Dive Watches?… With Formal Outfits?…

Blame it on the movie industry, but people are starting to accept wearing dive watches with business attire. Heck, even James Bond (the movie version, not the literary version) wears dive watches with his black tie ensemble. If he can pull it off, then so can everybody else… But didn’t we just share that dress watches and sport watches don’t mix?… Will our neat little horological classifications be all shaken and stirred with this mix-up?…

Three General Types Of Wristwatches

As shared in an earlier article, there are generally three classifications of wristwatches. There’re the dress watch, the all-rounder watch, and the sport watch; with the sport watch having the most sub-categories. And the sub-category that we’re deep diving into today (pun intended) is the dive watch…

What’s A Dive Watch Anyway?

So what comes to mind when you think of a dive watch? Perhaps something like the image below?

The legendary (now discontinued) Seiko SKX007 (no pun, that’s actually its reference number) is a culmination of everything dive watch. High contrast dial, usually light on dark background, with large indices that allow plenty of area for lume application. More often than not, simple polygons instead of numerals, whether Arabic or Roman. You’re gonna need as much illumination as possible when you’re deep underwater, where everything is murky and dark. Then there’s the customary rotating, coin-edged (usually) bezel timer. Effortless enough to operate when underwater, or on land with wet hands. The bezel has to operate independent of the movement, with zero chance of water damage to the delicate movement inside.

Certified ISO 6425… Or Not?…

A true dive watch is certified ISO 6425 to indicate that it can withstand the immense water pressure. Empirically measured at 200 metres below the surface. But designing a watch to withstand this inadvertently results in a bulky watch case. And this typically means chunky and boxy looking overall watch, which wears extremely large on the wrist. Refer to the image below.

I’m sure by now you’ll probably have an inkling why dive watches aren’t complementary to formal business suits. All sport watches are tool watches. And like all tools, they serve a function. Visual appeal usually takes a back seat (if at all) when designing a sport watch. Thus, bulky wristwatches with busy looking dials is a total mismatch for the clean silhouette of classic menswear.

Enter The “Dressy” Dive Watch

There are dive watches, and then there are luxury dive watches… The latter made famous by Rolex with the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner (aka Submariner, or “Sub” for short). The Submariner is available in several variants, many of which feature precious metals and/or stones (hence its hefty price tag). But all Sub variants enjoy a 300 metres depth rating (previously 200 metres), including the plain-Jane variants too. Surprisingly though, the Submariner isn’t ISO 6425 certified… But hey, how many Sub owners actually go diving with their precious Subs anyway?…

Anyway, other watchmakers also jumped onto the dressy dive watch bandwagon too. Many introduced slim wearing, sleek looking, “dressy” divers of their own. But be aware the difference between “dive watch” and “dive-style watch”, regardless whether they’re ISO 6425 certified or not. With the latter, there’s no guarantee (whether by ISO or the watch brand) of water resistance in the depths. Best to limit these dive-style watches to “desk diving” only. Meaning – Looks great with your office attire… Just keep it dry as much as possible when wearing it.

My Very First Dressy Dive Watch

Honestly, I’ve been eyeing dive watches for some time already. I never really needed one, since I’m not a diver myself. And my trusty old Seiko 5 has been serving me well. It’ll be great if I could also wear it when I go swimming too. But alas, it is what it is… That is, until recently, when my trusty old Seiko 5 finally died of old age. Meaning – the repair cost is way more expensive than its original purchase price…

My Options Suddenly Opened Up…

I started looking for a watch that I can swim in, and a dive watch is perfect… I know, I know… For my limited intended purposes, it’s an overkill… But who’s counting?… Most importantly, I want a watch that complements my other non-swimming attire too. I don’t want to look like I’m strapping a brick on my wrist. Especially so when I’m all dressed up to the nines… Enter the Orient Ray 2, the “affordable” entry level (non-ISO 6425 certified) dive watch.

I pulled the trigger on an Orient Ray 2 (FAA02005D9)… But no, I didn’t buy it brand new (although I have to admit I did try…). I got a pre-loved one instead. It’s a lot more wallet-friendly. And I made sure to do a whole lot of research before hand. As with all pre-loved purchases, I’ve learnt to never expect perfection. I expected some bumps and scrapes, as though I was the original owner, actually wearing it daily. Lower expectation equals less disappointments. The almost invisible scratches on the case, bracelet and crystal only added to its character… Like old battle scars, it’s a conversation starter.

Do You Also Believe In Dressy Dive Watches?

I know I’m not James Bond, with an unlimited product placement budget for each movie production. But I truly believe that we can pull off dressy dive watches. Just make sure not to pair the obviously functional looking, brick of a watch, with your dressiest outfit. The highest level of attire I’d wear with this dive watch is business informal (i.e. blazer with a non-matching trousers). For any attire above that, I have a dedicated dress watch. But that’s a story for another day…

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This article is part of Espoletta’s CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives.