Reply With QuoteI know I keep banging on about Alpina, but take a look, they're lovely imho
apparently John lewis sell them now, but quite good deals on the bay too
I am in the market for a new watch, specifically a dive watch which will be worn as an everyday. The question is, which one?
So, I want an automatic movement with three hands and a date window and my budget is about £700, but the cheaper the better.
At the moment I am torn between a Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro and a Longines HydroConquest. Both of these are at the top end of my budget.
I am not interested in Steinhart (too much like Rolex for me) and I am yet to see a Seiko dive watch that doesn't have terribly ugly hands?
What are people's suggestions?
Thanks guys!
Last edited by Generous John; 19th February 2015 at 01:02.
I know I keep banging on about Alpina, but take a look, they're lovely imho
apparently John lewis sell them now, but quite good deals on the bay too
Buy the Seiko you like (except for the hands) and then buy a set of hands from Yobokies - he has dozens of variations made specifically to fit Seiko movements, then get you local watchmaker to fit them - 20 odd quid for the hands and a tenner to fit them.
Have a look here
http://s161.photobucket.com/user/yob...?sort=3&page=1
How about a Precista prs3, quality and style at a bargain price.
Id have to say Longines HC, they are lovely watches for the money
+1 for this. I've got a yellow LE version and it's a fantastic watch.Originally Posted by barryw
I'd also recommend you check out Squale http://www.chronomaster.co.uk/squale/watches/ and Kemmner (ebay only).
PRS-3 or PRS-68 would be suitable.
How about a Steinhart Triton or an Ocean 2, then?
Steinhart also have some great dive watches of their own design - well worth checking out.
PRS-82 does it for me though.
Timefactors PRS-68
Job done
If you can live without a date, PRS18 or PRS82 are great value imo.
You can't go wrong with the hydroconquest IMO. I had the blue version and I must say its a decent watch for the money.
Armida A1... Super lume, super high dome Sapphire, date, bracelet and rubber, 3 hands, automatic, a choice of colours.. A bloody awesome watch for the money and well within budget.
Don't be out of by the country of origin (China) they really are great. :)
Still haven't taken my Dreadnought GMT off in over a month. Well worth a look.
Obviously it's all about personal tastes and experiences. For me, I wouldn't go near either the CW or the Longines. Longines make some great watches but I'm not a fan of the HC.
I'm going to assume you want to buy new. If it were me, and I've been around the block a few times with dive watches, I'd keep a chunk of your cash and go for the PRS-68. If you really want to spend your budget then get a PRS-82 too and you'll have two classic diver's, beautifully made with bracelet, rubber and nato options coming out of your ears and a warranty you can hang your hat on.
Best of luck with your decision.
Last edited by TaketheCannoli; 18th February 2015 at 23:24.
Have a look at Helson. I've just got a Shark a Diver and love it.
Good call, I forgot about Helson.
Thanks for the suggestions guys. The PRS-82 would be strong favourite if only it had a date window.
The PRS-3 is also nice but the 3 and 9 numbers are unnecessary I think.
Plenty to be thinking about at work tomorrow.
Oris small seconds, good build and you'll Find some decent examples for £700
FFF
Have a look at the Oris Aquis range
Longines Hydroconquest gets my vote, excellent watch for the money from a brand on the up.
Of course everyone likes different things, but for me the HC is close to perfect.
Some other excellent options though.
M
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
I like the longines as it has the versatility of a strap and bracelet, looking equally good on both.
The selection put up by everyone just goes to show the amount of really good watches at this price point.
ORIENT M-Force beast titanium....?? Different style to some subs?
Why not have a look at the Vostok Amphibia ? Or if you want to pay a bit more the Amphibia SE from Meranom. Both way under your budget and great watches with lots of different case types and dials to choose from.
I recently bought a Kemmner Octopus and I'm very happy with it. Can get them new for just under £500.
Have a look at the Glycine Combat Sub, can be had for £515 delivered, well within your budget, great looks and quality and at 22mm lug width plenty of strap options as a change from the bracelet.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Glycine-Wa...3D131388630078
Bob
Another nod to the PRS-68 here.
Its not something I thought I'd like as much as I do - that much that its been my daily wearer for nearly 2 months now....
Pete
I posted a similar request last week.
If you look on the WUS forum someone has posted a comprehensive list of Micro Brands. Most of these offer dive watches. I will try and find a link when I get a minute but a quick search on WUS will bring up a few threads.
Steinhart was a popular reply to my request as was the PRS68. Used Oris or Longines was also mentioned.
Magrette was one I particularly liked as was the Aevig Huldra.
Certina DS Action Diver
Available in stainless steel with black or blue dial. And in titanium with gray dial. Well within your budget.
Another vote for Oris here. I had a Titan 47 Ceramic Small Seconds which was brilliant. I only moved it on for a Ltd Edition Orid Carlos Coste. That orange Small Seconds of FrankyFourFingers is a stunner. As he said, you'll find a number of good ones for your budget. Put out a WTB and see what comes up.
I had a Longines HC before the Titan and I found it a cheap and nasty feeling thing, especially the bracelet, which was very shonky indeed. Just my opinion, but it felt like far worse quality and value than the Steinhart Ocean One it replaced.
Does Squale fit in budget?
http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/blood-i...tory-of-squale
enough said
Another vote for the Shark Diver if you don't want the more retro look.
i have one of these, very nice, g.gerlach otago
Oriënt OS300, can't get a better dive watch for the money.
Maybe someone can post a nice pic, I can't from work :)
Daddel.
Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!
a pleasure not too familiar hope this is correct
Cheers!a pleasure not too familiar hope this is correct
Daddel.
Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!
Welcome sir, a pleasure nice looking dive watch btw
In what sense? That's quite a claim!
You MIGHT be right, but what's the reason for the claim, in your view?
M.
:)
Quite a thing to say, I know.
But having owned quite a few dive watches in my time, this is, as far as real world dive watches go, the best, all IMHO.
Built quality and specs are superb, and if it's really needed under water, a certain Australian real world diver on this forum has tested a lot of watches in this price range and comes to this conclusion as well.
Drawback, it's big and heavy, so I wear it on the rubber strap.
Daddel.
Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!
Kemmner Turtle.
Like an Octopus but more manageable.
Some good suggestions so far. I like the look of these ...
It's quartz, but will leave you a chunk of change left over.
Or there is a similar auto version also within budget
z
Last edited by zelig; 19th February 2015 at 15:29.
Thanks - I went and had a read and it does sound pretty well spec'ed for the price Creation sell it at (at list price, though, it's a MUCH dearer watch...).
Any watch with proper WR will work underwater, of course - My dive watch (ie the one I actually dive in) is a £130 Citizen Eco-Drive!
M
A gratuitous Helson shot before I head off down to the pool.
https://www.chrono24.com/en/edox/cla...-id2734803.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/edox/aut...-id1860767.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/fortis/b...-id2923299.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/fortis/b...-id2809596.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/fortis/b...-id2516514.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/alpina/e...-id3021393.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/alpina/e...-id2744615.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/cuervoys...-id3070875.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/tutima/d...-id2649760.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/tutima/d...-id2577248.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/lindburg...-id2798674.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/mido/oce...-id2987541.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/mido/oce...-id2861304.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/mido/mul...-id2861312.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/mido/div...-id2979779.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/mido/div...-id3071787.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/paulpico...-id3048135.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/paulpico...-id3117369.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/jeanrich...-id2924356.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/montblan...-id3137927.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/paulpico...-id2977658.htm
That should keep you occupied for the next few hours or days, whilst you research them, etc.
how about this baby
A little hyperbolic but agree with the sentiment that it is a tremendous watch for the money.
Here's an interesting looking and inexpensive alternative 6105 homage from Indonesian micro Athaya Vintage - not as highly-specced or as faithful as the Smiths homage but with a charm of its own:
O&W do some great, unfussy inexpensive divers too:ImageUploadedByTapatalk1424366775.662160.jpg
Last edited by Mr TPG; 19th February 2015 at 18:26.
Exactly the same for me, I wear mine all the time.
Great suggestions on here already, including Kemmner, but it's PRS-68 FTW!
Longines hydroconquest gets my vote, as mentioned in a previous comment they look nice on steel or leather, here's mine on a hirsch Modena!
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