Whether you are adventuring 50m below the ocean's surface or just like robust, well-made tool watches, dive models are arguably the most popular genre today. Many watches are called dive watches simply because they are 100m water resistant, but that does not necessarily mean a professional would opt to use them.
To pick the top five dive watches available from WatchGecko, we have opted to look at watches designed for purpose. These models will be highly durable, have supreme legibility, and offer water resistance without compromise. They may also have specialist features which allow for elapsed time measurement or decompression rates.
If you are in the market for a superior dive watch, take the plunge with us. Here are the top five choices for all budgets from the WatchGecko store:
Elliot Brown Holton Professional NIVO - Black - £475
Elliot Brown Holton Professional NIVO. Credit: WatchGecko.
The Elliot Brown Holton Professional range was designed in collaboration with the British Armed Forces. The 43mm case is made from 316L stainless steel, with anti-reflective matte gunmetal PVD and treated with an anti-fingerprint coating that naturally repels mud and grime. The watch is tested to 200m water resistance.
The style is unmistakably military/dive with a 120-click unidirectional bezel with superb tactile knurling hardened to 1200HV Vickers. Functional enhancements include the triple-sealed screw-down crown at 4H, tough 2mm anti-reflective sapphire crystal and solid screw-in strap bars for easy strap changes and maximum watch safety underwater. Each watch comes fitted on a durable EPDM rubber strap as standard.
The dial is supremely legible in low-light conditions thanks to the ultra-bright and long-lasting C3 SuperLuminova coating. The NIVO is powered by a reliable Swiss Ronda calibre 715 with a low-battery/end-of-life indicator that prevents the watch from being used with a low battery. It is housed inside a proprietary Elliot Brown anti-shock protection system consisting of a steel housing suspended by elastomer shock absorbers.
All in all, it is an outstanding package for less than £500.
NTH DevilRay Dive Watch - White - WatchGecko Exclusive - £575
NTH DevilRay Dive Watch - White - WatchGecko Exclusive. Credit: WatchGecko.
The inspiration for the white dial Devil Ray came from classic "polar dial" dive watches. The dial is a stark matte white, whilst the hour hand, seconds hand and markers are blacked out in order to achieve the highest contrast. The minute hand is bright orange for reading against the dive bezel, and the central crosshair is a nod to some of the most outstanding, vintage deep-sea dive watches.
The DevilRay's steel cushion case shrouds a 120-click, unidirectional bezel. This bezel features a saw-tooth edge with gloves and a steel dual-function insert for perfect manipulation.
The hands, markers, bezel, and crown are filled with X1 Super-LumiNova for excellent legibility in low-light conditions.
Each DevilRay is individually tested to a water resistance rating of 500m and features a double-domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal for superb scratch resistance. A Seiko NH38 automatic movement powers the DevilRay. The tried and tested calibre beats at a rate of 21,600 BPH with a 41-hour power reserve. NTH has taken the time to regulate the movement, and it will give an accuracy of -10/+20 seconds a day.
Geckota Ocean-Scout Dive Watch - Royal Blue - Berwick Stainless Steel Bracelet - £599
Geckota Ocean-Scout Dive Watch - Royal Blue - Berwick Stainless Steel Bracelet. Credit: WatchGecko.
This Dive watch encapsulates the timeless essence of ocean voyages and the quest for new horizons. With its exceptional craftsmanship and reliability, it will accompany you through every step (or splash) of the journey.
Machined from 316L marine-grade stainless steel, the Ocean-Scout case is built for endurance. The removal of crown guards pays homage to classic dive watches, and the anti-reflective sapphire box crystal further enhances the vintage aesthetic. The case between the lugs has been specially designed and shaped to accommodate steel or leather straps and, with particular attention to how a Military Nylon strap fits around a watch. A 60-minute diving bezel reinforces the watch's 200m water resistance capability.
This Ocean-Scout has a classic 3, 6, 9 dial design in Royal Blue. Each hour marker is crafted with raised and shaped luminescence. Sword hands complement the vintage theme established by the crown and crystal. A minute track circumnavigates the dial, and the second hand has been planned to the perfect length, just making contact with the track.
Low light legibility will never be an issue with the Ocean-Scout as the indices and hands are equipped with blue glow BGW9 Super Luminova. Powering the Ocean-Scout is an automatic Miyota 9039 movement, which falls within Miyota's Premium line. This competent unit offers 24 Jewels, Para Shock protection, a power reserve of 42 hours and an expected accuracy of between -10 to +30 seconds per day.
Squale 1521 Swiss Made Diver's Watch Black Dial Polished Case – Rubber - £1035
Squale 1521 Swiss Made Diver's Watch Black Dial Polished Case – Rubber. Credit: WatchGecko.
The Squale 1521 series is the pinnacle of a classic dive watch and has been available in its current design for almost 40 years, although the original Squale design is significantly older. Regarded as a groundbreaking dive watch from the 1970's, this watch was designed by Charles von Büren (the founder of Squale). The priority was to create an elegant yet robust watch that could live up to the high expectations of professional divers.
Details like the protected recessed crown, exceptionally legible handset, and ergonomic unidirectional bezel, combine to produce a true icon amongst dive watches. The 1521 range is powered by the tried and tested ETA 2824-2 automatic movement for accuracy and reliability in the harshest conditions. All 1521s feature a highly scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and have an exceptional water-resistance of 500 meters.
Squale has been manufacturing professional dive watches since 1959. Back then, dive watches were just emerging as a new category of tool watch, and Squale quickly established itself as a quality manufacturer of these crucial pieces of equipment. Today they still hold that enviable position.
Formex REEF Automatic Chronometer 39.5mm - Blue Dial / Blue Bezel - £1880
Formex Baby REEF Automatic Chronometer 39.5mm - Blue Dial / Blue Bezel. Credit: Formex.
FORMEX Baby REEF Automatic Chronometer COSC 300M Steel Bracelet / Silver Dial / Steel Bezel
FORMEX Baby REEF Automatic Chronometer COSC 300M Steel Bracelet / Blue Dial / Blue Bezel
FORMEX Baby REEF Automatic Chronometer COSC 300M Steel Bracelet / Green Dial / Green Bezel
The new 39.5mm REEF takes all the expected design characteristics of a professional 300m diver and gives them a healthy dose of reimagining.
Stubby hands give the watch a purposeful and strong look showing that functionality and legibility have clearly been considered along with aesthetics. BGW9 Super-LumiNova is generously applied on hands and indexes for low-light visibility in a blue glow.
The diving bezel is striking, constructed from Zirconium oxide ceramic which is highly resistant to all elements. The graduations and numbers are engraved by femto-laser pulsations with each bezel taking an astonishing 60 minutes of precision engraving to manufacture. The recessed bezel base allows the numbers to stand proud.
Well protected by the case and a double gasket secure crown beats a self-winding COSC-certified Sellita SW300 25 jewel movement with a custom-built skeleton rotor and thermally blued screws, offering a 42-hour power reserve. The watch wears as well as it describes. At 90g, it is not particularly heavy when considering the Omega Seamaster 300m, which starts at 110g+. The bracelet and rubber strap are both high quality and there is nothing that makes one superior to the other. The micro-adjustment clasp is also a very welcome addition.
As we have come to expect from Formex their entry into the professional dove market shakes the genre to its core with outstanding design and functionality.
Browse the full Dive Watch range on the WatchGecko store and let us know in the comments what you'd put on your Dive Watch Top 5!
