Name your top five divers!

I have to say, Till, your list is hard to beat. :-!

To clarify, I'm not a diver, so my list is based on watch collecting rather than diving criteria. Still, I think all of these will hold up to the criteria of durability, reliability, readability, comfort, etc.

Some of these I own, some I wish to own.


Citizen EcoZilla -- inexpensive, huge, and lots of fun. A great starter for the collection.

Seiko Tuna -- another legendary watch, one I hope to own someday.

Rolex Sub -- an icon. I'd recommend No-Date, clean and classic. A perfect addition to any collection.

Panerai 024 -- a dream watch for me. Great looks, another iconic design. Someday.

Longines Legend Diver -- a classy, dressier dive watch. Adds some versatility to the collection.


If I had to get by in life with 5 dive watches, these would be the ones. Today. Ask me again tomorrow...the list will surely change. ;-)

I really think to recommend a watch, one has to have experience with it and have owned it - so many people talk about how this watch is so great and that watch is so great, but when they finally pick one up themselves, they flip it the next day. A "top" watch is a very personal preference and I would not recommend anything I haven't owned myself.

For me, I prefer dive watches with an automatic movement, good lume, an easy to read bezel, and a high quality bracelet. I've owned probably over a hundred dive watches and the following have stood out to the point where I would feel comfortable that other people spend their money on it:

1) Korsbek OE/Oceaneer
2) Zinex Trimix 46mm
3) Kobold Seal
4) DOXA 5000T
5) Orient 300M diver

My choices have less to do with what other people feel are iconic, and more of how they feel on the wrist and whether they have all the features I like. I felt like with these, I really got my money's worth on the watch.

Recently also picked up some of the new Zixen divers (DSR500,DSR1000,Trimix 44mm) and they are also rather outstanding.

Bali'Hai Q- For when you need a grab & go quartz, great price

Felca Seascoper 3- For that "Yes i finally found it" moment

Blancpain 50 Fathoms- For an Icon that is not a Submarriner

Omega SMP- For when you need a chrono that works under water (Bond, white face)

Jenny Caribbean- My 1st girl friend was called Jenny

In reserve can i have an AP Royal Oak

They might not be the most reliable, accurate, durable.... but they are cool

Out of the one's that I've owned, I've taken quite a few on actual casual dives and in my opinion, here are 5 divers that I like for different reasons:

1. Citizen Autozilla - functional, super tough duratect finish, robust movement, great lume, all around good dive watch.

2. Seiko Marinemaster 300m - no-frills, reliable, easy to read at a glance real-world dive watch (not too fancy but still composed of high-grade components)

3. G-shock Frogman (or any g-shock for that matter) - can handle anything, newer solar-powered are pretty much maintenance-free, functional.

4. IWC Aquatimer 2000 titanium.

5. Linde Werdelin Oktopus - because it's my recent acquisition, and I love the industrial design.

For divers that I don't own or haven't owned, my top 2 favorite would be:

1. Chopard LUC Pro-One - great movement and beautiful watch.
2. Omega Ploprof - Full of personality.

Top 5 that i have at this moment

16613 Rolex Submariner
Kobold Seal
Breitling SeaWolf in steel
Breitling SuperOcean
Omega SeaMaster Bond

honorable mention
SinnU1
DOXA TUSA 1000
Schaumburg COSC Aquamatic
JSAR auto Mod

For Quartz
Citizen EcoZilla

Need i say more....

If I could only keep/have five dive watches, it would be something like this (caveat, as someone else said, this could change if you asked me tomorrow):

1.) Rolex Sub (probably older Sub LV with black bezel because I am loving the extra lume over the Sub No Date)
2.) Omega SMP 2254
3.) Doxa 600t Pro
4.) Kobold Soarway Diver (SS with blue dial)
5.) Omega Ploprof 600m (the vintage one)

Honorable mention to the Blancpain FF Sport, PAM 25 and the new vintage IWC Aquatimer for that last spot.

The first four are all extremely comfortable, are ok for work and look great with bracelet, rubber and Nato, and I get a couple fun colors in there as well. The Ploprof, well it is just so cool and would be my fun weekends out to dinner watch (but I could also substitute the BP or PAM for that one and be perfectly happy).

Rob

In addition to your criteria, I'm going to add the nebulous notion of "contribution to Dive Watch landscape". I have no personal experience with any of these except the monster - not posing to appear otherwise. [Edit]In hindsight, I guess these watches aren't really superlative with respect to your utilitarian criteria. Nonetheless, they are my "Top-five divers" and IMO would "get the nod" from the majority of dive watch enthusiasts.

1.) Omega SMP 2254.50


2.) Seiko Orange Monster


3.) Panerai Luminor 111 (Despite the lack of dive bezel)


4.) DOXA SUB 1200T Professional


5.) Blancpain Fifty Fathoms