Seiko makes a great range of divers watches and they are gaining popularity and real following among Scuba divers as well as watch collectors.
First some history. Seiko introduced its first divers watch in 1965 and has since been credited with a number of firsts including the world’s first titanium diving watch in 1975 and the first computerised diving watch in 1990.
The range is quite broad so here are a few pointers to help you narrow it down.
Do you want to use your Seiko for Diving?
If you are planning to dive then you want to look at the Velatura Range of Seiko dive watches. These are dedicated marine watches that are designed to cope with salt water exposure and pressure. The Seiko Diver Chronograph is water resistant down to 200 meters and its crown screws down to keep water out.
Another great option is the Ananta Mechanical Chronograph for divers. The Ananta range is a fairly new one but it results in watches that both look stunningly beautiful and are strong enough to cope with rugged environments and activities. The movement in this watch, the 8R, was designed specifically with divers in mind and it is extra-shock proof. It is also resistant down to 200 meters.
If you don’t actually plan to dive then you can happily get any of the company’s many water restant models without being limited to those that are proof down to 200 meters.
How much do you want to spend?
If your budget extends to about $150 then the Orange Monster or Black Monster Automatic watches are a reasonable choice. They don’t cost the earth yet you get a quality mechanical movement that should give many years trouble-free service.
If your budget extends up to $300 or more then your options open right up to include the Kinetic dive. This is not mechanical but quartz driven with the battery being charged by your own movements. I quite like mechanical watches myself, but each to their own. In general unless you are spending thousands, then a reasonably-priced quartz watch will always be more accurate than a similarly-priced mechanical watch. For your money you also get a watch with a finer finish than the bottom of the range Monsters. The long and the short is that there is a pretty good selection to meet a range of price points and features so there is a good chance that no matter what your exact needs, you should be able to find a Seiko Divers watch that works for you.
