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Bring On the Water! 11 Watches Built for Water Sports


In addition to diving, water sports include sailing, surfing and even fishing. The appropriate watch can be a topic of conversation during breaks but also provides valuable time-related information. As Spring begins to usher in Summer, here are 11 water-sports watches worth checking out.

OMEGA SEAMASTER PLANET OCEAN ETNZ “DEEP BLACK” MASTER CHRONOMETER

Omega Planet Ocean ETNZ Deep Black
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean ETNZ “Deep Black” Master Chronometer ($11,200)

As sponsor of the Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) yachting crew, Omega knows what yachtsmen need. A 15-minute countdown precedes each start in a regatta. Omega displays this countdown with blue and red rubber markings on the black ceramic bezel of this Seamaster. The word “START” indicates the countdown’s final 5 minutes. Like the bezel, the 45.5-mm case and the dial are also made of ceramic. The dial bears a blue-and-red 24-hour scale to show the time in a second zone. Automatic Caliber 8906 powers the four central hands. This seaworthy watch remains watertight to 600 meters and has a black textile strap with an inner layer of rubber.

ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL YACHT-MASTER II

Rolex Yacht-Master II
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II ($18,750)

Rolex premiered its first regatta watch 10 years ago. Since then, the Yacht-Master II has become a classic that’s currently available in stainless steel, yellow gold, white gold and in a bicolor variation combining stainless steel and rose gold. Rolex recently modified the dial so the hour hand of the Yacht-Master II now bears Rolex’s characteristic “Mercedes” symbol. The hour markings at 6 and 12 were also reworked. A feature of the Yacht-Master II is that the countdown can be programmed using the bezel and crown. The countdown also continues to run even when the chronograph is stopped and returned to zero. The stainless-steel version has a 44-mm case that stays watertight to 100 meters and encases chronometer-certified automatic Caliber 4161.

ULYSSE NARDIN MARINE REGATTA CHRONOGRAPH

Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta
Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta Chronograph ($15,900)

Having just been awarded the Sports Watch Prize at the 2017 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie in Geneva, Ulysse Nardin’s Marine Regatta Chronograph comes with a bidirectional chronograph counter that automatically begins timing the race once the countdown is complete, thus eliminating the need to hit the restart button at the precise moment the race begins. The 650-component Caliber UN-155 is based on automatic chronograph Caliber UN-153 and has a three-day power reserve. The 44-mm case is stainless steel and has a fluted bezel with rubber inserts, molded rubber pushers, a screw-down crown and 100-meter water resistance. There are two dial variations.

ANONIMO NAUTILO NATO

Anonimo Nautilo NATO
Anonimo Nautilo NATO ($2,350)

Some surfers spend a lifetime waiting for the perfect wave. If a long wait beside a sluggish sea puts a surfer in a dour mood, the colorful Anonimo Nautilo Nato will surely lift his spirits. This sports watch’s 44.4-mm case is watertight to 200 meters and boasts a yellow or green flange around a black dial. The chosen color is repeated in the accent stripes on the NATO strap and in the counterweight on the end of the seconds hand. The 15-minute scale on the black ceramic bezel is more than just a colorful element in the design; the yellow or green color makes it especially legible. The crown at 4 o’clock is a distinguishing feature of the Nautilo collection. This positioning is very practical because it ensures that the crown will not press uncomfortably against the back of the wearer’s hand and allows automatic Caliber SW200 to be reset easily.

BREMONT SUPERMARINE TYPE 301

Bremont S301
Bremont Supermarine Type 301 ($4,095)

To commemorate the 35th America’s Cup in 2017, Bremont introduced a series of watches with Regatta chronograph calibers. But the British brand also launched two new models in Bremont’s Supermarine divers’ watch series, the Type 300 and Type 301, which were a response to Bremont customers’ demands for sports watches with slightly smaller case dimensions. For divers who want a more vintage look, there is the Type 301 pictured here, which has Super-LumiNova-filled hour indexes instead of Arabic numerals on its matte black dial. Both the Type 300 and the Type 301 are powered by Bremont Caliber BE-92AE, an automatic, chronometer-certified movement with a 38-hour-minimum power reserve. All three new Supermarine dive watches are offered on stainless-steel bracelets, calf leather straps, or NATO straps with pin buckles.

SINN 240 ST GZ

Sinn 240-ST-GZ
Sinn 240 ST GZ ($1,830)

The Sinn 240 St GZ can track tides with the help of an internal bezel. The rotating tide bezel can be used to read the relative water level of a location in terms of current tide, i.e., the time until the next high tide. All the owner needs to know is the time of the last high tide (for example, from a tide table or tide calendar) and correlate this with the triangular mark “HW 1” on the rotating bezel. Expected water levels of the next high tide can then be read from the “HW 2” mark. The 240 St GZ is powered by an SW220-1 automatic movement. The 43-mm case is made of stainless steel and is water resistant to 100 meters.

MÜHLE-GLASHÜTTE LUNOVA CHRONOGRAPH

Muhle Glashutte Lunova Chronograph
Mühle-Glashütte Lunova Chronograph ($2,349)

Whole days can drift languidly by with a fishing rod in one’s hand and a Lunova Chronograph on one’s wrist. Thanks to automatic Caliber SW500, this chronograph from Mühle-Glashütte can tally elapsed intervals up to 30 minutes and 12 hours, while also displaying the date and the day of the week. The design of this 42.3-mm stainless-steel watch, which remains watertight to 100 meters, is both sporty and elegant, with orange accents, a brown leather strap, and a case with alternating polished and brushed surfaces. And this handsome watch can continue to perch atop its wearer’s wrist in the evening when he sits down to dine on the fish he caught earlier in the day.

PANERAI LUMINOR SUBMERSIBLE 1950 3 DAYS AUTOMATIC TITANIO

Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Titanio
Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Titanio ($9,200)

Sometimes marine animals are more stimulating companions than barflies sitting beside a swimming pool. When you start to feel this way, it’s high time to take a dive. The Panerai Luminor Submersible can accompany you down to 300 meters. This divers’ watch combines a 47-mm titanium case, unidirectional rotatable bezel and characteristic crown guard. The dial is black, as is usual for Panerai, but the seconds hand adds a lone blue accent. Manufacture Caliber P.9010 animates this model.

IWC AQUATIMER AUTOMATIC 2000 EDITION “35 YEAR OCEAN 2000”

IWC Aquatimer Automatic Edition 35Years Ocean 2000
IWC Aquatimer Automatic 2000 Edition “35 Year Ocean 2000” ($7,400)

An appropriate topic for conversation among divers: IWC and Porsche Design collaboratively engineered a divers’ watch 35 years ago that complied with specifications stipulated by the German Armed Forces and military frogmen. The PD Ocean 2000 had a 42-mm titanium case that remained watertight to 2,000 meters. IWC was among the first brands to use titanium for many of its watches. Now a special model in the Aquatimer collection recalls the legendary PD Ocean 2000. The new model is released in a limited edition of 350 watches – another topic for conversation. The exterior-interior rotatable bezel is tempting to play with whenever there’s a dull moment, and it’s also very useful when beginning a dive. And the case keeps automatic Caliber ETA 2892 well protected against potential water damage up to a pressure of 200 bar.

MEISTERSINGER SALTHORA META X

Meistersinger Salthora Blue
Meistersinger Salthora Meta X ($3,350)

Telling more with less: MeisterSinger’s new Salthora Meta X comes with a unidirectional bezel with 60-minute scale and a central minutes hand (but no seconds hand, which would be required to meet the ISO standards for dive watches). Most importantly, the hour (which isn’t that important for a dive) is shown in the circular window at 12 o’clock using an instant jumping mechanism. The stainless-steel case of the Salthora Meta X is 43 mm in diameter and water-resistant to 200 meters; the bezel inlay is made of ceramic. The watch is powered by an ETA 2824-2 or Sellita 200-1 and equipped with a module for the “jumping hour.” The Salthora Meta X is available in three different versions. One model has a black dial, a red hand and red digits on a white background; a second model is designed with green digits and a green hand; the third version comes with its dial and rotating bezel in deep blue with white digits.

UTS 1000M V2 DIVE WATCH PACIFIC HORIZON

UTS 1000M Dive Watch Pacific Horizon
UTS 1000M Dive Watch Pacific Horizon (3,000 euros)

If you’re looking for something with “wrist presence,” thanks to the lugs and the massive case design, typical of UTS watches, the UTS 1000M has a total weight of 255 grams when worn on the stainless-steel bracelet that’s supplied with the watch. The optional sapphire crystal on the back of UTS’s 42-mm diver is impressive from an engineering point of view (given the water resistance of 1,000 meters) and offers the owner the chance to see the ETA 2824-2 automatic movement in action. the dial has a two-layered look, with a galvanic blue finish over an inner sunray pattern; the date disk between 4 and 5 o’clock is black. UTS also offers a black-dial model and a GMT version with a different bezel.

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  1. Dan Harper

    What a strange list, the Muhle is entirely out of place here, although an excellent watch nonetheless. Swap that one out with a Doxa or Seiko like Todd Seger said he’s got the right idea.

    Reply
  2. Chrono

    I think the topic is too wide. There are a host of excellent diver’s watches that could be included, from microbrands upwards. Also, no regatta watches? In any event, thank you for the article. Personally I liker the Anonimo which one can easily forget about. It is a given that one would fit a leather strap if you are going to use your fancy waterproof watch in water.

    Reply
  3. So often we travel to dive, snorkel, surf, wade in far off places and I’d LOVE to have a great dive watch that also has GMT function.

    Reply
  4. Jeffrey H Klein

    Would love to find information on the watch brand Armand Nickolet a luxury brand sold mostly in Europe… Thanks for a great source of information on Watches

    Reply
  5. Peter Morland

    A consistant soaking of salt water will not do those leather straps any good.

    Reply
  6. Steve Fiege

    Too bad they don’t make the Eterna 1,000 meter Kon Tiki dive watch any more that I have. It was and is a great dive watch. Plus you never see one on any ones arm anywhere now. And I only paid 2,000 for it brand new.

    Reply
  7. Todd Seger

    All very nice, but what ever happened to the benchmark by which all divers are designed after, enter DOXA. I never see any of the Watch Publishers doing pieces on DOXA Dive watches. If they were good enough to be backed and worn by Jaques Cousteau, then they most certainly should be included in any dive watch series. Let’s not stop there, how about Seiko’s vast array of Excellent Dive watches… No wonder they are the most widely chosen and worn Dive Watches World Wide… It would be great if you would do a article on DOXA Divers… they are at a pinnacle in their history with 50 years of greatest Dive watches ever made including this years 50 year point of invention of gas escapement valve. Just saying!

    Reply
  8. Nick Alex

    Good list, what about Tudor Pelagos, one of the BEST and well made watches for all watersports and a daily wear as well.

    Reply
  9. Kelly Jeffers

    Very Nice, Informative and looking very attractive blog. Thanks for written and share it. But I think you forget to add one brand deep blue, I am diver so I used to wear deep blue watches

    Reply
  10. Mark Scheur

    The Panerai mentioned comes with the rubber strap shown and a Leather strap in which the blue stitching matches the second hand. It also comes with tools for easy strap change.

    Reply
  11. Sylvio F. Bertoli

    Nice article. A few thoughts that came to mind while reading it:- 1) For me, wihout a Rolex diving watch any list of watches for water sports is incomplete. 2) It would be great if the artcile showed an indication of the list prices of each watch for easier comparison of cost x benefit.3) One cannot take seriously a water sport watch one that comes with a leather strap ( eg:-the MÜHLE-GLASHÜTTE LUNOVA CHRONOGRAPH, not to mention that chornographs are not the right watches for any water sports, even fishing),

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