AUDAZ Abyss Diver 1’000M

The Audaz Abyss Diver has surfaced from the depths!

Inspired by one of the most iconic deep diver’s of the past one and half decades, the Audaz Abyss Diver offers you all the looks at a fraction of the price. 

To date this is the deepest diving model from Audaz boasting 1’000 meters or 3’300ft of water-resistance.

It also the most technical diver’s model they have produced to date with features such as an automatic Helium Escape Valve which can be found at 9 o’clock on the side of its 44mm in diameter 316L Stainless case.

And, it is also their most premium model featuring a precise 120-click, unidirectional diver’s bezel with a ceramic insert with luminous dive-time graduations that have been filled with Swiss Super-LumiNova. 

The ceramic inlays btw are offered in 4 colors: black, blue, green or bi-color Batman (black and blue).

The Abyss Diver’s unidirectional diver’s bezel wraps around a 4.8mm-thick Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on it inside. Because the Abyss Diver comes from a young and dynamic brand who are focused on bringing to market, affordable, high-quality wristwatches with a fashionable sensibility, it is offered with several great looking dial colors. You can choose from 5 in total which include: black, blue, full-lume, green, and finally one of the most emulated dials (and for good reason) a gradient dial echoing the ocean depths - fading from blue (top) to inky black (bottom).

Each of the 5 dials has been immaculately finished with large applied round indices combined with triangular index at 12 o’clock – offering excellent legibility. 

All the Abyss Diver’s hands and markers have been generously appointed Swiss Super-Luminova.

Further diver’s features of the new Abyss Diver from Audaz include: a screw-down crown and case-back as well as full Stainless steel link bracelet with a diver’s clasp. And in case you were in any doubt of the watch’s diving prowess the case-back features a motif of an old school diver’s helmet – what else! Powering the watch is reliable Japanese made workhorse, the Miyota 9015 caliber, automatic mechanical movement with 24 Jewels, running at 28800 bph and with an approx. 42 hours of power reserve as well as a date aperture at 3 o’clock. The new Audaz Abyss Diver has an MSRP of 570USD and is available for PRE-ORDER NOW with expedited shipping expected from the 15th to the 20th of June 2021.

Thoughts? Even Swiss brands such as Edox have created DS inspired models; they are an excellent value proposition for anyone that is after the iconic good looks of a DS but who is not looking to break the bank. The full-lume variant is super cool! 

TUDOR Black Bay CERAMIC

This is the new Black Bay Ceramic and it’s all the Black Bay you’ll ever need – or is it?

As if in response to this year’s early Black Bay offerings, the Black Bay 18K and its sibling the Black Bay 925; 

both of which possessed all the aesthetic charm you could ever hope to find in a new Black Bay but alas (owing to their precious metals construction) none of the practicality expected of a diver’s watch, even from a heritage model.

Tudor has now launched the new Black Bay Ceramic model; a watch that clearly illustrates not only how versatile the Black Bay platform is but just how modern a Black Bay can be bringing into the 2020s. For starters that watch gets a lovely matt black monobloc ceramic case with a utilitarian sand-blasted finish and mirror-polished beveled edges for a nice bit of contrast Btw the inlay of its rotatable diver’s bezel is naturally also made from black ceramic but with a sunray satin finish and an engraved dive-time scale in matching tones which are said to respond subtly to changes in light –woo! Meanwhile its dial has a trendy black on black style, meaning that the only contrast comes from its applied hour markers which are with an off-white luminescent material. The BB’s new ceramic case houses an equally impressive engine, Tudor’s in-house movement, the Manufacture Calibre MT5602-1U which boasts a Master Chronometer certification from METAS. Features of the MT5602-1U include: an Si (silicon) hairspring and a 70-hours of power reserve. The movement has be executed entirely in black, Its rotor in black tungsten monobloc is openwork and satin-brushed with sand-blasted details, and its bridges and mainplate have alternating sand-blasted and polished surfaces as well as laser-etched decorations.

Tests and prerequisites that lead to the Master Chronometer certification include: being Swiss Made, certification by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), precision at 2x temperatures, in 6x positions and at 2x different levels of power-reserve: 

100% and 33%, smooth functioning when exposed to magnetic-fields of 15,000 gauss and precision following exposure, water-resistance to 200m in accordance with ISO standard 22810:2010 and a power-reserve of 70-hrs.

Finally the new BB Ceramic is presented on a hybrid leather and rubber strap, black of course and with a Snowflake motif on the inside and folding clasp. It is also supplied with a complimentary black textile strap with a cream pinstripe. MSRP is the United States is 4,725USD.

Tudor Black Bay Ceramic at a glance: 

- 41 mm diameter case in matt black ceramic 

- Domed dial, matt black, with applied hour markers 

- Snowflake hands, one of the hallmarks of the TUDOR diving watches introduced in 1969, with grade A Swiss Super-LumiNova® luminescent material 

- Manufacture Calibre MT5602-1U, certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), with a silicon hairspring and a 70-hour power reserve 

- Master Chronometer certification 

- Five-year transferable guarantee with no registration or periodic maintenance checks required

Thoughts? This or Omega’s Seamaster Diver 300M BLACK BLACK? 

If you remember Omega didn’t quite finish the job with the SM Diver 300M Black Black whereas (credit where credit is due) Tudor has nailed the execution of their high-tech stealth diver with the inclusion of an entirely black movement. 

But what do you think? 

 

DEEP BLUE Alpha Marine 500 T-100 Swiss AUTO

Deep Blue Watches dial up the lume to 100 (T-100) on their latest Swiss automatic diver’s model. This is the new Alpha Marine 500 T-100 Swiss Auto from DB and it guaranteed to light up your life! The watch which is available NOW from the DB website is based on the ALPHA MARINE 500, 500 meter water-resistant model which is powered a Swiss automatic movement. The 26 jewels, Sellita SW-200-1 auto has a beat rate of 28,800 VPH and boasts a custom DB engraved oscillating weight which can be viewed through the watch’s sapphire case-back. The Alpha Marine 500’s case is made from 316L Stainless steel and measures 45mm in diameter with a lug to lug measurement of 53mm and a thickness of 15mm. Check out the lume shot at the bottom of the post – that’s DB’s torch-like full-lume dial blasting through the watch’s 33mm dial opening.

The full SuperLumiova-lumed dial is punctuated by a series of T-100 Tritium Gas Tubes (32 in total). 

In this instance the hour markers are in blue with contrasting orange on the hands plus the bezel’s 12hr marker.

Speaking of which, the Alpha Marine is equipped with a 120-click unidirectional diver’s bezel with a tough ceramic inlay with a lumed dive-time scale.

Further diver’s features include: a screw-down case-back and crown, a thick AR-treated Sapphire crystal and a full Stainless steel link bracelet with micro-adjustment as well as a diver’s trip-lock safety clasp. 

DELMA Blue Shark III AZORES

DELMA debuts two dazzling new editions to their most shark evoking, deep diving collection, the Blue Shark III. 

Introducing the new Blue Shark III Azores models, created in support of the Megalodon Project and in partnership with Delma brand ambassador, ocean conservationist and marine photographer, Magnus Lundborg.

So what’s the Megalodon Project, I hear you ask – surely not some Jurassic Park-type, genetics sequencing project using DNA recovered from an intact Megalodon tooth that has been spliced with Great White shark DNA strands to fill in any missing gaps??? Yeah, I’m afraid folks not but alas there’s some unfortunate irony in that because the MEGALODON  Project is in fact a shark conservation project helping existing shark species which themselves are on the brink of extinction. Scheduled for summer 2021, the Megalodon shark tagging project will use pioneering research to better understand the life and habitat of magnificent and endangered sea creatures including the elusive Blue Shark which can be found in the abundant waters surrounding the Azores archipelago. Magnus alongside a team of scientist will conduct a study on marine megafauna by creating a network of satellite tags and documenting the sharks’ behavior through data collection and photography. Their findings will be used to educate the public and government about the vital role sharks play in the ecosystem in order to cultivate conservation strategies and encourage sustainable solutions.

The Azores is an ideal site for this research as it is a crossover point, both in terms of ecological zones and seasonal migration routes for many big underwater mammals and fish. 

It is also a key breeding ground, acutely positioned to be cool enough in the summer and warm enough in the winter to harbor essential nutrients and sunlight at all times of year.

Special features of the two new Blue Shark III models include textured, gradient dials which evoke the colors of the subtropical waters of the Azores at varying depths. The bright blue fading to deep navy and rich turquoise which graduates to a vibrant green are reminiscent of the North Atlantic’s range of habitats at varying depths where the participating photographers and scientists will conduct their research and experience the life of endangered sharks and whales firsthand.

Like any Delma model baring the Blue Shark name, the new Azores models possess exceptional levels of water-resistance and can withstand depths of up to 4,000 meters. 

They are also equipped with all the features that you would typically expect to find on any professional diver’s model: automatic Helium Escapee Valves making them suitable for SAT diving, as well rugged unidirectional diver’s bezel which are available in either black DLC or Stainless steel and with lumed elapsed dive-time scales.

In addition each of the Azores special edition models model comes in a bespoke Blue Shark box outfitted with custom tools and a rubber diver’s strap making them easily adaptable for all conditions.

Delma’s sponsorship of the Megalodon Project will afford them the unique opportunity to closely follow the project and support the tagging of a specific shark. 

The name of the shark will be defined by Delma’s fans and followers who will soon be able to provide their suggestions and vote on the final name on Delma’s Facebook and Instagram channels.

The purchase of each Blue Shark III Azores will directly contribute to the Megalodon Project and ocean conservation efforts. 

Pricing is as follows: Stainless steel CHF 2150 / EUR 2250 / USD 2450 Stainless steel with DLC coated bezel CHF 2250 / EUR 2350 / USD 2550

Thoughts? It’s really great to see another famous Swiss brand such as Delma who are so focused on diver’s watches getting behind shark conservation. Sharks are such a critical component in keeping our oceans healthy. 

We all need to do more to protect them – at least until we have the means to bring Megalodons, Liopleurodons, Mosasaurs etc. back from extinction.

Btw I’m looking forward to throwing a name into the hat for that cute lil’ tagged Blue Shark. 

Meanwhile I’m really digging the new dials on these Azores models which I feel lend the Blue Shark III an added air sophistication. But what do you think? Let me know in the comments which color do you like best?

 

ULYSSE NARDIN Diver 42 NEW REFS.

Ulysse Nardin has a couple of new Diver 42 references for summer 2021. 

First up is the Diver 42 ref. 8163-175-7M/92 which is available with three strap / bracelet options that include: a black calfskin strap with a stainless steel pin buckle –

then there’s a modern semi-satined stainless steel link bracelet with a folding buckle or for a more vintage look, the Diver 42 is also offered here with a stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet with a folding buckle. This variant comes with a black texturized dial with touches of retro beige. The GPS coordinates of the UN manufacture can also be found on the dial. MSRP is 7,300USD.

Next up is the Diver 42 ref. 8163-175/GREY-5N which comes in a very cool bicolor with a blackened Stainless Steel and red gold diver’s bezel. 

More RG can be found on the dial’s minute markers, the sweep seconds hand as well as all dial text.

The watch is presented on a black leather strap with red gold stitching at the lugs. MSRP for this variant is 10’300USD. UN offers an extended 5 year warranty on both watches.