Still looking for a dive watch.....
Hi Crunchers,
I'm still looking for the right diver for me. I've been looking for about a year, but haven't been able to pull the trigger. At the moment, three watches are on my Shortlist, each with their own ups and downs.
What do you guys think? One of these, or wait for W&W2024?
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The Tudor Black Bay 54 is an amazing watch and if you have smaller wrists it can be downright perfect. It has iconic styling, is COSC certified, and has plenty of brand cachet. I would definitely try them all on if possible to see which speaks to you most and wears best.
Don’t settle for something that doesn’t really catch you. You shouldn’t feel obligated to have a diver in your collection. If you‘re hesitant about buying, don’t do it (even though this is usually a community of enablers 😂)
3 great watch options you have there. I have a BB54 and love it. The size and accuracy are great. I voted for waiting for what’s new this week, so you can give yourself some peace of mind and decide afterward
I reckon the BB54 will get some new colours, so if that's on your radar I'd be waiting for Watches and Wonders myself.
There might be a surprise from a few of the mid range brands too.
My vote goes to the SJE. Try them both on before buying. In my view the SJE is a touch above the BB54 except movement or if you favor a bracelet option. I first had the BB54 then sold for the SJE. The maxi case of the Tudor was also a bit too much (boxy) in my view. Both great watches.
Get a Squale
Have you considered the Titanium Baltic diver ?
Longines.
Have you considered a Tissot SeaStar or Longines Hydroconquest?
My vote goes to the SJE. Try them both on before buying. In my view the SJE is a touch above the BB54 except movement or if you favor a bracelet option. I first had the BB54 then sold for the SJE. The maxi case of the Tudor was also a bit too much (boxy) in my view. Both great watches.
+1 💪
If you have the budget for a Tudor hold out a bit longer and get a Seamaster (assuming it catches your eye).
B, A if the bb bezel has gold number as the dial. Definitely not C, too blingy.
Oris Aquis
Longines Legend
I get Tudor, I don't get Seiko with price >1000.
Go with Longines (or Oris if you like their design).
The BB54 is Tudors best watch IMO. The closest thing to a £50,000 Rolex you can buy. That's not a vintage Rolex obviously.
I voted for the 101. I dig the the classic style and wearability of the 093 - I have a cheaper version of it - but the pops of polish and the depth of the dial on the MM look great. Also, am I alone in thinking the Black Bays are getting stale?
Yeah, I wasn't blown away when I tried on the BB54. It's a solid watch, but nothing that'll blow your mind.
The MM, however, really caught me off guard, was deeply impressed by it....
You seem unsure and not 100% pleased with either of these. That's a lot of money to spend on something that isn't exactly to your taste. I would wait for something to really catch your attention before spending this kind of money.
Yeah, I think my fav and my taste would be the SJE093, but that's going for 4k€+ and I don't buy watches over MSRP.... It's kind of my rule 😜
Given all your tanks you must be doing serious diving so I would looking closer to home at H2O watches where you can customize to a high degree.
If the pic is more aspirational and - in reality - you’re just desk diving then the Tudor will win the day in this community.
Personally I’m not a fan of the snowflake hour hand but can see the appeal and that the softer case lines will wear more comfortably.
Obviously there’s a significant price difference but I would be voting Tudor if money is no object here.
You seem unsure and not 100% pleased with either of these. That's a lot of money to spend on something that isn't exactly to your taste. I would wait for something to really catch your attention before spending this kind of money.
This is great advice!
Don’t settle for something that doesn’t really catch you. You shouldn’t feel obligated to have a diver in your collection. If you‘re hesitant about buying, don’t do it (even though this is usually a community of enablers 😂)
Good advice
Given all your tanks you must be doing serious diving so I would looking closer to home at H2O watches where you can customize to a high degree.
If the pic is more aspirational and - in reality - you’re just desk diving then the Tudor will win the day in this community.
Personally I’m not a fan of the snowflake hour hand but can see the appeal and that the softer case lines will wear more comfortably.
Obviously there’s a significant price difference but I would be voting Tudor if money is no object here.
Haha, the more, the better.
I'd be using my dive watches for pool, beach and lake outings 😉 for the desk, I'd probably mainly use my other watches.
Price wise, these three are pretty close, so I'd not factor in price too much.
Haha, the more, the better.
I'd be using my dive watches for pool, beach and lake outings 😉 for the desk, I'd probably mainly use my other watches.
Price wise, these three are pretty close, so I'd not factor in price too much.
You’re right on the first two I just checked and they are very close pricewise.
Personally I think the SJE093 is overpriced at RRP and you are paying a premium for the retro reissue thing with Seiko milking the 62MAS mystique. Fine if you love that but have your eyes open it’s the reality. I don’t know if you have tried one but I have tried similar cased watches and find the lug corners/edges very sharp. Not such an issue with a modestly priced watch but I would be trying it on to check that and I doubt it feels nearly as comfortable as the other two.
Have fun and enjoy your research
I’m generally team Tudor and the 58 is more my size but if you’re considering the 54 I’d look at Oris in their Aquis and Divers 65 lines, they have smaller sizes I believe, and that new 39mm Doxa 200T looks rad. Thinking about going to try one on in a few days.
The BB would still be my favorite though.
I really like the CW C60 Atoll
I’d wait till watches and wonders… we’re so close already and something really cool might come out. But if not, I think the BB54 would be amazing!
I’d wait till watches and wonders… we’re so close already and something really cool might come out. But if not, I think the BB54 would be amazing!
Yeah, I will... But the stuff they'll show, won't be available for a other year 😂😂
Oris: wish they had something under 43mm and over tiny...
Legend: yeah, that's a pretty nice and different diver, will have to try one on
41.5 mm
I say look at Citizen. Most professional divers use Citizen dive watches and the company has released a new line of automatic dive watches based on their "Challenge" dive watch line.
Owned all 3. SJE093 on Artem Sailcloth with deployant.
Decide: movement vs esthetics? Among the seiko 62mas, you have alot of choice. Even the more affordables are good value propositions. These are not Rolexes, so value would depreciate drastically.