| A divers watch is a special kind of sports watch that | | | | over time, but in the early days were developed to |
| is designed for divers who need an accurate and | | | | meet the needs of professional and military divers. |
| sophisticated timepiece that can operate in an | | | | Many believe Omega is celebrated as the worlds first |
| underwater environment. A divers watch must at a | | | | dive watch maker. The first Omega diving watch |
| minimum be able to withstand water pressure at 10 | | | | was the Omega Marine which first entered the |
| atmosphere units which is equivalent to 100 meters | | | | market in the year 1932. |
| or 330 feet, although a typical divers watch can | | | | Soon after the release of the Omega Marine, other |
| withstand much more than this and are usually | | | | companies introduced functional diving watches for |
| capable of achieving depths up to 200 meters or 660 | | | | serious or recreational scuba diving missions. Designed |
| feet, with some capable of going much, much | | | | as tool watches, many are also highly fashionable and |
| deeper. | | | | sought after for their look rather than their features. |
| The International Organization for Standardization (or | | | | More modern and sophisticated diving watches come |
| "ISO") has a special standard for dive watches. A | | | | in digital format and offer computer-like features, |
| certified dive watch must pass a series of tests and | | | | making them ideal for serious divers who need to |
| possess certain qualities to be ISO-compliant. A | | | | keep abreast of a lot more information during their |
| genuine diver's watch must pass a series of tests put | | | | dives. |
| forth in ISO 6425 and is is permitted to print the | | | | Dive watches are designed for both women and men |
| words "DIVER'S" on the case if it qualifies. A sports | | | | and because they must be resistant to the galvanic |
| watch with this marking is guaranteed to be at least | | | | corrosiveness of seawater, are manufactured from |
| suitable for recreational diving. | | | | materials such as resin, plastic, titanium, ceramics and |
| A diver's watch that passes ISO 6425, has met | | | | stainless steel. More expensive diving watches include |
| certain requirements such as possessing a bezel that | | | | the Breitling Avenger Seawolf Chronograph, the |
| surrounds the watch face that must rotate | | | | Omega Seamaster 300m Diver and the IWC |
| unidirectionaly (if an analog watch). It must feature | | | | Aquatimer minute memory. There are many cheaper, |
| markings at at least five minute intervals and a | | | | quite capable diving watches too, such as those from |
| pre-select marker to denote markings and specific | | | | Citizen, Invicta and even Casio. |
| minutes. The face minute markings must be clear and | | | | A divers watch is a robust sports watch, due to its |
| easy to read and these watches must be legible at | | | | requirement to comply with ISO 6425 and makes a |
| 25cm (9.84 inches) from the wearer in complete | | | | great fashion accessory as well as a capable scuba |
| darkness. Diving watches must be chemically resistant | | | | diving tool. Unlike the average sports watch, and |
| and must pass a test whereby the watch is | | | | because of the rigorous testing it must satisfy, a |
| immersed in a solution for 24 hours to test for rust | | | | certified diver watch offers you total peace of mind |
| resistance. | | | | when you are in and around the water and despite a |
| Diving watches have become more standardized | | | | higher price, will last you many years. |