Educate me, why is a divers style watch so popular?

[Speedracer329]

Hi everyone, can anyone enlighten me to the above question please?
I know style is a subjective thing, indeed many will turn their nose up at the watches that I personally like & aspire to own, but so many people seem to fall over each other in the rush to buy/own a watch like a Seamaster, despite the fact they will never go near an ocean. I see people who are justifably proud putting up pictures of their new purchase, followed by every man & his dog saying how fantastic it is & they want one.
This style of watch seems very popular vvv

but, much as I am sure it is a very good watch, it does nothing for me in the looks department.
As a watch I am not knocking it, its the popularity of the style that surprises me.
In the interest of fairness I will shjow you my idea of a watch that looks great, then you can tell me why I shouldn't like it
It's a rubbish picture because there is so much reflection it's hard to get a good one.


I am not courting controversy, but I am looking forward to hearing everyones views.

[anonymous-user]

Divers watches are usually well engineered rugged robust looking watches. I like them because they tend to be very versatile. You can wear the diver with a suit or to do the gardening. . . . or even go diving.

The rado pictured might be great with a suit or evening wear but the diver can usually be worn with anything and for any purpose.

[Miguel Alvarez]

I like a few other styles such as the Carerra but I think it's the sporty vibe that attracts me to wanting a watch.

[Zod]

I use my diver's watches for diving a few weeks a year. I like the fact that I can wear my watch for work or 40m under the ocean.

[troc]

Zod said:

I use my diver's watches for diving a few weeks a year. I like the fact that I can wear my watch for work or 40m under the ocean.

I find there's no room on my wrists for a "smart" diver's watch as I wear a large Suunto dive computer on my left wrist and a smaller backup one (in bottom timer mode) on my right - the backup one is ever so vaguely smart though - but not really (see the wrists thread ) I do have a diver's watch but I've never really worn it underwater except when snorkelling (8-10m depth max)

[Zod]

I wear my watch and my Suunto (with tiny compass on the strap) on the same wrist. I use the watch as the back-up bottom timer.

[rhinochopig]

Because the principle design ethos of a diver - other than to work under water - is to tell the time as clearly as possible. Perhaps people appreciate that simplicity and clarity.

The rado is an exercise in style over function, so whilst it may look nice as a piece of jewellery, as a watch it's not as successful as a diver when judged on against the criteria of being able to impart the time to the user.

[Zod]

Diving watches are also very clear at night, with their tritium-coated features.

[CardShark]

I'd say it's a mix of general ruggedness and that they can be worn in a bar, in the office, on the beach etc, probably the most versitle style out there.

[pugwash4x4]

Zod said:

I wear my watch and my Suunto (with tiny compass on the strap) on the same wrist. I use the watch as the back-up bottom timer.

yep me too- modern dive computers are great, but having a slightly more mechanical back-up is a nice safety backup.

[Speedracer329]

Thanks for your comments guys.
NeMiSiS, thanks, you have explained it very well, I understand the reasoning now.

[anonymous-user]

It depends on what im wearing...gold hammy to go with work clothes and seamaster as general beater - purely because it can take a beating.