You can buy an array of pretty wonderful dive watches for under $1,000 — timepieces whose recommendation we fully stand behind. Double that figure, however, and you can nab yourself something so good you might never feel the temptation to buy another watch again.
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Certina DS Action Diver Read More -
Mido Ocean Star Tribute Read More
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Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Read More
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Seiko Prospex SPB143 Read More
Why $2,000? At this price, the materials and components used in watches' construction tend to enter the "premium" range: regulated Swiss movements, well-constructed bracelets that mirror those from blue-chip brands, sapphire crystals and functions that used to be reserved for watches that cost much more money.
All of which begs the question — why would you spend more than $2,000 on a simple dive watch? There are admittedly plenty of good reasons: you do get even higher quality and finer tolerances the more money you spend (though after a point it becomes esoteric), and some of these are worth the price of admission to certain consumers. You're not getting watches from the most prestigious and famous brands at under $2,000, and some consumers certainly value that name on the dial — but ask us, and we'd be the first to tell you that any of the watches listed below will serve you well for many years to come.
Certina DS Action Diver
- Movement: ETA Powermatic 80.111 automatic
- Diameter: 43mm
- Water Resistance: 300m
- Manufacturer Info: certina.com
As we've said, finding a serious titanium diver for less than several thousand dollars was once a difficult proposition. Today, these watches are much more common, as is evidenced by Certina’s DS Action Diver. This particular DS is a truly remarkable piece considering its price point just north of $1K: it features an ETA automatic movement with 80 hours of power reserve, a 43mm titanium case, 300m of water resistance, and a matching titanium bracelet. The dial — a highly legible affair with a date window at 3 o’clock — matches perfectly the case and bracelet color and makes for an attractive, cohesive package.
Mido Ocean Star Tribute
- Movement: Mido Caliber 80 automatic (base ETA C07.621)
- Diameter: 40.5mm
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Manufacturer Info: midowatches.com
This special edition of Mido's Ocean Star celebrates 75 years of that line in a tribute based upon a model from the 1960s. Featuring an old-school aluminum bezel insert, handsome sea blue dial and an ETA-based movement powering a day-date display, the Ocean Star Tribute is just as cool as its big brand brethren but much less expensive. It doesn't hurt that it ships on an awesome steel bracelet — sort of a cross between a beads-of-rice and a Milanese.
Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire
- Movement: Sellita SW200 automatic
- Diameter: 40mm
- Water Resistance: 600m
- Manufacturer Info: christopherward.com
If you're looking for something completely different, well — look no further. The C60 Sapphire dial is made of a thin sapphire wafer so that you can see the automatic movement ticking away beneath. It's also water-resistant to a whopping 600m, meaning you will be crushed by water pressure long before your watch will. With its mix of modern tech and looks with old-school dive watch cues, this has to be one of the most unique divers below the $2k mark.
Zodiac Super Sea Wolf
- Movement: STP 3-13 automatic
- Diameter: 40mm
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Manufacturer Info: zodiacwatches.com
Thin, handsome and available in different variants and countless colorways, the Sea Wolf (now Super Sea Wolf) has been in production since 1953, the year that saw the debut of classics such as the Rolex Submariner and Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Powered by an automatic movement made by STP (a brand that's also owned by the Fossil Group, which now owns Zodiac), featuring 200m of water resistance and a well-proportioned 40mm x 11mm case, the Sea Wolf is easily one of the best buys in modern dive watches.
Seiko Prospex SPB143
- Movement: Seiko 6R35 automatic
- Diameter: 40.5mm
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Manufacturer Info: seikoluxe.com
Seiko has reinterpreted its classic 62MAS dive watch from 1965 numerous times over the past few years, but it's the SPB143 (and its brethren, each of which features a slightly different dial color) that's proven to be the best-loved. With a modern diameter of 40.5mm and Seiko's in-house 6R35 automatic movement, the 143 is an incredible value at around $1,200. In fact, given its premium features and badass looks, we reckon folks are likely to mistake it for a much more expensive watch.
Marathon Large Diver’s Quartz (TSAR)
- Movement: ETA FØ6 quartz
- Diameter: 41mm
- Water Resistance: 300m
- Manufacturer Info: marathonwatch.com
No dive watch list — at any price — is complete without a selection from Marathon, the family-owned Canadian watch company that’s been producing mil-spec timepieces for the armed forces since World War II. The Large Diver’s Quartz (TSAR) has become a modern classic in its own right: With its 41mm stainless steel case, oversized, knurled crown, highly grippable bezel, and reliable, hi-torque quartz movement, it’s as tough as a Sherman tank. Add in Marathon’s tritium tube illumination, and you have a recipe for a dive watch that can take a serious beating — and live to tell the tale.
Yema Superman FAF Search and Rescue
- Movement: Sellita SW200-1 automatic
- Diameter: 39mm/41mm
- Water Resistance: 300m
- Manufacturer Info: yema.com
If you were to take this watch back with you several decades in a time machine, chances are you'd fit right in. Upgraded with modern features such as the SW200-1 automatic movement and a sapphire crystal, the Yema Superman collection is based on a French dive watch that saw use by the French military in the 1970s. Available now in a range of variants, it's a wildly good watch for the money and one you can take with you on the deepest dives.
Shinola Ice Monster Automatic
- Movement: Sellita SW-200 automatic
- Diameter: 43mm
- Water Resistance: 300m
- Manufacturer Info: shinola.com
Shinola may have begun its watchmaking activities with inexpensive quartz movements, but its move into the mechanical realm has yielded some tasty offerings. Powered by the workhorse, Swiss-made Sellita SW-200 automatic movement and featuring 300m of water resistance, the Ice Monster Automatic may be larger at 43mm, but it has a trick up its sleeve — a titanium case and matching titanium three-link bracelet. Add to that a handsome, glossy white dial with plenty of Super-LumiNova, a carbon gray dive bezel and a handy date window at 4:30, and you’ve got yourself a serious tool watch in the mold of the 1960s classics.
Longines HydroConquest
- Movement: Longines cal. L888 automatic
- Diameter: 41mm
- Water Resistance: 300m
- Manufacturer Info: longines.com
Want premium looks from a serious brand without paying premium money? Then the HydroConquest may be the watch for you. Available in several colors and sizes, it's got classic, midcentury dive watch cues and an oversize typeface that lends some interest to the dial. Water-resistant to an impressive 300m, it also features a sapphire crystal, a unidirectional dive bezel and a date window.
Benrus Type 1
- Movement: ETA 2681 automatic
- Diameter: 42.5mm
- Water Resistance: 300m
- Manufacturer Info: benrus.com
Originally, the only way to get your hands on a Benrus Type 1 was to get yourself shipped to Southeast Asia with a machine gun in your hands. Not so anymore — Benrus is back, and this time, the clandestine Type 1 is available to the general public. With its asymmetric, brushed steel case, sterile dial, 300m of water resistance, 12-hour bezel and nylon strap, this watch is all business. Built to last, it's far and away one of the best dive watches under $2K.
Titoni Seascoper
- Movement: Titoni T10 automatic
- Diameter: 42mm
- Water Resistance: 600m
- Manufacturer Info: titoni.com
Titoni may be little known in the United States amongst today’s watch lovers, but the Swiss-founded brand has been at it since 1919 and boasts a storied history — in fact, it supplied the U.S. military with 30,000 watches during World War II. The brand’s Seascoper dive watch boasts equally impressive stats: clocking in at 42mm, it features 600m of water resistance, a helium escape valve, a steel bracelet with a diver’s extension to match its hardy steel case and an in-house movement, the chronometer-certified T10. A modern iteration of a watch in production since 1963, this under-the-radar pick is one of the best values we could find for under $2K.
Vulcain Skindiver
- Movement: ETA 2824 automatic
- Diameter: 38mm
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Manufacturer Info: vulcain.ch
Though trends and tastes in watches are generally moving toward smaller diameters in general, dive watches still tend to be on the chunky side. There's often the assumption that this is a result of a dive watch's requisite water resistance and robustness — not to mention that a bold-wearing dive watch has a certain look that fits as well with oxygen tanks and a wetsuit as it does with a tee-shirt. But some brands are beginning to prove that notion wrong. Here you have a 38mm dive watch offering 200m of water resistance, and it comes from a storied Swiss brand, no less.
Doxa Sub 300T
- Movement: ETA 2824-2 automatic
- Diameter: 42.5mm
- Water Resistance: 1,200m
- Manufacturer Info: doxa.com
The Sub 300T is all the proof you need that you can get a wildly good watch — with history and a serious brand behind it — for not a ton of money. Its decompression bezel, highly visible handset, colored dials, cushion case, beads of rice bracelet and absurdly deep water resistance rating are made with serious divers in mind. If you're the type of person who enjoys life beneath the waves, you'd be remiss not to give one of these a try. (It also comes in six different colors.)
Bulova MIL-SHIPS-W-2181 Limited Edition
- Movement: Sellita SW-200 automatic
- Diameter: 41mm
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Manufacturer Info: bulova.com
The MIL-SHIPS-W-2181, which was issued U.S. Navy’s Underwater Demolition Team divers for testing in the 1950s, might have become a dive watch classic — had it ever been put into production. However, Bulova ceased development of the watch before it entered official service, and as a result, only 12 of the original pieces are known. Thankfully, the contemporary Bulova company resurrected it as a limited edition, giving it a 41mm sandblasted, stainless steel case, a black dial featuring vintage-style Super-LumiNova lume, an automatic Sellita movement, and black nylon, NATO-style strap. It even features a paper strip on the dial that will change colors to indicate the incursion of moisture into the case — a feature of the original watch.
Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic Calanda
- Movement: Sellita SW 200-1 automatic
- Diameter: 42mm
- Water Resistance: 300m
- Manufacturer Info: alpinawatches.com
Alpina is known for offering sport watches in the classical Swiss watchmaking tradition — for extremely competitive values. Here, you've got a 42mm dive watch (made of recycled stainless steel) with 300m of water resistance, domed sapphire crystal and a steel bezel offering a less common look. Those specs might sound a lot like other watches we've mentioned here, but you can expect the details and construction of this watch to feel significantly more expensive even than its sub-$2,000 price tag would suggest.
What to Look for When Buying
At $2,000, you can be reasonably assured that the watch you’re receiving will be well built, have ample water resistance, and likely come with the backing of a strong brand with serious after-sales service. That said, there are some things to look out for:
Materials
Most watches in this price range will likely be made of stainless steel, though the price of titanium divers is coming down, and more affordable options are hitting the market every year. But it doesn’t hurt to be cognizant of the case material for the simple fact that titanium, ceramic, and other hi-tech materials often come with a correspondingly higher price tag, so if you find a watch that seems unusually affordable, considering its materials, this might be something to investigate.
Movement
Watches at this price point usually feature well made automatic Swiss movements from the likes of the big movement makers like ETA, Selitta, STP, and others. Of course, there are more affordable options as well, such as within the $1,000 range, with great options using movements from Miyota and Seiko. Do some research on the type of movement you’re buying, as certain less expensive calibers are known for finicky timekeeping — and less common ones might be difficult to source parts for.
Bezels
Ceramic bezels are trickling down into the realm of the affordable dive watch, which is fantastic, as they don’t scratch easily. However, the bezel itself on more affordable divers is often a telltale indicator of price — in many cases, the 12 o’clock “pip” or marker won’t line up perfectly with 12 o’clock on the dial, especially on a diver whose bezel resolution is 60 clicks, rather than 120. If you’re the type of person who’s bothered by this, it’s best to try on the watch in person before buying.
Strap Options
Maybe your watch comes with a great-looking steel bracelet, but then it shows up and you realize you’d prefer to wear it on a NATO strap — only to discover that the watch’s lug width is 19mm, and your choices are thus limited. So look at lug width to head this problem off, as well as the type of bracelet/strap the watch ships on to make sure it’s right for you. (While you’re at it, check out the lug-to-lug distance as well — the vertical distance between farthest lug points. This, more than anything else, determines how the watch will sit on your wrist.)
Water Resistance
Technically, ISO standards require 100m of water resistance in a dive watch — and this is plenty for the needs of most consumers. Today, though, most legit dive watches are rated to at least 200m. It’s worth double-checking your potential purchase’s water resistance, just to make sure you’re not buying something that’s merely “splash-proof.” You might be able to get away with taking a 100m water-resistant watch in the water, but we recommend shooting for at least 200m of water resistance for that extra peace of mind.
Warranty
Many of the larger brands are offering 5- and 10-year warranties these days, but even if this isn’t the case with your particular watch, you should look up the terms and conditions of your warranty. The last thing you want is that beautiful new $2K diver you just bought crapping out on you the first month — and finding that you have no recourse to service it.
Terms to Know
Water Resistance
The depth, in feet, meters or "bar" (or "atm"), at which you can reasonably use your watch while underwater. (For a much more nuanced definition, see here.) ISO 6425 standards stipulate 100m of water resistance for a dive watch — which is usually more than enough — but most serious dive watches today start at 200m.
Bezel
A ring of metal surrounding the dial — on a dive watch, this part often rotates and is capped by another piece, the bezel “insert,” that is printed with a timing scale. The rotating bezel is used to time decompression stops, bottom time, and more. (Or, how long your laundry’s been in the dryer, how long your chicken has been in the oven, etc.)
Crown
A round knob that protrudes from the watch case and is used to set the time, wind the watch (if applicable), set the date (if there is one), and more. On a dive watch, the crown often screws down to prevent water from infiltrating the case.
Bracelet
The watch strap connects the watch “head” to your wrist. Often on a dive watch this is a steel bracelet — such as the Oyster bracelet on a Rolex Submariner — while in other cases, it’s a rubber strap, or even a NATO strap made of nylon.
Markers
Also referred to as “indices,” these are the numerals, dots, or other symbols on the dial that indicate the time. The larger and more filled with luminescent material they are, the more useful they’ll be to a diver underwater.
Lume
A colloquial term for the luminescent material that (hopefully!) coats the indices and hands of a dive watch. In the 1950s, this material was (highly radioactive) radium, while in the ‘60s, brands began using (less radioactive, but still radioactive) tritium. These days, compounds such as Super-LumiNova are completely safe — and completely non-radioactive. (Tritium tubes still contain tritium, but in harmless amounts and completely enclosed.)
Movement
The engine of the watch — the bit inside that powers the hands and makes it go “tick tock.” This could be a mechanical caliber powered by the movement of your wrist (an “automatic” movement), or it could be hand-wound (very rare on a dive watch), or it could be powered by a battery and a quartz crystal (a “quartz” movement). These are the chief categories, but other niche movement types exist, such as Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive.
Lug Width
The width, in millimeters, between the lugs of the watch. This determines the strap width, with 18mm, 20mm, and 22mm being most common and 19mm being less common. On modern dive watches, 20mm and 2mm lug widths are often found — meaning there are lots of aftermarket strap options available.
Diameter
The width of the watch from the left side of the case flank to the right side of the case flank. (This number typically does not include the crown.) Common sizes for modern dive watches range from (roughly) 39mm to 44mm — but much larger watches are sometimes seen from the likes of Panerai, Citizen, and others. This number is important but shouldn’t be considered in a vacuum, as it’s not the only thing that affects wearability and comfortability.
Lug-to-Lug
The measurement from the tip of an upper lug to the tip of the corresponding lower lug. While this number is rarely published on spec sheets and brand websites, it’s important — often even more so than diameter — in giving you an idea of how a watch will wear on your wrist. After all, a watch that’s 50mm wide but only 20mm long — though it would make for a hell of an odd watch — wouldn’t necessarily be all that uncomfortable. But you can bet your behind that a 38mm watch that’s 90mm from lug to lug would not make for a fun time!
