Sport and Dive Watches
Diving watches as Fashion Statements
by on Aug.09, 2010, under Military Watches, Sport and Dive Watches, Watches of the World
You probably already knew that diving watches—while certainly acceptable for diving—are marketed just as much for non-divers as they are hardcore divers and military units. The latter explains why. A diving watch as a fashion statement can take all the qualities of a toned, tanned elite diver and incorporate all them into the watch. Who knew that watches could serve such a powerful fashion metaphor?
Up your cool factor
Whether diving watches have fancy movements, triple-time zones or artfully-crafted dials and bezels, you can be sure that they will make a statement about your person. These pieces of wrist-wear are made for both sexes and give nearly anyone that cool, svelte look that only three-piece suits and lace-up Rockports could only fathom doing. Not only are diver watches cool-as-hell, and not only do they go to super-duper great depths in the sea—they also evoke a sense of “action” in their owners.
As far as others are concerned, you’re one that has served in elite military units. You’ve been a paratrooper for the Swiss government, and you’ve been a Navy Seal. You could have looked death in the eye—a killer shark or legendary giant-squid, perhaps—and lived the experience to gloat to tell it. Talk about cool!
Form over function—or is it function over form?
As stated before, of course, many diving watches never even come close to open water. People love them because of their attributes. Most do not even understand how those fancy dials, bezels, chronographs and chronometers actually work. And that’s fine, because these watches are marketed to practically everybody—not just the professional diver. Of course, if you wanted to use these deep underwater, most submerse up to 2000 feet quite comfortably and also come with such handy features as rotating bezels that serve as an alarm clock as to when you will run out of oxygen.
There are essentially two varieties of diving watches:
- The attribute type of diving watch is far more about form over function. These are the Blancpains, Panerai’s, Swiss Armies and Rolexes that are meant more for show. Nonetheless, they will usually come with essential diving features such as depth resistance, fancy luminescence and bezels that revolve and rotate.
- The computer variety of diving watches is more-or-less just that: computerized. They rely on sophisticated electronics to aid divers in critical measurements like depth, temperature, air mixture availability, and a myriad of electronic alarms that sound when circumstances are dire. They often feature the ability to even download diving data to a PC or MAC, share it or to just sit there and bask in your accomplishment.
The crème-de-la crème of dive watches
Among the most distinguished, most ruggedly-elegant watches there are a few diving watches that stand-out from the pack:
- Luminox’s Navy Seal Chronograph
- Bulgari’s Diagono Professional’s Scuba
- Blancpain’s “50th Anniversary Fifty Fathoms” (which will set you back a “miniscule” $13k)
- Oris’s TT1 Divers Regulator 1000m watch
- Tag Heuer’s Aquaracer 2000
Online varieties for all budgets
Okay, yes—those are some fairly high-end diving watches. However, there are brands online that are much, much more affordable. They are also just as handsome and lush as the former brands and models, and can fool practically anyone into believing that the time-piece is a five-figure watch.
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Owning a Wenger Watch
by on Aug.03, 2010, under Military Watches, Sport and Dive Watches
Wenger Men’s 70891 Swiss Raid Commando Chrono Series Watch $223.53
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Wenger Men’s 70893 Swiss Raid Commando Chrono Series Watch $227.89
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Wenger Swiss Military Battalion Mens Watch 72458 $65.00
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Wenger is the legendary manufacturer of Swiss Army knives. It all started at the Paul Boechat and Cie cutlery plant in Delemont, Switzerland, and Theodore Wenger was the man behind the knife. With the huge success of the Swiss Army knife, Wenger watches were introduced.
Today, the company is owned by Victorinox of Ibach, Switzerland and has been branded Wenger & Co. S.A. They are most-notably known as Wenger Swiss watches, due to their long and storied history manufacturing and selling Swiss Army knives. Wenger is hugely-known to produce some of the most beautiful, durable and precise watches in the world—thanks to their prestigious Swiss-Made legacy.
Models of Wenger Watches
When you own a Wenger Watch, you are literally wearing over a 100 years of watch-making and knife-making on your wrist. Take for example Wenger’s GST line: they’re truly, stunningly beautiful in their precise construction, as well as hand-crafted in the highest-quality stainless steels. They are also the same type use by Swiss Elite Forces and come as simple watches, watch-chronographs or watch-chronometers.
The TerraGraph line is another one of Wenger’s creations. Many of them sport brown or black leather straps, white or silver dials/bezel, and come standard with the Swiss Made insignia as well as the benchmark Swiss Quartz Movement technology (of which almost all authentic Swiss watches have).
The Battalion Diver series is a very attractive line of Wenger watches. The different Battalion watches have dark blue dials and metal bezels, stainless steel bands; others have black faces and bezels, with ornate white or gold dials and either stainless steel bands or leather straps.
Finally, the Aerograph collection has—in the opinion of many—some of the most beautiful watches ever designed and manufactured. Take, for example, the AeroGraph Chrono; it has a very distinctive bright yellow dial and black, stainless steel encasing and leather strap. Or the AeroGraph Cockpit Chrono: this features an elegant brown dial, with a brown leather strap and a 12-hour chronograph function. The Wenger chronograph mechanism is durable and reliable.
The range also includes some really beautiful watches for women and it is hard to beat a Wenger ladies watch if you are looking for an especially special gift for an extra special woman.
Benchmarks of Wenger Swiss quality
Those are just a few examples of quality Wenger watches. When you own a Wenger watch, you can be sure of the following, though:
• It has the benchmark Swiss quartz movement
• It uses, most-likely, the industry-standard “screw-on” casing
• It is made from the highest-quality mineral crystal
• It is back by Wenger’s industry-leading 3-year limited warranty
• Most are submersible up to an individually-specified depth
• And most benefit from the Wenger external unidirectional bezel
Extraordinary quality
Wenger’s watches are easily comparable to the likes of Rolex, Tag Heuer or even Cartier. How? They meet or exceed all of all the former’s levels of sophistication, technology, elegance and durability. Plus, they are made in Switzerland—the very country which invented the prestigious Quartz Movement and Swiss Movement. This is what makes Wenger watches certified as Swiss-Made, label that is highly-protected by international trade organizations and the Swiss government itself.
If you go online to find a Wenger Swiss, you’ll find tons of fine examples. Beware though, as there are plenty of counterfeiters out there; one of the easiest ways to spot a counterfeiter is to notice the price. Does it seem far too-low for such a sophisticated timepiece? Does the product description not specifically say either “Made in Switzerland” or “Swiss Made”? In the end, though, you will know a real Wenger Swiss when you see it, and if you are still not sure about it—call the company and make sure.
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The Wide Range of Swiss Military Style Watches
by on Jul.05, 2010, under Mechanical Watch, Military Watches, Sport and Dive Watches, Watches of the World
Among Switzerland’s most famous brands is the wide range of military style watches that are produced. These draw on both Switzerland’s heritage of watch making and fine craftsmanship as well as on its tradition of independence and neutrality. Switzerland’s military has long been revered across Europe and the rest of the world and it has long been the country’s guarantee against invasion by its bigger neighbors. As such Switzerland has always ensured that its citizen soldiers have been well trained in marksmanship and tactics and equipped with the finest equipment. And Switzerland’s gift to the world has been the innovation and attention to detail that goes into items such as Swiss Army knives and Swiss Army Watches.
The best-known military style watches are clearly those associated with the Swiss Army knife, which made by two Swiss companies, Victorinox and Wenger. The two companies merged a few years back, yet still operate under different names in many parts of the market. That said, both offer unsurpassed quality and reliability. Victorinox and Wenger Swiss Army watches offer a really good blend of features and price. One of my favorites is the Wenger Commando Watch. This is a really rugged and tough watch. It also has a brilliantly lit up display that makes it easy to see at night. Two other favorites of mine are the Wenger Ranger Watch and Battalion Diver Watch, which is also made by the same company. The Victorinox Swiss Army Infantry vintage watch is also a really beautiful and classic timepiece with a real old-style look.
Both Wenger and Victorinox offer a really wide range of watches so that you can usually find something to fit almost any pocket with prices starting at under $100 and going up from there.
There are however quite a few other companies that you can look at when looking to buy a Swiss Military Watch. Most people overlook firms such as Hanowa, which makes a really high quality range of watches sold under the Swiss Military brand as well as the more exclusive Swiss Eagle watch brand.
Even tougher (and more expensive) is the range of watches produced under the CX Swiss Military brand. These are some of the world’s toughest watches and have stood up to all kinds of tests including being dropped out of airplanes, blown up with high explosives and shot at with a shotgun. They survived most of these tests whereas other watches just got smashed to pieces.
If you are looking for a cheap military-style watch then you could consider Invicta. These are Swiss-made watches but they have a bit of a mixed reputation when it comes to reliability. I don’t endorse them wholeheartedly but some people swear by them. That said, you can’t say they aren’t cheap. Some Invicta military watches can be bought for under $50. And although this blog is really all about Swiss Watches, there are also some other really popular manufacturers of military watches. Citizen has an eco-drive military watch that also has a really clear face with an easily-to-read dial. It also never needs its batteries changed,
Features of a Military-Style-Watch
Apart from the obvious point that most people buy Swiss military watches because they look good, some of the better ones also have some features that provide real tactical assistance. In this I’m thinking of a watch with a dial that is easy to read and a face that is not confusing. You also want something that is self illuminating, so you can see it even in the dark, and you almost certainly want a watch that will not beep and give away your position.
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