Dive Watches · Page 106

Baltic Introduces the Aquascaphe Dual-Crown “5th Anniversary”

Founded in 2017, French brand Baltic quickly found success with its affordable, retro watches. The brand is now celebrating its fifth anniversary with a few commemorative editions in the pipeline, the first being the Aquascaphe Dual-Crown “5th Anniversary”, a retro “Super Compressor” style dive watch dressed up in streetwear colours of the 1990s, the decade during which the thirty-something founders of the brand grew up. Initial thoughts A micro-brand that got its start via crowdfunding, Baltic’s growth is a testament to its commercially-sensible products. Its watches are amongst the best propositions when it comes to retro watches. Baltic’s watches are all eminently affordable, with just enough details to give them a tiny bit more appeal than their prices would suggest. By the same token, the Dual-Crown is an appealing watch. Compact and affordable, the Dual-Crown was only available in muted colours to date. In fact, Baltic hasn’t launched a special edition of the model to date (and the brand does a lot of special editions), making the anniversary model unusual. The anniversary model continues where the original Dual-Crown left off, which is colour, or lack thereof. For anyone who liked the original but wanted something more lively, this is it. The anniversary Dual-Crown is only differs from the standard model in subtle ways, perhaps too subtle. As a result it does not have the strongly coherent aesthetic of Baltic’s other watches, which are clearly an...

Hands-On: The Tudor Black Bay GMT 'Root Beer' Should Not Be Slept On

Quite frankly, it's a watch that should've always been around … and now it is.

How a Seiko diver connected Jack with the daredevil uncle he never got to meet

In 1979, Evelyn Brooker walked into a jeweller in Sydney. She was seeking a 21st birthday gift for her son, Murray, a keen scuba diver. She left the store with a Seiko 6309-7290, a professional diver’s watch, which was gift-wrapped for the special occasion. Four years later, Murray is 25 and diving off Broughton Island … ContinuedThe post How a Seiko diver connected Jack with the daredevil uncle he never got to meet appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Vintage Watches: A 1979 Rolex Sea-Dweller 'Great White,' A 1960s Heuer Carrera 'Early First Execution,' And A 1940s Breitling Premier Chronograph

All of the greatest vintage watches the internet has to offer.

Hands-On: Exploring Familiarity And Functionality With The Black Bay Pro

Tudor's latest creation alters the course of the Black Bay and I'm here for it.

The Tudor Black Bay Pro – first impressions from a die-hard Tudor fan

What Tudor would release at this year’s Watches and Wonders was one of the big talking points among collectors and enthusiasts. The sister brand to Rolex has built a reputation for unexpected releases. Think the Tudor North Flag or Black Bay P01. Tudor, once again, did not disappoint. The brand’s release of a 39mm true … ContinuedThe post The Tudor Black Bay Pro – first impressions from a die-hard Tudor fan appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Introducing: Take A Sip Of The New Tudor Black Bay GMT S&G; "Root Beer"

It's a tall glass of function and nostalgia.

Introducing: Grand Seiko Releases Its Best Spring Drive Diver Yet (Live Pics & Pricing)

Caliber 9RA5, high-intensity titanium, and the all-important textured "Black Stream" dial.

Introducing: The New TAG Heuer Superdiver With A Kenissi Movement

This marks the beginning of a brand new partnership

Introducing: The Tudor Black Bay Pro

Flyer GMT and 39mm. Let's go.

Tudor’s Steel and Gold Expansion - Black Bay GMT and Chrono

For 2022, Tudor is taking one of its smash hits from the line and giving it a stealthy bling-over, by offering the Black Bay GMT in steel and gold.

The Black Bay Pro - Tudor’s Latest Adventurer Watch

Tudor Introduces the Black Bay Pro

Tudor finally introduces a more compact GMT watch with the Black Bay Pro, which is 39 mm and equipped with a fixed bezel. With slightly retro styling, the Black Bay Pro nonetheless has all the features that characterise Tudor, including a proprietary movement with a silicon hairspring as well as the newly-developed T-Fit micro-adjustment clasp. Initial thoughts The Black Bay Pro is what I have been hoping for, a more compact Tudor GMT. It has a 39 mm case just like the Black Bay Fifty-Eight, the perfect size in my estimation. And it has a true GMT function thanks to the MT5652 inside. It also sports a useful upgrade: the T-Fit clasp that allows for micro-adjustment on the fly, giving this a feature usually found on pricier watches. The aesthetic certainly beings to mind the Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655, which is a good thing (and it was probably designed with a knowing wink). Arguably the only downside is the case thickness. At 14.6 mm high the watch is thick, though not excessively so. It does not feel ungainly on the wrist, although the flat, vertical case sides do accentuate the height. Another only potential downside is the fixed bezel, which means the watch cannot track the third time zone that’s possible on the standard GMT. It’s not a dealbreaker for me since the third time zone functionality is something I never use on a GMT watch. Still, the Black Bay Pro is an impressive value proposition all things considered, and certainly one of the best buys of the fair. F...

Into the Deep with TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 1000 Superdiver

New: Grand Seiko Evolution Spring Drive collection with two GMTs, a two Chronographs and a Diver

The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection expands with 5 new sports watches - two Spring Drive GMT references, two Spring Drive Chronographs and a Diver.

Introducing: Citizen Announces A Pair Of Vintage-Inspired Mechanical Dive Watches

An easy-to-love, back-to-basics skin diver from Citizen.

From the world’s thinnest dive watch to an absolute monster, the NOVE Trident Automatic and Atlantean are dive watches with a difference

There are lots of buzzwords that fly around the realm of microbrands. Innovation, function, craftsmanship - they all serve the purpose of validating a watch brand’s existence beyond the simple fact that they exist to sell watches. Sometimes it’s necessary to use these because watch collectors are biased towards brands that have centuries worth of … ContinuedThe post From the world’s thinnest dive watch to an absolute monster, the NOVE Trident Automatic and Atlantean are dive watches with a difference appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

In-Depth: Why Is Everyone Not Talking About The New Green Seamaster?

A color change goes a long way.

Up Close: Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze

Last summer Tudor introduced several Black Bay variants such as the Fifty-Eight 925 and METAS-certified Ceramic. Though one of the most affordable amongst the year’s new launches, the most unique was arguably the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze. While bronze is not a new material for Tudor – the brand has unveiled several bronze dive watches in the past – it’s a first for the compact Black Bay Fifty-Eight (BB58) and also the first instance of a bronze bracelet. Given the popularity of the standard Fifty-Eight in steel, it leads to the obvious question: is the Fifty-Eight in bronze interesting enough to differentiate itself from its predecessors? Initial thoughts With the original BB58 has proven itself a winner, it is logical that Tudor builds on its success with a new palette, case material, and even minor improvements to the case construction. Though it is a Fifty-Eight in name, the Bronze is a very different watch. For starters, it is the first Tudor dive watch with a bracelet that isn’t steel. More usefully, the bronze bracelet incorporates a newly-developed, micro-adjustment clasp for easy sizing on the fly. While bronze isn’t rare amongst dive watches in general, it is unusual for Tudor, so credit should be given to the brand for its choice of case material. Tudor doubles down on the material by taking the bold step of using bronze not just for the case but also the bracelet, making this one of the few watches with a bracelet in the metal. Bronze is popular ...

The LeJour Seacolt Diver is a modern dive watch with vintage swagger

Although the name LeJour conjures up the idea of something fleeting and trendy, that portrayal of the brand couldn’t be further from the truth. The brand’s rich history began back in the 1960s when they also cased watches for names as big as Heuer and Yema. If you’re looking for a bargain in the world … ContinuedThe post The LeJour Seacolt Diver is a modern dive watch with vintage swagger appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Citizen Remakes Lost-at-Sea Diver’s Watch

One of Citizen’s earlier dive watches, the Challenge Diver of 1977 is rated to 150 m – but it evidently can withstand more than pressure under water. In 1983, a long-submerged example was discovered at Long Reef Beach in Sydney, Australia. And despite being encrusted with barnacles, it was in working condition according to Citizen. Now Citizen revisits the Challenge Diver – and memorialises the barnacle-covered watch – with the Promaster Mechanical Diver 200m “Fujitsubo”. The new watch retains the retro design and dimensions but has been thoroughly upgraded with modern materials and mechanics, including a titanium case and movement resistant to magnetic fields of up to 16,000 A/m (or about 200 Gauss). Initial thoughts While the new launch is headlined by an interesting story, the watch itself is appealing, especially for its slim proportions and affordability. At 41 mm wide and 12.3 mm tall, the Fujitsubo is one of the thinnest dive watches in this price segment. In fact, it’s even thinner than the vintage original. And it’s also slimmer than its most obvious rival, the Seiko 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-Interpretations “62MAS”, which is about 1 mm taller. And it will also be lightweight. As is convention for most of Citizen’s mid-range dive watches, the case is Super Titanium, the brand’s proprietary alloy that has undergone surface hardening, leaving it five times more scratch resistant than steel. Visually, the Fujitsubo is simple and almost gene...

Watch Of The Week: The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M I Gifted To Myself

After I finished my first novel I rewarded myself with a new watch, but then I had to put it through its paces.

Seiko Debuts Prospex Dive Watches with “Glacial Ice” Dials

Sticking to a tried-and-tested formula, Seiko has united a trio of its bestselling dive watches into a thematic collection. This year’s offering is the Prospex Save the Ocean Special Editions, a trio of dive watches (the refs. SPB297, SPB299, and SPB301) featuring textured dials modelled on the surface of polar ice. As with past Save the Ocean editions, part of the proceeds from the sale of the new models will be donated to ocean conservation organisations. Initial thoughts Easy to like because of their vintage-inspired style and affordability, Seiko’s “Modern Re-interpretation” dive watches have just gotten better with the new trio, thanks to interesting, textured dials in pleasing colours. Even amongst the countless iterations of the same models, the new arrivals still manage to distinguish themselves, especially the models in light blue and white, both uncommon colours for dive watches. Interestingly, the new watches might look identical to past versions save for the dials, but they are not. All three feature steel cases that have a “super-hard coating”, which was absent in earlier models, explaining why the new models cost more than last year’s military-style special editions. While Seiko’s schedule of frequent new launches are a little tedious to keep up with, the proliferation of such watches is probably justified, simply because they are mass produced and affordable, making them easily accessible for almost anyone. As such, new versions in co...

Watch Spotting: Kansas Jayhawks Head Coach Bill Self Wearing A Tudor Black Bay Burgundy On The Sideline

Rock, Chalk, Black Bay.