ANGELUS U51 Diver Tourbillon 5-DAYS [what’s the point?]

It’s all too easy to dismiss a 32K+USD dive watch, and perhaps just as easy to dismiss a diving tourbillon; THESE aren’t exactly daily beaters are they?

I sometimes wonder whether or not I should be posting watches like this Angelus U51 Diver, but then I think to myself, perhaps it might be interesting to see what marvels lie at the other end of the spectrum.


As well as being passionate about dive watches, I am also a bit of hot hatch enthusiast. I like nothing better than checking out the latest pocket rockets, but am just as tickled by the sight of a supercar.



So are watches like the U51 Diver Tourbillon the supercars of the dive watch industry? Are they idolized or coveted to anything like the same extent by the dive watch community as say, a McLaren 720S or Ferrari 488 GTB is by a petrol head? I don’t think so – so what’s the point?

Perhaps the U51 can tell us itself because it is certainly a remarkable diver. For starters; Angelus have managed to further push the limits of their famous diving tourbillon movement by adding a 5-day power-reserve to its list of features; and all this achieved while meeting the requirements of (as near as damn it) a professional diver’s watch.



The A-310 caliber that powers the U51 Divers Tourbillon has been engineered for efficiency, with an Si lever escapement and with all bridges as plates made of Titanium.

Angelus’ engineers and watchmakers have obtained a 5-day power-reserve while keeping the 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) frequency, ensuring a high degree of precision. Finally, the tourbillon cage itself, is set on a ball bearing instead of pivots for increased stability.



Even though the U51 Diver Tourbillon is intended as a high-performance diver’s watch, its skeletonized movement has been carefully decorated with a toolish sandblasted finish, furthering the natural color variations of the Titanium.

The U51’s 45mm Titanium case features two large screw-down crowns. The two-position crown at 4 o’clock is used for winding and setting the time, while the crown at 2 o’clock is used to rotate the unidirectional 60-minute rotational diver’s bezel.



Opposite, at the 9 o’clock position, a Helium Escape Valve in case you were in any doubt of the watch’s diving credentials. Despite the totally open design with large Sapphire crystals front and back, the U51 has a more than satisfactory water-resistance of 300 meters.

Angelus have paid great attention to the aesthetics of the U51 Diver Tourbillon. Its 45mm case has been manufactured with a subtle combination of sandblasted, brushed and polished surfaces, designed to showcase the otherwise dullest tones of Titanium.



The bezel of the case and the chapter ring are with a design that recalls ocean waves. The open display appeals with a contrasting chapter ring of storm blue and bright orange. The hands, indexes and Arabic numerals are all filled with SLN for optimal readability.

The U51 Diver Tourbillon comes on a matching blue rubber diver’s strap embossed with an Angelus logo and a Titanium folding buckle. A Limited Edition of 25 pieces, it has a Swiss MSRP of 32,800CHF + taxes.