OceanicTime 2011 RoundUp

By TLex 2011 has been another fantastic year for dive watches. We have seen some the most technically advanced, some the deepest, the most expensive and the most exotic divers models ever produced. Here are a few that stood out for me over the year, they are in no particular order . . .

Hi-END The release of OMEGA's new Planet Ocean family was not only of significance to the dive watch industry, but to the watch industry as a whole. I was lucky enough to get my hands on two of the new models, the PO Cal. 8500 and OMEGA's new flagship model, the Titanium Liquidmetal® Chrono, which houses their latest in-house movement, the Cal.9300

The Ball ENGINEER Hydrocarbon DeepQUEST is Ball's most technically advanced model to date. Its Titanium monobloc case boasts a water-resistance of 3000m.

ANONIMO Professionale C.N.S Although it's not a new model per-se, it was one of the dive watches released in 2011 that for me epitomized all that is great about dive watch design and engineering.

LUMINOX Deep Dive 1500 SERIES. A watch that can't be ignored, a milestone for LUMINOX and their most high-end model ever produced. I got to conduct an in-depth review of one.

HUBLOT King Power 48MM OCEANOGRAPHIC 4000. One of the deepest mechanical dive watches on the planet, but certainly not the prettiest, HUBLOT went for the over-designed, over-engineered look. Nevertheless a marvel of modern dive watch engineering.

BLANCPAIN X Fathoms After much hype and a lot of anticipation, the X Fathoms was unveiled. It may be the most technically advanced dive watch on the planet, but is it really a dive watch or just high-end mechanical dive computer?

BEST of the BOUTIQUES Newcomer H2O Watches have produced possibly one of if not the most customizable dive watch ever. Their base model the Kalmar has a water-resistance of 3000m, but was in fact tested to almost double that. H2O Watches continue to innovate with the use of exotic metals, such as Mokume Gane and Tungum.

ARMIDA's debut model the, A1 boasts an impressive highly domed crystal. The case design is original and it offers exceptional value for money.

BENARUS continue to do great things; not least of all was their special edition of the Megalodon III, the OceanicTime LE.

DAWN of the 2nd BRONZE AGE It would appear that there has been a bit of proliferation in the amount of bronze dive watches produced in 2011. Of those the PANERAI Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days BRONZO AKA PAM00382 has to be the most coveted. PANERAI made a couple of bronze prototypes in the early 80s, so in many ways pioneered the use of bronze in dive watch construction. Anonimo, who have a strong connection with PANERAI continued with that tradition as have ENNEBI with the Fondale BRONZO . . .

Happy New Year!

AQUADIVE Bathyscaphe 100 DLC

By TLex AQUADIVE's design objective for the Bathyscaphe 100 DLC was to create a modern classic; a watch with classic looks, but that used modern materials and had a modern spec. They took a vintage styled case and protected it with a high-tech scratch-resistant DLC coating and a state of the art scratch-resistant ceramic bezel insert.

Then they gave it a water-resistance of 1000m and equipped it with a Helium Escape Valve, which they discretely placed between the watch's lugs. The result, a dive watch that at first glance looks like it has stepped right out the 60s, but under further inspection has a finish and a spec. that is as modern and as cutting edge as anything else that is currently being produced in the dive watch industry today.

The Bathyscaphe 100 DLC has been teamed with a matching black rubber divers strap from ISOFRANE, itself another modern-classic. I can't help, but admire how the grain of the metal still shows below the DLC coating, it makes a lovely contrasts with the gloss black of the bezel grip and crown; really beautiful! I wonder if the Bathyscaphe 300 will ever get the DLC treatment, now that would be something! For further details of the Bathyscaphe 100 DLC follow the AQUADIVE icon below . . .

CORUM A'C' Seafender 48 Chrono CENTRO 'Trophée Jules Verne'

By TLex In association with the Banque Populaire, a major player in the sailing world, CORUM are supporting one of the most sought-after nautical challenges: the Trophee Jules Verne. CORUM, who are the Official Timekeeper of this prestigious round-the-world race will present a dedicated watch to honor its partnership. CORUM have naturally chosen a model from their Admiral’s Cup collection – the watch of sailing devotees and enthusiasts since 1960 . . .

The dial of the Admiral’s Cup SEAFENDER 48 Chrono Centro bears the inscription 'Trophee Jules Verne 2012', while the back is engraved with a depiction of the race course. If the team manages to better the existing record, Corum will reward each member of the Maxi Trimaran Banque Populaire V crew with a watch from this special edition, personalized with his individual name. So the 14 crew members are engaged in the round-the-world race not only to carry off the Trophy, but also to win a CORUM watch!

DOXA SUB 1200T Project Aware II

By TLex The world's oceans generate up to 70% of all oxygen on the planet, so feel DOXA Watches, they deserve our attention; and quite rightly so. DOXA have announced the SUB 1200T Project Aware II along with their continued partnership with the Project Aware foundation, whose team members will be equipped with the new turquoise dialed SUB 1200T. The new Project Aware II watch will be available in a Limited Edition of 300 pieces and can be pre-ordered for 1790USD instead of 1990USD as a 200USD portion of the watch's price will be donated to the Project Aware foundation to support the work they do protecting our oceans. The new model will start shipping towards the end of January . . .

CREPAS Tektite 2ndLook

By TLex I have just recently received these lovely images of the CREPAS Tektite . . .

UTS 4000M Professional DIVER

Introducing the new UTS 4000M Professional Diver. Whilst it may not appear to be a much of departure from its sibling, the UTS 3000M, the new 4000M is bigger and is better!



The overall design of the watch hasn't really changed. It has the same basic case design that has been fabricated in-house from a single solid block of German Stainless steel by Nicolaus Spinner.



It features the same bezel design and same UTS' trademark detachable lug system. It also incorporates all existing UTS technologies such as their proprietary bi-directional rotating bezel, which locks via a unique ceramic ball bearing system - operable via the crown at 2 o'clock.



It looks pretty much the same, too! Which is fine by me, because as the old saying goes 'if ain't broke, don't fix it'!



However, there was nothing about a little tweaking in that adage, nor of beefing up the case size or increasing water-resistance. The new UTS 4000 Professional takes everything up a notch or two.



The case diameter gets a 2mm increase from 43mm to 45mm, the crystal thickness is increased by 1mm to 6mm, which allows for an increase of 1000m of water-resistance from 3000m to 4000m.



Even the size of dial markers appear to have been beefed up, which should allow for a brighter lume application. Basically it's the watch I have been waiting for UTS to build for several years now and it's finally here!

OLIVIER Bronze DIVER

By TLex INTRODUCING the latest boutique dive watch brand, Olivier Watches with their debut model the OLIVIER Bronze DIVER. The OLIVIER Watch Co. was started (as many boutiques are) by a true watch enthusiast; one who had fallen for the charms of the ‘bronze diver’, but had become somewhat disillusioned by its price tag.

The founder of OLIVIER, who lives and works in LA as a designer soon realized that the only way that he was going to get the type of bronze diver with the spec. and looks that he wanted, and at a reasonable enough price was to produce it himself.

The OLIVIER Bronze DIVER is based on a classic cushion case design. It is constructed from CuSn8 Marine Grade Bronze, the alloy of choice by those wanting a material that has high structural strength and corrosion resistance to seawater, but that will also develop a lovely patina over time.

Its brushed bronze case measures 45mm in diameter with a thickness of 15.5mm. Its lug to lug measurement is just 48mm, which means that it will wear well even on smaller wrists; this was an important factor for its designer, who has a 6.5’’ wrist himself.

Further features include: a signed screwdown crown and engraved caseback and an automatic Helium Escape Valve. These components have been constructed from 316L Stainless steel, which allows for a nice contrast between the two different colors of the metal. 

The watch has a 4mm thick Sapphire crystal (AR coating inside) and is thoughtfully supplied with two solid bronze 120-click divers bezels; one all-bronze with engraved markers and one with a black insert with white markers. The caseback of the Bronze DIVER depicts the scene of a shipwreck. Notice also the ‘los angeles’ text, cool touch! The case has a water-resistance of 500 meters.

The modern-vintage dial of the OLIVIER Bronze DIVER has been divided into four. I love the font used for the text and am surprised at how much I like the date indicator with its blue pointer. A set of bronze swords hands have been used, then there’s a nice pop of color from the blue of the second hand. Multi-layered Swiss C3 SuperLuminova has been applied to the dial markers, hands and 12hr bezel marker.

The watch will be offered with two mechanical movement versions; a Swiss made ETA 2824-2 priced at 850USD and a Japanese made Miyota 8215 priced at 650USD. It will be supplied with a 24mm rubber divers strap with a handmade bronze buckle. For further details on pre-ordering your OLIVIER Bronze DIVER please follow the scuba diver icon at the bottom of the post or click 'HERE' to visit the OLIVIER Facebook page where you will be able to receive regular updates.

LUMINOX Deep Dive 1509 Prototype GIVEAWAY -CLOSED-

From OceanicTime This month we're giving away an incredible divers watch courtesy of Luminox. The LUMINOX Deep Dive 1509 Prototype is part of the 1500 Series, LUMINOX's most advanced and highest spec'd divers series to date with a Swiss mechanical movement, a patent pending bezel locking system and 500 meters of water-resistance. It retails for almost 2'000USD! For full details of this fantastic dive watch read my in depth review of it.

The watch that we are giving away is a late prototype model, so unlike the production model it will not have a limited edition number on its caseback, but apart from that it is pretty much the same. The watch is in brand-new condition and at the moment it is winging its way back to Switzerland for the once over in preparation for the lucky winner.

HOW TO WIN the LUMINOX Deep Dive 1509 Prototype . . .

STEP (1) Go to the LUMINOX & OceanicTime Facebook pages and click 'LIKE' (you must like both pages).

STEP (2) Got to the OceanicTimeTV Youtube channel and SUBSCRIBE to it. Then 'LIKE' both the LUMINOX Sea Master Video & OceanicTime Promo Video. [comments are welcomed]

IMPORTANT You must have a YouTube account to participate; if you haven't, don't fret it won't take you more than 2mins to set one up.

Step (3) Send an email to oceanictime@oceanictime.net with the subject marked: 'LUMINOX Deep Dive Giveaway'.

If you have you entered correctly you will receive a short courtesy email within 48hrs of your entry.

The contest will run from today, December 19th until January 19th 2012. The lucky winner will be announced shortly after. Best of luck, folks!

PAM 00382 Expendables2

By TLex The PAM 00382, PANERAI Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days BRONZO hits the big screen in the Expendables 2 movie. Some of the cast, which includes Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren and Terry Crews can be seen wearing their 382s in the film. Back in October of this year, Terry Crews posted a short video blog from his trailer, whilst on the set of the movie, which was being filmed in Sofia, Bulgaria. He proudly shows of his new 'Pana-rani' to the camera!