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Christophe Roulet
Editor-in-chief, HH Journal
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Audemars Piguet - Royal Oak Offshore
Diver Water-resistant to 300 metres and with an anti-magnetic movement casing, this Royal Oak Offshore Diver is made entirely in white ceramic, which rates 40% harder than black ceramic. Its 42mm diameter will appeal to both sexes.
Diver Water-resistant to 300 metres and with an anti-magnetic movement casing, this Royal Oak Offshore Diver is made entirely in white ceramic, which rates 40% harder than black ceramic. Its 42mm diameter will appeal to both sexes.
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Blancpain – Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph
The new calibre in this Bathyscaphe incorporates a balance spring in silicon whose anti-magnetic properties dispense with the need for an inner Faraday cage. Water-resistant to 300 metres, it was launched last year to mark the 60th anniversary of the Fifty Fathoms.
The new calibre in this Bathyscaphe incorporates a balance spring in silicon whose anti-magnetic properties dispense with the need for an inner Faraday cage. Water-resistant to 300 metres, it was launched last year to mark the 60th anniversary of the Fifty Fathoms.
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Breitling - Avenger Blackbird
The latest addition to the Avenger range is made to endure the harshest environments, with its 48mm case in black titanium and 300-metre water-resistance. Outsized hands and markers ensure excellent visibility.
The latest addition to the Avenger range is made to endure the harshest environments, with its 48mm case in black titanium and 300-metre water-resistance. Outsized hands and markers ensure excellent visibility.
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Carl F. Bucherer – Patravi ScubaTec
Helium valve, water-resistant to 500 metres, and a unidirectional bezel with black and blue ceramic insert, this ScubaTec ticks all the boxes, plus its CFB 150.1 calibre is COSC-certified.
Helium valve, water-resistant to 500 metres, and a unidirectional bezel with black and blue ceramic insert, this ScubaTec ticks all the boxes, plus its CFB 150.1 calibre is COSC-certified.
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Cartier – Calibre de Cartier Diver
Introduced in 2010, the Calibre de Cartier now comes in a dive version, the first ever by Cartier. Water-resistant to 300 metres, it stands out from other dive watches for the thinness of its case, just 11mm high.
Introduced in 2010, the Calibre de Cartier now comes in a dive version, the first ever by Cartier. Water-resistant to 300 metres, it stands out from other dive watches for the thinness of its case, just 11mm high.
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Girard-Perregaux – Sea Hawk
This dive watch from the Sea Hawk line, fresh from its 2012 makeover, is water-resistant to 1,000 metres. Additional functions are date in an aperture, power reserve and small seconds, an unusual combination of features for an authentic dive watch.
This dive watch from the Sea Hawk line, fresh from its 2012 makeover, is water-resistant to 1,000 metres. Additional functions are date in an aperture, power reserve and small seconds, an unusual combination of features for an authentic dive watch.
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IWC – Aquatimer Automatic 2000
Completely revamped this year, the Aquatimer range welcomes an Automatic 2000, water-resistant to 300 metres, that borrows its design from the 1967 original for a true vintage flavour. Note the combination of an inner and outer rotating bezel.
Completely revamped this year, the Aquatimer range welcomes an Automatic 2000, water-resistant to 300 metres, that borrows its design from the 1967 original for a true vintage flavour. Note the combination of an inner and outer rotating bezel.
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Jaeger-LeCoultre – Master Compressor Chronograph Ceramic
Understandably, given its chronograph, dual-time display with day/night indicator and movement operating indication, this dive version of the Master Compressor is water-resistant to "just" 100 metres. All housed inside a virtually indestructible high-tech ceramic case.
Understandably, given its chronograph, dual-time display with day/night indicator and movement operating indication, this dive version of the Master Compressor is water-resistant to "just" 100 metres. All housed inside a virtually indestructible high-tech ceramic case.
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JeanRichard – Aquascope
This latest addition to the Aquascope line celebrates the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan. Accordingly, its dial is inspired by The Great Wave off Kanagawa, a famous woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai. Water-resistant to 300 metres.
This latest addition to the Aquascope line celebrates the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan. Accordingly, its dial is inspired by The Great Wave off Kanagawa, a famous woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai. Water-resistant to 300 metres.
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Omega – Seamaster 300 Master-Co-Axial
Launched in 1957 for professional divers, the Seamaster 300 returns with the benefit of all the latest innovations from the brand, including its totally anti-magnetic Master Co-Axial calibre. Water-resistant to 300 metres.
Launched in 1957 for professional divers, the Seamaster 300 returns with the benefit of all the latest innovations from the brand, including its totally anti-magnetic Master Co-Axial calibre. Water-resistant to 300 metres.
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Panerai – Luminor 1950 Left-Handed 3 Days – 47 mm
Commissioned to equip Italian naval combat divers in the 1940s, Panerai proposes a left-handed version of its Luminor 1950, water-resistant to 100 metres, in response to certain divers' preference to wear their watch on their right wrist.
Commissioned to equip Italian naval combat divers in the 1940s, Panerai proposes a left-handed version of its Luminor 1950, water-resistant to 100 metres, in response to certain divers' preference to wear their watch on their right wrist.
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Rolex – Sea-Dweller 4000
Developed in 1967 and now water-resistant to 1,220 metres, the Sea-Dweller 4000 returns with all the latest advances from the brand: ceramic bezel insert, long-lasting luminescent display, paramagnetic balance spring and safety clasp.
Developed in 1967 and now water-resistant to 1,220 metres, the Sea-Dweller 4000 returns with all the latest advances from the brand: ceramic bezel insert, long-lasting luminescent display, paramagnetic balance spring and safety clasp.
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Ulysse Nardin – Marine Diver
Now with a completely new design, the Marine Diver shows all the attributes of an authentic dive watch: screw-down crown, rotating bezel and a case that is water-resistant to 300 metres. The small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock has been supersized: its hand indicates, even in low visibility, that the watch is running.
Now with a completely new design, the Marine Diver shows all the attributes of an authentic dive watch: screw-down crown, rotating bezel and a case that is water-resistant to 300 metres. The small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock has been supersized: its hand indicates, even in low visibility, that the watch is running.
As the days grow warmer and thoughts turn to ocean peregrinations, now is the time to decide which dive watch will join us on the waterfront with a pick of the models on offer this year.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: no bona fide deep-sea enthusiast will venture underwater without a dive computer strapped to their wrist. After all, these miniature marvels of technology are vital to safety… a fact watchmakers seem happy to ignore. Why, one might ask, go on producing mechanical dive watches when the majority, no matter how rugged and reliable, will be exposed to little more than dish-washing or a bracing shower? Truth be told, a watch built to withstand a 30-metre plunge is water-resistant by name only, as the gaskets are not sufficiently compressed to fully seal against water infiltration. Those in the know will be more inclined to choose a mechanical gem built to resist depths of 300 metres and more.
No doubt this explains why any self-respecting watch brand will include at least one dive watch in its catalogue. There was a time when all it took was a chronograph for guys, and gals, to strike an adventure-seeking pose. Today, wading out of the water Ursula Andress-style or à la Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, to stick with James Bond, is more likely to impress. And who cares if snorkelling in the shallows is the nearest we’ll come to any kind of underwater exploit. As the poet said, no matter the flask, as long as the wine intoxicates. Or in our case, no matter if we paddle or plunge, provided we have the right watch on our wrist. A watch whose display won’t have us reaching for our glasses. A watch that lights up like a Christmas tree in the dark, that never misses a beat whatever knocks it might take, and is built to weather any storm. The kind of watch we love, and a man’s best friend when summer rolls around!
