Dive Watches

Diving has been a sport and a science going back to before the 1950’s, but by the mid-20th century diving’s popularity was soaring. For this, divers needed specific tools. Enter, the dive watch. Long before there were computers, divers needed a reliable watch to wear as it could mean the difference between life and death. This device could help track how long a diver was underwater, help calculate decompression stops (to avoid the bends), and help the diver keep track of how much air was in the tank.

There are a few standout models in the early years of the dive watch. And, like many innovations in horology, it starts with Rolex. In 1926 Hans Wildorf, the founder of Rolex, filed a patent for the Oyster. The Rolex Oyster with the screwed crown, caseback, and crown was the world’s first truly water and dust-resistant case. OMEGA also took a stab at this with the OMEGA Marine, a watch that could slide in and out of a waterproof casing and withstood a 70 meter submersion in Lake Geneva.

From there, in the 1930’s, the Italian Navy commissions Panerai to begin development on a water-resistant watch. This model evolved into the Radiomir and was water resistant to 30 meters. This was the turning point for dive watches. By the time the sport was at its height in the 1950’s Rolex debuted the Submariner while other brands such as Blancpain and Breitling hit the market with the Fifty Fathoms and the Superocean. Then in 1967, Rolex made its mark again with the Sea-Dweller, a deeper diving version of the Submariner.

Several of the early models of dive watches remain on the market, all with updated looks and technology. Watchmakers are constantly pushing innovation on dive watches, allowing us to explore deeper ocean depths than ever before.