Best Dive watch ~$500 to $1500?

Lorier Neptune (Edit: Hydra SIII too)

Elliot Brown Holton Pro or Beachmaster

Sangin Instruments Kinetic or Merlin

Nodus Sector Deep

Tornek Rayville Blakjak

For me sub £1000 I'd recommend buying used as you get far more for your money - for example I've got two Willards, paid £500 for my green one and £550 for the black.

I choose Seiko Prospex because I really appreciate their DLC case coating - mine are worn hard beaters & still look like new.

Avoid new microbrands as they just depreciate massively & aren't always easy to sell when you inevitably want to upgrade.

Take your time, get a bargain!!

Good luck 🍀🤞🏻

Sub $1000 (and sub $500) I say the best “ISO Rated” diver would be #helm (if you can buy one that is 😝).

Of the ones I've experienced here I'd say:

Longines, nice watch, good power reserve, feels like a quality piece but maybe a tad bland. Might look nicer on the rubber strap they do. I ended up with a VHP GMT quartz Conquest after looking at the Hydroconquest range as just thought it was a bit more interesting to look at.

Hamilton, nice watch again but can look a bit large on wrist with the unusual crown protectors. Great power reserve though and a little cheaper than the Longines. Maybe look at the Khaki Navy Scuba as it's a bit less 'odd' looking but still a nice watch, also a bit cheaper.

Christopher Ward, another lovely watch, slimmer than the others I'd say so a bit dressier, brilliant value, smaller versions can look a bit small on your wrist but I think they might do 3 sizes. Loads of strap choices, power reserve a bit poor at 38 hours, it's the worst movement out of these 3.

Forgot to add, 5 year warranty on the CW, probably less on the others.

Mido Ocean Star 200C.

I saw you mentioned Davosa Swiss but definitely look into the Argonautic series. Really awesome case construction and great value

Best dollar per ounce, is always Helm lol.

My vote would go to Baltic or Serica. The dial designs are refreshing and don't exactly look like a rehash of everything out there.

I guess the key question for me is what do you intend to do with the watch?

Are you actually going diving with it and if so what sort of diving recreational scuba depths or deeper, with wetsuit or without, etc.?

If not diving are you using it for water sports, swimming, skiing, etc.?

Or is this just a dry wear watch but you want a diver style watch - absolutely nothing wrong with that but the answers to this would really affect what I would recommend.

On the plus size your wrists are large enough for most decent dive watches.

Tissot Seastar 40mm

I'm nominating the Lorier Hydra...a diver AND a GMT.

Mido are a great value and a helluva good build quality. Going with them

For me, if it was just one, it would be the Seiko Prospex SNJ025, the Prospex SNE573, or a Citizen Promaster Diver, probably the EO2020-08E (Eco-Drive). I prefer solar movements personally. I would also like the Vaer DS4 Meridian Navy in 38mm. I voted Seiko or Citizen in your poll, as there are more diver models from them that I like.

Design wise the Baltic Aquascaphe, Yema Superman and Seiko divers take the cake

There are so many, that there is no answer.

If i had no Watch, and want my first Watch, it would probably be a Certina or Mido.

e.g. the Certina DS+ (modular watch)

Or a Mido Oceanstar GMT

The Certina mod is interesting 👌

Yes, spot on. Doxa all the way.

A DOXA on ISOFRANE strap.

Considering the 300 on beads, just need to try it on, no easy task😥

Buy one and send it back if it does not fit. Return policy as they have few brick and mortar shops nearby.

Interesting to know : Jacques Yves Cousteau used a lot Rolex, Doxa back in the days. His grand son is Seiko all the way :

http://fabiencousteau.com/project/seiko-prospex/

In Switzerland you need to visit their HQ. I’d rather do that than having to send back. And apparently no shops in Switzerland sell them🤷🏻‍♂️ Crazy eh?

Cool, will have a read.

Sub $1000 dive watch the answer is Seiko. Just pick the model you like the best.

Hi Graham,

Pulled the trigger on the Willard.

Initial thoughts:

Looks amazing

Lume obviously amazing ✨

That case shape ❤

Bezel action 👍

Bezel alignment slightly off, so it is definitely a Seiko 😀

Rubber strap is buttery soft but let down slightly by the bulky hardware so I will most likely change that 😮

Comparing it to my Certina PH1000 which has an RRP of less. The Certina is definitely more premium feeling, one of the best rubber straps I've ever tried, better movement, but I knew all this going in so no surprises or disappointment.

Oh and my wife likes it so that helps with me buying another bloody watch 😂

I just need to hope that Tudor don't release anything I can't resist at W&W 😬

Shame about the alignment!

My Arnie was perfectly aligned but the box was badly damaged. They offered to replace the whole thing (box, watch, etc.) but I said no as it’s perfectly aligned. Slightly mad and sad that that’s where we’re at with Seiko.

And I know what you mean about the hardware as with most of my modern Seiko and Citizen divers the hardware is clearly chunky and intended for wet neoprene gloves and wetsuit wear. But pretty useless for a daily desk diver.

I’ll be putting the Certina PH1000 on my list.

Enjoy the Willard - it’s certainly a distinctive case shape.

The alignment is ok as I'm only 80% sure it's off 😂 and can only see that with reading glasses on 😬

If you go for the PH1000 I strongly recommend the black dial as the readability is much better due to the minute hand contrasting, and it is a very cool looking watch, in some ways better than the orange dial. I was able to compare them side by side yesterday in the AD. I would suggest getting that and buying the rubber strap that comes with the orange via the AD, it is the best rubber strap I have ever worn and one I actually like as I am not usually a fan of rubber straps. The strap was 65 chf.

The case shape on the PH is amazing! I don't think you'd regret it.

I will keep the strap on the Willard and see how I feel, I have an Oris tropic I could try and also an Erika's Swick that may work well.

Oh and zodiac super sea wolf

I feel like this is the space that Seiko lives in. Though there are many many options - great ones at that - in this price range, I can't help but look at this from an everyday GADA watch perspective. With that context, the SPB143 jumps to the forefront with others, like the King Turtle or the Willard trailing as a close second and third. Workhorse movements that are proven to run forever, classic Seiko styling, and all of these can be dressed up or down, depending.