The Charmex CX Swiss Military Watch That Broke a Scuba Diving Record


CX Swiss Military 20,000 Ft - subdial_150You have probably never heard of Charmex nor of Ahmed Gabr, but there are at least two reasons why both are worth knowing. In 2005, the Swiss watch company Charmex launched a massive dive watch capable of withstanding water pressures down to 12,000 feet. It was not only the most water-resistant (serially produced) mechanical dive watch at that time, but also the only (7750-based) chronograph amongst similar “extreme” dive watches.

In 2009, that watch was replaced by a slightly smaller (but, at 28.5 mm, still very thick) titanium model called the CX Swiss Military 20,000 Feet. And you guessed it, with a 6,000-meter water resistance (excluding a 10% to 20% safety margin), it was once again the first, and up until today one of the very few, watches offering that kind of depth rating. Furthermore, since it retains its predecessor’s chronograph functions, it is still the most water-resistant mechanical diving chronograph watch ever produced.

CX Swiss Military 20,000 Feet
CX Swiss Military 20,000 Feet

The watch was, of course, tested underwater when it was introduced, but no human being can reach those kind of depths without a hull around him. That’s were Ahmed Gabr comes into play. The Egyptian diver (and former Special Forces member) recently broke a scuba diving world record in Dahab: as of September 18, 2014, Gabr holds the record for the deepest saltwater scuba dive, at 332.35 meters. As you might have expected, he was wearing a CX Swiss Military 20,000 Feet watch during this dive. The record-setting descent demonstrates the difference between what’s possible to engineer in a watch and what the actual human limits of scuba diving are. Gabr’s dive lasted 13 hours and 15 minutes and required 92 pressure air tanks.

Ahmed Gabr diving with CX Swiss Military watch
Gabr wore the CX Swiss Military on his record-setting dive.

This article was originally published on October 8, 20145, and has been updated.

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  1. Richard Johnson

    October 2015 … no wonder I don’t remember it!

    I think this should be in a separate column – Spoilers: Read future articles today!

    Reply
    • Hi Richard, thanks for pointing that out. We might be ahead of our time in what we do, but in this case you are of course right, it should read 2014, not 2015. :-)

      Reply
  2. Bert Kanne

    Amazing record for a dive watch and even more amazing, it was originally published in October of 2015!

    Reply
  3. Ian Bernadt

    I’ve owned a black-faced CX Swiss Military 20,000 Feet for about 2 years.For a large watch it’s easy to wear,light-weight(titanium) with a massive titanium bracelet that fits comfortably and securely on my right wrist (I’m left-handed).It attracts favorable comment and must be one of the best value and toughest watches available.
    I have’nt done any diving as yet.

    Reply
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