Category: Dive Watches

Value Proposition – The Stylish Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver Compressor

Collecting watches is a thing… Creating your own watches is another. Yet, with recent developments, such as crowd-funding and online shopping, the way watches are created and sold has drastically changed. One example is Dan Henry (a watch collector) who turned his passion into a business, by creating vintage-inspired watches with interesting value-for-the-money. One watch that tickled our interest is the Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver Compressor (the only one for the moment with mechanical movement). Like all Dan Henry watches, the 1970 model incorporates design elements from its namesake year. Look past the 1970s styling, however, and you will find plenty more to appreciate about this watch. With a mix of whimsical and high-end features at only US$250, the 1970 also includes a boatload of bang for your buck.

7 years ago

Introducing – Seiko Prospex Shogun Zimbe SPB057J Thailand Limited Edition

There’s something quite special about Seiko and its community of collectors. Indeed, some are proper fanatics and every new limited edition, especially if branded Prospex (the professional line of watches at Seiko), can create a blast among these aficionados. Very recently, Seiko introduced another limited edition, reserved to the Thai market (don’t worry, you can find it elsewhere…) based on the well-known Titanium Diver’s 200m “Shogun” SBDC029J. New gradient dial, different hands and a splash of colours, and here is the Seiko Prospex Shogun Zimbe SPB057J.

7 years ago

Buying Guide – The New Watches of 2017 to Buy with 10,000 USD/Euro

Let’s agree on one fact: in the world of watches, 10,000 USD/Euro is a perfect median budget. It allows access to most of the luxury brands, including the most coveted ones, to benefit from proper Swiss quality (and by that I mean watches that really are Swiss Made) and finally, you can access to what drives the passion for watches: in-house or exclusive movements. If 10,000 USD/Euro is already a strong budget, trust us, it’s probably the best money-spent/pleasure ratio possible. Here are 5 watches launched in 2017 priced around the “10k psychological price point” and that won’t make you feel like you have lost your money (Oh and in fact, we have 6 watches…)

7 years ago

The Warrior is Back – The Seiko Prospex Samurai Collection for 2017 (and it’s not limited…)

Few brands can argue to have watches that are so iconic that they are actually known after monikers. Rolex and Omega are amongst them – think “Paul Newman”, “Bart Simpson” or “Deep Blue” – but Seiko is also on par in this “nickname game”. Many of their watches have been granted with funky sobriquets, as for instance the “Turtle” or the “62Mas”. Another one, more modern, is the “Samurai”, known to be a sporty and high quality-to-value ratio. After a discreet comeback with the (sold-out) Lagoon Limited Edition, aficionados will be pleased to see that the Seiko Prospex Samurai is back in the 2017 collection, and now in non-limited editions.

7 years ago

Historical Perspective – The Classic Vintage Submariner, The Reference 5512 and 5513

At a certain time in the history of the no-date Rolex Submariner, collectors will commonly accept the switch from vintage to modern references. This moment appeared at the end of the 1980s when Rolex launched the Submariner reference 14060. However, prior to this watch, two references were manufactured, both extremely close in design and specifications, the Reference 5512 and 5513. And because it is the Submariner with longest production period, it has to be seen as the absolute Classic Vintage Submariner, as our “columnist extraordinaire” Paul Altieri (Founder and CEO of Bob’s Watches) will explain here.

7 years ago

Historical Perspective – The Original “Bond” Rolex Submariner, The Reference 6538 “Big Crown”

After having a look at the “Pre-Submariner”, the Rolex Reference 6202, as well as at the mother of all Submariners, the early Reference 6204, it is time for our “columnist extraordinaire” Paul Altieri (Founder and CEO of Bob’s Watches) to look at a watch that helped building the legend surrounding this model, mainly because it was worn by a certain British spy, in a movie called Dr. No. You certainly guessed it: today we look at the “Bond” Rolex Submariner, The Reference 6538.

7 years ago

Historical Perspective – The Very First Rolex Submariner, The Reference 6204

Today, we continue our Historical Perspective series, thanks to our “columnist extraordinaire” Paul Altieri (Founder and CEO of Bob’s Watches). In the first part, we explored a missing link in the history of diving watches, as we looked at the pre-Submariner watches, known under the reference 6202 “Turn-O-Graph”. Today, however, is the real deal, with the more-than-iconic reference 6204, the mother of all Rolex Submariner watches, the very first one born in 1953.

7 years ago

Historical Perspective – The Missing Link, The Rolex Reference 6202 or the “Pre-Submariner”

The Rolex Submariner is, undoubtedly, the most emblematic dive watch ever created, in addition to being amongst the most legendary watches ever shaped. Presented more than 60 years ago, in 1953, it was part of the very first timekeeping instruments to be conceived for a new generation of pioneers; divers. During its over six decades’ career, the Submariner has both drastically evolved on the technical side, but remained visually true to its origins. Thanks to our “columnist extraordinaire” Paul Altieri (Founder and CEO of Bob’s Watches), we are going to take a look at some of the most important Rolex Submariner’s references, starting today with… a Turn-O-Graph, the reference 6202 that we’d call “the missing link”.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Favre-Leuba Raider Harpoon Gun Metal

Earlier this year we presented the Favre-Leuba Raider Harpoon (read our article here) with its quirky, yet handsome looks. We had to get our hands-on this attention grabbing watch, and the summer gave us the perfect opportunity to wear it on a dive. Soon we found out that we were not the only ones who wanted to get hands-on with it…

7 years ago

Value Proposition: Balticus Automatic Bronze Watches

If you’re looking for a great looking and very well priced watch, our ‘Value Propositions‘ will give you a lot to choose from. Apart from the usual suspects (the well known brands) these young start-ups often create watches that they would love to see themselves. And since the major brands do not offer the desired watch (either in terms of style/design and/or price) they give it a go themselves. However without funding they won’t make it, so platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo are ideal for these young entrepreneurs, who are often watch lovers before business men. So is the Polish based brand Balticus who are now launching two bronze dive watches through Indiegogo. One limited edition named the Big Wave, and one non limited edition named the Grey Seal.

7 years ago