THE FACTS AND VIEWPOINTS IN THIS SECTION ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWS OF X-RAY MAG. ITEMS PRESENTED IN THIS SECTION HAS NOT BEEN TESTED BY X-RAY MAG STAFF, NOR ARE THE ITEMS WARRANTED, INFORMATION PROVIDED IS CONDENSED FROM MANUFACTURERS DESCRIPTIONS. TEXTS ARE USUALLY EDITED FOR LENGTH, CLARITY AND STYLE LINKS ACTIVE AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATIONS POINT & CLICK ON BOLD LINKS Time, Technology & Style Edited by Kelly LaClaire Gunild & Peter Symes ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MANUFACTURERS OR VENDORS Dive Watches When trying to determine if resistance ratings provided out of materials like stainless in so it seals tight against the means it must go in for a renewed pres- a particular watch is suitable by manufacturers result from steel, titanium, ceramics and o-ring to prevent any seepage sure test in hyberbaric chamber, so make for diving, first of all, look for a testing done under controlled synthetic resins or plastics. around the stem. sure you return your precious time piece water-resistance rating of at circumstances. Basically, they Gold may be a problem just to an authorized dealer. least 200 meters, or 20 atm. The indicate resistance to water because it’s softer. Pressure testing apparent overkill on the depth penetration, assuming there Changing batteries in a Bezel rating means that the watch is no movement by either the Seals must be used at each dive watch invariably also Analog diving watches will often fea- should hold up fine underwater watch or the water, at a par- point where the case can be ture a rotating bezel, which allows for most normal diving condi- ticular depth. The ratings do not opened, and at other joints. The Rolex Oyster for an easier reading of elapsed time tions. But a watch claiming to take into account what hap- This is primarily the case-back Perpetual Submariner of under one hour from a specific be water-resistant to 100 meters pens if the watch is bumped or and crown (covering the stem). is a line of watches point. This is also used to compute (330 feet) should be sufficient jarred. They may also be placed manufactured by the length of a dive. The bezel is ‘uni- for recreational scuba diving, between the crystal and case Rolex, designed for directional’, i.e. it contains a ratchet, diving and known especially since those safe div- In reality, several factors are at unless a sealant is used. These so it can only be turned counter- for their resistance ing limits are set at 40m (130 work simultaneously on a watch seals, or gaskets are usually to water. The first clockwise to increase the apparent feet). while underwater. Pressure is o-rings made of rubber or some Submariner was elapsed time. This is an important ‘fail the most significant, but as a other synthetic. Every watch introduced to the safe’ feature. If the bezel could be So what’s the deal? diver moves through the water, made for diving should also public in 1954 at turned clockwise, this could suggest It is a matter of conventions additional pressure is exerted. feature screw-down case- the Swiss Watch Fair. to a diver that the elapsed time was that are, if not outright mislead- The watch cases of diving backs and crowns. A case- Copied by other shorter than it was, thus indicating a ing, then certainly grounds watches must be adequately back that screws down tight watch makers, the falsely short elapsed time reading, and for a great deal of confusion. water (pressure) resistant and against a seal works much bet- Rolex Submariner is therefore, falsely low air consumption However, the table (below) be able to endure the galvanic ter than any type of back that recognised as a classic assumptions, which are highly danger- which has has appeared should provide some guidelines corrosiveness of seawater. So, is pressed in. The same goes for ous. Some dive watch models feature a in eleven James Bond for buyers. First of all, the water- the cases are generally made the crown; it needs to screw movies lockable bezel to minimize the chance of unintentional bezel operation under water. Classification of diving watches Ornamental feature of the past Watches are classified by their degree of water resistance. With the advent of digital dive watches and the widespread use of dive computers, the Water resistance rating Suitability Notes exclusive use of a rotating bezel is now con- Water Resistant to 50 m Swimming (no snorkeling related activity) and fishing. NOT suitable for diving sidered a rudimentary diving technique. Most Water Resistant to 100 m Recreational surfing, swimming, snorkeling, sailing and water sports NOT suitable for diving contemporary dive watches with conspicuous Water Resistant to 200 m Suitable for professional marine activity and serious surface water sports NOT suitable for diving. 15 or 20 minute markings on their bezels are the result of copying a Rolex bezel design of Diver’s 100 m Minimum ISO standard (ISO 6425) for recreational scuba diving. 100 m and 150 m ratings are mostly seen on older watches. the 1950s. Back then divers typically planned Diver’s 200 m or 300 m Suitable for recreational scuba diving. The most common ratings for modern dive watches. a dive to a certain maximum depth based on Diver’s 300+ m for mixed-gas diving Suitable for saturation and advanced technical diving Watches designed for mixed-gas diving will have an additional now obsolete U.S. Navy dive tables, and dove marking DIVER ’S WATCH L M FOR M IXED -GAS DIVING. ■ according to the planned dive profile. ■ 59 X-RAY MAG : 37 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Standards for dive watches Timeline The standards and features for dive watches are regulated by the International Organization for Standardization in the ISO 6425 standard. Besides water resist- Early dive watches were ance standards to a minimum of 100-meter depth rating, ISO 6425 also pro- often developed in Dive Watches vides minimum requirements for mechanical dive watches—quartz and digital response to military and watches have slightly differing readability requirements. ■ professional needs. Later, they were designed for commercial diving, which IWC started to appear in the Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen, partner and sponsor 1960s. As a result, profes- of the Jacques-Yves Cousteau Society, has dedicated sional dive organisations a fifth special edition to “Le Commandant” in honor came into being, touting of his 100th birthday: the Aquatimer Chronograph needs for “tool” watches to Galapagos Islands Edition. This finely crafted time- help conduct dives safely piece begins with a stainless-steel casing coated at great depth. with matte black rubber making the watch pres- sure resistant to 12 bar (120m, 393ft) and comes 1927 Rolex is credited with with a barrage of special features. The sapphire creating the first water- glass dial makes the face nearly scratch proof proof watch. (you can mar the surface with a diamond but nothing else will affect it) and the mechani- 1932 Omega introduced cal chronograph movement is self-winding and the Marine, considered to has a 44-hour power reserve. Each watch has be the first dive watch. an external rotating bezel, date and day display and a patented quick-change bracelet system for 1930s Panerai produced a use with business or formal attire. IWC makes a siz- number of dive watches able contribution generated by proceeds from the sale for the Italian Navy, water- of the Aquatimer to the Galapagos-based Charles Darwin proof to 650 feet. Foundation. For 50 years, the foundation has been mak- ing visitors aware of the archipelago’s uniqueness 1953 Blancpain produced and providing them with guidelines to ecologically TAGHeuer the Fifty Fathoms dive sound behavior and acting as sentries to ensure THE AQUARACER 500M CALIBRE 5 is as nice watch worn by Jacques that the waters are not plundered and that a dive watch as you will find anywhere and Cousteau in the film, Le Oris the animals do not fall victim to poachers or gives the wearer all the high-end options Monde du Silence. Swiss manufacturer Oris has predators imported from other seas. needed. The brushed stainless steel casing joined forces with the Australian www.iwc.com houses an ultra fine chronograph move- 1954 Rolex introduced the Marine Conservation Society ment with automatic date surrounded by a Submariner—the watch of (AMCS) by launching the Great unidirectional, soft-touch rubber bezel and choice for James Bond in Barrier Reef Limited Edition dive is water resistant up to 30 bar (300m, 984ft). the first ten films. watch. Fifty Swiss francs from each The crystal face is made of sapphire glass piece sold will be donated to Poseidon making scratches a virtual impossibility and 1957 Omega Seamaster AMCS to help protect and preserve Poseidon takes a more traditional the antireflective coating lets the lumines- was introduced. the world’s largest and most stun- approach to dive watches by cent hands and face indexes stand out in ning reef system. Water resistant to a offering the Chrono. Each watch any light. For serious sport and technical div- 1967 Rolex Sea-Dweller staggering 100 bar (1000m, 3281ft) the has a large, easy to read rotating ers, the 500M has a fine-brushed automatic introduced,first “ultra water Oris boasts a host of impressive design ele- bezel, ultra accurate chronograph helium valve which allows gas buildup in the resistant” dive watch, ments: multi-piece stainless steel casing with super movement, super luminescent face watch to release due to time spent in pres- capable of depth to 610m. scratch resistant sapphire face; automatic mechani- index and hands as well as three sure chambers or diving stations.