The dive
Divers are a necessity for sportsmen and style enthusiasts alike. After all, their utilitarian features have become classic design mainstays even for gents who stay on dry land.
That being the case, the dive
“Just show me the watches !”
If you’d like to see our 10 choices for the best divers under $500 at a glance before perusing the details, here they are:
This diver is highly revered, garnering respect from even the snobbiest watch buyers, and is the closest to a Rolex Submariner for under $200.
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What’s the best dive watch ?
Mercedes Gleitze may have famously worn a Rolex Oyster when she swam across the English Channel, but it was the Aqualung
Scuba divers today use special computers to achieve the purposes dive
Since they must meet these prerequisites, true divers offer a high level of quality regardless of its price. If a
- Water-resistant at no less than 100 meters. In fact, many
watch manufacturers suggest wearing divewatches resistant at 200 meters for professional diving. - Can manage elapsed time. Scuba divers must carefully time their descent and ascent to avoid decompression sickness. The time management tool often comes in the form of a unidirectional rotating bezel, now a classic watch design feature.
All the divers on this list meet these criteria, so let’s get to the fun part: Figuring out which dive
The following features are not required by the ISO, but are common considerations in dive
- Luminescence and backlighting. Great for night sports or a dimly lit date night.
- Movement. Quartz movements and automatic movements are incredibly accurate, while solar movements last for ten years before needing a new battery.
- Screwdown crown and caseback. This helps with water resistance.
- Strap. For style, this roundup features a variety. For practicality, make sure you size the strap so it fits when you’re wearing a wetsuit if you plan on wearing it diving or snorkeling.
- Analog vs. digital. If you’re in it for the street cred, go for analog to appease the purists.
If these
So let’s get to it, fellas!
So what’s the best dive watch under $500?
Depending on your needs, the answer is one or more of the following 10:
Orient Ray II
If you want classic, then the Orient Ray II with a stainless steel band is for you.
The three-piece band has a beveled middle section that features a subtle difference in the steel finish. This is literally the kind of delicate artistry you find in
This diver is highly revered, garnering respect from even the snobbiest watch buyers, and is the closest to a Rolex Submariner for under $200.
The luminescent markers on the face combined with the prominent Arabic numbers on the bezel top off the design highlights.
It very much excites me to know that you can get a
Functionally, the Orient Ray II has a unique hacking feature that allows you to stop the second hand, and lumes that glow all night from just a bit of charging under the sun.
DETAILS of the Orient Ray II
Movement | Automatic |
Display | Analog |
Case Diameter | 41.5mm |
Band Material Type | Stainless Steel |
Band Width | 21mm |
Orient Mako II
In the interest of finding a piece for every man, I decided not to choose between the Ray II and the Mako II. After all, every William needs a Harry, and the Mako II is the more modern, less ornate answer to the Ray II.
Classy but not stuffy, this dive watch is the modern, more practical cousin of the Orient Ray II.
This simpler
The Mako II has a lighter bracelet feeling and a slightly heavier case feeling and aesthetic.
In the tradition of Orient, this is an impressive and practical sports
DETAILS of the Orient Mako II
Movement | Automatic |
Display | Analog |
Case Diameter | 41mm |
Band Material Type | Stainless Steel |
Band Width | 21mm |
Citizen Eco-Drive Professional Divers Watch
Do you have a lot of LL Bean and REI in your closet? Well then, Paul Bunyan, the Citizen Eco-Drive Professional Divers is your
It’s one of just three truly professional
Designed for professional scuba divers, this is the truest dive watch on this list. Adventure-seekers love its combination of rugged qualities with innovative technology
The molded polyurethane band includes an extender so you can wear it with or without a wetsuit. You can also get the Eco-Drive Divers with a titanium band, but I would suggest considering the Tissot Seastar instead if you’re going for that lustrous look (the metal strap is more suited to the Seastar’s decorative face).
Always the innovator, Citizen packed this
Function may follow form with the Eco-Drive Professional Divers, but it’s a handsome
DETAILS of the Citizen Eco-Drive Professional Diver
Movement | Eco-Drive Solar |
Display | Analog |
Case Diameter | 48mm |
Band Material Type | Rubber |
Band Width | 24mm |
Seiko Prospex, Black Ion-Plated
Every dive
The black-ion plating not only makes this timepiece more durable, but gives it a commanding style that compliments the blue gradient face and 1/4th blue bezel. This Batman-esque watch also runs on the 4R36 automatic caliber, which comes with Seiko’s proprietary Diashock system that absorbs shock to keep the movement accurate. Basically, it’s tough inside and out.
This authoritative timepiece will make you seem as if you have the highest TSA clearance. Or you’re on a black ops mission. Or you’re Batman.
If you’re the all-black-everything kind of guy, or going for an all-black look on a particular day, this is a great
Like all the
DETAILS of the Black Ion-Plated Seiko Prospex
Movement | Automatic |
Display | Analog |
Case Diameter | 45mm |
Band Material Type | Stainless steel, Black-ion plated |
Band Width | 22mm |
Seiko SKX007
Seiko truly makes some of the best dive watches in the budget range. The SKX007, SKX7 for short, with its trademark Hardlex mostly scratch-resistant crystal, is no exception.
This watch is Seiko’s quintessential diver and its most popular, likely because it makes you look like a discerning collector!
Stylistically, the SKX7 strikes a balance between the purely utilitarian feel of the Citizen Eco-Drive Professional and the fun superhero aesthetic of the Seiko Prospex, especially if you opt for the rubber strap.
One thing I want to point out about the SKX is that there are two models out there that are nigh impossible to tell apart: The SKX007K and the SKX007J.
The J was designed specifically for the Japanese market and has a slightly sharper finish. The face features a “21 Jewels” mark and it’s marked as “Japan WP” on the back of the case, whereas the K model simply reads “WP.”
Japan tends to keep the best stuff for their domestic market, so if you can get your hands on a J model, it’s the one that
DETAILS of the Seiko SKX007
Movement | Automatic |
Display | Analog |
Case Diameter | 43mm |
Band Material Type | Rubber |
Band Width | 22mm |
Victorinox Swiss Army Inox Professional Diver Watch
I received my first Swiss Army knife when I was a Boy Scout and felt unconquerable with it by my side. The Victorinox Swiss Army INOX Professional Diver
Like the iconic Swiss Army knife, this watch is a multipurpose tool. It can survive being run over by a literal tank and offers a unique paracord strap option.
The INOX comes in all the standard strap options, but I recommend the tough yet noble paracord strap. Imagine wearing a parachute cord around your wrist like an adventure hero who needed to fashion his own strap during an epic journey!
This
On top of being ISO approved, the INOX is also certified by the NIHS 92-11 Swiss standards, which means it can literally survive 64 tons of pressure.
DETAILS of the Victorinox Swiss Army Inox
Movement | Quartz |
Display | Analog |
Case Diameter | 45mm |
Band Material Type | Stainless Steel, Rubber, Leather, Paracord |
Band Width | 22mm |
Tissot Seastar 1000
If you combined the strength of the Citizen Eco-Drive Professional with the class of the Orient Ray II, you’d get the Tissot Seastar.
With the stainless steel band version, you can literally go scuba diving, then head to a black-tie museum benefit without switching
This fancy diver has the sheen of a dress watch, but the durability of a professional divers watch with 300 meters of water resistance.
The Seastar is Swiss-made, water-resistant at 300 meters, and even features a helium valve to depressurize the case during ascents from dives.
Ironically, it has a relatively smaller case and bracelet that gives it a dressy, almost dainty, appearance. But that’s the fun in it. This is secretly a sturdy
DETAILS of the Tissot Seastar 1000
Movement | Automatic |
Display | Analog |
Case Diameter | 43mm |
Band Material Type | Stainless Steel |
Band Width | 21mm |
Casio G-Shock Rangeman GW9400
If the INOX is a gentleman’s army on a heroic march, then this Rangeman is the army on a tactical mission. In fact, it may be a bounty hunter a la Han Solo.
The Casio G-Shock GW-9400 is the most rugged and tactical of the field watches, and it’s loaded with features. These include a 1000-hour stopwatch, 24-hour countdown timer, sunrise and sunset data, and a Triple Sensor which includes a compass, pressure sensor, and temperature sensor. At an imposing 53mm, this digital survivalist watch is as tough as it looks.
The bulky design comes from the resin that shields the casing from vibrations and shock. To dry it off after a swim, I recommend removing the bezel and drying the case off separately.
The Rangeman uses Casio’s Tough Solar technology, meaning it charges using artificial and natural light no matter how weak the source, with a 10-month battery life.
Finally, traditionalists forgive me, but this Rangeman has a digital face making for a practical appearance. This distinguishes it from most conventional dive
DETAILS of the Casio G-Shock Rangeman GW9400
Movement | Quartz |
Display | Digital |
Case Diameter | 53mm |
Band Material Type | Rubber |
Band Width | 22mm |
Glycine Combat Sub
The Glycine Combat Sub is for the fashion-forward guy. More than any style-first
This fashion-forward diver offers several style options. It’s the most visually versatile choice and is well suited for casual and formal situations.
In every model, this
This allows for say, a rose gold case, bright leather strap, or a two-tone stainless steel strap – qualities that may over-dandify the Seastar or clash with the rugged Eco-Drive Professional.
It’s a safe blank canvas for style!
Like the INOX, the Glycine Combat Sub has a sapphire crystal dial window, making it chic and durable.
DETAILS of the Glycine Combat Sub
Movement | Quartz |
Display | Automatic |
Case Diameter | 45mm |
Band Material Type | Rubber, Stainless Steel, Leather |
Band Width | 21mm |
Bulova Precionist Chronograph
This
This maximalist chronograph has a frenetic multi-dial face, like a glitzy physics project on your wrist, and features 300 meters of water resistance.
This
With a case at 47mm, a curved sapphire crystal and moving dials spread all over its baroque face, the Bulova Precisionist absolutely begs for attention. It also makes an effective statement piece when worn with a minimalist monochromatic outfit.
Bulova partnered with NASA to perfect their accuracy technology, so it’s no surprise that this
DETAILS of the Bulova Precionist Chronograph
Movement | Quartz |
Display | Analog |
Case Diameter | 47mm |
Band Material Type | Stainless Steel, Leather, Leather-backed Nylon |
What’s the best affordable dive watch ?
Are you fancy or casual? All business or a man of leisure? The diver is truly essential, so it’s great that there’s such a wide variety.
As far as choosing the best one for you, it’s a reasonably safe and fun game since dive
I hope this helps you on your path to your first (or next!) dive
If you have any questions or comments, hit me up on Twitter. You can also find join other readers on Effortless Gent’s Facebook page, or DM me on Instagram!
Scuba Diver Photo by Pia from Pexels