What is it skindiver guys?
39mm VS 39,5mm
#skindiver or #diverwatch ?
Friends, that's an interesting question. I used to think 100-150m was a skin and 200+ was a diver, it was probably the case in the 70's and 80's, but now that technology has moved on, professional #deskdiver 😅 starts at 300m, and #profesionaldivewatch up to 500m, does that mean that 200m is now a skin diver? For myself I have accepted that the characteristic case of some vintage divers a la #sla017 or #seaq is a skindiver irrespective of water resistance. But is it really so? But then the #fxd and #seikoturtle is also a skindiver.? I am confused and what do you think is a skin diver in the modern sense ? Because books says: Skin diver - a watch for diving without a special suit. It’s means any diver without diver extension ? So #tudorblackbay58 definitely is a skindiver 😅
Have a great Sunday watch friends 👍😎
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
I think that the term "skin diver" is falling out of use as the industry changes. I think that it used to distinguish a watch that you could swim or snorkel with from a professional diver where timing was important. Many skin divers did not have timing bezels. Most divers today are closer to the old professional diver even if they never see water.
Anything under 500 bucks is a skin diver (paddle pool stuff) and over that is a desk diver because they will not want to risk the valued asset in the deep water. Real divers wear dedicated dive computers.
I've wondered about this. Pretty ignorant on the subject.
Correct me if I'm wrong but regarding the aesthetic of vintage skin divers, they often have skinnier bezels? 🤔
I've wondered about this. Pretty ignorant on the subject.
Correct me if I'm wrong but regarding the aesthetic of vintage skin divers, they often have skinnier bezels? 🤔
This was sold as a skin diver. Different times.
I've wondered about this. Pretty ignorant on the subject.
Correct me if I'm wrong but regarding the aesthetic of vintage skin divers, they often have skinnier bezels? 🤔
Not necessarily. My guess is that it became common to call watches that could be used for swimming or snorkeling "skin divers" after SCUBA gear became available to the public for recreational diving and with it the need to differentiate between the two use.
No expert here but intuitively I think of a skin diver as a watch for swimming, snorkeling and recreational SCUBA (so <30m usually in balmy waters). A professional dive watch is for more serious diving than recreational SCUBA - so greater depths and difficult conditions.
Skin divers have their origins in the first diving watches and so tend to look slimmer, more elegant and less tool watch like than the professional dive watches; the latter have developed from the former with an emphasis on depth performance so have become generally chunkier and more tool like in their aesthetic.
So if you handed me a “water sports” watch now I would probably sort it between skin diver and professional dive watch based primarily on the aesthetics rather than performance.
Obviously we now have some skin divers with significantly improved depth performance. And we also have some really chunky dive watches that don’t have as great depth performance as professional dive watches (because that can be pricier to deliver and guarantee).
Practically most professional divers will use a dive computer so the impressive performance of these watches is mostly unused but the engineering is desirable nevertheless - at bit like the top speeds of sports cars!
Skin diver terminology came from the fact that it didn't need to go over a wetsuit, usually had a depth rating of 100-200 and was typically much smaller case. You didn't need to see them at deep depths. Doxa, Squale, Zodiac still sell that skindiver look.
Dive watches like Panerai, Blancpan, Omega were much larger and thicker. They needed bright long lasting lume to stay visible at depth, thick bezels that were easy to turn, large dials to fit over large wetsuits and be easier to see.
While my coworkers in their white shirts and ties wear those chunky watches to work, that wasn't the idea at the time they were made and they are still very much deep dive watches even if we aren't using them for that job
I like to think about them as "visually lighter" diver watches.
Some examples from my collection that I think fit this term.
I like to think about them as "visually lighter" diver watches.
Some examples from my collection that I think fit this term.
What camera are you using for these shots? They’re ace.
What camera are you using for these shots? They’re ace.
Thank you. Cheapest old Nikon D3100 with cheap second hand Nikkor 40 Micro lense.
I think that the term "skin diver" is falling out of use as the industry changes. I think that it used to distinguish a watch that you could swim or snorkel with from a professional diver where timing was important. Many skin divers did not have timing bezels. Most divers today are closer to the old professional diver even if they never see water.
Agree my friend 👍😎 have a great day 👍😎
Anything under 500 bucks is a skin diver (paddle pool stuff) and over that is a desk diver because they will not want to risk the valued asset in the deep water. Real divers wear dedicated dive computers.
😅👍😎
I've wondered about this. Pretty ignorant on the subject.
Correct me if I'm wrong but regarding the aesthetic of vintage skin divers, they often have skinnier bezels? 🤔
I’m not sure about skinny bezels, more correctly I should say any diver watch without dive suite extensions 🤔
This was sold as a skin diver. Different times.
Yes skindiver - any watch you can dive without divers suits 🤔😉👍
Not necessarily. My guess is that it became common to call watches that could be used for swimming or snorkeling "skin divers" after SCUBA gear became available to the public for recreational diving and with it the need to differentiate between the two use.
👍😎 thanks my friend I know what you mean 👍
No expert here but intuitively I think of a skin diver as a watch for swimming, snorkeling and recreational SCUBA (so <30m usually in balmy waters). A professional dive watch is for more serious diving than recreational SCUBA - so greater depths and difficult conditions.
Skin divers have their origins in the first diving watches and so tend to look slimmer, more elegant and less tool watch like than the professional dive watches; the latter have developed from the former with an emphasis on depth performance so have become generally chunkier and more tool like in their aesthetic.
So if you handed me a “water sports” watch now I would probably sort it between skin diver and professional dive watch based primarily on the aesthetics rather than performance.
Obviously we now have some skin divers with significantly improved depth performance. And we also have some really chunky dive watches that don’t have as great depth performance as professional dive watches (because that can be pricier to deliver and guarantee).
Practically most professional divers will use a dive computer so the impressive performance of these watches is mostly unused but the engineering is desirable nevertheless - at bit like the top speeds of sports cars!
Absolutely agree with you my friend 👍😎 thank you so much for so detailed opinion 👍👏👏🙏
😉🤜🤛
Skin diver terminology came from the fact that it didn't need to go over a wetsuit, usually had a depth rating of 100-200 and was typically much smaller case. You didn't need to see them at deep depths. Doxa, Squale, Zodiac still sell that skindiver look.
Dive watches like Panerai, Blancpan, Omega were much larger and thicker. They needed bright long lasting lume to stay visible at depth, thick bezels that were easy to turn, large dials to fit over large wetsuits and be easier to see.
While my coworkers in their white shirts and ties wear those chunky watches to work, that wasn't the idea at the time they were made and they are still very much deep dive watches even if we aren't using them for that job
Absolutely agree with you my friend 👍🤜🤛
I like to think about them as "visually lighter" diver watches.
Some examples from my collection that I think fit this term.
Cool watches my friend 👍😎
What camera are you using for these shots? They’re ace.
Just iPhone 12 Pro my friend. I’m not photographer just watch enthusiast 😉🙏
Anything under 500 bucks is a skin diver (paddle pool stuff) and over that is a desk diver because they will not want to risk the valued asset in the deep water. Real divers wear dedicated dive computers.
Most guys I know, myself included, do indeed use a dive computer - but we all wear a dive watch as a backup. At least I do and the guys I dive with do.
Most sport diving is done well above 200' - so 200 meters + is just added insurance.
Most guys I know, myself included, do indeed use a dive computer - but we all wear a dive watch as a backup. At least I do and the guys I dive with do.
Most sport diving is done well above 200' - so 200 meters + is just added insurance.
The next question would be : would you wear a $15000.00 watch diving and if you do please share some financial advice. Given that watch gaskets fail at around 6 years and Rolex recomends watch service at 5 years because they know it too.