Wrist watch

[Narragansett]

For the last 10 years, I have been using Orient Mako Dive watches. I am on my second on, and they keep good time. Less than 100.00 new. I have been thinking about a new watch. Without getting nuts( like Rolex), has anybody got a favorite dive or field watch?

 

[H Richard]

Not nearly as expensive a a Rolex, but built as strong (Cert. to 200 meters), and as heavy. Tag Heuer. They have numerous models. This one has the 18K Rose Gold bezel. Retails in the $1500 range but can be found a fair amount lower if you search.

 

[rwsmith]

If you w ant to go REALLY nuts.....

If you want to go really nuts shop for a Audemars Piguet.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Sinn!
Best bang for the buck IMO.

I wear Rolex BTW.

 

[kwselke]

I've been wearing a Seiko Pro Diver, water resistant to 200 meters, battery powered quartz, for the last 22 years. It probably made about 100 dives with me before I quit diving, but it is constantly on my wrist and takes punishment every day.

The first ten years I had it it used a battery every five years. The batteries then started lasting a bit over a year, I had a watchmaker do a major servicing on it several years back ($150); now I get about two years per battery. It has gained three seconds per month since I bought it and the only times I reset it are when the battery is replaced or there is a daylight savings time change.

I've heard the new kinetic electric Seikos must go back to Seiko for servicing. The last time I looked was when I had my watch serviced and there still were battery powered Seikos available.

Edit: Added picture of my worn bezel.

 

[dcxplant]

As an environmentalist, I cannot bear to wear anything other than a watch with a renewable source of energy.

Rolex GMT!!

 

[Bill Bates]

For the last 10 or 12 years a DOXA Sub 600T Professional has been the watch on my wrist. It is an automatic, keeps great time and has the Navy dive table on the bezel. With a service every five or six years I think it will outlast me.

I just looked at it and I guess it is time to send it off for service and to have the numbers repainted. It still keeps great time but it doesn't look like this old photos anymore.

 

[Damn Yankee]

Do those ultra expensive watches keep better time than a plain Casio?

 

[mkk41]

Been wearing the same Wenger for 13yrs now. It's held up to swimming in depths up to 10ft , daily bumping and banging around machinery and lots of hours vibrating on my motorcycle handlebars. It's taken a beating ten-fold and keeps damn near perfect time. Only gained a few seconds on the world clock , and that's probably from when I need to change it for DST. Had to replace the crystal about a year ago. And when it went in for the crystal replacement , I bought another Wenger to have as a temp and back-up.

I've heard some of the Smith & Wesson tritium dive watches are made by Wenger too.

 

[mstuhr]

My how things change

Howdy,
My how things change. This Lord Elgin Aquamaster was once described as a "Dive watch" probably from late fifties or sixties.
I'd be scared to take a bath with it.
It makes a decent dress watch for me.


Thanks
Mike

 

[mkk41]

For the last 10 or 12 years a DOXA Sub 600T Professional has been the watch on my wrist. It is an automatic, keeps great time and has the Navy dive table on the bezel. With a service every five or six years I think it will outlast me.

I just looked at it and I guess it is time to send it off for service and to have the numbers repainted. It still keeps great time but it doesn't look like this old photos anymore.

How many of us are actually gonna be diving to 200 meters?

 

[Rule3]

DILLON!

I like the Citizen Eco Drive watches .

Been wearing one for I can not remember how many years (long time) it's been dropped, submerged in salt water continuously, never take it off and it never missed a beat.

 

[chief38]

The most accurate watch I've ever had I've ever had was my Tag Heuer that I gave to my son when he went away to college. The watch I have now is my Rolex President Day/Date. Yes, that is expensive these days but I have been down between 40 and 100 feet repeatedly with it, have gone water skiing, boating, shooting and hunting with it and it has NEVER failed me or leaked!

I know it may not be designated as a "Diver's Watch", but it really is the most durable, water resistant watch I have ever owned. I can not tell you how many watches I've gone through (leaked) that WERE designated Diver's watches.

I have owned it for 22 years now and only recently have had it serviced - and not because it gave me any problems, the original face was Champagne and I could no longer see what time it was. I had them switch the face to Black and now can see the time easily because of the great contrast between the hands and the face.

If you don't want to spend a fortune, I would say get a Tag Heuer - as it is the best bang for the buck IMHO.

 

[Bill Bates]

Do those ultra expensive watches keep better time than a plain Casio?

Nope most of the automatics will not even come close for time accuracy as some of the cheap electronic watches which can be scary accurate. A good automatic will do well to be within a few seconds of accuracy over a months time.

It is nice to never worry about a battery or winding a watch. I like my DOXA automatic because it is reliable as my Smith & Wessons. When diving, even in this day and age of dive computers, I set my bezel for my planned dive. At 130 feet I don't worry about it flooding but most dive watches at the depths of recreational dives flooding isn't a problem. It is shock resistant enough to handle large caliber recoil.

A good sturdy automatic, with minimal service, is something you will be able to hand down to your grandkids. Of course by then they will not use watches just whatever is the current version of the smart phone.

 

[kozmic]

I like automatics but I'm a bit rough on them and feel better wearing a less expensive quartz watch if I know I'll be banging it around. I don't currently have a dive-specific watch but I have several that are well suited for the exposure I give them.

 

[kamloops67]

i tried for years to wear a watch, kept destroying them. finally just gave up use my cell instead, i keep destroying those too!
ive never tried an "expensive" watch, are they stronger, more impact resistant? it would make me sick to crush a 1500+ dollar watch!

 

[jinx]

Years ago I put together enough money to buy a Rolex Submariner, not because I am a diver, but because I wanted something that was tough and would last. Was tired of breaking watches due to my work. This watch has never failed.
It says on the face that it is good to 300 meters under water. I live in Wyoming, don't think there is water any where near that deep within a 1000 miles of me.
I would ask a favor of the good folks here on the forum. Should any one ever hear of me being 300 meters under water, please ask a man of the cloth to come by and say a few words over me. I'm probably not coming back up.

 

[perrazi]

have been wearing a rolex submariner since early 1973, still my only watch, but thinking about something different. maybe one of the breitling pilot watches.

 

[Maze 686]

Seiko Monster. Automatic dive watch.

Mine is Orange and I bought my son a yellow one. I really like the yellow one. We prefer using the rubber instead of the metal bands.

They can be boought on line for around $200.

 

[Gunsnwater]

Casio G-shock solar, atomic, 200meters. Seventy dollars at Walmart. I wear it all the time. Cristal is recessed and never gets damaged. Over ten yrs in maintenance at a steel mill. Ugly everything I hate in a watch and it's my favorite.