Hey watch lovers!
After showing you the 5 best entry-level watches last week, today we are focusing on diving watches and showing you 5 great alternatives to the Rolex Submariner.
Before we start with the ranking, first some general facts about dive watches that you should definitely have heard.
What distinguishes a good diving watch?
A watch must meet certain specifications in order to be considered a tested and certified diver's watch. Specifically, it is about the strict criteria of the DIN 8306 standard and the international ISO 6425 standard.
The most important criteria of a diving watch:
• Water resistance : a diver's watch must be water resistant to 20 bar (200 m).
• Rotating bezel: very important to measure and better estimate dive time; usually rotatable in one direction
• Strap material : the strap of the watch must be resistant to salt water, among other things; steel, rubber or nylon, for example, is suitable
• Luminescent material on hands and bezel: absolutely necessary to be able to read the time better and faster under water.
But now to the ranking - these are 5 cheap alternatives to the Rolex Submariner :
5th place – Tag Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300m
The Tag Heuer Professional 300m took 5th place. The first diving watch from Tag Heuer came in 1978 (Ref. 844) and is the origin of all diving models of this brand - including the Tag Heuer Aquaracer model.
The design of the Aquaracer has been adapted over time with the Tag Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300. The extremely robust and unidirectional ceramic bezel with diving scale complements the clear dial and the octagonal indices perfectly. These aesthetic details create a very noble and high-quality impression. The case diameter is 43mm or 46mm.
Thanks to the large, sword-shaped hour hand and the enlarged date, the dial is easy to read even in the dark. As the name of the Aquaracer Professional 300 already reveals, the watch is water-resistant up to 300 meters. The Tag Heuer Aquaracer is available as a quartz watch or automatic watch, three-hand watch, chronograph or with a GMT function.
The starting price is €1,800. So the watch is a pretty cheap model!
Possible references for you: WBP201B.FT6198, WBP2010.BA0632, WBP201F
4th place – Breitling Superocean
The versatile and powerful Breitling Superocean is an absolute eye-catcher with its extremely sporty look - a watch with a strong character!
If you buy a Breitling Superocean, you can choose between the following models, among others:
• Superocean GMT (e.g. Ref. A32380)
• Superocean Heritage (e.g. 79620TN)
• Superocean 42 (e.g. Ref. A1736402)
• Superocean 44 (e.g. Ref. A1739102)
• Superocean Chronograph II (e.g. Ref. A13340)
• Superocean Chronograph M2000 (e.g. Ref. A73310)
• Superocean Chronograph Steelfish (e.g. Ref. A17390)
Each model is special in its own way. While the simple but still eye-catching Superocean 44 is more suitable for larger wrists and its water resistance is a whopping 1000 meters, the Breitling Superocean Heritage (42mm/46mm) is reminiscent of the classic diving watch design of the 50s and is perfect for vintage lovers, for example.
With this diverse selection, you can decide for yourself what you want to value when buying a diving watch!
The starting price is very different for the respective models. The lowest price is 2000€.
3rd place – Tudor Pelagos
The Tudor Pelagos is another very nice diving watch alternative. What makes the Tudor so special: it has a self-adjusting folding clasp that adapts to the wrist while diving. How does this work? Due to the developed spring mechanism, the strap contracts when the wetsuit gets tighter due to the pressure at depth. When the pressure is released when you come up, it expands again. Pretty cool right? ;) The water resistance is a depth of up to 500 meters.
The starting price is around €4,100.
Possible references for you: 25600TN, M25600TB-0001, 25500TN, M25407N
2nd place – Omega Seamaster Diver 300m
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300 is a very popular diving watch. The classic design in stainless steel gives the watch a very aesthetic and timeless style. Among other things, it has a ceramic bezel. Its water resistance is 30 bar (300m). With a case diameter of 41mm, this diving watch is suitable for the average wrist of men. Its size makes it easier for divers to tell the time.
The model was revised in 2017 and since then the watch has been available in a wide variety of versions.
The entry-level price for used models starts at €2,800.
Did you know: The watch became famous in the 90s from the James Bond film, in which Pierce Brosnan let a laser beam shoot out of the watch's helium outlet valve.
Possible references for you:
• 234.30.41.21.03.001 (steel bracelet, blue dial)
• 234.30.41.21.01.001 (steel bracelet, black dial)
• 234.92.41.21.10.001 (Bronze/Gold)
1st place - Tudor Black Bay 58
In our opinion, the Tudor Black Bay 58 takes first place as a TOP alternative to the Rolex Submariner. Why is this watch in first place? Very simple: the Black Bay 58 looks almost exactly like a Rolex Submariner - and costs less than half.
The Tudor Black Bay 58 is currently the most popular Tudor. If you choose this model, you get a stainless steel diver's watch with a diameter of 39mm that is water-resistant to 200 m. It is characterized by its less conspicuous, but still elegant design.
The Fifty-Eight is available with a steel strap, leather strap and textile strap (although of course only the steel strap is suitable for diving).
In terms of price, this Tudor starts at around 3,000 euros.
Possible references for you: 79030N, 79230R, 79230B
Our conclusion: A diving watch does not always have to be expensive! On the contrary - there are now many cheap alternatives that, in our opinion, are just as powerful as the Rolex Submariner.
By the way: We at GOAT LUXURY Juwelier also sell diving watches at TOP prices, have a look at www.goat-luxury.de :)