By TLex ZENTON, who created the M45, one of the finest factory cased divers I have had the pleasure to experience, now showing us that they are about much more. Their new bronze fixed bezel diver measures 42mm Ø, and as the dial states is rated to 500m. My first instinct was to draw comparisons with Germano & Walter's 500m, specifically their latest bronze version; there's its un-guarded crown, a fixed bezel, the sober styling and of course the use of bronze, which has become quite fashionable in the Boutique sector.
However on reflection the similarities end there; the ZENTON 500m (it has no official name yet) seems more symmetrically shaped, no doubt with a far more reasonable overall case length than that of the G&W 500m, which measures 57mm. It also feels more like a contemporary diver than a vintage recreation. It will come be fitted with an ETA 2824-2 (most likely regulated as other ZENTON models).
I love the direction that companies like ZENTON and more recently HELSON are heading, albeit if just to show that they are capable of thinking outside the box once in a while, and are passionate about dive watches, not just in their more generic forms with rotating divers bezels and Helium Escape Valves, but as living breathing creations with depth and charisma. And I'm not just talking about the use of bronze either, the new ZENTON 500m would have much appeal if realized in stainless steel.
ZENTON are offering just 20 pieces of their bronze fixed bezel diver; its price will be circa 1'200USD. Stay tuned for much more . . .
By TLex 1958 saw the invention of the first single hose regulator by Ingvar Elfström, who with Dennis Österlund co-founded the then 'Aqua Sports' scuba equipment manufacturer. Today they are better known as POSEIDON, a Swedish diving systems company based in the outskirts Gothenburg. Their scuba applications, which include the world's first re-breather intended for recreational use are widely used, not just by recreational divers, but by both commercial and military scuba divers. They are Purveyors to His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden.
Poseidon Watches are manufactured for the Poseidon scuba company by Capella Industries, who also produce Lambretta Watches and SAS Retro Watches. There are currently two divers models in the Poseidon Watches line: the Date and the Chrono; both models utilize the same 46mm stainless steel case with 200m water-resistance. The Date houses the Miyota 2115 Day-Date movement, whilst the Chrono Miyota OS20 Chronograph movement.
Both watches, which are in the 2-300 euro price range could be best described as cheap and cheerful, possibly making for suitable beaters; however a third model is planned with a Mechanical movement, a sapphire crystal and an increased water-resistance. Stay tuned for more . . .
By TLex Cavenago are family run watch company based in Milan, Italy. They have three divers models in their first collection, all of which share the same vintage inspired case; itself somewhat reminiscent of the legendary Benrus Type I. The 45mm stainless steel case is water-resistant to 300 meters. It features a screw-down crown and caseback, a rotational divers bezel and is fitted with a sapphire crystal. The case comes in two finishes satin or polished.
The Cavenago GMT model, the Albatross is so called after the migratory sea bird that crosses several time-zones during its migration, where it can travel up to 1’800 kilometers in a single day. The Albatross houses a modified Swiss ETA 2836 with GMT function. The watch is limited edition of just 100 pieces; Cavenago’s annual output is no more the 599 pieces per year. For further information on this or any of their other models please follow the link to their website at the bottom the post.
MOVEMENT Caliber: original Swiss modified ETA 2836 automatic Functions: hours, minutes and second, GMT, date display in window Jewels: 25 / Hz: 4/28.800 vibrations per hour CASE, DIAL & HANDS Material: stainless steel Diameter: 45 mm Finish: satin/polish Waterproof: 30 ATM Back: screw Glass: sapphire Dial: black Hands: white Super-LumiNova : on dial, hands and bezel Crown: screw-down
From POSEIDONThis is a preview of our new model, the Automatic 500m. The design is inspired from the Poseidon re-breather DISCOVERY. With a Miyota 8215 MECHANICAL AUTOMATIC movement your watch will never run out of battery, but will charge while you are moving your wrist. With the Screw down crown you can secure this 44mm solid stainless steel watch for dives to 500 meters.
Other features are; Sapphire crystal and a solid stainless steel bracelet with an extension buckle to fit over your dive suit. The Rotation Bezel helps you keep track of how long you're diving. Simply rotate the bezel and aim the Super LumiNova triangle on the bezel towards the minute hand. Hands, index and even all Bezel graphics are filled with white Super LumiNova that will charge in the sun or a strong light. This will provide a strong light blue glow in the dark.
- MIYOTA 8215 MECHANICAL AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT - SOLID STAINLESS STEEL BRACELET / EXTENSION BUCKLE - SUPER LUMINOVA INDEX. HANDS AND ROTATION BEZEL - ROTATION BEZEL WITH INDICATOR - 50ATM- 500METERS/1650FEET - 44 MM STAINLESS STEEL CASE - SCREW-DOWN CROWN - SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL
By TLex There could be no better illustration of the versatility of the H2OKalmar than the use of contrasting materials for its bezel, crown guard and even buckle. Featured here the Kalmar DLC exquisitely highlighted with a Mokume Gane bezel and crown guard. Among others H2O will also be offering interchangeable components in Damascus Steel; the possibilities are endless!
By TLex Steinhart - in no way being coy about where they take their design cues from! You would be forgiven for thinking that their new Ocean Forty Four GMT is the lovechild of the GMT Master and the DEEP SEA. Though in all fairness Steinhart are one those who do the Rolex look very well! Gotta love that sapphire bezel, too. For more details on this and other STEINHART divers click on their icon at the bottom of the post.
From STEINHART The new Ocean Forty-Four GMT is our modern interpretation of a classic design, whose massive processing is a guarantee for high durability and superior quality. It will master any occasion and knows to impress with such sophisticated detailing as the sapphire crystal bezel inlay and a finely engraved Rehaut. In the world of sports watches, this is one of the very few examples in its price range which demonstrates such an excellent cost-performance ratio.
By TLex Are you ready to have your world rocked?! This incredible looking 3'500m diver is HELSON's latest creation.
Taking its inspiration from a vintage depth gauge; its 47mm titanium case features a bronze fixed bezel and has been fitted with a vintage style hand-cut 5.5mm thick domed sapphire crystal.
Notice the crown position between the lugs at 6 o'clock and the HEV positioned at 12 o'clock.
The watch's case thickness with the crystal is 22.5mm, but Peter Helson assures me that without the crystal the case isn't any thicker than their Shark Diver is.
In other words, it's wearable! More details to follow . . .
From TLex REACTOR Watches are the kind sponsors of this month's OceanicTime Giveaway. Up for grabs is their very latest diver, the POSEIDON; a beast of a watch measuring 48mm x 17mm and weighing in at 255 grams. It is depth tested to 1'000 meters, meets with (and in some cases exceeds) ISO standards for a divers watch, has both internal and external timing bezels and 10-year lithium power cell. The lucky winner can chose between TWO models; the YELLOW dialed version with a full bracelet and divers extension clasp or the RED dial with a secure rubber divers strap.
HOW TO WIN the new REACTOR Poseidon . . .
STEP (1) Go to the REACTOR & OceanicTime Facebook pages and click 'LIKE' (you must like both pages)
STEP (2) Go to the REACTOR website and cut the first NINE words of the 1st sentence that is written in the Poseidon's description (here).
Step (3) Paste the completed sentence into an email and send it to me at oceanictime@oceanictime.net with the Subject marked: 'REACTOR Poseidon Giveaway'.
The contest will run from February 21st - March 21st. The lucky winner will be announced shortly after. GOOD LUCK everyone!
By TLex After extensive design studies and numerous prototypes here is the final iteration of the new MARCELLO C HYDROX. The 300m HYDROX takes its name from the gas mixture of Hydrogen and Oxygen that is breathed by deep sea divers. This mixture allows them to descend to great depths. Hydrox, which is highly explosive, can be a further hazard to the diver as the presence of Hydrogen in the mixture has a narcotic effect, which can cause Hydrogen Narcosis, which in turn can cause confusion, disorientation and hallucinations making Hydrox potentially lethal to work with; still wanna be a deep sea diver?
The HYDROX watch with its contemporary aesthetic is a far safer option than its namesake, that's not to say that its design elements are in anyway staid far from it Marcello C. have developed a very nice looking watch with a bold dial layout and striking handset, albeit not too dissimilar from those of the latest Aquatimers. The bracelet with its push button clasp a further indication of the extent to which Marcello C. took the development of their new dive watch; it looks superb!
By TLex The LUMINOX Deep Dive was actually released last year, but was delayed for one reason or another; I'm not sure if any even went to market, but here it is again if you missed it last year.
From Luminox The new automatic Deep Dive is the latest addition to the Luminox collection of certified watches designed for diving professionals. These instruments, which have been used for over 20 years by the Navy Seals, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Stan Waterman, a pioneer in the field, are the pride of Luminox, a brand which continually strives to push back the limits of the ocean depths while fulfilling the most demanding specifications.
Water-resistant to 500 metres, the Deep Dive features an automatic helium valve, a bezel locking system (patent pending), and the unique Luminox Light Technology system. This ensures optimum visibility thanks to the micro-tubes which emit a blue glow, the last colour a diver can discern as he decends. Numbered limited edition.
MOVEMENT Automatic ETAFUNCTIONS Hours, minutes, seconds and dateCASE Reinforced steel, 45 mm / Automatic helium valve / Bezel with locking system (BLS, patent pending) / BLS crown protection / 3mm sapphire crystal front and back / Water-resistant to 500 m / 50 ATMDIAL Black / Hourmarkers, hands and bezel numbers with LLT blue luminescent underwater system / Wide minute hand with double LLT tubesSTRAP Black polyurethane with wetsuit extension system
By TLexH2O Watch has in the Kalmar realized an incredible dive watch that is both fully customizable, and self-configurable by its wearer. Its case, which houses a Swiss mechanical movement and is water-resistant to 3000 meters, has been constructed from Grade 5 Titanium. G5 Titanium is not as widely used in dive watch construction as say 316-L Stainless steel, but has been adopted by numerous upper echelon dive watch makers as their case material of choice for many of their flagship divers models (Clerc, Girard-Perregaux, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Richard Mille are among them) not only for its remarkable properties of which it is: tough, lightweight, hypoallergenic and self healing, but because it can be such an attractive metal. Even so Titanium could not be considered a particularly exceptional or rare a material used in dive watch construction; so what would be?
How about Damascus steel, which H2O have used to construct a custom rotor for this experimental version of the Kalmar? If not, then most certainly, Mokume Gane (木目金), which translates from Japanese as ‘wood grain’ metal and is the product of a special process of bonding mixed-metals invented by Denbei Shoami in 17th-century Feudal Japan. Mokume Gane was used for sword fittings at a time when the decline of the katana industry had forced artisans to create purely decorative items. Achieving a successful lamination using traditional processes requires a highly skilled sword maker with a great deal of experience; in this instance a German knife maker of some repute, Uwe Suhrweier, who has partnered with H2O Watch for this and future projects.
H2O Watch (now pioneers in the use of exotic metals in dive watch construction) have realized a worldwide first using a unique combination of design and craftsmanship for the stunning H2O Kalmar Mokume Gane, which now joins the Titanium and Bead-blasted DLC versions. And owing to its handmade construction, where small imperfections are not uncommon, each and every watch created will become a rare gem. I should add that the production costs for Mokume Gane are unsurprisingly higher. This is because the material used to create Mokume Gane is approximately 60 times more expensive compared to stainless steel owing to a rejection rate that is around 50% higher. But what you’re left with is an exceptional dive watch that is both visually stunning and highly unique. Stay tuned for more . . .
