The (Less intimidating) Watch Thread
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Of the ones you've listed, I like the Steinhart best. It's slightly thinner than most other dive watches, since it uses the ETA 2892 movement instead of the more common 2824. I'm also a big fan of titanium cases.
For that reason, I'd also suggest a Dievas Vortex. They're easily available on the secondhand market, too. The leather strap is meh, so I would recommend swapping it with a decent nato at the first opportunity.
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I much prefer the ceramic bezel to aluminum, and most divers I see still use aluminum (looking at you Tudor).
Seriously, there is no excuse for a watch company in that price bracket to still be using crappy aluminum bezels, especially when they have access to the Rolex parts bin.
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You could get an Aquis new from Jomashop in your price range. I particularly like the PVD model on the orange strap.
No idea what the watches are like, but the Aquis Meistertaucher looks great. (Hodinkee review.)
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One thing to keep in mind; it has non-standard lugs, so you won't be able to swap straps if you don't like the stock one.
Other than that, it's a nice looking watch, and I've heard good things about Oris.
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@JDelage an ISO 6245 certified watch might make sense if you're planning to actually dive with it. I know that Seiko diving watches meet the standard, as does the Cartier Diver, and a couple of Sinns. I've got a feeling that the Rolex Submariner and Sea Dweller, and the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms might too.
The Sinn U1 starts at $2010 at Watchbuys. The cheapest diver is the EZM 3, which is $1860 at Watchbuys.
Hodinkee's reviewer, Jason Heaton, took the U1 swimming. I always like his write-ups.
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This showed up in my Google newsfeed from an article at Time and Tide. It's the Longines Legend Diver.
Prices start at around $2000, which again puts outside @JDelage's budget. It's got an ETA movement, a compressor case, and 300 metres of water resistance. I think that it's a nice looking piece, and probably works better as a dress watch than the Emile Chouriet Challenger Deep that I posted a few days ago.
Time and Tide have another review, and Hodinkee have a week on the wrist (without any diving).
@DougNg I'd be interested in knowing how some of the non-certified diver's watches stand up to the ISO tests. There are a few things in it, such as anti magnetism, that mechanical movements are quite susceptible to. No, I don't expect you to know the answer, and since I can't actually go scuba diving (asthma), it's pretty pointless for me to worry about.
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If you look at the standard, it has to be relatively antimagnetic:
Magnetic resistance. This is tested by 3 expositions to a direct current magnetic field of 4,800 A/m. The watch must keep its accuracy to ± 30 seconds/day as measured before the test despite the magnetic field.
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Honestly, I doubt there is anything particularly special about an SKX that allowed it to pass the ISO certification
With that being said, I really don't hold ISO certifications in general in very high regard.
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