By TLex Please don't adjust your computer screen, the OceanicTime header is blue for a reason; today is World Ocean Day, so lets forget about the watches for a day and have a thought for our oceans. Here are ten things that National Geographic say you can do to help.
1. Mind Your Carbon Footprint and Reduce Energy ConsumptionReduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home when you can and being conscious of your energy use at home and work. A few things you can do to get started today: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, take the stairs, and bundle up or use a fan to avoid oversetting your thermostat.
2. Make Safe, Sustainable Seafood ChoicesGlobal fish populations are rapidly being depleted due to demand, loss of habitat, and unsustainable fishing practices. When shopping or dining out, help reduce the demand for overexploited species by choosing seafood that is both healthful and sustainable.
3. Use Fewer Plastic ProductsPlastics that end up as ocean debris contribute to habitat destruction and entangle and kill tens of thousands of marine animals each year. To limit your impact, carry a reusable water bottle, store food in nondisposable containers, bring your own cloth tote or other reusable bag when shopping, and recycle whenever possible.
4. Help Take Care of the BeachWhether you enjoy diving, surfing, or relaxing on the beach, always clean up after yourself. Explore and appreciate the ocean without interfering with wildlife or removing rocks and coral. Go even further by encouraging others to respect the marine environment or by participating in local beach cleanups.
5. Don't Purchase Items That Exploit Marine LifeCertain products contribute to the harming of fragile coral reefs and marine populations. Avoid purchasing items such as coral jewelry, tortoiseshell hair accessories (made from hawksbill turtles), and shark products.
6. Be an Ocean-Friendly Pet OwnerRead pet food labels and consider seafood sustainability when choosing a diet for your pet. Never flush cat litter, which can contain pathogens harmful to marine life. Avoid stocking your aquarium with wild-caught saltwater fish, and never release any aquarium fish into the ocean or other bodies of water, a practice that can introduce non-native species harmful to the existing ecosystem.
7. Support Organizations Working to Protect the OceanMany institutes and organizations are fighting to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife. Find a national organization and consider giving financial support or volunteering for hands-on work or advocacy. If you live near the coast, join up with a local branch or group and get involved in projects close to home.
8. Influence Change in Your CommunityResearch the ocean policies of public officials before you vote or contact your local representatives to let them know you support marine conservation projects. Consider patronizing restaurants and grocery stores that offer only sustainable seafood, and speak up about your concerns if you spot a threatened species on the menu or at the seafood counter.
9. Travel the Ocean ResponsiblyPractice responsible boating, kayaking, and other recreational activities on the water. Never throw anything overboard, and be aware of marine life in the waters around you. If you’re set on taking a cruise for your next vacation, do some research to find the most eco-friendly option.
10. Educate Yourself About Oceans and Marine LifeAll life on Earth is connected to the ocean and its inhabitants. The more you learn about the issues facing this vital system, the more you’ll want to help ensure its health—then share that knowledge to educate and inspire others.
© National Geographic
By TLex Stølås are a new US based Watch company. They source components from around the world. I would guess China for the most with the exception an ETA movement or two, however they test and assemble their watches in the States. Their Harbormaster collection, consists of three variants of the same watch, which (to put it mildly) lends very heavily from Ulysse Nardin's Maxi Marine Diver.
Its bezel design which includes the same 20-30-40-50 elapsed dive time scale, bezel grip / edging design and toned down wave pattern on its insert. The exact same hand set complete with additional Rolex Milgauss lightning second hand (minus the pointer) and even the shape of the dial markers, crown and crown guard, which has been thoughtfully moved to the 4 0'clock position! No points for originality, I'm afraid and beware die-hard Ulysse Nardin fans.
Despite this the Harbormaster collection actually has much appeal and quite a lot going for it. The use of LÜM-TEC™ GX Luminous for one. LÜM-TEC has a very potent lume application, which they now produce for a number other third party watchmakers (I will be featuring another here in the following days). Its overall aesthetic, poor mans UN that is, is actually very nice.
The palm trees on the Genoa's dial are anything but draconian, more like easy-going if not a little cheesy, but nevertheless I like the look; makes me want to put on a pair of boardies and go out for a paddle or a snorkel, not a bad thing at all. 
The Geno, which is the higher spec'ed model in the collection houses a Swiss made ETA 2824 that has been very nicely decorated. It can be viewed through the Geno's attractive exhibition caseback (see below). The Spinnaker and Gennaker models house Chinese made Shanghai 2824 automatic movements.
Other specs include 44mm 316L stainless steel cases, carbon fiber dials (Spinnaker and Gennaker) and a 200m depth rating. The Gennaker's case and bezel have been PVD treated. Prices range from 1'499 - 849USD for further details click on the icon at the bottom of the post.
From Stølås Welcome to Stølås Watch Co. Creators of the Harbormaster, a Vogue Draconian timepiece that excels in durability and wearability, yet remains luxurious. All instruments are designed & tested in the USA, using superior products from around the world.We are determined to implement luxury design and components into instruments used by serious Connoisseurs, Adventurist, and Athletes. Our Draconian Timekeepers™ are built to withstand the severe use intended on a watch you would wear everyday. They are designed with one thing in mind, keeping up with you!We don’t believe in removing your expensive luxury timepiece when enjoying your favorite sport or activity. Stølås timekeepers allow you to keep adrenaline running day and night, providing you with luxury on both sides of the spectrum.When choosing a Stølås model you always know you are protected with our one year no-fuss limited warranty, covering your extreme yet grandeur lifestyle...
By TLex If Angular Momentum's DIVE-TEC / 500 wasn't provocative of thought, captivating enough; if it didn't sufficiently stimulate the gray-matter and arouse the imagination; then perhaps their new Berylium Diver MAGNUS will. With its Steam-Punk-esque, pseudo-Victorian looks and charms it's about the closest thing to a 19th Century diving contraption as you'll ever get on your wrist, yet at the same time it's as a contemporary a dive watch as I've seen. It's fantastic three piece (60.00mm x 21.00mm) case weighs a whopping 350g (that's just the case, no bracelet!). It has been crafted entirely from bronze, and if that wasn't already cool enough the interior components have been crafted from bronze and low-alloy Bronze-beryllium (for reference: actual beryllium, which is a great strengthener is a lightweight strong, steel-gray metal used in the aerospace industry and is toxic).
However only those interior parts of the MAGNUS, those which will never come into contact with the wearer use this special alloy. It also features a stunning exhibition caseback; despite this the watch still boasts a respectable 30atm / 300m depth rating. Other features include a rotatable divers bezel and 'Email Lumineuse' lume application.
The wristshot below speaks a thousands words, but if I had to use just one more . . . COOL! MSRP is 6800CHF!
From Angular Momentum Three-body case and fittings entirely made of Bronze, interior parts of Beryllium Bronze, sapphire crystal, screwed back with sapphire crystal, revolving bezel to set diving time with 11 Email Lumineuse Green hour/five minutes dots, fixing screw and „end-of-dive-time“ marker with Email Lumineuse dot Pale blue. Dial Email Lumineuse Champleve green, hour hand „Plique à Jour“ Email Lumineuse Blue, Minute hand „Plique à Jour“ Email Lumineuse Green, protection crown with Email Lumineuse Blue dot, Structured black rubber strap with Angular Momentum locking system, mechanical self-winding movement, case caliber 60.00 mm.
©AngularMomentum
By TLex Founded 1927 Drass is the oldest continuously active company in the diving industry today, and are unrivaled leaders in saturation diving systems, which include SAT diving bells, hypobaric chambers and rescue systems as well as numerous other offshore and deep sea diving solutions. In fact even as far back as 1937, when Drass held the Galeazzi world record for immersion with an Atmospheric Diving Suit they have been at the forefront of commercial diving systems.
satdive tungum
The Italian based company has many arms of which Drass Watch is one, albeit a relatively new one. Drass Watch initially came about from a collaboration with Anonimo, who supplied Drass with a special version of their Millemetri watch, which can still be supplied today.
To cut a long story short and without getting caught up in the politics, when Anonimo encountered financial difficulties a couple years back Drass decided to continue Drass Watch as a sole venture with their own manufacturing; and so Drass Watch’s new line ‘Technologie Sottomarine’ was born using Drass original case designs.
There are strands of Anomimo DNA intertwined with Drass' designs, which share the same Italian dive watch heritage as one might expect also to find in Panerai, Ennebi and more recently U-Boat, but the Tecnologie Sottomarine line is distinctive enough and evolved enough to be its own thing. Drass have applied their vast knowledge, expertise and unrivaled manufacturing of diving systems to their new watch line.
tungum
The new line of watches include three distinctive models that use two different case designs. Understated, sober and robust are the SATDIVE and SATDIVE Tungum which share the same case design. The latter has a stunning Tungum fixed bezel. And the TUNGUM watch itself with its unique round case, manual HEV and oversized crown; as simplistic an elegant an example of Italian dive watch design as there is. All models are depth rated to 120atm. Beating away under the hoods of the watches are reliable Swiss made mechanical movements.
Of the features peculiar to the line are oversized crowns with aggressive teeth, smart dial emblems (which bare the Drass name and the watches' 120atm rating) and the use of a relatively unknown alpha-brass known as Tungum alloy for their cases and fixed bezels; not only an innovation, but aesthetic enhancement which further distinguishes Drass.
sat dive collection
As well as being anti-magnetic and non-sparking, Tungum is well suited to marine environments and atmospheres such as the highly corrosive ‘splash zone’ where Tungum pipe is used for the outfitting of saturation control panels and diving bells, which are constantly exposed to saltwater. To date Drass are the only company in the world using this attractive looking alloy in watch design. As well as Tungum, the watch cases are also constructed from 316L Marine grade stainless steel, which comes in three finishes, brushed, polished or PVD.
MORE ON TUNGUM Taken from an article in the British Trade Review 1934, introducing Tungum alloy: ‘Tungum is an alloy discovered by a well-known metallurgist from whose name the alloy is derived. Experimenting with a view to finding a combination of metals suitable for a special purpose he had in view, he produced a compound which is known as TUNGUM. Recognizing that its close likeness to 22 carat gold would make it a marketable commodity the inventor carried out a series of tests which satisfied him that he had discovered a wonderful alloy.’
special editions
Drass watches are available off the shelf in a very limited numbers. They assign priority based on a Diver’s Logbook Copy or a Curriculum Vitae showing experience in the Diving or Offshore Industry. Not only an exclusive item, but also a kind of badge of honor if you will for those individuals who have dedicated their diving careers to working in the offshore world. Drass Watch are also able to design special series for companies looking for high value gifts for their key personnel or important clients. For further details on Drass Watch and to see their beautiful new website (launched today), please click on the Drass Watch logo below.
©Drass Watch
FROM DRASS WATCH ''Our watches express the sense of belonging to the diving, subsea and offshore world.
An environment where man and technology share the need for strength, performance, reliability and a straightforward approach.
Where experience and tradition is as valued as innovation.
Where being the right man can be revealed by a detail such as a glance or a well-timed short comment. Or by wearing a watch''
