If you are one of those who like to go deeper into the blue waters and spend the summer months diving, here are the best new diver watches of 2024.
A Brief History of Diver Watches
Through haute horology world, the first known water resistance test for a watch took place in 1932, when Omega “Marine” was tested to a depth of 73 meters in Lake Geneva. In 1937, the Marine, which is the first commercially produced diving watch, was certified water resistant to a depth of 135 meters. So much so that, the story of water-resistant watches dates back to the 1920s.
Produced in 1926, Rolex Oyster is the first example of a water-resistant case. On the other hand, the Italian brand Panerai developed a radium-based powder and paste called “Radiomir” for the Italian Navy in 1916, and produced the first prototype diving watches, known as Radiomir models, on the eve of the WWII.
Another brand was Cartier, which is known as a jewelry brand, also made history with its water resistance in 1931 (or 1933) with the ancestor of Pasha de Cartier. Starting in the 1920s, water-resistant watches evolved into the first examples of today’s favorite diving watches. Omega announced the Seamaster in 1948, one of the most famous diving watch collections of today. In 1953, Blancpain launched the Fifty Fathoms, considered the first modern diving watch. The watch set the standard for diving watches with its distinctively designed markers, 15-minute unidirectional rotating bezel and automatic movement; it was water resistant to 91.44 meters. That same year, Swiss physicist and explorer Auguste Piccard lowered a submarine with a Rolex strapped to its hull to a depth of more than 3,100 meters. One year later, the Rolex Submariner was launched, which became one of the most iconic diver watches of all time.
Over the years, diver watches continued to go deeper and deeper into the blue waters. In 1982, IWC began production of the first 2.000-meter class diver watch. The Ocean 2000 was a light model made of titanium. Today, dive watches that can exceed 10.000 meters are produced.
After this brief history, let’s talk about this summer’s dive watches; from the gold case Rolex Deepsea introduced at Watches and Wonders 2024 to the ceramic-cased Blancpain, many dive watches are ready for the new season.
The Best New Dive Watches for 2024
Rolex Deepsea Gold
With its deep blue dial and 18k yellow gold case, the Rolex Deepsea Gold is one of the most spectacular diver watches of this summer. Water-resistant to 3,900 meters, the watch uses a ceramic Ringlock system to increase pressure resistance at extreme depths. The 44 mm diameter watch is the first Deepsea model that use a Cerachom bezel. The RLX titanium material in the case adds lightness to the bulky case.
