With summer in full swing, we take a dive back in time and have a closer look at this year’s line-up of retro-styled diver’s watches. Symbolizing robustness, discovery and adventure, diver’s watches in general leave a striking impression on the wrist – whether on dry land or in the water. In light of this fact, there is only one thing that can top the contemporary diver’s watch: a vintage-inspired diver’s watch. Wedding yesteryear’s styles with today’s state-of-the-art characteristics, it seems a perfect choice for many summer activities while being a classy companion for night outs at the same time. Here is a closer look at three current timepieces with a strong vintage look and feel that also come with an attractive price tag under $1,500.
Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic
Worn by U.S. Navy underwater demolition teams or “frogmen” during WWII, the original Hamilton Frogman was made to withstand the toughest environments. Equipped with a canteen-style screw-down crown to protect the mechanism from water pressure and a highly legible dial, the Frogman accompanied some of the most dangerous missions in the deep. Released to the public in 1951 and simultaneously debuted on the big screen in the drama “The Frogmen,” Hamilton’s modern-day line up of the diver’s watch carries the legacy of a reliable precision instrument with great looks.
The newest iterations are housed in a 41mm stainless steel case boasting a unidirectional bezel with raised numerals for additional grip. A nod to the original Frogman’s design, the watch’s screw-down crown is protected by a robust bridge-shaped crown guard to ensure its 30 bar (300m) water-resistance. The 41mm Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic features a highly legible black or khaki green dial with Super-LumiNova coatings to ensure precise reading under any circumstances. The orange accents on the minute and second hands stand out in any light condition.
Just like its 46mm sibling, the 41mm Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic is powered by the H-10 automatic movement with 80 hours power reserve and Nivachron balance spring resistant to shocks, temperature variations and magnetic fields.
The Hamilton Frogman is fitted with a bracelet or rubber strap and retails for $1,195.
To learn more, visit Hamilton, here.
Certina DS-2 Turning Bezel Sea Turtle Conservancy
This newcomer from Certina, dubbed the DS-2 Turning Bezel Sea Turtle Conservancy, features a cool oval 1960s-style case. Hence the name, a portion of its sales are donated to the Sea Turtle Conservancy trust. It is distinguished by turquoise accents on both the dial and strap. The 41mm by 42mm case is water-resistant to 200 meters and is made of lightweight and saltwater-resistant titanium. Ticking inside is the ETA automatic caliber Powermatic 80.611 with an 80-hour power reserve and magnetic field-resistant Nivachron hairspring. The logo of the environmental organization is emblazoned onto the sapphire crystal case back.
Pricing for the Certina DS-2 Turning Bezel Sea Turtle Conservancy is marked at approximately $1,000 when converted to USD.
To learn more, visit Certina, here.
Mido Decompression World Timer
The new Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer has a colorful decompression table on its dial that is inspired by the legendary Ocean Star Skin Diver from the 1960s. Mido commemorates this landmark of its history with two new special editions, featuring a GMT function and world-time bezel.
The blue variant of the 316L stainless-steel model displays decompression times in yellow, green, pink, and blue circles on the dial. Depths are indicated at 12 o’clock, both in meters and feet. Each colored ring is assigned a scale – 25m (80 feet), 30m (95 feet), 35m (110 feet) and 40m (130 feet). This complex scale is framed by the bidirectional bezel displaying the world’s major cities.
A red arrow represents the travel time, while the flat, diamond-cut hands display the time at home. Water-resistant to 200 meters, this diver’s watch is powered by the self-winding caliber 80 with an 80-hour power reserve. Equipped with a Nivachron hairspring, its ticking is concealed behind a closed and engraved back. The case diameter is 40.5mm.
With its included additional strap, the Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer watch also offers a variation in style. Versatile and truly made for diving, the first one is a textured navy blue or black rubber strap. The second one is a Milanese mesh bracelet that highlights the vintage aura.
The Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer retails for $1,310.
To learn more, visit Mido, here.
