Dive watches seem to be particularly hamstrung by the issue of design monotony not merely because, as you note, they have to feature certain things (e.g. timing bezels), but also because these design constraints are in service of a type of use that I'm guessing the vast majority of dive watches never see--you know, um, diving. And even worse, if they're not Submariners, they run the additional risk of being seen as wannabe Subs, even if they aren't trying to be.
So yeah, even a little bit of deviation from the dive watch norm can be appreciated. And, IMO anyway, larger deviations even moreso: I happen to absolutely love what to my eyes anyway is the whimsical design of the otherwise absurd Oris Pro 4000M watch that came out a few months ago. There's no mistaking it for any other dive watch, what with its baby blue strap and dial colorway, and that bezel rotator that looks like a shark took a bite out of it. Practical? Lord no. Necessary? Not a chance. But fun? Absolutely. (Yeah, you know I got one....)
I'm an avid swimmer and have used many watches in the pool, including a SKX007, Submariner and a Seamaster Pro 300m; however the one have used now for several years is the Citizen Orca. By not conforming to most typical dive watch designs, it ends up being the most legible and reliable I have ever used.
Greetings from another avid swimmer! Is your Orca blue or black? Steel or titanium? How would you rate it's bezel action against your other "swimmers"?
It's a steel black orca with a rubber strap. the rubber has a scent of chlorine.... Re: the bezel I like the big raised bits on the bezel, maybe that's easier to turn? the worst bezel is the omega smp300.
SMP300 is the best looking watch to wear outside the pool and is the most comfortable bracelet, but the bezel is really hard to move when it's wet. The easiest to turn is the Citizen as it's bigger and "grabbier".
Hi Jack, Another excellent piece of writing. Did you really mean "one of which was sold at Antiquorum in 2010, was 13mm in diameter)". My eyesight is not what it used to be but even when it was good 13mm would be to small for me to read😂
Dive watches seem to be particularly hamstrung by the issue of design monotony not merely because, as you note, they have to feature certain things (e.g. timing bezels), but also because these design constraints are in service of a type of use that I'm guessing the vast majority of dive watches never see--you know, um, diving. And even worse, if they're not Submariners, they run the additional risk of being seen as wannabe Subs, even if they aren't trying to be.
So yeah, even a little bit of deviation from the dive watch norm can be appreciated. And, IMO anyway, larger deviations even moreso: I happen to absolutely love what to my eyes anyway is the whimsical design of the otherwise absurd Oris Pro 4000M watch that came out a few months ago. There's no mistaking it for any other dive watch, what with its baby blue strap and dial colorway, and that bezel rotator that looks like a shark took a bite out of it. Practical? Lord no. Necessary? Not a chance. But fun? Absolutely. (Yeah, you know I got one....)
I'm an avid swimmer and have used many watches in the pool, including a SKX007, Submariner and a Seamaster Pro 300m; however the one have used now for several years is the Citizen Orca. By not conforming to most typical dive watch designs, it ends up being the most legible and reliable I have ever used.
Greetings from another avid swimmer! Is your Orca blue or black? Steel or titanium? How would you rate it's bezel action against your other "swimmers"?
It's a steel black orca with a rubber strap. the rubber has a scent of chlorine.... Re: the bezel I like the big raised bits on the bezel, maybe that's easier to turn? the worst bezel is the omega smp300.
Interesting the SMP300 is the worst. Which has been your best bezel and why?
SMP300 is the best looking watch to wear outside the pool and is the most comfortable bracelet, but the bezel is really hard to move when it's wet. The easiest to turn is the Citizen as it's bigger and "grabbier".
Hi Jack, Another excellent piece of writing. Did you really mean "one of which was sold at Antiquorum in 2010, was 13mm in diameter)". My eyesight is not what it used to be but even when it was good 13mm would be to small for me to read😂
No, it was actually 13mm in diameter. You see "frogmen" back in the day were actual hybrids of frogs and men.
KIDDING typo fixed 😀 should be 13mm thick
The lugs may be narrow but from across the room it still looks like a Canadian Tornek Rayville