Dive watches were originally made for military use, but when the general public discovered their ability to shrug off abuse, they became one of the most popular forms of wrist-worn timekeeping.
This watch made history in 2019 during The Five Deeps Expedition, when it was submerged in the deepest spot on earth. When you dunk it in the sink while doing dishes, rest assured that it’s designed to be water-resistant to an astounding 20,000 feet beneath the ocean’s surface. The 45.5 mm case is accented by a traditional outer bezel finished in eye-popping bright orange.
Tag Heuer is well-known for automotive-oriented wristwatches, and this model proves the firm’s offerings are also ideal for undersea adventures. The green dial, with an inner bezel for seconds, is accented by a green outer bezel used to measure elapsed time—a handy feature for making sure that the parking meter hasn’t yet expired. Rated to depths of 984 feet, the case and bracelet are crafted of sandblasted grade 2 titanium.
This example combines the traditional dive watch features of a helium relief valve with a revolutionary way to display time. Instead of utilizing traditional hour and minute hands, the minute hand aligns with the co-rotating inner hour bezel and outer minute bezels to display the current time; once grasped, the system becomes intuitive. The 42 mm stainless steel case protects the mechanical movement to depths of 984 feet.
The large yet very lightweight carbon fiber-reinforced case is designed to lay asymmetrically on the wrist to ensure comfort and an ideal viewing angle. Secured by a steel bracelet and solar-powered, it’s water-resistant to depths of 656 feet, with unique features including an internal dial LED for low-light use and a tide indicator linked to a global database of dive locations.
Actor Sylvester Stallone helped Panerai achieve global prominence by wearing its models on the silver screen. Proprietary BMG-Tech metal is used to craft the 47mm housing to provide corrosion resistance, protection from magnetic fields, and extreme durability. The in-house mechanical movement has a 72-hour power reserve, and the blue dial features a date window and a sub-dial at 9 o’clock to track seconds.
