Watches of the World
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.
Related Posts:
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.
Related Posts:
Swiss Diving Watches: Timepieces you can Trust Your Life With
by on Feb.08, 2010, under Sport and Dive Watches, Watches of the World
If you are in the market for one or more quality Swiss diving watches, you had better take the time to really get to know your options out there. Diving watches are a must, it is not like you can dive without one, and if your watch dies in the deep blue, that can really ruin your trip fast so having one you can really count on being right every time is not something you can afford to be without. Swiss watches are known for their reliability and the watches they offer are no exception to the rule. Take a peek at the ones offered online, the internet is a great place to buy things like this, and figure out which watch suites your tastes and needs. This is a big purchase, and likely to cost you a boatload of money (pardon the pun) in the process.
The Rolex Submariner
This is the crème dele crème of Swiss diving watches, and is by far in a way one of the very best products you can buy, period. If you are looking for a really phenomenal gift for a husband, father, or son who loves to dive this is the gift to boot. Trust me when I tell you, the Submariner is the watch to beat in the quality department. The chronometer has COSC certification, it is about forty millimeters, is made of high quality steel, boasts a black, rotatable bezel, has a sapphire crystal, and a black face and dial. The Submariner is waterproof to three hundred meters or one thousand feet, is self winding and has a flip lock bracelet. The Submariner has been a big name in diving watches since it came out in nineteen fifty three. The Rolex website doesn’t say how much this bad boy is going to put you back, but if you are lucky enough to receive one as a gift from say, your lovely wife, know that you are going to be rubbing her shoulders for a pretty long while.
Swiss Army Dive Watches Offered
This company runs the Dive Master 500 line in watches, and there are six in this line to choose from. Two of the six have a stainless watch band, and the other four have a rubber strap band. Boasting Swiss analog quartz movement, and there are two with black faces, two with white faces, and one which has a blue face, and one with an orange face. The models in this line start at about five hundred dollars and end up at around six hundred dollars for the ones with a stainless steel band. They, like the Citizen, feature luminescent hands for added visibility underwater and have a three year manufacturer’s warrantee, ensuring that you enjoy your watch for a long time. They all have a screw down case back and are good for diving up to over sixteen hundred feet, or five hundred meters which is very impressive. Swiss diving watches are a big name in diving safety, and the Swiss Army company delivers this along with so many of its other reliable products offered.
If money is really an issue for you you may also want to consider some watches made in other parts of the world such as the The Citizen Professional Diver.
This is, at least in performance capability, comparable to the Submariner. Watertight to three hundred meters (one thousand feet) this watch will never need a battery, and will be able to gather all the energy it will ever need from light it collects. Retail price is almost three hundred dollars, but I was able to find the watch online offered on sale for about two hundred twenty dollars or so. The case is forty four millimeters across and is highly visible while underwater. The bracelet is a durable black rubber band, ensuring that the diver doesn’t lose the watch while out and about under water and has a five year Citizen United States warrantee. I also really like how the hands on this watch luminescent as you are underwater, making them easier to see in compromised light situations that you may be diving in (like at home here in the Puget Sound, at least you will be able to see you are wearing a watch). Citizen is a great watch and has been around for a long time, it is a good name to trust.
Guest Post – Bill S
Related Posts:
-
Welcome to Swiss Watch Guide
You can also subscribe by email by filling the field below:
