A buddy of mine just bought a dive boat. No more excuses not to get certified. Gotta get a dive watch right?

With a vintage dive watch, how do you know if it is still dive worthy? Any things to look or lookout for?

Would it be better to just pick up a new G-Shock and be done with it?

thanks

 

I’d be hard pressed to dive with a vintage watch that I valued, even if it had been serviced with new gaskets and checked with pressure tests.

Water damage is frequently catastrophic. Don’t ask me how I know.

(God, I hate discovering condensation on the inside of the crystal of a watch!)

(There are few things sadder than a water damaged movement.)

 

Save your money and get a good diving computer. You don't want to dive with tables. A G-Shock would be a good back-up.

 

Agree with G-shock if you actually want to dive with it. If you want the vintage diver “look” while on deck and possibly wading in the water, the Certina Ph200 is hard to beat for the money. I have one and it’s a cool watch- and I don’t care if it gets soaked.
https://www.jomashop.com/certina-watch-c036-407-16-050-00.html

 

These days a dive watch is necessary only to get you to the boat on time and in the bar afterwards where all the girls will think you're cool. Or have no idea what that thing is on your wrist.
Have fun. Dive safe

kfw

 

My advice.... never, never dive with a vintage diver watch.
I knew of a gentleman that used to dive with his vintage Rolex Paul Newman... we all thought he was crazy and this was years ago when prices weren’t in outer space. He claimed he had the watch pressure tested annually... really.

Take my advice and the others and get something more suitable or a diving computer.

 

Seiko divers. They are the standard in the tropical south pacific. Those and Tag Heuers. Those two brands are what we see the most at the dive resorts. That is when someone is wearing a watch.

 

Thanks for all of the replies.

So, I guess this one is out of contention...

 

Hey give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen..scratch the bezel?

 

That Certina is a great suggestion for sure. The 200m depth rating is sufficient for 99.99% of divers as long as you keep it well maintained and keep the crown screwed down.

 

And it’s incredibly readable, even after 3 whiskey sours at the marina.


It is big however at 43mm (as was suggested by out resident Certina aficionado) hence I don’t wear it much.

 

The Bulova snorkel reissue is ISO certified. Fairly faithful vintage reproduction, cheap (got mine for $350 on eBay), and has a warranty for depths far beyond any recreational dive.



Also, if you want a vintage look, Doxa has a lot of new releases, but wouldn't call them 'cheap', and they are a lot bigger than the skin diver the watch you posted above.

 

I approve this message


Did somebody say Snorkel??

 

Best choice I think for something vintage useable and amazing, is no doubt the Vostok Amphibia(cult member here). 200M rated, gaskets that rarely need replacement, looks however you want, automatic, cheap, went to space and the depths of the ocean(set a record or two well known to work over 600m down), filled with history, and quite cheap. If you buy a new one you are basically buying a vintage Soviet watch. Same movement since the early 70s, same case, same dials, same everything besides the fact it longer says made in the USSR on the dial.

 

If well maintained and seals kept refreshed, any old diver can be used. I'd worry more about cosmetic issues such as bezel inlays that cannot be replaced breaking or damaged. I've had several vintage watches serviced and pressure tested that could easily be used for their intended purpose.

 

Can you stop already with your Snorkel? You already got me convinced I need one from your last post with it. Now I gotta top you and find the vintage original version including bracelet just so I feel good about myself. It's gonna take some time though.

 

I would never dive with a battery powered watch. I've always used mechanicals, and I have dive computers as well but I still depend on either a Rolex or Tudor as my primary bottom timer. Dive computers fail all the time, and the slightest leak will kill them while mechanical dive watches have to be pretty flooded before they quit. Anything with a battery can fail without warning, right when you need it most.

 

Hmmm...From your user name I would have guessed different.

From our collection...

 

Never liked Seikos, even when Scubapro dealers sold them. I purchased my Tudor sub back when these were in shops, and I still have it 40 years later. It has been serviced about four times, keeps great time, and is worth about 25 times what I paid for it new . I have retired it from diving, though, even though it passed pressure tests fine since the last overhaul. I think I made the right decision.

 

someone once told me "if the watch is worth more than the boat, consider another watch.. or another boat..." seems like decent advice.