Last time we said that the summer is a great excuse to get a dive watch on your wrist. But what makes a good diver watch? Here’s what we’d look for:

Looks and Legibility

Design and looks will naturally help you determine which watches will make it on to your wrist. For the most part, the dive watch aesthetic is based on legibility as much as it is simplicity. Originally, they were created as tools for deep diving-- so the easier it was for a diver to track time, the better it was. Additionally, this is why bright lume is synonymous with a diver watch, to increase legibility in the darkness below.

Water Resistance

Water resistance plays a role in determining what kind of activities a watch can be used for. Watches like the AA02USA II with 200m of water resistance are perfect for water sports and skin diving, while the new Neptune collection has been outfitted for SCUBA. In fact, all Orient diver watches are suitable for diving of some kind, whether it’s skin diving (swimming, snorkeling) or scuba diving. It’s also safe to say that they’re all perfect for desk diving as well!

Casing and Structure

A natural enemy of a watch is moisture, and to determine the robustness of a watch you certainly have to examine the case. Screwed-down crowns and case backs aren’t entirely necessary, but nice to have since they reduce the likelihood of water intrusion. And while most watches have a little bit of shock absorption, the Neptune utilizes an Orient-developed shock-resistant casing structure, like the M-Force that came before it. It’s important to note that all Orient models use a durable, corrosion resistant grade of stainless steel, so a salt water excursion isn’t out of the question.

Rotating Bezel

A hallmark of the dive watch is the unidirectional rotating bezel. Originally, bezels could be used as a tool to time dives and track the amount of gas left in the tank. They were made to be unidirectional in order to prevent inaccuracy, especially in the chance that the watch was bumped. Since then, they’ve become obsolete because of the development of the dive computer. However, there are a still a few practical applications for using it in everyday life. All Orient diver watches, like the EM75 XL are equipped with unidirectional, 120-click rotating bezels.

Watch Strap

Part of the appeal of a diver watch is that they look pretty good with any kind of strap. Leather, NATO, Perlon, you name it—the possibilities are endless in matching a watch with your summer style. We’ve touched on this before, but if you’re going to get into the water with your watch, a stainless steel bracelet or rubber strap is best. They’re best at tackling moisture and are very easy to clean. Nearly our entire diver collection come equipped with a stainless steel bracelet.