Diver Again?... Dressing The Steinhart Dive Watch

We’ve featured the Orient Ray 2 in a previous episode, a rather dressy looking dive watch. And I did mention then that there were other, more “tool-looking” dive watches out there. Ones built more to do the job, and less so to look good whilst doing it. In other words, a purpose-built diver – chunky piece of vault strapped to the wrist. Built to withstand the immense pressure of the depth, and doesn’t give two hoots about sleek silhouettes and slim cases. Well, today, we’re taking a look at one such watch – The Steinhart Ocean 2.

Close-up of the Steinhart Ocean 2, a stereotypical diver. — The Steinhart Ocean 2 doesn’t hide the fact that it’s a tool watch. Built to withstand the immense pressure first, and look good doing it a distant second.
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A Purpose-Built Diver From The Ground Up

The original Steinhart Ocean 2 diver is no longer available. However, its successor, the Ocean 2 Premium, is its identical twin, with several minor visual cues facelift. In short, they’re essentially the same watch… With an impressive 300m claimed water resistance, we can expect it to look chunky like a brick. Just compare its side profile with the dressy Orient Ray 2 (200m claimed water resistance). Unlike the Ray 2, this puppy’s not gonna disappear underneath your shirt sleeve.

There’s no hiding it, the case is really thick, with lots of gripping surface on the bezel too. This diver isn’t slipping underneath your shirt sleeve, at least not comfortably.
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For the sake of discussion, I consider the Ocean 2 a stereotypical dive watch. And just like the Ray 2, the Ocean 2 isn’t an ISO 6425 certified diver either. But that doesn’t make it a less capable diver when compared to the Ray 2. Or to the world’s most recognisable diver, the Rolex Submariner.

Dressing The Stereotypical Diver

Let’s get one thing straight, we’re not pairing the Ocean 2 with wetsuits, flippers, dive masks, snorkels, scuba tanks, etc. We’re keeping all the dressing combinations dry. With that out of the way, let’s dive into this.

(1) Business Formal

Solid charcoal grey suit, solid white shirt, solid burgundy tie, and solid white pocket square. — Two-piece, solid charcoal grey suit, with a solid white shirt, solid burgundy tie, and solid white pocket square.
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Close-up of a pair of solid black plain toe Oxford dress shoes. — Solid black, plain-toe Oxfords, are as conservative as you can go.
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NO – An obvious-looking tool watch like the Ocean 2 has no business pairing with a formal business suit. Sigh!… I know this sounds cliché… Please don’t compare this to James Bond wearing an Omega Seamaster diver with his black tie ensemble. Let’s just stick to reality, shall we?

(2) Business Semi-Formal

Solid olive green suit, solid blue shirt with white contrasting collar and cuffs. Burgundy tie with small repeating patterns, and pocket square. — Two-piece, solid olive green suit, with sporty, slanted hip pockets, and a ticket pocket above the right hip pocket. A pale blue shirt with contrasting collar and cuffs, small-patterned burgundy tie and coordinating pocket square.
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Close-up of a pair of whole cut in ox blood, with wingtip patterned brogue. Another type of typical dress shoes. — Whole cut in ox blood, with burnished toes, and wingtip patterned brogue.
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Again, NO – Like it or not, business semi-formal is still pretty formal. So pairing this particular diver with this ensemble is still very much a fish out of water.

(3) Business Informal

Solid navy, double breasted blazer, with 6 X 2 gold buttons. Solid blue shirt with navy and yellow regimental striped tie, solid grey trousers, and pocket square. — Double breasted navy blazer with 6 X 2 gold buttons. Solid pale blue shirt with navy and yellow regimental striped tie. Solid medium grey trousers, and a contrasting pocket square.
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Close-up of a pair of brown double monk-straps. A less dressy dress shoes. — Brown, double monk-straps, to exude a more playful vibe.
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MAYBE / NO – I know the blazer originated from water sports attire. But yachting and rowing are above-water sports. Diving (whether scuba diving or even skin diving), on the other hand, are below-water sports. Yes, I can accept pairing a dressy looking diver, like the Orient Ray 2, with this ensemble. But the Ocean 2 is a whole different animal altogether. Personally, I feel the Ocean 2 is stretching what’s “appropriate” with this ensemble.

(4) Business Casual

Grey sport jacket in mini-Glen check weave, a solid pink OCBD shirt with block stripe knit tie in autumn colours, and a pair of solid burgundy chinos. — Grey sport jacket in mini-Glen check weave. Solid pink OCBD shirt with a knit tie in autumn colours. Solid burgundy chinos, and a contrasting pocket square.
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Close-up of a pair of brown penny loafers. One of the least dressy dress shoes. — Brown penny loafers, a typical “less dressy” dress shoes.
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YES – This is the highest formality that I’m comfortable pairing with a typical diver. Especially one that projects a more tool-like image than a refined timepiece.

(5) Dressy Casual

Unstructured, charcoal brown flannel sport jacket, denim OCBD shirt, and khaki chinos. — Charcoal brown, unstructured sport jacket with an open collared denim OCBD shirt. Khaki chinos, and a contrasting pocket square.
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Close-up of a pair of khaki canvas derbies. — Derby shoes in tan canvas stretch what it means to be “dress” shoes.
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YES – Any dive watch will pair well with this ensemble. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a dressy diver, or an obviously tool-looking, purpose-built diver. Both will look good with this ensemble.

(6) Just Casual

Denim trucker jacket, solid white t-shirt, and solid olive green jeans. — Denim trucker jacket, solid white t-shirt, and olive green jeans.
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Close-up of a pair of white trainers. — White trainers, with a thin red and black stripe. A stereotypical pair of casual footwear.
Image by Daniel Storek of Unsplash

A definite YES – No doubt about it, this ensemble pairs well with this typically tool-looking diver on the wrist.

Maxing Out The Diver Vibes On Dry Land

Let’s face it, most owners of dive watches don’t even swim, let alone dive. So is there any way to project the Ocean 2’s nautical heritage whilst remaining on dry land?… As a matter of fact, there are ways to “bulk” it up even more, further enhancing its brawny looks. Simply swapping out the already chunky-looking stock bracelet with a NATO strap will definitely bulk up the already bulky watch.

Swapping the stock stainless steel bracelet with a nylon NATO strap enhances its nautical vibes even more.
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When you aren’t afraid of piling on the bulk, the NATO strap works very much in your favour.
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So to all you desk-divers out there, no, you don’t need an excuse to purchase or wear a dive watch. If all you’re seeking is the nautical vibes, then strapping a diver on your wrist is your answer. It’ll visually help to enhance your masculine looks…

How Do I Personally Wear This Diver?

Based on all of the above elaboration, it’s abundantly clear what my choice of pairing is. I’m sticking to business casual or lower with this diver. Something casual enough not to attract any unwanted attention, yet classic enough to remain presentable.

Light grey knit jacket, with a plain dark blue/grey roll-neck jumper, paired with the Ocean 2 diver. — Pairing the Ocean 2 with an unstructured, light grey knit jacket, and a dark blue/grey roll-neck jumper. Notice how the watch simply won’t fit under the cuff?
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Close-up of the Steinhart Ocean 2 diver, as worn on the wrist. Here it's paired with a light grey jacket and dark blue/grey jumper sleeve. This showcases how this bulky diver can't slip neatly underneath the sleeves. — Close-up of the Ocean 2 on the wrist. This clearly shows how the watch is simply too bulky to slip underneath the sleeve cuff.
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So… Is wearing a dive watch on dry land inappropriate?… Perhaps even (gasp!) tactless?… It really depends on who you ask. After all, people who actually dive will find a dive computer more useful than an antiquated dive watch. Hence, a diver on your wrist is more symbolic than the actual purpose of its design. My personal opinion?… I’d say go ahead and purchase that dream dive watch you’ve been drooling over. Even if all the diving you’ll ever do is desk-diving…

Disclaimer – This Is Not A Sponsored Article

Steinhart Watches GmbH did not sponsor this Steinhart Ocean 2 featured here. Instead, it’s yet another personal watch belonging to Mr X. And in case you’re wondering, no, Mr X doesn’t dive… Come to think of it, I’m not sure he even swims… Unless you’re referring to desk-diving, in which case, yes, he’s a “certified” desk-diver… So this particular diver’s destiny is to stay on dry land… The watch, not the person…

Leave your comments, critiques or questions below. In the meantime, if you enjoyed this series so far, do consider buying me a coffee. Caffeine fuels all the research and writing here. So any number of coffees offered is a great way to help me continue churning out articles like this. And if the stereotypical diver doesn’t quite scratch that itch, don’t worry. We’ll dive even deeper (pun intended) with the super-diver in the next episode.

Diver Again?… Dressing The Steinhart Dive Watch