Category: Dive Watches

Introducing – Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III Limited Edition

Blancpain’s link with the ocean is undeniable. Remember that in 1953, the brand was amongst the very first – if not the first – to offer a true dive watch: the Fifty Fathoms. Emphasizing this dedication for the world’s oceans, the brand introduced four years ago its first series of limited edition Blancpain Ocean Commitment timepieces, followed in 2016 by BOC II. Blancpain is now unveiling the third BOC timepiece, a new limited edition based on the classic FF, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III.

6 years ago

Hands-on – Oris Divers Sixty-Five Steel and Bronze (40mm and 36mm)

Oris expands its highly successful retro Divers Sixty-Five family with the incorporation of two models with a bronze ring hugging the rotating bezel. Exuding strong vintage appeal with the two-tone black and warm golden and bronze touches, it is patently clear that Oris has been listening to its customers and has tapped directly into the trend for smaller unisex case sizes (36mm) and the ongoing fascination with bronze. Presented in 40mm and 36mm diameters, the new Oris Divers Sixty-Five models won’t sink you financially and retail for under CHF 2,000 for the models on a leather or NATO strap.

6 years ago

Value Proposition – LIV Watches is Back on Kickstarter with “The Breakthrough”, A Series of Sporty Automatic Watches

The folks at LIV Watches already know a bit about creating watches and funding them on Kickstarter. Their new “The Breakthrough” campaign isn’t their first offence. Yet, here it’s not one watch but a series of 3 automatic watches (and one quartz that won’t be covered here… you know us at MONOCHROME) that will be offered. Bold styles, 3 different inspirations – pilot, racing, diving – all of them powered by Swiss mechanical movement and offered, as usual, at great prices. Please meet the LIV Watches GX P-51 Chronograph, the GX Automatic Chrono and the GX Divers – all now available on Kickstarter.

6 years ago

Hands-on – Seiko Prospex Turtle “Save The Ocean” SRPC91K1 Special Edition

The comeback of the “Seiko Turtle” was certainly one of the best moves the Japenese brand did recently. Affordable, cool-looking, solid and reliable, it is one of the best dive watches in the sub-1k category. After the inaugural versions, Seiko played on the success of this watches by launching multiple limited/special editions (PADI, Lagoon, Black…). Another one has just been presented, the ref. SRPC91K1, the result of Seiko’s partnership with Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s grandson… And once again, it’s another very cool affordable dive watch.

6 years ago

Hands-on – Seiko Prospex Diver 200m SPB077 – Half Modern, Half Vintage, Totally Cool

If you’re familiar with Seiko, then you already know the Japanese company debuted a vintage re-issue of its 1968 Automatic Diver 300m Reference 6159-7001 this year in the form of the Seiko Prospex Diver 300m Hi-Beat SLA025. That model, however, is limited to just 1,500 pieces worldwide and is priced at EUR 5,500, so not exactly a watch for everybody (Read all the details here.) This is the second highly sought-after vintage re-issue dive watch from the brand, following the Prospex Diver SLA017 last year. As with that model, the company is once again offering two modern and accessibly-priced versions for the wider market, the Prospex Diver 200m SPB077 & SPB079, which we’re getting hands-on with today.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Delma Blue Shark II 3000m – A True Diving Instrument

A family-owned company based in Lengnau near Biel, Delma has been manufacturing watches for almost a century now. The brand has also a long tradition of crafting dive watches. Launched in 1969, the Periscope was its first timepiece with increased water-resistance. In 1975, the Shell Star was its first professional diver. Fast forward, the Blue Shark II we are reviewing here is Delma’s most rugged and robust divers’ watch: a high-performance, functional watch able to withstand the pressure exerted at a depth of 3,000m or 9,900ft – just that!

7 years ago

Review – Seiko Prospex Diver 300m Hi-Beat SLA025 – The Ultimate Collectible Seiko Dive Watch?

While in 2017 Seiko re-issued its first professional dive watch with the SLA017, based on the 62Mas, this year the brand celebrates the 50th anniversary of another icon, the first hi-beat diving instrument ever created, the mighty 1968 Ref. 6159-7001. With this new Seiko Prospex Diver 300m Hi-Beat SLA025, the Japanese brand again brings a watch that no one can question in terms of style (it has been almost unanimously praised), yet at a price of EUR 5,500, some were doubtful about its positioning. So it’s time to go hands-on, to see it in the metal and to understand why this SLA025 is not your usual Seiko Prospex dive watch.

7 years ago

Value Proposition – The Maen Hudson 38 Automatic – an Affordable, Vintage-Inspired Sub-Like Diver

While here, at MONOCHROME, our main focus is still luxury and high-end watches, Kickstarter doesn’t stop to surprise us. In all honesty, ninety percent (if not more) of the projects are not on par with our expectations. Yet, from time to time, one stands out of the crowd thanks to its originality or its quality-price ratio. The new Maen Hudson 38 Automatic, a nicely designed, affordable, vintage-inspired Sub-like dive watch, is just that: a no-frills sports watch with reassuring style and impressive retail price – and it is now officially launched on Kickstarter.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Master Chronometer – Omega’s New Entry-Level Dive Watch

Twenty-five years ago, in 1993, Omega launched a model that would become a classic among classics, a springboard into the world of luxury watches and cinematic fame after being worn by Pierce Brosnan in Goldeneye (1995): the Seamaster Professional 300M. If the look of the new model launched at Baselworld 2018 feels rather conservative, the evolution is simply impressive and concerns every single part of the watch. And believe me, the new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Master Chronometer gives you a lot of bang for your buck.

7 years ago