"Old-fashioned" divers' watches

[Preacher Cain]

So - a "what to buy" question for a Monday morning. I'm on the lookout for an old-fashioned style diver's watch, and I'm at a bit of a loss... Any idea considered, provided it meets the following criteria, so your advice would be much appreciated!

1) Budget: up to £450.
2) Good, bright lume.
3) I actually want to wear it for diving so at least 200m Water Resistance.
4) Automatic. I know quartz is more accurate. I don't care.
5) Style-wise I love the original 1960s (?) Seamasters - the style pictured below. Not sure if anything like this is available these days...

[andy tims]

I'm going to assume genuine vintage is out because you want lume & good water resistance, so how about Helson who do a number of homages to 60's & 70's divers?
Not had one myself but I've handled a Sharkmaster & it seemed nicely put together.

[rhinochopig]

Have a look at one of MWC's watches. I have one of their GTLS watches and mine has been bashed to death and still keeps on going.

For diving they are great as the GTLS vials offer excellent poor vis readability.

Auto but standard lume http://www.mwcwatches.com/shop/product_info.php?cP...



Auto with GTLS black PVD - so far, the PVD on mine has stood up well to knocks http://www.mwcwatches.com/shop/product_info.php?cP...


Auto with standard lume and 300m http://www.mwcwatches.com/shop/images/mwc%20diver%...

[Preacher Cain]

Andy, Rhino, that's exactly the style I'm after. I'll have a rummage and see what I can find... Thanks!

[andy_s]

I'd have a glance at CWC as well.

[Muska]

time Factors PRS-14 is inside your budget and very close to the design you posted. 300m water resistance and C3 Lune.

http://www.timefactors.com/precista.htm

Helson Skindiver, you won't find one new new but a great retro design and regret selling mine.

[krusty]

I'm a fan of 50's style divers as well. I have a Helson Skindiver, it's beautiful.
Others I have and would suggest (if you can get hold of them) are the Magrette Pacific Diver, Kemmner 007 LE, Yema Superman II.
I still haven’t got a Precista PRS50-B yet but one will come up one day,

And finally. I don’t think you can go far wrong with a Seiko 6309

[sneijder]

If anyone is reading this thread thinking 'Cor blimey, I like the look of that, but I don't want to spend that much, and I rarely dive past 100m', have a look at a Seiko SNZH55



This guy modifies them :

http://www.10watches.com/apps/webstore/products/ca...

A customer had a blue Fifty Fathoms on the other day :



I mentioned it, and he promptly handed it over. I wasn't expecting much, but bejeezus it really was all that and a fathom. They say never meet your heroes but it's right up there on my fantasy wish list.

He asked me how I knew about it, I mentioned 'I like watches', 'You didn't read the review in yacht magazine ?' he asked. 'No' I replied as I shuffled off to my Ford Focus with 80,000 Km on the clock, head hanging low.

One day Rodney, one day my son.

[krusty]

Speaking of Modded Seiko's I have a few of Yabokies modded watches. He's worth looking at as well.

http://www.yobokies.com/

[sneijder]

krusty said:

Speaking of Modded Seiko's I have a few of Yabokies modded watches. He's worth looking at as well.

http://www.yobokies.com/

That bloke really should have some sort of website up and running by now. The amount of time I've spent going round in circles on that photobucket account.

[Stuart]

Muska said:

time Factors PRS-14 is inside your budget and very close to the design you posted. 300m water resistance and C3 Lune.

http://www.timefactors.com/precista.htm

Helson Skindiver, you won't find one new new but a great retro design and regret selling mine.

I do love those. I can't work out if we have EXACTLY the same tast in watches Muska, or if you're just a good enough photographer that they all look fantastic. All I know is that I'm glad you're not in watch sales. I'd be crippled...

[Muska]

Stuart does it help if I come directly to you whenever I have a watch to sell?

[Preacher Cain]

Wow. So much retro diving loveliness! Especially like the CWC Navy automatic and the Precista PRS-14, they are both minimalist gems. They both have acrylic crystal though - should I stick to sapphire? I'm worried that an acrylic crystal worn out in the real world might get scratched to buggery in no time flat. Any experience/advice out there?

Decisions, decisions...!

[Muska]

I've never owned an acrylic for a period of time but I would say if it does mark they're easy to remove with poly watch and a little elbow grease and cheaper than sapphire to replace if you should make it heavily.

[Preacher Cain]

PRS-14 ordered. I really like the look, it's evidently tough and should do everything I want it to. I've ordered it on a Bond NATO because I'm a cliche, but have also bought a plain rubber deployment strap.

Now to wait for the postman...

[Muska]

Great choice, would love to see some show when it arrives.

[Preacher Cain]

Heh - I need to get my hands on a macro lens... Someone asked me to post pics of my Omega a couple of months ago and I have so far failed to get round to it. But I will try and get my act together.

[Jgtv]

My dive watch is something similar to this, it was only about £60 years ago, so it doesnt matter if I smash it, lose it or leave it attached to my BCD in the dive shop at night.
My recomemndation.

[SVS]

Preacher Cain said:

So much retro diving loveliness!

+1

[Muska]

I presume the watch has arrived now? Are you pleased with your purchase?