evil influence. - SJX

So you should consider this one...

By: foversta : August 30th, 2009-12:20

Pita's Oceana: Anounced to be water resistant 5000m. Fr.Xavier...

Excellent collection...

By: BDLJ : August 30th, 2009-19:09

...I've been wondering about the MarineMaster for ages. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you view it) it just doesn't fit on my wrist. Wonderful watch, though.

I'm a bit stunned, Mycroft....

By: MTF : August 31st, 2009-02:55

...as I didn't see you as a hard core diving porpoise! Nice range of the more unusual or 'rare' pieces. MTF

Actually, ...

By: mycroft : August 31st, 2009-06:45

..., I appear to be returning (some will say - regressing) to my roots. I started off with an interest in dive watches. They were/are the epitome of ruggedness, durability, reliability and legibility that has always fascinated me from very young! I of cou...

I fully understand....

By: MTF : August 31st, 2009-07:39

As we are of similar vintage, I fully comprehend your regression. I went through a similer phase until realisation dawned upon me that by the time I could afford: "high fidelity" sound systems, I could not hear the top frequencies anymore high power autom...

Ditto regarding hi-fi systems . . .

By: Dr No : August 31st, 2009-10:49

. . . differences between components that could be discerned a few decades ago are problematic now. Wistfully, Art

Thanks for the pics, mycroft,

By: masterspiece : September 1st, 2009-15:28

and the practical comparison. As one surrounded by the vast Pacific, I've yet to acquire a diver of any brand. Aloha, Bob