From luminous indices to thick, watertight cases, every detail in these three new dive watches caters to explorers bound for the depths of the sea.
We can’t think of many situations when timing is quite as important as when you’re diving – after all, oxygen is pretty vital and when you’re suddenly running low on air because you haven’t been paying closer attention to the time, then everything else seems to play second fiddle.
Fortunately, many major watch brands pride themselves on their dive watches, hardy tools that combine a raft of features with rugged, masculine lines. Continuing on this proud tradition, three major players have recently launched new takes on their iconic dive watches.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Orange Ceramic
Waterproof up to 600 metres, and limited to just eight pieces, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Orange Ceramic is as powerful as dive watches get. An Omega Co-Axial 8615 movement, specially fitted with a si14 silicon balance spring, sits between the sapphire crystal caseback and sandblasted 950-grade platinum dial. Details in 18-carat white gold and orange aluminum bring contrast and visibility, while a central GMT hand, which circumnavigates the watch-face once every 24 hours, is used with the bidirectional, rotating bezel to keep track of time in a second or third time zone. The 43.55mm case sits on an integrated orange leather strap finished with platinum stitching.
Hublot Oceanographic 4000 Cheval Blanc Randheli Special Edition
Celebrating the recently-opened Cheval Blanc Randheli in the Maldives, Hublot has unveiled the exclusive Oceanographic 4000 Cheval Blanc Randheli Special Edition. It took 18 months to create this tough-as-nails watch, which is waterproof up to 4,000 metres. The 48mm case is made of microblasted satin-finished titanium and incorporates a screw-down back, as well as thicker-than-normal 6.5mm sapphire crystal.
The matte white dial and satin-finished appliqués with bright yellow photo-luminescent pigment make telling time underwater easy, while the rubber strap and titanium buckle keep the timepiece fastened to the wrist. The finishing touch is a stainless steel helium valve positioned at 10 o’clock, which allows the timely release of accumulated gasses during ascent
after a dive.
Alpina Extreme Diver Orange 300
Offering divers high underwater visibility is Alpina’s Extreme Diver Orange 300. Available in two models, the watches are waterproof up to 300 metres, and feature steel cases and anti-reflective sapphire crystal, along with jet black rotating 60-minute bezels with luminous markers. To maximise underwater visibility, the dive watches also sport rich black dials with bright white indexes, and large three-day date displays; completing the made-to-dive credentials are a screw-in crown and screw-down caseback.
The larger watch features a 44mm case with an AL-525 automatic movement, set on a rubber strap, steel bracelet, or metal mesh strap; the smaller boasts a 38mm case with an AL-240 quartz movement, set on a rubber strap or steel bracelet.
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