A dive watch is waterproof and has a rotating bezel that is used to measure the time underwater.

Diving watches are not dive computers and are therefore often used by divers as a backup, in the event that one of the devices fails but you still have a “replacement” with you.

Citizen Watch BN2021-03E Taucheruhr

Since the time elapsed underwater is very important for divers, a diver’s watch always has a bezel on the watch that can only be adjusted to the left. The 12 o’clock mark on the bezel is the largest mark and is now placed on the minute hand and thus the start of the dive. This means that it is easy to read on the bezel how many minutes the diver has been underwater.

For safety reasons, the bezel can only be turned counterclockwise. If it changes unintentionally during the dive, the marked start time is always before the actual one. It is therefore unlikely that the elapsed dive time will be underestimated, so that the diver will always begin the ascent process before reaching the no-decompression limit or doing the required decompression times.

Please take professional Scuba Diving Training

If you don’t follow certain rules you can seriously harm yourself!

No decompression limit

The No decompression limit is the time from descending all the way to acseding backup to the surface, without having to make a decompression stop, so you have not exceeded the No decompression limit means you have no supersaturation of nitrogen in your blood! It is best to look up the max diving times at the respective depth from a diving table.

Decompression time

If you exceed your no-decompression limit and thus Supersaturate your blood with nitrogen you’ll need to make stops on the way up. This can also be read from the diving table for how long and at what depth this stop must be made. These stops cannot be skipped otherwise you’ll harm yourself!

Fashionable accessory and luxury object

Nowadays diving watches are more of a fashion accessory and luxury item and are basically no longer required for diving as a primary display. There is also the dive computer that can show a lot more than just the time and entry. But if you would like to wear a classic watch, you will get your money’s worth here!

DIN Norm

In Germany for example, only watches with the designation diving watch or diver’s (watch) that meet the criteria of DIN 8306 may be sold, for example:

  • Tested water resistance up to 20 bar, corresponding to a diving depth of 190 meters
  • Clear readability from a distance of 25 cm from the time, selected dive time, functioning of the clock – even in the dark
  • Possibility to preselect a time period (timer or bezel)

Beginnings of the dive watch

The Swiss watch manufacturer Rolex responded to a growing interest in sports and swimming and was the first manufacturer to achieve permanent water resistance in wristwatches. The first waterproof wristwatch to be marketed was the 1926 Oyster model.

The Submariner from 1953 is considered the archetype of modern diving watches with an external rotating ring (bezel) and guaranteed water resistance up to 100 meter

Mechanical dive watches

With a dive watch, it is important to ensure that the hands and the dial are easy to read, even in poor lighting conditions.

The hands and the dial are provided with fluorescent material, mostly Superluminova. In order to make this material shine, it has to be stimulated with light. The light is then slowly released again from the material and you can read the clock well even in very poor visibility conditions or during night dives without shining on the clock with your underwater torch.

A bezel that can only be rotated to the left, which prevents unintentional adjustment leading to an incorrect dive time.

When good and reliable automatic clockwork were available, these became the standard for mechanical diving watches for safety reasons, instead of the manual winding clockworks that had been used until then.

Quartz clockwork in dive watches

For safety reasons, a function has been integrated so that when the battery level is low, the second hand jumps for three seconds at each step (instead of one normally). Unlike many other utility watches, however, quartz movements did not become the dominant standard in diving watches.

With the so-called auto-quartz movement, the technology in diving watches experienced a boost. The drive energy is generated by a mechanical winding rotor that is moved by the movements of the wrist. Thus, annoying battery changes and the uncertainty of the water resistance of the dive watch were eliminated. A charged watch also runs without movement for several months.

Quartz movement dive watches with depth gauge

In the 80s, the analog dial models began to be equipped with a digital display that showed the date above water and the depth in meters or feet underwater. In other watches, the depth gauge was implemented with a fourth pointer and a meter or foot scale.

Digital quartz movement dive watch

Before the diving watch was replaced by the diving computer, some manufacturers brought digital quartz diving watches with a large LCD display onto the market, but they had no real chance!

Garmin Descent Mk2i titanium

Further development

Due to the technical progress that was made with personal computers, the diver’s watch has also been further developed and today there are watches that can do a lot more than just show the time!

The manufacturer Garmin, which originally comes from the field of GPS navigation, has developed the diver’s watch more in the direction of a combination of dive computer, navigation device and smartwatch. The Garmin Descent MK2 model combines the functionalities of GPS satellite navigation, fitness tracker and a complete dive computer in a single device.

In 1996 the manufacturer Sinn brought the newly developed hydro technology onto the market. By completely filling the watch with a silicone-based special oil, a mirror-free read off from every viewing angle, absolute protection against fogging and any pressure resistance is achieved for every achievable diving depth.

Diving watches as an accessory

Nowadays diving watches are not only worn by divers, watch collectors also have their eyes on this sector! Their sporty appearance does not only inspire divers either and they look fashionable on the wrist and make a certain statement.


Here are our recommendations for dive watches

Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Sailhawk Quartz Men’s Watch Dive Watch

Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Sailhawk Quartz Men's Watch Dive Watch

Brand, Seller, or Collection Name Citizen
Item Shape Round
Dial window material type Mineral
Display Type Analog-Digital
Clasp Buckle
Case material Stainless Steel
Case diameter 44 millimeters
Case Thickness 14.3 millimeters
Band Material Rubber
Band size Mens Standard
Band width 22 millimeters
Band Color Orange
Dial color Black
Bezel material Metal
Bezel function Directional
Calendar Day-Date-Month
Special features World Time in 30 cities, 1/100 second Chronograph measures up to 24 hours, Yacht racing timer, 2 alarms, split lap time, 99-minute countdown timer, One touch interchangeable analog/digital times
Movement Quartz
Water resistant depth 200 Meters
Warranty Manufacturer’s warranty can be requested from customer service. Click here to make a request to customer service.


Boldr Odyssey Freediver Automatic Green Dive Watch

Boldr Odyssey Freediver Automatic Green Dive Watch

Brand, Seller, or Collection Name BOLDR
Dial window material type Sapphire Crystal
Display Type Analog
Case diameter 40 millimeters
Case Thickness 14 millimeters
Band Color Silver
Movement Japanese Automatic
Water resistant depth 300 Meters
Product Warranty For warranty information about this product, please click here


Tissot mens Seastar 660/1000 Stainless Steel Dive watch

Tissot mens Seastar 660-1000 Stainless Steel Dive watch

Brand, Seller, or Collection Name Tissot
Model Year 2018
Item Shape Round
Dial window material type Synthetic Sapphire
Display Type Analog
Clasp Folding Clasp With Safety And Diver Extension
Case material Stainless Steel
Case diameter 13 millimeters
Case Thickness 13 millimeters
Band Material Stainless Steel
Band width 16 millimeters
Band Color Gray
Dial color Black
Bezel material Stainless Steel
Bezel function Unidirectional
Calendar Date
Special features Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, power reserve up to 80 hours, Screw-down crown and caseback, See-through caseback, ceramic bezel ring, Anti-clockwise rotating bezel, Water Resistant
Item weight 3.81 Ounces
Movement Swiss Automatic
Water resistant depth 1000 Feet
Product Warranty For warranty information about this product, please click here


Pantor Sealion 300m Pro Dive Watch

Pantor Sealion 300m Pro Dive Watch

Brand, Seller, or Collection Name Pantor
Model Year 2018
Item Shape Round
Dial window material type Anti reflective sapphire
Display Type Analog
Clasp Push Button Deployment Clasp
Case material Stainless Steel
Case diameter 42.00
Case Thickness 12.60
Band Material Stainless Steel
Band size Men’s Long
Band width 22 millimeters
Band Color Metallic
Dial color black/blue/green
Bezel material Stainless Steel
Bezel function Unidirectional
Calendar Date
Special features Screw down crown, Luminous
Item weight 4.06 Ounces
Movement Japanese Automatic
Water resistant depth 300 Meters
Product Warranty For warranty information about this product, please click here
Color Blue, Black, Green


SEIKO 5 Sports 24-Jewel Automatic Dive Watch

SEIKO 5 Sports 24-Jewel Automatic Dive Watch

Brand, Seller, or Collection Name SEIKO
Model number SRPD59
Part Number SRPD59
Dial window material type Hardlex
Display Type Analog
Clasp Three-fold clasp with push button release
Case material Stainless Steel
Case diameter 42.5 millimeters
Case Thickness 13.4 millimeters
Band Material Stainless Steel
Band width 22 millimeters
Band Color Silver
Dial color Orange
Calendar Day-Date
Item weight 9.6 Ounces
Movement Automatic with manual winding capacity
Water resistant depth 100 Meters
Product Warranty For warranty information about this product, please click here


Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Navihawk

Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Navihawk Dive Watch

Brand, Seller, or Collection Name Citizen
Model number CB5848-57L
Part Number CB5848-57L
Item Shape Round
Dial window material type Sapphire Crystal
Display Type Analog
Clasp Push Button Deployment Clasp
Case material Stainless Steel
Case diameter 46 millimeters
Case Thickness 12.9 millimeters
Band Material Stainless Steel
Band size Mens Standard
Band width 22 millimeters
Band Color Silver
Dial color Blue
Bezel material Stainless Steel
Bezel function Stationary
Calendar Perpetual Calendar
Special features MENS ECODRIVE CHRONOGRAPH
Movement Quartz
Water resistant depth 200 Meters
Warranty Manufacturer’s warranty can be requested from customer service. Click here to make a request to customer service.


Seiko Prospex Chrono Diver watch 200m Solar

Seiko Prospex Chrono Diver watch 200m Solar

Brand, Seller, or Collection Name SEIKO
Item Shape Round
Dial window material type Scratch Resistant Sapphire
Display Type Analog
Clasp Tang Buckle
Case diameter 44 millimeters
Case Thickness 14 millimeters
Band Material Silicone
Band width 22 millimeters
Band Color Black
Dial color Blue
Bezel material Uni-directional Rotating
Calendar Date
Item weight 4.23 Ounces
Movement quartz solar
Water resistant depth 200 Meters
Product Warranty For warranty information about this product, please click here


Tissot mens Seastar 660-1000 Stainless Steel Dive Watch Orange

Tissot mens Seastar 660-1000 Stainless Steel Dive Watch Orange

Brand, Seller, or Collection Name Tissot
Item Shape Round
Dial window material type Antireflective Sapphire
Display Type Analog
Clasp Tang Buckle
Case material Stainless Steel
Case diameter 45.5 millimeters
Case Thickness 12.82 millimeters
Band Material Rubber
Band width 22 millimeters
Band Color Orange
Dial color Black
Bezel material Stainless Steel
Bezel function Unidirectional
Calendar Date
Special features Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with double-sided antireflective coating, Screw-down crown and caseback,aluminium bezel ring,Anti-clockwise rotating bezel,Screw-down pushers, Water Resistant
Item weight 15.87 Ounces
Movement Swiss Quartz
Water resistant depth 1000 Feet
Product Warranty For warranty information about this product, please click here


Rolex New Submariner 114060 Steel Black Ceramic Dive Watch

Rolex New Submariner 114060 Steel Black Ceramic Dive Watch

Brand, Seller, or Collection Name Rolex
Model number 114060
Part Number 114060
Item Shape Round
Dial window material type Sapphire Crystal
Display Type Analog
Clasp Deployment Clasp
Case material Stainless Steel
Case diameter 40 millimeters
Case Thickness 13.00
Band Material Stainless Steel
Band width 19.5 millimeters
Band Color Silver-tone
Dial color Black
Bezel material Uni-directional Rotating
Special features Hour, Minute, Second, Chronometer
Item weight 5.5 Ounces
Movement Swiss Automatic
Water resistant depth 300 Meters
Product Warranty For warranty information about this product, please click here


Rolex Submariner “Hulk” Green Dial Men’s Luxury Watch M116610LV-0002 Dive Watch

Rolex Submariner Hulk Green Dial Men's Luxury Watch M116610LV-0002 Dive Watch

Brand, Seller, or Collection Name Rolex
Model number 116610LV
Part Number 116610LV
Model Year 2017
Item Shape Round
Dial window material type Anti reflective sapphire
Display Type Analog
Clasp Deployment Clasp
Case material Stainless Steel
Case diameter 40 millimeters
Case Thickness 13.00
Band Material Stainless Steel
Band width 40 millimeters
Band Color Green
Dial color Green
Bezel function Unidirectional
Calendar Date
Special features Swiss Made, Screw down crown, Cyclops Lens Over Date, Green Cerachrom Insert Ceramic Bezel, COSC Superlative Chronometer Certified
Item weight 15.87 Ounces
Movement Swiss Automatic
Water resistant depth 300 Meters
Product Warranty For warranty information about this product, please click here


Orient Dive watch Men’s Kamasu Stainless Steel

Orient Dive watch Men's Kamasu Stainless Steel

Brand, Seller, or Collection Name ORIENT
Model number RA-AA0002L
Part Number RA-AA0002L19A
Item Shape Round
Dial window material type Synthetic sapphire
Display Type Analog
Clasp Push Button Foldover Clasp With Safety
Case material Stainless Steel
Case diameter 44 millimeters
Case Thickness 12.9 millimeters
Band Material Stainless Steel
Band size Men’s Standard
Band width 22 millimeters
Band Color Silver
Dial color Blue
Bezel material Stainless Steel
Bezel function Unidirectional
Calendar Day-Date
Movement Japanese Automatic
Water resistant depth 200 Meters
Product Warranty For warranty information about this product, please click here


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