There are many styles of wristwatch to choose from, with most people having their own preference as to the look they prefer. While many watches are produced as fashion accessories, others are produced with a more practical function in mind.
This is true of diving watches, which were originally produced for use by scuba divers.
While there are many watches that are designed to be waterproof at shallow depths, diving watches are typically produced to withstand the water pressure at depths of greater then 100m. Typically this meant depths of 200 to 300m, although it is possible to get watches that will work at depths greater than this. A true diving watch that can be used by scuba divers in depths of water greater than 100m should be produced with features in accordance with the international design standard ISO6452. Typically these will be marked with the word Diver’s to show they are suitable for use with underwater apparatus, as opposed to watches which mimic the style but are not actually suitable for use at scuba diving depths.
While they are practical watches that were designed with underwater use in mind, the style of diving watches has made them popular with many people, whether they take part in scuba diving or not. They can come in a range of looks although some of the standard features typically include a unidirectional bezel with minute markings, easily distinguishable markings on the dial, a watch face that can be read in the dark and a solid strap and strap bar. The watch case needs to be water resistant up to the depth for which the watch is designed and generally must be able to cope with the corrosive effects of salt water.
There are a number of manufacturers that produce diving watches and this includes many of the top watch companies. Some of the popular brand names include Omega, Luminox, Citizen and Oris. They can be found for sale at a number of outlets with online specialist retailers such as My Dive Watch and Joe Diver America being places to look.
The cost of a diving watch will typically depend on a few factors with the quality of manufacture and brand name typically influencing the price. Prices can start at less than $200 with the Citizen Men’s BN0000-04H Eco-Drive Professional Diver watch being an example of this. It can be found on the market for around $160 and is water resistant to depths of 300m. However, some of the higher quality diving watches can rise in price into the thousands of dollars. The Omega Seamaster Ocean Planet 600m Men’s Diving watch can cost around $3,000 to purchase and can be used to a depth of 600m. While being a practical diving watch it also has a stylish look and is a popular timepiece.
Whether you are a fan of scuba diving or not diving watches can be a good style of wristwatch to choose. They are practical for use if you enjoy diving, but most are stylish timepieces which can easily be worn in a range of settings from casual to formal.