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Dive Watches

Created for diving professionals, dive watches boast high water resistance, highly legible dials and help tell divers how long they’ve been submerged for via a rotational bezel. They’re loved for their distinctive and robust design, making them one of the most popular watch genres around.

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Popular Brands
  1. Rolex Rolex
  2. Omega Omega
  3. Breitling Breitling
  4. Panerai Panerai
  5. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  6. IWC IWC
  7. Tudor Tudor
  8. Cartier Cartier
  9. Hublot Hublot
  10. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  11. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  12. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  13. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
All Brands
  1. A. Lange and Sohne A. Lange and Sohne
  2. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  3. Ball Ball
  4. Baume et Mercier Baume et Mercier
  5. Bell and Ross Bell and Ross
  6. Blancpain Blancpain
  7. Breguet Breguet
  8. Breitling Breitling
  9. Bremont Bremont
  10. Bvlgari Bvlgari
  11. Carl F. Bucherer Carl F. Bucherer
  12. Cartier Cartier
  13. Chanel Chanel
  14. Chopard Chopard
  15. Christian Dior Christian Dior
  16. Corum Corum
  17. Eterna Eterna
  18. F.P. Journe F.P. Journe
  19. Franck Muller Franck Muller
  20. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  21. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  22. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  23. Graham Graham
  24. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  25. H. Moser and Cie H. Moser and Cie
  26. Hamilton Hamilton
  27. Hermes Hermes
  28. Hublot Hublot
  29. IWC IWC
  30. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  31. Jaquet Droz Jaquet Droz
  32. JeanRichard JeanRichard
  33. Laurent Ferrier Laurent Ferrier
  34. Longines Longines
  35. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  36. Montblanc Montblanc
  37. Nomos Glashutte Nomos Glashutte
  38. Omega Omega
  39. Oris Oris
  40. Panerai Panerai
  41. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  42. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  43. Perrelet Perrelet
  44. Piaget Piaget
  45. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  46. Rado Rado
  47. Raymond Weil Raymond Weil
  48. Richard Mille Richard Mille
  49. Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis
  50. Rolex Rolex
  51. Romain Jerome Romain Jerome
  52. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  53. Tissot Tissot
  54. Tudor Tudor
  55. U-Boat U-Boat
  56. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  57. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  58. Zenith Zenith
Series
Case Size
The size of a watch is very important for style and comfort. If you prefer an oversized watch like a Panerai Luminor, you’ll probably want Large. If you’re looking for something more discreet like a Rolex Lady Datejust, you’ll want Small. For everything in between, Medium.
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Stock Type
  1. Stock Stock
Case Material
  1. Aluminium Aluminium
  2. Bronze Bronze
  3. Carbon Carbon
  4. Ceramic Ceramic
  5. Platinum Platinum
  6. Rose Gold Rose Gold
  7. Rose Gold Plated Rose Gold Plated
  8. Silver Silver
  9. Steel Steel
  10. Steel & Rose Gold Steel & Rose Gold
  11. Steel & Rose Gold Plated Steel & Rose Gold Plated
  12. Steel & White Gold Steel & White Gold
  13. Steel & Yellow Gold Steel & Yellow Gold
  14. Steel & Yellow Gold Plated Steel & Yellow Gold Plated
  15. Titanium Titanium
  16. White Gold White Gold
  17. Yellow Gold Yellow Gold
  18. Yellow Gold Plated Yellow Gold Plated
Dial Colour
Black
Blue
Bronze
Brown
Champagne
Diamond
Green
Grey
Ivory
Mother of Pearl
Orange
Pink
Red
Salmon
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Specialised
White
Yellow
Strap
  1. Bracelet Bracelet
  2. Fabric Fabric
  3. Leather Leather
  4. Rubber Rubber
Box and Papers
  1. Original box Original box
  1. Original papers Original papers
Movement
A mechanical watch is powered by a spring. Manual mechanical watches must be hand wound. Automatic watches are also mechanical, and are wound by a weight that spins with the wearer's movements. A quartz watch is battery powered and extremely accurate.
  1. Automatic Automatic
  2. Manual Manual
  3. Quartz Quartz
Promotion
Limited Edition
  1. Limited Edition Limited Edition
Reset Results (2132)
Results (2,132)
Sort
Breitling Premier A45340 253840

Breitling
Premier
A45340

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£2,355
Rolex Day-Date II 218238 262594
Limited Edition

Rolex
Day-Date II
218238

Box
Papers
Year 2015
£14,015
Rolex Datejust 41 126334 259190

Rolex
Datejust 41
126334

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£4,010
Rolex Datejust Lady 179161 253241

Rolex
Datejust Lady
179161

Box
Papers
Year 2006
£5,100 £5,285
Rolex Datejust Lady 179174 255714

Rolex
Datejust Lady
179174

Box
Papers
Year 2016
£2,625
Rolex Datejust II 116300 258186

Rolex
Datejust II
116300

Box
Papers
Year 2014
£2,120
Rolex Datejust Lady 179174 258754

Rolex
Datejust Lady
179174

Box
Papers
Year 2012
£2,360
Rolex Deepsea 116660 - D-Blue 257190

Rolex
Deepsea
116660 - D-Blue

Box
Papers
Year 2017
£4,550
Rolex Datejust Lady 179160 253663

Rolex
Datejust Lady
179160

Box
Papers
Year 2007
£3,535
Rolex Datejust 16234 258567

Rolex
Datejust
16234

Box
Papers
Year 2002
£2,365
Rolex Datejust 116244 256220

Rolex
Datejust
116244

Box
Papers
Year 2012
£4,260
Rolex Datejust 16234 257124
Vintage

Rolex
Datejust
16234

Box
Papers
Year 1991
£2,115
Rolex Lady Oyster Perpetual 76030 258585
Vintage

Rolex
Lady Oyster Perpetual
76030

Box
Papers
Year 1989
£1,210
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 114200 256754

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
114200

Box
Papers
Year 2007
£2,065
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 114200 254966

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
114200

Box
Papers
Year 2017
£2,225
Rolex Daytona 16523 262162
Vintage

Rolex
Daytona
16523

Box
Papers
Year 1991
£6,790
Rolex Daytona 116523 261674

Rolex
Daytona
116523

Box
Papers
Year 2005
£4,440
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0005 233704

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0005

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,395
Perrelet Turbine A1067/2 242330

Perrelet
Turbine
A1067/2

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£1,300
Panerai Luminor 8 Days PAM00779 239900

Panerai
Luminor 8 Days
PAM00779

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£1,600
Panerai Luminor Base PAM00114 240846

Panerai
Luminor Base
PAM00114

Box
Papers
Year 2003
£1,390
Panerai Luminor GMT PAM01033 249807

Panerai
Luminor GMT
PAM01033

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£5,685
Oris Aquis 400 7769 41 54 RS 235331

Oris
Aquis
400 7769 41 54 RS

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£1,710
Hublot Big Bang 401.FX.1123.VR 246682
Limited Edition

Hublot
Big Bang
401.FX.1123.VR

Box
Papers
Year 2014
£9,550
Tag Heuer Aquaracer CAK2111.BA0833 250329

Tag Heuer
Aquaracer
CAK2111.BA0833

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£1,375
Tag Heuer Carrera CAR2B11.BA0799 251474

Tag Heuer
Carrera
CAR2B11.BA0799

Box
Papers
Year 2014
£1,960
Tag Heuer Aquaracer WAF141B.BA0824 252525

Tag Heuer
Aquaracer
WAF141B.BA0824

Box
Papers
Year 2008
£610
Tag Heuer Carrera CAS2111.FC6292 251925

Tag Heuer
Carrera
CAS2111.FC6292

Box
Papers
Year 2011
£2,230
Tag Heuer Link WAT2315.BA0956 250495

Tag Heuer
Link
WAT2315.BA0956

Box
Papers
Year 2014
£1,490
Omega Planet Ocean 215.33.44.21.01.001 250429

Omega
Planet Ocean
215.33.44.21.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£1,305
Omega Planet Ocean 215.33.40.20.01.001 253029

Omega
Planet Ocean
215.33.40.20.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£3,645
Omega Seamaster 300m Mid-Size 2561.80.00 248268

Omega
Seamaster 300m Mid-Size
2561.80.00

Box
Papers
Year 2004
£1,915
IWC Aquatimer IW329002 248509
Manufacturer's Warranty

IWC
Aquatimer
IW329002

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£3,525
Cartier Pasha WSPA0010 243367

Cartier
Pasha
WSPA0010

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£1,210
Breitling Transocean Chronograph AB1411 242547
Limited Edition

Breitling
Transocean Chronograph
AB1411

Box
Papers
Year 2017
£2,840
Breitling Chronomat 44 GMT AB0420 243176

Breitling
Chronomat 44 GMT
AB0420

Box
Papers
Year 2017
£3,105
Rolex Datejust 41 126334 250786

Rolex
Datejust 41
126334

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£8,555
Rolex Datejust Lady 28 279138 RBR 247441

Rolex
Datejust Lady 28
279138 RBR

Box
Papers
Year 2015
£23,910
Rolex Datejust 41 126300 247690

Rolex
Datejust 41
126300

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£7,285
Rolex Datejust 41 126300 245577

Rolex
Datejust 41
126300

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£6,895
Rolex Day-Date 40 228235 246695

Rolex
Day-Date 40
228235

Box
Papers
Year 2015
£28,190
Rolex Explorer II 216570 249235

Rolex
Explorer II
216570

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£2,320

Dive Watches

History

The dive watch, a symbol of adventure and resilience, has a rich and exciting history that stretches back to 1927 when Rolex launched its Oyster model. This innovative watch, with its screw-down case and crown, is considered the first fully water-resistant wristwatch.

Famously, it was worn that year by a young swimmer called Mercedes Gleitz who was the first woman to swim the English Channel. To advertise the feat—and the capabilities of its latest watch—Rolex bought the front page of the most widely read British newspaper of the time, the Daily Mail.

Rolex went on to supply movements to Panerai, who developed the dive watch further with the specialist timepieces they made for the frogmen of the Italian navy in the late 1930s. These early dive watches had a water resistance of 30 metres—unimpressive by today’s standards which requires a dive watch to have a minimum water resistance of 100 metres.

By the mid-1950s, scuba-diving was a popular worldwide pastime due to the invention of the aqualung a decade earlier. This led to a spate of similar-looking dive watches like Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms, which featured the first rotating bezel—enabling divers to accurately measure immersion time—and the Rolex Submariner. Both these watches were water-resistant to 100 metres, while the Zodiac Sea Wolf, released shortly afterwards, doubled this to 200 metres.

In the decades since, dive watches have become more and more capable of withstanding extreme water pressure. In 2012, Rolex launched its Deepsea Challenge model which boasted an incredible 12,000 metres water resistance. In the same year it was attached to a submersible that Hollywood director James Cameron piloted to the deepest part of the world’s oceans—the Marianas Trench—to a depth of 10,898 metres, surviving the ordeal unscathed.

Key features

Today, dive watches continue to push boundaries, incorporating advanced technologies and materials such as helium escape valves, luminescent dials, and enhanced water resistance.

What sets dive watches apart from other timepieces? Let's look at what makes a dive watch unique, designed specifically for the rigours of underwater exploration.

Firstly, their exceptional water resistance is critical. Unlike standard watches, dive watches can withstand the extreme conditions of deep-sea diving, with a water resistance rating of at least 100 metres and many capable of depths up to 300 metres or much more.

Additional features of a dive watch include a unidirectional rotating bezel for tracking immersion time, bold luminous markers and hands for good visibility in murky conditions, and a helium escape valve to prevent damage during decompression. Most dive watches don’t have the latter as they are only of use in saturation diving when a diver spends time in a decompression chamber.

Some diving watches even incorporate helium-filled cases and built-in depth gauges, allowing divers to monitor their current depth without the need for additional equipment. These features make dive watches a useful tool for underwater exploration, although in an age of wearable dive computers they are more often now used as a back-up option.

One thing every mechanical dive watch must have is a constantly running seconds hand, or some kind of display indicating the watch is running that can be viewed in total darkness.

The science of water Resistance in dive watches

Water resistance is a vital feature of a dive watch. Special seals and gaskets prevent water infiltration, while robust materials like stainless steel or titanium ensure durability and resistance to corrosion. Rigorous testing verifies a dive watch's ability to withstand different pressures and temperatures, simulating the conditions encountered underwater.

Water resistance is measured in metres or bar units, indicating the depth to which the watch can be submerged safely. It's worth noting that factors such as water temperature and movement can affect a diving watch's performance underwater.

Popular dive watch models

The Rolex Submariner is a classic choice, renowned for its robustness and precision, and capable of withstanding depths of up to 300 metres. It was famously worn by James Bond until the 1990s when he swapped one dive watch for another: the equally iconic Omega Seamaster.

Other enduring models that are as timeless as they are stylish include the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, Breitling Superocean, Panerai Luminor and IWC Aquatimer. Fellow Swiss brands Tudor and TAG Heuer offer more affordable choices like the Black Bay and Aquaracer, respectively.

At Watchfinder, we offer a vast selection of pre-owned luxury dive watches from all of the aforementioned brands, from Rolex to IWC, catering to every budget and taste. Explore our collection and discover the exceptional craftsmanship and performance of these remarkable watches.

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