How to choose the perfect diving watch

Diving watches represent adventure and discovery. They are functional, tough, have a luxurious appearance and are generally technically advanced timepieces. But a dive watch is primarily a watch that is built to withstand the pressure and depth of the sea, and to guide the diver during the dive. Others wear a dive watch for style and appearance. 

The answers to these questions help you choose the right dive watch:

1. What is the dive watch used for? 

The most important feature of a dive watch is that it is water resistant and resistant to high water pressure. If the watch is worn daily and not used for swimming or diving, a low water resistance is sufficient. 

• A 5 ATM watch (50 meters, 5 ATM, 5 bar) can get completely wet, but is not suitable for use on the beach or in the swimming pool because temperature differences cause the materials used to expand or shrink, which can cause leakage. You can shower with 5 ATM (50 meters).
• To be able to safely swim or snorkel with a watch, a water resistance of at least 10 ATM (100 meters) is required.
• For diving in seas or lakes, a water resistance of at least 20 ATM (200 meters) is required.
• Stricter requirements apply to deep-sea diving: a minimum of 100 ATM (1000 meters) is required.

Click here for more information on water resistance.

2. What functions do you really need? 

If the watch is mainly used to keep track of when the dive time has elapsed, then a 20 ATM waterproof watch with a uni-directional bezel is sufficient. If you are looking for a dive watch to use as a primary source of information about a dive, choose a (digital) watch with many functionalities such as a depth meter. 

Because diving watches must be able to withstand high pressure, the watch cases are often thicker and made of heavier materials. If you do not actually use the watch for (deep sea) diving, the choice of a lighter material such as titanium or plastic could be considered. In addition, these materials naturally have a different appearance than stainless steel. 

Some diving watches have orange or yellow dials, because these colors are clearly visible at depth. For everyday wearers, it is a cheerful touch to a serious watch.

3. Type and material watch strap 

The choice of a specific material watch strap is very personal. One person prefers to wear sturdy steel, the other prefers flexible (silicone) rubber. When choosing a strap for a diving watch it is important to know if the strap can be extended when the watch is worn over the diving suit. Many wearers of diving watches opt for a nylon NATO strap. This is easily adjustable in size, easy to replace and is comfortable to wear.

 It goes without saying that leather straps are not suitable for swimming / diving.

4. Readability, even in the dark 

Light is absorbed faster in water than on land. It is therefore important that the watch is easy to read. A high contrast between the dial, indexes, numbers and the watch itself contributes to visibility and readability. In addition, the bezel, hands and indexes of many diving watches are coated with a luminous layer or luminous tubes for use at great depths and in the dark.

5. Quartz, automatic, kinetic or solar diving watch? 

Quartz watches are powered by a battery. This battery lasts on average 1.5 - 2 years. When the battery has been replaced and the case has been opened, the watch must be tested for water resistance by a watchmaker. 

A solar watch is a quartz watch that is charged by solar energy. The battery of this watch does not need to be replaced, which means that the water resistance can be guaranteed for longer. 

Automatic and kinetic watches are mechanically driven and do not have to be opened at all. The disadvantage of a mechanical watch is that it is maintenance sensitive and sometimes a little less accurate than a quartz watch.

6. What does it cost?

We sell diving watches in all price ranges. How much the watch costs depends on many factors; material use, timepiece, brand, (extra) complications. When you ask yourself the questions above, you know which requirements a diving watch must meet for you. On our dive watches page you can find all watches of 20 ATM or more.

In short:

1. How waterproof should the watch be?
2. Which style and material do you like?
3. Is the strap/bracelet comfortable and practical?
4. Is the watch easy to read, even in the dark?
5. Does the watch have a battery that sometimes needs to be replaced?
6. Which watches fit your budget?

In addition to all these practical points, the most important question is perhaps whether the watch does something for you. Unfortunately we cannot give tips for that, you just have to feel it!