Why Are Dive Watches So Popular?
You have probably seen a lot of dive watches without even thinking about it, they have become part of watch culture and have slowly evolved away from their primary purpose.
Dive watches are likely the most popular style of sports watch on the market after coming a long way from their original utilitarian roots. The majority of wearers are not even using dive watches for diving, or even sports at all but rather for their durability, style and versatility.
Today we are going to be looking at dive watches, their background, and if people actually use dive watches for diving, or if they are just a watch style.
In the modern watch industry, it is rare that you do not see the words ‘water resistant’ on a timepiece, this was not always a common addition to watches and the major boom happened in the 1920s.
Water-resistance is often mistaken for waterproof. That is not the case, no watch is truly waterproof as that implies there is zero chance of water ever entering the watch.
To understand the impact that dive watches have had on the watch industry and how they shaped the designs, styles and manufacture of a lot of different watch niches, it is important to look at the history of diving watches.
We will be briefly covering the major points that have happened since their inception, obviously, we will be focusing on the most impactful changes and updates, there are countless more in the rich history of diving watches.
Dive Watches in the Modern Era
In a contemporary world, dive watches are probably the most prominent and popular sports watch on the market, so they have come a long way from why they were created to how they are used now.
Dive watches for the majority of people are not used for diving, or even sports at all, they are just worn because of their durability, style and versatility.
A large percentage of people who own a dive watch probably do not even consider getting it wet at all, let alone wearing it for water-based activities. This showcases how far dive watches have come and their inclusion in everyday watch culture is firmly cemented.
What Defines a Dive Watch?
Depending on who you speak to, they will define a dive watch in different ways but there are definitely some key features that make a watch a dive watch. Let’s look at some common features you’ll find on the best dive watches.
Rotating Bezel – seen on the majority of dive watches, originally used to help the diver know how long they had been submerged and thus help gauge underwater time. Read more about why watches have rotating bezels.
Luminous Hands – a lot of dive watches will have some form of easy-to-read dials in different conditions so will typically have some form of luminous hands or dials.
Rubber or Durable Strap – although rubber is not always the case, the straps used in dive watches will be a lot more durable than a traditional timepiece.
Water Resistance – needless to say, there needs to be a level of water resistance in any dive watch, regardless of whether the wearer plans to dive in it or not.
Screw-Down Crown – one of the most important factors is the water-tight crown that allows the interior of the watch to remain dry and operate properly.
Extra-Thick Crystal – you will find this on dive watches that have a higher pressure resistance, it is not as widely advertised but used in a few popular models.
Rubber Seals – additional water-resistant measures are fairly common in dive watches, so they may have rubber seals to keep water getting into the joins.
There is obviously a big difference between a watch that is used for diving and what the industry defines as a dive watch. As we have discussed, diving watches have evolved to be much more than their intended purpose and become a large part of modern watch culture.
Does Anyone Actually Dive with a Luxury watch (Rolex)?
In the early 50s, Auguste Piccard dove to 3150 meters while submerged in a dive capsule with a Rolex attached to the outside of the unit.
In a similar vein, famous diver Jacques Piccard attempted and succeeded in the deepest dive depth (≈11,000 meters) in 1960 with a Rolex Deep Sea watch attached to the outside of his dive capsule.
Recently, there have been a lot fewer stunts like this, and the novelty of having a luxury watch that can be submerged underwater has worn off.
It is a lot rarer to find someone who dives with a luxury watch such as a Rolex in the modern era.
And the homage Thorn watch will be your best companion for diving。