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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Have you checked out the Seiko JDM models yet?
Yes. Some are very nice. I like the 'titanium shogun' (SBDC029). It a bit wide for my taste but surprisingly thin (13mm). It doesn't use a sapphire crystal though & I'm not sure about the bezel. Still, one cannot beat that name… The SBDC051 is lovely too, but it has an aluminum bezel.... The SBDC047 is gorgeous, and has the right features (sapphire & ceramic), but is very wide. I might make an exception for that one... It's nice and thin so it might be easy to wear.
The tunas are cool looking but unwearable outside of the water.
