Best Value-for-Money Diver Watches under $2000 in 2018
Diver watches are extremely popular with watch lovers due to their overall durability, practicality, and resistance to the most common mechanical watch hazard – water. Wearing one you don’t have to be a diver, but if you fall into a pool or get caught in the rainstorm, they will not fail you.
With insane watch industry profit margins and regular folk wanting a good watch, there is this middle of the road range that provides a lot of bang for the buck, the sub $2000 range.
Now, a lot of brands design the watch case and dial, order it from Chinese manufacturers, drop in a standard ETA or Sellita caliber, assemble it somewhere in Switzerland and voila! You got a hip new “Swiss Made” diver. Well, a watch like that shouldn’t cost more than $800 really, but they do, muddying the waters for you, my friend, a confused buyer anxiously scrolling through myriads of possibilities, scrupulously studying every bit of information and every brand’s tech specs.
Well, let me help you.
This list is about the watches that are a cut above all the mediocrity pouring from the google ads. These are practical choices for the best diver watches you can get for your hard earned money.
1. Damasko dSub2 ($1600)
When it comes to functionality, German watches are quickly becoming synonymous with well-engineered, practical pieces. Damasko’s latest diver dSub2, is a great example.
The movement is a standard grade ETA 2824-2 tuned by Damasko, but what makes this piece so special is all the proprietary technology Damasko puts into the cases. The case is made from German submarine steel (u boat). Submarine steel is much more corrosion resistant to seawater than regular 316 steel. On top of that, Damasko hardens the surface layer of the steel making it also scratch resistant. This applies not only to the case but to the bezel as well!
Rated at 300m WR, this is a professional Diver Watch that has lots of extras!
2. Sinn U1 ($1999 on rubber strap)
Continuing with German engineering theme, we have a Sinn U1. Sinn is probably the main competitor for Damasko as there are quite a few similarities in the approach. U1 is also a diver from submarine steel albeit the only scratch resistant part of it is the bezel.
Where Sinn really wins is in the use of top grade Sellita SW200-1 (higher quality balance wheel, hairspring, and adjusted in 5 positions). Also, while not practical, it does boast an impressive 1000m water resistance.
3. Doxa SUB1200T ($1890)
Next up is Doxa. A very familiar classic striking design. It has a quite a few copycats these days but if you want something that looks like Doxa, get Doxa. Very comfortable watch, great bracelet, 1200m resistance, helium release valve (hardly necessary unless you’re pro diver), great history/heritage gracing Cuseau’s wrists, bezel with non-decompression table. This is definitely a pro diver watch.
The movement is “high grade based on ETA 2824-2” according to Doxa tech specs. Owners speak highly of regulation from the factory. The lume is great and the watch is recognizable from afar. You will always get a node from watch enthusiasts and be different enough.
Get your SUB1200T fast as this watch is limited to 1200 pieces.
4. Seiko SPB077J1 ($1025)
This brand needs no introduction and one’s ought to mention “diver” and “value” when talking about Seiko.
This model, however, is new for 2018 and is probably the most modern looking interpretation of the classic Seiko diver design. The familiar workhorse 6R15 movement is the only in-house ticker on the list with the longest power reserve (50 hours). The case lines are simple but tasteful and the case has a super hard coating, which puts it in direct competition with the Germans.
As always, Seiko’s LumiBrite will blow the competition out of the water (pun intended) and the price tag on the bracelet is the best on the list.
The only downside is that Seiko is the most sold watch brand in the world, and it will be hard to impress people that don’t recite Seiko reference numbers by heart.
5. Monta Oceanking ($1700 on strap, $1900 on bracelet)
One has to be careful with independents. There are a lot of them, the sea of mediocrity I, personally, don’t advise to dive in. However, there are a few notable stand outs, and Monta is one of them.
Monta is all about the looks, the finish and the finer details. You get a watch finished at the level of Omega for fraction of the price. The sculpted case lines, the rodium indices, the ceramic bezel with lume, the impressive bracelet make this watch a perfect elegant diver. The looks and proportions are very well thought out and ooze class.
Under the hood is Sellita Sw300 elaborate grade with glucydur balance. It’s a really good trustworthy movement that is not hard to service and is known to last a lifetime, if properly taken care of. I, personally, think that a top grade version would make this watch unbeatable in the elegant diver category but alas, we have to be thankful for what we have. Monta sells directly to consumer avoiding retail mark ups and has a number of colour schemes and straps to choose from.
This watch runs with the big boys in the looks department and is $1750 on strap and $1900 on bracelet!
6. Farer Endeavour ($1295)
Onto another independent, shall we? Farer is a British independent brand that designs watches in England, assembles them in Switzerland, and sells directly to customers. Here you get a sharp looking minimalistic “no nonsense” compressor diver for a great price of $1295 and a 5 year warranty. The price and the warranty are a selling point here. It comes with two straps, rubber and bracelet.
If you don’t need German over-engineering, or Monta’s finesse, you’re in for a treat. Piece of mind, that is. Put it on and forget about it. If something’s wrong - off it goes for warranty work. Again, I’d love it if the ETA 2824-2 was a top grade but I hear it’s hard to get a hold of and the price would have been a bit less attractive.
7. Oris Divers 65 ($2000)
This watch is probably the most controversial on the list because I do think it’s slightly overpriced but it’s a killer deal used or on the grey market. I cannot think of another watch that does vintage diver better in this price range. This watch fits with any clothes and adds the unmistakable “hip” of a vintage watch. There are many colour options and the NATO straps it comes with are pretty cool .
Yes, the movement is a standard Sellita SW200 and yes, the lume is old radium which does looks better than actual luminescence, but the charm of this watch is undeniable. Oris is still independent and has a lot of respect amongst watch enthusiasts. I do think that the price for this watch should be $1600, however.