Your top 5 favourite Divers Watches

[suffolk009]

You know how it is with collecting stuff. You start off like a magpie, going for the nice, shiny bright stuff that merely catches your eye, then you learn a little bit more and your tastes narrow down. You need to start honing your collection, things are moved on, other things arrive.

It's happening to me with watches. It seems I have a thing for Dive watches, black faced. Maybe on steel, maybe a nato strap. My wife doesn't understand - "but they all look the same to me".

Thought I'd start a thread about favourite dive watches, ones you own, ones you want, whatever.

Here's my top 5 in no particular order.


Omega Seamaster 300. Have had one of these for the last ten years. It's brilliant.



MKII Nassau. Am on the list for one of these.



Rolex Submariner 5512



BlancPain Fifty Fathoms



Seiko 6105 "Apocalypse"

[suffolk009]

sorry the photos are all over the place size-wise. techie troubles.

[LukeBird]

suffolk009 said:

MKII Nassau. Am on the list for one of these.

Out of interest, how is that any different to the Kingston?

[Spice_Weasel]

Good point, but I'd have one on a stripey NATO as a beater!

[Adrian W]

DSSD, Kasimon 1500, Oris Pro diver chrono, Longines Hydroconquest chrono, Sub



I forgot MM600 (thats six)

Edited by Adrian W on Friday 20th July 08:30

[suffolk009]

LukeBird said:

suffolk009 said:

MKII Nassau. Am on the list for one of these.

Out of interest, how is that any different to the Kingston?

Kingston
Off the top of my head, the Kingston is a limited edition and has now sold out, it has gold face details and hands and a date complication. Bound to be more detail differences, but I'm not certain about them all.

[LukeBird]

Thought the Nassau was limited as well.
I guess the only difference is the gilt dial print then, as the Kingston could be had without a date as well.

[suffolk009]

LukeBird said:

Thought the Nassau was limited as well.
I guess the only difference is the gilt dial print then, as the Kingston could be had without a date as well.

As I understand it the Nassau is not a Limited Ed. Also forgot to mention that little red traingle in the bezel.

[andy_s]

Phew, I don't know if 5 would cover it, but here's 5 somewhere around the top of my list; it's of course a bit skewed as they are older, mostly issued watches, but anyway...

This is my Benrus Type 1 Class A US Navy diver from '72 (case is the same as the Marathon etc re-editions)



This one wasn't issued, but is so of its time - Falco wore one (Cousteaus right-hand man), a ZRC Etanche Grands Fonds, I've been hunting one of these for years now:



This one is an under-rated classic I think, a snowflake Marine National Tudor Submariner, in black or blue:




I'd also say the Omega 300 large triangle, interesting for its, er, large triangle, but of course also those gladiator hands:



And finally (although I could probably interchange a few others in this list like the CWC/Precistas, another few Omegas and of course the more ubiquitous Rolex), an IWC BUND:

[hilly10]

Mine are

The Sub



Then these three



Then This




All subject to change except The Sub that will always be no 1

[suffolk009]

andy_s said:

Phew, I don't know if 5 would cover it, but here's 5 somewhere around the top of my list; it's of course a bit skewed as they are older, mostly issued watches, but anyway...



I'd also say the Omega 300 large triangle, interesting for its, er, large triangle, but of course also those gladiator hands:

Is this the Omega now known as a Pre-Bond?

[andy_s]

suffolk009 said:

Is this the Omega now known as a Pre-Bond?

I've never heard that expression before, so couldn't say; these were RN issue between '65-'72-ish, but there were also civilian ones and NOS Watchco ones iirc.

[suffolk009]

andy_s said:

suffolk009 said:

Is this the Omega now known as a Pre-Bond?

I've never heard that expression before, so couldn't say; these were RN issue between '65-'72-ish, but there were also civilian ones and NOS Watchco ones iirc.

Just found this on watchuseek. Highlights below.
for the full explanaition: http://forums.watchuseek.com/f45/fairly-comprehens...

The Seamaster 200 was introduced in 1988. Like many other Omega lines, the Seamaster 200 was tied to an event that touted its deep-sea qualities. According to the official Omega website “On July 25 1988, the Seamaster Professional 200 meters calibre 1111 took part in the IFREMER Faré mission, during which the French scientific submarine Nautile dived 4,400 meters (a new record) below sea level in the mid-Atlantic to install the first link of a channel to monitor seismic shift.”

The Seamaster 200 was never really appreciated in its time and in fact received its nickname “Pre Bond” as a result of the model that followed it. Omega even lists the line in the vintage database as Pre Bond. From the Omega vintage database it seems that it was introduced in 1987/88 and ran through 1995, however it was effectively replaced in 1993 by the “Bond” Seamaster 300.

[andy_s]

Ah, never seen that before, so the old 300 that I showed would be the pre-pre-Bond, or even the pre-pre-pre-Bond...

[suffolk009]

andy_s said:

Ah, never seen that before, so the old 300 that I showed would be the pre-pre-Bond, or even the pre-pre-pre-Bond...

Yeah!

It's a lovely watch. I have a real soft spot for Omega.

[Justayellowbadge]

Proplof
Double Red
50 Fathoms no rads
Zodiac SSW
Sinn EZM

[Ikemi]

JLC Master Compressor Diving Chronograph ...



Omega Planet Ocean:



Clerc Hydroscaph Ti Large Date:



IWC Aquatimer Chrono:



Bell & Ross BR02-94:

Edited by Ikemi on Friday 20th July 12:55

[daveenty]

There can be only one: -



Well, perhaps not, but not bad for fifty quid.

A couple of my other favourites: - (Both now back on bracelets)

[Disco You]

In order.

Omega seamaster 300m gmt 2234.50 black face on speedmaster bracelet (gmt version of the watch in the OP) which I own.
Rolex gmt master II with a blue and red Pepsi bezel (last model before they changed it)
Rolex submariner 16610LV (last generation, green bezel)
Breitling super ocean heritage 38 in blue

Number 5 is tricky... Probably an iwc Aquatimer 2000 in black and white, or possibly a late Tudor snowflake in blue.

[Turn7]

suffolk009 said:

Omega Seamaster 300. Have had one of these for the last ten years. It's brilliant.

Thats lovely