Dive watches have become famous through their functionality, practicality, reputation, and prestige. Many people who have an active lifestyle and prefer the allure of large-sized watches find them heaven-sent and the perfect fit for their personalities.
This article will discuss the top 5 most popular Swiss-made luxury dive watches. They all come from different brands that have grown in reputation throughout the years, making them more prestigious, expensive, and much sought after.
Rolex Submariner
Brief History of Rolex
It all started with the idea and creativity of Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf. In 1905 when he was just 24, he started his own watchmaking company that wanted to specialize in timepieces, specifically wristwatches. The problem was at that time. They were not very popular nor efficient at telling time. With this, he created several small timepieces equipped with Swiss-made movements as his first steps.
In 1910, Rolex received the first-ever distinction for chronometric precision on a wristwatch, the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision. It helped pave the way for future wristwatches developed under the company that has since then stood the test of time with continuous research and development.
The Submariner
In 1953, Rolex developed the Submariner, the first waterproof diving watch, to a depth of 100m. It rose in popularity for its ruggedness that was fitting for outdoor sports. Now, six decades past, the Submariner has been subtly redesigned: improving the quality of the timepiece with recent innovations yet retaining with precise accuracy the design and feeling it evokes as the original Submariner.
There are a lot of noticeable qualities of the Rolex Submariner. Its rotating bezel is easily recognizable to watch enthusiasts. Divers use these to monitor diving time and decompression stops. It is engraved with 60-minute marks to monitor dives accurately. Its latest generation timepieces are sought for innovation, prestige, and overall design. It can be noted that a lot of diver’s watches with varying price ranges take inspiration from the classic Submariner.
Omega Seamaster
Brief History of Omega
This famous brand begins with La Generale Watch Co., a company founded by Louis Brandt in 1848. This company specializes in pocket watches sold in England. In 1894, his two sons, Louis Paul, and Cesar, developed an in-house manufacturing and production system that allowed watch parts to be interchangeable. In 1903, these timepieces were sold under the Omega brand before becoming its company, the Omega Watch Co.
During the same year, both brothers died, leaving Omega’s fate to 23-year-old Paul-Emile Brandt. Under his leadership, Omega grew tremendously, acquiring and creating several more companies to further reinforce the brand. It overcame many difficulties, including the recession in 1975-1980. The company has become more substantial and revolutionary, rivaling other popular watchmaking brands.
The Seamaster
Omega developed the Seamaster line in 1948, loosely based on watches made by Omega during World War 2. In 1957, its professional range, the Omega Seamaster 300, was born. It filled the shoes that the original Seamaster could not fill. With all the overall improvements and innovation added, the Seamaster 300 became the most significant competitor of the Rolex Submariner up until now.
It released another version during the 1960s. This new Seamaster Diver 300 version was much sturdier than the original. It dropped the coin-edged case to a stronger and bulkier one. The broad-arrow handset was replaced with sword hands. It also became larger, at 42mm, considerably large then.
Breitling Superocean
Brief History of Breitling
Breitling’s creation began in 1884 when Leon Breitling opened up his first shop that specialized in making chronographs and precision counters. With the company’s growth, they relocated to La Chaux-de-Fonds, then the center of Swiss watchmaking. As time passed, in 1914, the passing of Leon passed the torch to his son Gaston Breitling.
Through the years, Gaston and his son Willy Breitling helped steer the company’s direction to greater heights. Breitling was sold to Ernest Schneider, a pilot, in 1979. Through his leadership, the watch company increased its influence on aviation timepieces and moved forward with modern innovations.
The Superocean
This timepiece is a humble nod to the original Superocean. The watch was built in 1957 to guide divers on their dives and help them see time under the dark ocean. This history gives Superocean Heritage 46 a clear foot to stand with.
Fast forward to 6 decades, and we have this improved heritage. The watch has a uni-directional bezel, with its color matching the dial. What makes the timepiece stand out besides its features is the steel mesh bracelet that comes with it. The combination of the case, bezel, dial, and bracelet completes the look of the Superocean Heritage 46. The watch is marked with 200m resistance and can be used for light dives.
Panerai Luminor Submersible
Brief History of Panerai
The story of Panerai began in 1860 when Giovanni Panerai opened up his watchmaking shop in Florence, Italy. Through the years, they have been supplying high-precision instruments to the Royal Italian Navy. When the need for dive watches came, they patented Radiomir, a radium-based powder that gave the watches an extreme glow and underwater adhesive qualities.
In 1993, Panerai became publicly available with its three models, the Luminor, Luminor Marina, and the Mare Nostrum. Through the years, the company has become more accessible to the public with its timepieces integrating modern innovations while staying true to its craft. In 2005, Panerai introduced its first in-house movement, the P.2002, and more in-house productions would soon follow.
The Luminor Submersible
One of the most different pieces from Panerai, the Luminor Submersible, is a unique watch on its own. Coming from a company famous for the Radiomir, Luminor has grown in its innovations and design. Because of this timepiece’s distinctive look, variations have appeared, but the original design remains at its core.
It can be described as a classic tool-watch offering from Panerai. Its most distinctive qualities lie on the lever crown, case, and dial. The lever crown is a unique feature that is interesting to turn. The case is inevitably different and has its charming personality.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer
Brief History of TAG Heuer
This large company traces its roots to 20-year-old Edouard Heuer, who opened a watchmaking shop in 1860 in Switzerland. He patented his first chronograph in 1882 and then patented the oscillating pinion in 1887.
During the 1950s to 1970s, TAG Heuer became very popular with automobile racers. This has earned them a reputation in this field. They have been the leading manufacturer of stopwatches and timing watches. Since then, the company has been famous for its lines of timepieces to automobile racers and the general public. Their push for avant-garde makes them a leading watchmaker in modern times.
The Aquaracer
The Aquaracer is TAG Heuer’s offering to lovers of the sea. It can be bought to many dives, whether for recreation or professional observations underwater. The timepiece is also a beautiful craft, featuring a black bezel and chronographs for the different times of the day.
Despite being an automatic timepiece, it has a chronograph feature. This makes quite the timepiece. With additional functions, it is inevitably meant for many activities requiring perfect timing. High-tech pressure-resistant casing makes it capable of surviving solid waves for surfing or underwater voyages.
Luxury Dive Watches – What make them worth your money?
Brand Recognition
All of these timepieces come from the most prestigious brands. Besides the quality warranty, the “Swiss-made” term says much more than it looks. A luxury, Swiss-made timepiece is a show of power, financial stability, personal style, and taste for quality. It says a lot about the personality of someone wearing a specific type of these watches.
Dive Watches are Versatile
The great thing about diving timepieces is that you can wear them to most social occasions you may come to and mix them with many outfit combinations. The borderline between dress watches and these luxury dive watches is vague. These dive timepieces are from prestigious manufacturers, so their designs match that of dress watches and sometimes rank even higher. Being a dive watch, it still limits where it’ll be helpful to wear and impractical to bring.
High-end Quality Materials
There are a lot of reasons why these timepieces have a high price tag. Quality is usually proportional to the materials used in creating a single watch. Ceramic bezel, high quality stainless steel, strong and long-lasting luminous paint for the markers at the dial, a strong crystal and case to cover the interiors, and a lot more make up the complex machinations of luxury dive timepieces.
Craftsmanship
With a minimal number of watches produced annually and the high quality of all these timepieces meticulously made, these luxury watches have impressive and admirable craftsmanship. Those who work on every luxury timepiece sold have put a lot of effort into creating those watches, so it is evident at the first touch of the timepiece.
The Movement is an Art
Not just the exterior, but the value of a luxury dive watch also lies in the movement inside of the timepiece. The biggest value for the term “Swiss-made” is the accuracy and complexity of all the movements inside the watch, providing accuracy and durability for your everyday use.
Find them all at Chrono24
Since its creation in 2003, Chrono24 has been the global online marketplace for many luxury timepieces. They are the number 1 address for luxury watches that come from commercial watch dealers and private sellers from all over the world. You can be assured of trustworthy processing, secure transactions, and transparent services, making Chrono24 well-loved.
You and other watch lovers are assured of finding every luxury timepiece you need on this site. On Chrono24, more than 10,000 professional dealers and sellers come from over 90 countries, offering a variety of about 250,000 unique watches. There are also little to no language barriers as you can choose from 22 languages to communicate with the sellers.
The website attracts more than 350,000 visitors daily, and over 2 million have already downloaded the Chrono24 app on iOS and Android for convenient browsing and easier transactions.
To see more about the luxury dive timepieces listed above and to check out their online catalog for the best timepieces available, visit Chrono24.com for more information.
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