Hodinkee
The Alchemy of Style & Substance
The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Gets A Bold Makeover With Three New Black Ceramic Models And A Selection Of Seductive Green Dials
Dive Watches · Page 37
Hodinkee
Hodinkee
Louis Vuitton Tambour Street Diver
A deep dive into the mind of two unique creatives and how time shapes their process.
Hodinkee
Style Under Pressure
The new Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1965 Diver
Teddy Baldassarre
The Seiko King Turtle: Does This Budget-Friendly Diver Reign Supreme?
Japan’s Seiko has never been shy about going bold and unconventional with its designs, especially when it comes to its divers’ watches, a genre in which the brand has been an undisputed industry pioneer since the 1960s. One of its most off-the-wall and yet most enduringly popular designs is the so-called Turtle, which made its debut in the 1970s and has undergone a successful renaissance here in the 21st Century as part of Seiko’s rugged and sport-centric Prospex line. At the pinnacle of the Turtle sub-family, in terms of luxurious finishing and dominant wrist presence, is the grandly named King Turtle, best represented by the Refs. SRPE03 and SRPE05 released in 2019. Here’s what you should know about them. By the time this watch’s ancestors made their debut, Seiko had already produced some highly unusual, unexpectedly iconic, and cleverly nicknamed dive watches, like the Ref. 6159 “Tuna” (for its chunky tuna-can-like case shape) and the Ref. 6105 “Captain Willard” (thanks to its being famously worn by Martin Sheen’s character in Apocalypse Now.) The “Turtle” nickname first surfaced in 1976, applied to the References 6306 and 6309 - the former, made for the Japanese market, and the latter, for international customers. These watches were notable for their cushion-shaped cases with softly rounded lugs, which brought to mind the silhouette of a turtle when viewed from above. The Turtle gained a modicum of pop-culture visibility when actor Ed Harri...
Deployant
New: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms now in Polished Steel
Blancpain releases the Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm in polished stainless steel , with either a steel bracelet or rubber strap.
Monochrome
Introducing – The New Yema Skin Diver CMM.20
Yema continues to refine its catalogue by raising the bar on quality and craftsmanship, unveiling fresh iterations of one of its most iconic models. Still drawing inspiration from the original 1960s diver series, the French watchmaker introduces new versions of the Superman Skin Diver, now equipped with its proprietary CMM.20 micro-rotor calibre, in a move […]
Time+Tide
Black and white: how does the new Tudor Black Bay Pro Polar compare to the original?
The new white-dial Black Bay Pro Polar is more than just a palette swap - but how does it stack up to the original black dial model?The post Black and white: how does the new Tudor Black Bay Pro Polar compare to the original? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Teddy Baldassarre
Editors' Picks: Our Top All-New Watches Of 2025
Today we keep our post-Watches & Wonders 2025 recaps going with our takes on the best all-new watches of the show. We know there are a lot of line and color extensions released every year but what stood out to us from all the truly new watches? Well, to nobody’s surprise, there is now a watch release that has appeared on all three of three Editors’ Picks we have published so far. Also some smaller brands had big releases we loved this year, so let’s get into them. Mark Bernardo: Ulysse Nardin Diver [AIR] As always when a gaggle of nerdy watch writers share opinions and ideas, there was a bit of discussion prior to this article as to what constitutes a “new” watch. Does a new case size count, or a new movement or complication in an existing model, or a model from the past that has been radically redesigned but carries the same name? Hopefully I have deftly evaded these eternal (but fascinating) debates by submitting the “newest” and most groundbreaking timepiece I encountered this year. It has to be “new” if it sets a new world record, right? In the case of the Ulysse Nardin Diver [AIR], the milestone in question is debuting as the lightest mechanical dive watch ever made - just 52 grams in total, including the strap.The watch is an evolution of 2021’s Diver X Skeleton, which itself emerged from the mainstream (non-skeleton) Diver series, but takes that model’s extreme openworked structure to another level; according to the brand, the inside of the 4...
Worn & Wound
eBay Finds: Precious Metal Classics from Omega and IWC, a Funky Waltham, and a Seiko 5 in Great Condition
eBay Finds is back! This bi-monthly installment will feature a selection of watches currently listed on eBay that have caught the eye of editor Christoph McNeil (@vintagediver). If you come across any hidden gems on the ‘Bay drop us a note at info@wornandwound.com for potential inclusion! Vintage Waltham B-383 Rally Diver Here’s a wild one to start off this week, a vintage Waltham diver with a bold rally dial. The large squarish chunky steel case looks unpolished with sharp edges. The diver’s bezel has a cool half yellow, half black acrylic insert that is in really nice shape. The dial is what really sets this diver apart though, with its intricate black, yellow and blue alternating “rally” style design. Broad steel hands and the ubiquitous 1970s day/date window complete the look. No movement picture, but the seller states it runs well. This one has all the vintage swag you could want in a diver! View auction here Vintage Seiko 5 Sportsmatic Next up is this simple yet stylish vintage Seiko 5 Sportsmatic. These are really versatile, large and robust enough to be sporty, but you can dress it up with a nice leather strap and it would be right at home with a suit! This 1967 model is in excellent, unpolished shape, with a large 38mm case. The classic Seiko silver dial with steel markers and hands is also excellent. Of note, the hour and minute hands are the exact same hands used on the iconic Seiko 6105 divers, although the lume color is different. Nice clean auto...
![[VIDEO] Owner’s Review: Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M 2220.80.00](https://wornandwound.com/library/uploads/2025/04/Omega-Seamaster-Owner-Review-CGB-5.jpg)
Worn & Wound
[VIDEO] Owner’s Review: Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M 2220.80.00
“That makes perfect sense, since MI6 looks for maladjusted young men who’d give little thought to sacrificing others in order to protect queen and country. You know, former SAS types with easy smiles and expensive watches - Rolex?” “Omega.” I’m not James Bond. I know it may come as a surprise, but I don’t spend my time playing in high-stakes poker games (or baccarat, if you prefer the books), I don’t chase terrorists across European cities, and I don’t save the world from a colorful megalomaniac every few years. But I do have a bit of a crush on Eva Green, and I do wear an Oh-meeg-uh, so I guess I can forgive the confusion. Specifically, and for about the last half-decade, I’ve been wearing a reference 2220.80.00 Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M, the same watch worn by Daniel Craig in the infamous train car scene of Casino Royale quoted above, and, for my money, the best Seamaster to come out of Bern, maybe ever. I don’t make that claim lightly. The Seamaster is, by the standards of a ‘luxury’ watch, remarkably ubiquitous. I see Seamasters a lot - on the wrists of my bartenders, on the subway, and almost every time I move through an airport. A lot of that is thanks to one thing: Bond. But while most people know the Seamaster thanks to its starring role in three decades worth of Bond films, the name goes back far further - all the way to 1946. Granted, those first Seamasters have very little to do with the dive watches we most associ...
Monochrome
Introducing – The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 42mm Now in Polished Steel
One of the first purpose-built modern dive watches produced in the mid-1950s, Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms was a key player in the development of “skin diving” and the watch selected by several elite diving corps. Taken out of production in the 1980s, Swatch Group’s Marc A. Hayek resuscitated the Fifty Fathoms in 2003. In 2007, the […]
Teddy Baldassarre
Blancpain Fills a Niche with Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm in Polishe
Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms, first introduced in 1953, is indisputably one of the most influential and iconic timepieces of the 20th century, basically laying out the blueprint for what we now recognize today as the modern divers’ watch. Also indisputable is the fact that the Fifty Fathoms is a watch that is anything but understated in its proportions - the Automatique at the core of the modern collection, relaunched in 2008, sports a massive 45mm case, and even the vintage-inspired and allegedly more modestly sized Bathyscaphe models, which joined the collection in 2013, hover around 43mm in their male-targeted iterations. In 2024, Blancpain responded to a market-wide trend toward smaller case sizes - albeit without compromising the bold character of its flagship sport-luxury model - by releasing a new version of the Fifty Fathoms Automatique in a middle-of-the-road 42mm version. Curiously, the first two models in this size were in rose gold and titanium; the inclusion of a steel model seemed to be a no-brainer that was conspicuous by its absence in that first wave of 42mm models. Today, however, Blancpain has finally delivered the Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm in stainless steel - adding it to the regular collection as well as giving the model a distinctive flair. The stainless steel case of the new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique, which measures precisely 42.3mm in diameter and 14.3mm thick, sports a gleaming, predominantly polished finish, distinguishing...
Monochrome
Hands-on – The Tudor Black Bay 58 Burgundy, now with METAS Movement and More Updates
Of all the new releases from Tudor at this year’s Watches and Wonders, the standout piece was undoubtedly the evolution of the Black Bay 58 line, now presented in a striking all-burgundy design, with both the dial and bezel dressed in the deep red tone. While the dial colour holds historical significance, the real game-changer […]
Fratello
Introducing: A 42mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique In Steel
Just when the watch world is beginning to settle into the quiet post-Watches and Wonders pace, Blancpain shakes things up by introducing a version of its 42mm Fifty Fathoms in steel. Recently, I had the pleasure of spending some time with the 42mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms in titanium. Now the brand has introduced a new […] Visit Introducing: A 42mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique In Steel to read the full article.
Hodinkee
Introducing: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm – Now In Steel
Another Fifty Fathoms joins the lineup.
Time+Tide
Blancpain now has a steel Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm in its permanent collection
Steel? Check. 42mm? Check. Regular production? Check.The post Blancpain now has a steel Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm in its permanent collection appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Hodinkee
Introducing: The Tudor Pelagos Ultra
New size, new Master Chronometer spec, and good to 1000 meters.
![Ulysse Nardin Introduces the World’s Lightest Mechanical Dive Watch, the Dive [Air]](https://wornandwound.com/library/uploads/2025/04/UN-Dive-Air-55.jpg)
Worn & Wound
Ulysse Nardin Introduces the World’s Lightest Mechanical Dive Watch, the Dive [Air]
Ulysse Nardin once again entered Watches & Wonders with only one watch. I like this strategy, as it allows a brand to really focus on storytelling and helping the press, retailers, and other guests understand what their new novelty is all about. Many Watches & Wonders meetings can feel a bit rushed as tray after tray of watches is passed around and given a full explanation. But Ulysse Nardin, by comparison, is a leisurely experience, and the information really sticks. I always come away from their big spring novelty impressed, and this year, with the debut of the new Dive [Air] was no exception. The Dive [Air] sees Ulysse Nardin at their most experimental, pursuing the type of ultralight watchmaking that has driven brands like Richard Mille (the obvious point of comparison) over the past decade. According to Ulysse Nardin, the Dive [Air] is the world’s lightest mechanical dive watch, with a case that tips the scales at just 46 grams (with the elastic strap, the watch weighs 52 grams). I’m sure the Ulysse Nardin team had fun all week handing the watch over to people like me and watching their faces as the weight (or, lack thereof) sunk in. To be clear, 52 grams is disconcertingly light. It’s the type of light that makes you believe your mind is playing a trick on you, or that the watch might be a fake, some plastic, Happy Meal toy. But it’s not, of course, a toy. It’s a 44mm diver that sees Ulysse Nardin pushing their own technical limits, and coming up with ing...
![Introducing: Ulysse Nardin Produces The World's Lightest Dive Watch With the Diver [AIR]](https://hodinkee.imgix.net/uploads/images/bd6007d3-abff-46ca-8e1d-aa44c94ebeae/BG_DIVER_AIR_Duo_HD.jpeg?ixlib=rails-1.1.0&fm=jpg&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&w=1200&h=630&fit=crop)
Hodinkee
Introducing: Ulysse Nardin Produces The World's Lightest Dive Watch With the Diver [AIR]
The brand's dive watch design goes on a diet.
Hodinkee
Hands-On: Tudor Black Bay 58 Burgundy – A Neo-Vintage Prototype Comes Full Circle
An idea from the 90s is back and we talk to the designer about what it took to close the loop.
Time+Tide
The FLX004 is the most minimalist take on a skin diver by Fleux yet
All that you need, and nothing you don't.The post The FLX004 is the most minimalist take on a skin diver by Fleux yet appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
Tudor’s Black Bay Pro, Now in Opaline White
Tudor has given its Black Bay Pro a new look with an “opaline” white dial, fulfilling a long-standing enthusiasts’ wish. This new model replaces the black dial launched in 2022, while retaining the same 39 mm case and 24-hour fixed bezel. It’s equipped with a pale orange GMT hand that stands out prominently against the “polar” white dial. Initial thoughts Three years after its initial release, the Black Bay Pro remains one of the strongest value propositions in the sub–US$5,000 segment of dual time zone watches. Priced at US$4,375 on a steel bracelet, the Black Bay Pro is a true GMT with an independently adjustable local hour hand. Plus it features a solid bracelet with a micro-adjust clasp and a high-spec in-house movement. Naturally, the fact that it’s reminiscent of the Rolex Explorer II “polar” doesn’t hurt. The only drawback is the 14.6 mm case that is a little too thick for its compact diameter. Fortunately, Tudor does offer a better proportioned dual time zone with the Black Bay 58 GMT, but that’s only available in black and burgundy for now. Opaline dial The domed white dial is the star of the show. Like the original model, it features applied luminous ceramic-polymer hour markers. Here the markings are in black on a matte white dial, matched with an orange GMT hand. Apart from the dial, the watch remains identical to the earlier Black Bay Pro. It features a 39 mm case housing the COSC-certified MT5652 movement, which operates at 28,800 beat...
Worn & Wound
Over 22 of the Best Dive Watches for Under $1,000
In this video, we crafted a list of some of the best dive watches on the market that meet the desired specifications of 200 meters of water resistance and some sort of countdown timer capabilities. We take a look at watches from brands like Tissot, Seiko, Citizen, G-SHOCK, Bulova, and CWC, just to name a few. Which watches did we miss? What should we put in part 2? In this video, we crafted a list of some of the best dive watches on the market that meet the desired specifications of 200 meters of water resistance and some sort of countdown timer capabilities. We take a look at watches from brands like Tissot, Seiko, Citizen, G-SHOCK, Bulova, and CWC, just to name a few. Which watches did we miss? What should we put in part 2? The post Over 22 of the Best Dive Watches for Under $1,000 appeared first on Worn & Wound.
SJX Watches
Omega Unveils Seamaster Planet Ocean Worldtimer
Omega’s latest is an unusual combination of a 600 m-rated dive watch with a Cottier-style world time. The Seamaster Planet Ocean Worldtimer shares the oversized ceramic case of the Planet Ocean Deep Black, but is the first model in the collection to incorporate a world time complication. Initial thoughts While the Worldtimer makes a bold statement, a US$14,800 price tag and substantial case dimensions may limit its appeal – particularly for those with average-sized wrists. Still, it offers a somewhat paradoxical and oddly specific combination of features, so someone seeking a world time watch ready for saturation diving, there are few other options. Of the two available colourways, I would choose the low-key grey edition for its greater versatility compared to the turquoise version. Worldtimer Offered with either turquoise or grey accents, the new Planet Ocean is housed in a black ceramic case measuring 45.5 mm in diameter and 17.4 mm in thickness. Signature Seamaster case elements, including twisted lyre lugs, a helium escape valve, and “Broad Arrow” hands, complete the design. The standout feature the world time complication with a cities disc and 24-hour ring. At the centre is a titanium disc displaying a view of the Earth from the North Pole, with continents and colours rendered with varnish and laser engraving. A 24-hour ring in transparent hesalite is shaded in black and white to denote night and day. The chapter ring for the hours is embellished with a honey...