Psychology of a dive watch?
Hmmm..... How to begin....
Dive watches are cool but not my favorite "category". That's not too say I don't like them. I do. Like many, dare I say most, dive watches were my gateway into this absurd obsession. I own 5. That's 25% of my collection. I feel that a fair number. But when is enough enough. While dive watches are cool, I sometimes feel like the odd man out because I enjoy some "dressier" watches.
Ever see a new Micro release a watch and think to yourself "Jesus, not another dive watch"? Or see a SOTC post with 24 different dive watches and think "impressive but kind of one dimensional"? No... No one... Just me... Well damn.
But Micros (and everyone else) offer them because they sell. And people collect them because they like them so obviously I'm missing something.
If you ask someone why they stick to dive watches oftentimes you hear that it "fits their lifestyle".
At first I thought they were saying a watch with a polished finish was pretentious. That dressier watches were meant for snobs. Men in business suits and at church. And let's face it. No one likes to be in business suits or churches. By default dive watches (as well as field watches) were the watches for everyday guys. Humble Blue Collar guys. But that can't be it. The term desk diver wasn't coined by mistake. Even accountants, real estate agents, and pastors like dive watches.
Then I wondered if there wasn't some Freudian psychological thing going on. That maybe guys were using watches to project an image onto themselves. Some guys with insecurities that wanted to be seen as the rugged outdoor guy who needed a watch with serious specs. Still a maybe in my book.
Then I saw an episode of "This Watch, That Watch" were he discussed almost this very thing. The host (whose name? I don't know, someone help me out) compared dive watches to chicken sandwiches. He made some excellent points. That's when it came to me. I understood. Dive watches are not like chicken sandwiches. Dive watches are like pizza.
Pizza is like sex, when it's good. It's freaking amazing. And when it's not good... It's still okay.
A dive watch is a safe bet. When it's well thought out and constructed, it's an amazing watch. And even when it's a half-ass attempt at a copy, it's still pretty decent.
That's all I got. Feel free to ridicule me. Or tell me a better reason why dive watches are so popular. Better yet, tell me I'm not alone.
And as always remember I'm just a dumihed.
Image stolen from the Internet.
Just a watch dumi hoping to learn stuff
I like your style of writing. And honestly I can see what you mean. Great analogy 🍕
You’re not alone!
I like your style of writing. And honestly I can see what you mean. Great analogy 🍕
Thank you! I enjoy writing. But I enjoy it more when someone is reading. And better yet if they like it.
Seeing as I like both, whenever and wherever, former in any shape and size, gas station hot and ready to local hand tossed variants (🤨🤔🫣) latter solely with Mrs. SolidYetti, I'd agree...👀🤘🏻🤌🏻😜🍻.*
But seriously, I like watches, but if it doesn't have lume, it's not a viable daily option. More so that often I could be recalled to work even on days off.
Which means I pretty much live in the field/sports/dive category. Which is ok.
I'll wear a more subtle, less tool-y variant on a custom leather single pass or bracelet. Is it 100% by the book for dress wear? No, but fashion, in particular mens fashion, allows for bending and/or out right breaking rules.
For the extremely rare times I need evening wear, well that's where the Hamilton Thinline 2 hander comes in.
I admire a great many dress watches from afar, but at any price point, a dress watch for me would ACTUALLY be a luxury expense. Whether it's $100 US, or $10K US, doesn't matter. Outside of the three or four I have been given as gifts, I'm not spending pocket money on something that will be worn every once in awhile.
*in reference to your last comparison fyi ..
You’re not alone!
Thank God! But for now it's just the 2 of us.
Seeing as I like both, whenever and wherever, former in any shape and size, gas station hot and ready to local hand tossed variants (🤨🤔🫣) latter solely with Mrs. SolidYetti, I'd agree...👀🤘🏻🤌🏻😜🍻.*
But seriously, I like watches, but if it doesn't have lume, it's not a viable daily option. More so that often I could be recalled to work even on days off.
Which means I pretty much live in the field/sports/dive category. Which is ok.
I'll wear a more subtle, less tool-y variant on a custom leather single pass or bracelet. Is it 100% by the book for dress wear? No, but fashion, in particular mens fashion, allows for bending and/or out right breaking rules.
For the extremely rare times I need evening wear, well that's where the Hamilton Thinline 2 hander comes in.
I admire a great many dress watches from afar, but at any price point, a dress watch for me would ACTUALLY be a luxury expense. Whether it's $100 US, or $10K US, doesn't matter. Outside of the three or four I have been given as gifts, I'm not spending pocket money on something that will be worn every once in awhile.
*in reference to your last comparison fyi ..
I also think lume is overrated. But that's a subject for a totally different post 😂
But I think I get it. Just because a dress watch doesn't fit with your occupation and lifestyle doesn't mean you don't appreciate them.
I think you're right, but I also think that there is an element of image as well as an element of aspiration involved.
Image: Most collectors are guys, and most guys want to be seen as rugged and manly. That's why pilot's watches, and field watches tend to be the other big categories of collector watches.
Aspiration: Most of us could wear a 30m WR watch most of the time, but we "need" a watch with 200m WR because we aspire to be more active and outdoorsy.
The same thing happens with clothing, vehicles, tools, etc... The guy who drives down a dirty road for a week every year on vacation doesn't need a 4x4 SUV/truck. The guy who repairs the odd cabinet around the house doesn't need Milwaukee cordless tools.
I think you're right, but I also think that there is an element of image as well as an element of aspiration involved.
Image: Most collectors are guys, and most guys want to be seen as rugged and manly. That's why pilot's watches, and field watches tend to be the other big categories of collector watches.
Aspiration: Most of us could wear a 30m WR watch most of the time, but we "need" a watch with 200m WR because we aspire to be more active and outdoorsy.
The same thing happens with clothing, vehicles, tools, etc... The guy who drives down a dirty road for a week every year on vacation doesn't need a 4x4 SUV/truck. The guy who repairs the odd cabinet around the house doesn't need Milwaukee cordless tools.
Wait... Does that mean I wasted money on that Ford F250 and the DeWalt Kit? 😜😂
Well said! I’ve reduced my dive watches down to 3 but they are hard to quit.
Well said! I’ve reduced my dive watches down to 3 but they are hard to quit.
I have 5, I would feel better about myself if you would catch up.
I have 5, I would feel better about myself if you would catch up.
I don’t even own one! I want one but the one I want is very hard to find. And one is fine by me. I guess.
I don’t even own one! I want one but the one I want is very hard to find. And one is fine by me. I guess.
Which one do you want?
Which one do you want?
I’ll find a photo…
I’ll find a photo…
Here, by Oris:
Your definitely not alone in this. I started out with divers the same as most and while enjoy them my taste has changed to more of a field type watch.
A dive bezel is handy for timeing things but a basic, rugged three hander will always be my preference.
I think if one wants to specialize in a type or types of watch(es) that is ok (it is what I do - my themes are: divers, military, vintage, Seiko, now with some ani-digi creeping in). It is also fine to be a generalist and own a little bit of everything (diver, chronograph, GMT, dress, field, flieger, military, vintage, digital, ani-digi, etc). It all about what make you interested in watches.
I think if one wants to specialize in a type or types of watch(es) that is ok (it is what I do - my themes are: divers, military, vintage, Seiko, now with some ani-digi creeping in). It is also fine to be a generalist and own a little bit of everything (diver, chronograph, GMT, dress, field, flieger, military, vintage, digital, ani-digi, etc). It all about what make you interested in watches.
Oh... 100%!!! Please don't take this post as me trying to dictate or shame anyone collections. I whole heatedly believe I don't have to understand it for you to enjoy it. It's your wrist, it's your rules. I'm going to wear whatever I like regardless of opinion, and I think everyone else should too.
I would echo what a lot of others have said I think there are two factors at play:
More casual fashion generally
Aspirational fashion choices
I think that as fashion has become more casual, it’s now more accepted to wear casual watches like drive or field watches in more circumstances. By contrast, with fewer people dressing up, it seems like there’s less of a push towards dressier watches as well.
Similarly, people often want to market themselves as someone who is sporty, rugged, etc. I think this links with the above idea around changing fashion norms as well.
Personally I like dive watches, but they aren’t my favourite category. I think a lot of their design is very iterative and not particularly interesting, though there are still many exceptions to that. No one needs 200m wr for every day. Even if you are an actual diver you’d probably never realistically go that deep. So I think it’s largely just about how we market ourselves to the world, same as most other fashion.
Great comment Strong points! I think you 2 points pretty much sum it up.
Oh... 100%!!! Please don't take this post as me trying to dictate or shame anyone collections. I whole heatedly believe I don't have to understand it for you to enjoy it. It's your wrist, it's your rules. I'm going to wear whatever I like regardless of opinion, and I think everyone else should too.
I am not at all fussed. Just saying my view that folks need to find their own way. I get that what I have done probably isn’t right for most folks. Who else wants all these vintage Seiko? 😀
I am not at all fussed. Just saying my view that folks need to find their own way. I get that what I have done probably isn’t right for most folks. Who else wants all these vintage Seiko? 😀
Well if you're handing them out I'll take the Chrono at the bottom right. 😜
Well if you're handing them out I'll take the Chrono at the bottom right. 😜
Everything has a price my friend. The bullhead is an awesome Seiko chronograph (here is a bigger, not necessarily good, photo). They are pretty available in Japan.
I have been collecting for a bit over 3 years. I went crazy averaging buying over 40 watches a year. I am starting to calm down now and redefine my collection. I definitely have a few types of watches that I for the most part just don't get what the fuss is about and why they are so popular. I definitely feel like my tastes differ from the main herd but I do like the dive watches. The best watch in the world ever made according to my taste is the Hamilton Ventura Elvis80s watch.
I don't see very many people that agree with me on that fact so I know I'm definitely different. I really don't get all the love for G-Shocks, field watches, most digital,and military watches. Also why would you spend more money on a watch when the best watch is around $1700? 😀 I have found through my collecting experience that I go in phases of falling in love with different types of watches. There are few watches from these categories that I would consider but I am not quite there yet. The thing is it really doesn't matter what everyone else thinks. Just enjoy the hobby your way ! 🍻
I have been collecting for a bit over 3 years. I went crazy averaging buying over 40 watches a year. I am starting to calm down now and redefine my collection. I definitely have a few types of watches that I for the most part just don't get what the fuss is about and why they are so popular. I definitely feel like my tastes differ from the main herd but I do like the dive watches. The best watch in the world ever made according to my taste is the Hamilton Ventura Elvis80s watch.
I don't see very many people that agree with me on that fact so I know I'm definitely different. I really don't get all the love for G-Shocks, field watches, most digital,and military watches. Also why would you spend more money on a watch when the best watch is around $1700? 😀 I have found through my collecting experience that I go in phases of falling in love with different types of watches. There are few watches from these categories that I would consider but I am not quite there yet. The thing is it really doesn't matter what everyone else thinks. Just enjoy the hobby your way ! 🍻
Must be the arch of watch collecting. I'm also beginning to reshape my collection. I mean I was no where near 40 watches a year. 😂 But still...
Geez. All this time, I thought I was just buying watches with a bezel so I can perfectly time my soft boiled eggs and office bathroom breaks.
Geez. All this time, I thought I was just buying watches with a bezel so I can perfectly time my soft boiled eggs and office bathroom breaks.
I usually try to lose track of time on my office bathroom breaks.
I hear a lot about piece of mind. But i have never once been concerned while wearing my Oris Atelier. And there are lots of dressier watches with good water shock resistance. So it can't be just the "ruggedness"
I think it's the screw down crown that gives me that warm fuzzy feeling.
My journey into collecting was the opposite, for a very long time I've been a dress watch guy (while dressing rather casual), and I've only recently started developing a taste for divers. But maybe that's because I have small girly wrists and therefore a lot of divers look out of place on me. Speaking of which, my very first diver is on its way, I went for a Zelos Mako GMT w/ meteorite dial, first watch I buy without trying it first, and it stresses me out a little 😅.
My journey into collecting was the opposite, for a very long time I've been a dress watch guy (while dressing rather casual), and I've only recently started developing a taste for divers. But maybe that's because I have small girly wrists and therefore a lot of divers look out of place on me. Speaking of which, my very first diver is on its way, I went for a Zelos Mako GMT w/ meteorite dial, first watch I buy without trying it first, and it stresses me out a little 😅.
I think your going to be thrilled with the Zelos Makos. I don't own one, but I have a great reputation for quality and design. Plus the 40 mm case with the 46 mm lug the lug is on the smaller side for a diver. A good bet for smaller wrists.
I think a dive watch has its romance mainly amongst those who dare to dream but not venture. For the pro, it is a survival tool, so the need it, like it or not. For common people like myself, we have options as we don't need the specs, but more of an ease of mind in practicality as we don't have to took off our watch everytime we want to wash our hands with dings and scratches for battle scars of our daily life that we forgot how those got there.
What a great discussion...like @dumihed the diver is not my favorite, even though if you lined up all the watches I ever owned in my life, it would be the predominant type. In my youth I was both a scuba diver and a surfer, and so a diver was always the most practical. My first "luxury" watch was a diver:
Collecting came much later in life, so the diver wasn't the practical choice it had once been. Since I started collecting I have only purchased one diver, and that one actually came as a Mystery.
I totally agree with the Pizza analogy, the diver is definitely the most versatile style of watch. It can be sporty, it can be dressy, it can be practical, and it can be a tool.
What I am finding now, as a collector, I am on the hunt for the perfect diver...the one that really checks all the boxes, which for me is a more vintage style diver. So, even though divers are not at the top of my list they are still ever present in my journey, and I can totally understand why they are so predominant in the market and in many collections.
Cheers