The Ultimate Dive Watches

Published on 21 March 2022

Everybody loves a dive watch. It doesn’t matter if you know your decompression stops from your dive computer. The purposeful appeal of a well-made dive watch is hard to pass up. Not just any watch can be a diver; a modern dive watch needs to meet the requirements laid out in ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) 6425. To earn the title of a dive watch, it must have at least 100M of water resistance, a pre-selecting timing device protected from inadvertent manipulation (for example; a unidirectional bezel), good legibility and must meet requirements for magnetic and shock resistance.

That covers off the foundation of what a dive watch is, but far more impactful is what a dive watch represents; reliability and the chance for adventure. Here are three examples that are just perfect for underwater exploration.

01. Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Mariner Date

The Polaris Mariner Date is a standout diver for several reasons. First of all, the 42mm steel watch doesn’t look like your typical dive watch. Largely that’s because the dive bezel is internal and operated by the second crown. In addition, the Polaris Mariner Date boasts an absolutely stunning blue lacquered dial with bold orange highlights. On top of that, the case and bracelet are sleek and refined, making this a very capable but very under the radar dive watch.

02. Panerai Submersible 42mm

If the Jaeger-LeCoultre is a stealth diver, this Panerai is a full-on battleship, a large and in charge watch that carries its underwater heritage proudly. Panerai is, of course, famous for their dive designs, and this Submersible is a great example. The 42mm steel case, combined with the iconic crown lever, makes for a statement. At the same time, the blue ceramic bezel and the textured grey dial is a colour palette that manages to be both striking and surprisingly subtle. The rubber strap is a reminder that this is a watch ready for anything, and the automatic P.900 is more than up to the task, with three days power reserve.

03. IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition “Expedition Charles Darwin”

IWC pays tribute to one of the great scientific voyages of discovery with this superb 44mm diver, which does things differently. First of all, it’s a chronograph, powered by the IWC-manufactured 89365 calibre. Even though it’s a little more complicated than your average dive watch, it’s still water-resistant to 300M. Like the Polaris, this Aquatimer features an internal rotating bezel, but unlike the Polaris, there’s nothing stealthy about this large bronze case, which will, like all bronze watches, develop a unique and distinctive patina. On top of this, the alloy offers exceptional corrosion resistance, which is just what you want in a piece of serious underwater equipment.