Off the beaten path divers

If you're looking for something different, how about a Tudor BB58...  just joking!

For your consideration:

• Glashutte Original SeaQ - Absolutely gorgeous diver available in black, blue, and green dials and bezels
• Grand Seiko - Definitely not your typical diver.  GS's interpretations are absolutely off the beaten path.  Considering GS only makes something like 40k watches a year, in total, and that most folks gravitate toward their Heritage and Elegance collections, you will almost certainly never see another GS diver in the wild.  Moreover, both the spring drive and the hi-beat movements are arguably far superior to anything that can be had from Switzerland at this price point.  Finally, the hand finishing is out of this world.  I own an SBGJ237 and the diamond polished indices and hands, and subtle dial must be seen in-person to be believed
• Bremont Supermarine
• Oris Divers Sixty-Five - Great value play
• Zodiac - Just drips retro cool
• Blancpain Fifty Fathams - Finally, if you want to stretch your budget, you could go for the OG.  Added benefit is that with a sapphire crystal bezel, you get an awesome lumed markings on the bezel!

Thanks for the response and I literally hadn't considered Grand Seiko for a diver, thanks

upvote on the blancpain FF suggestion

Was going to suggest Blancpain (although to be fair I know nothing of their pricing), but GS and Glashutte are great suggestions (assuming you don’t mind the size).

Im certanly abit flexable with size but the fifty fathoms might be to much

The Blancpain FF Bathyscaphe was my choice this past month, I highly recommend- fwiw I was between GO SeaQ’s (both models), vintage Rolex subs, and some IWC non diver models.

Potentially unpopular opinion, but Panerai keeps making more reasonably sized divers in 40-42mm, at your budget could get in-house with a complication

With regard to GS and size, what I would say is that the larger dial GS watches wear NOTHING like their specs would suggest.  I'm a huge lume fan, so the SBGJ237 came up on my radar immediately.  But what struck it off my list was the 44.2mm dial.  Are you kidding me?  I figured I may as well get an Invicta!

Then I went into a boutique, tried it on, and it's mind-blowing how some very specific design decisions they made with regard to the case makes it feel nowhere near as large in terms of both diameter and thickness.  

• Conical profile - The portion of the case resting on your wrist is, I don't know, maybe 39mm, and then flares up to 44.2mm at the bezel.  So, the feel against your wrist is much smaller than the spec would suggest
• Clasp - The clasp is ergonomically curved in such a way that the watch hugs smaller wrists nicely and securely
• Curved lugs - The lugs curve downward, again, ensuring that the watch hugs smaller wrists well

The 44.2mm diameter, 14.4mm thickness SBGJ237 fits much better and wears much smaller on my wrist than did the 42mm diameter, 13.6mm thickness Breitling Premier B01 I owned.  In fact, the Breitling felt so thick and hockey puck-like that I got rid of it in very short order.  The SBGJ237 is going to be a very long-term keeper.

And, all of this makes sense, if you think about the fact that GS makes watches for the Japanese market.  The Japanese people tend to be smaller, thinner, and smaller wristed than most Americans, so the watches need to be designed to match the ergonomics accordingly.

I don't have an Oris, but I heard that the Diver 65 (with the Calibre 400) is an excellent watch. Also, I know you said no Omega, but don't sleep on their heritage seamasters. A little big at 41mm, but nice.

You hit the nail on the head with the size of the seamasters alright. Many times i've looked at plant ocean, partucularly gmt/chrono versions, but the thickness stops that immediatly

so, I was recently promoted at work, and used some of the bonus to buy myself a Seamaster 300 Trilogy LE. It’s 39mm and fits great on my wrist (its a remake/reissue of their 1957 seamaster). I really wish Omega would consider making a smaller version of their 300M… I love the look, but not the size.