A good watch can help bring together the elements of an outfit, or it can just be a functional piece of apparel that always lets you keep track of time. Out of the various types of timepieces that you’ll find available, very few can hope to compete with dive watches when it comes to sheer impressiveness.
Dive watches are designed to combine form and function into an impressive package. Officially, a dive watch is any watch that is designed to resist at least 10 atm (1 MPa) of water pressure. This means that a dive watch must be able to withstand the water at depths of up to 330 feet.
Of course, that’s the bare minimum of what’s expected from a dive watch, as most new watches will be able to handle water at a depth of at least 600 feet. Due to their impressive construction, dive watches tend to be relatively pricey compared to other timepieces, which is why we’ve collected this list of the 12 best dive watches under $1000.
Table of Contents
Best Dive Watches | Our Top Picks
We’ll review each watch individually so you can know what to expect from each of them before spending any of your hard-earned cash. We’re also going to cover some of the most crucial characteristics to consider when buying a dive watch in our buying advice section after our reviews.
1. Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver
Citizen’s Eco-Drive Promaster Diver watch is a relatively affordable option that combines reliability with value for money. This watch’s timing is spot on, losing fewer seconds per day than most watches at the same price point. It also has a large, easily legible dial that can be seen without any trouble both in and out of water.
Keep in mind that the Eco-Drive variant of the Promaster Driver uses a solar panel to keep your watch running without a battery. The watch can even charge using indoor light. With a depth resistance of up to 660 feet, however, don’t expect to take this one on the deepest dives.
- Water Resistance : 200M / 660 feet
- Movement : Eco-Drive
- Case Diameter : 44 mm
- Case Thickness : 12 mm
- Dial window : Anti-Reflective Mineral Crystal
- Band Material : Polyurethane
- Band width : 20 mm
- Bezel type : One-Way Rotating Bezel
2. Pantor Nautilus Pro Diver
Yet another relatively affordable choice, the Pantor Nautilus Pro Diver watch allows you to express your individuality. This watch comes in a range of colors, including blue, red, stainless steel, and black. Like the previous watch, the Pantor Nautilus can withstand up to 660 feet of water.
This watch is meant to be as durable as possible while remaining lightweight and water-resistant. For example, the glass is made out of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and the rubber strap is both flexible and durable. The watch face has also been treated with Swiss C1 Super LumiNova for visibility in low-light conditions.
- Water Resistance : 200M / 660 feet
- Movement : Japanese-Automatic
- Case Diameter : 45 mm
- Case Thickness : 12.6 mm
- Dial window : Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Rubber
- Band width : 24 mm
- Bezel type : Unidirectional Rotating Bezel
- Power Reserve : 41 hours
3. Seiko Prospex Turtle Special Edition
At a slightly higher price point, you’ll find the stylish Seiko Prospex Turtle Special Edition, with a large blue dial and thick watch hands that will remain visible in a variety of conditions. This watch features a rotating dial dive timer and an automatic date display to the right of the watch hands.
The bright blue lume used in this watch allow you to see it in even the darkest conditions. One of the only downsides to this watch is that it has a relatively slow date rollover, so it may be a little delayed on your watch.
- Water Resistance : 200M / 660 feet
- Movement : Automatic
- Case Diameter : 45 mm
- Case Thickness : 13.4 mm
- Dial window : Hardlex Crystal
- Band Material : Silicone
- Band width : 22 mm
- Bezel type : Unidirectional Rotating Bezel
- Power Reserve : 41 hours
4. Orient Neptune Diver’s Watch
The Orient Neptune is a good-looking alternative in the low-to-mid price range. While this watch has a stainless-steel band, it comes in two colors, with either a silver- or gold-trimmed dial. This watch also features a meter for the power reserve, making it easier to know when it needs to be wound up.
This watch also comes with a relatively wide wristband, ensuring that it’s a good fit for larger individuals. With an accuracy change of under four seconds per day, this watch will also retain the right time better than a lot of its competitors. The only downside is that the bracelet is a little rattly.
- Water Resistance : 200M / 660 feet
- Movement : Japanese-Automatic
- Case Diameter : 43.4 mm
- Case Thickness : 14.5 mm
- Dial window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Stainless Steel
- Band width : 22 mm
- Bezel type : Unidirectional Rotating Bezel
- Power Reserve : 40 hours
5. Seiko Prospex (Model: SRPB55)
Seiko’s SRPB55 is the first of the mid-range offerings that we’re going to be taking a look at. This model features an understated black aesthetic with a flexible silicone band that seems perfectly designed to slide over the wrist of a wetsuit. This model also has a relatively standard depth resistance of 660 feet.
One of our favorite things about this watch is the silicone wristband, which is a lot softer and more comfortable than we expected. We were a little disappointed by the lumes on this watch, as they don’t glow as brightly or for as long as you would expect them to on a watch of this price.
- Water Resistance : 200M / 660 feet
- Movement : Automatic
- Case Diameter : 43.8 mm
- Case Thickness : 12 mm
- Dial window : Hardlex Crystal
- Band Material : Silicone
- Band width : 22 mm
- Bezel type : One-Way Rotating Bezel
- Power Reserve : 41 hours
6. Bulova Men’s Marine Star
The Bulova Marine Star is a good-looking watch with a deep blue face trimmed in rose gold accompanying a stainless-steel wristband. Using analog-quartz movement, this watch won’t lose much accuracy over time, and it is resistant up to depths of up to 660 feet.
This watch features three sub dials, including a dial for the date as well as two separate timers. Keep in mind that this is a relatively large watch, so it may not be an ideal choice for wearers with smaller wrists. While the stainless-steel band requires the right tools, it’s also relatively easy to adjust.
- Water Resistance : 200M / 660 feet
- Movement : Analog Quartz
- Case Diameter : 45 mm
- Case Thickness : 12.3 mm
- Dial window : Mineral Crystal
- Band Material : Stainless Steel
- Band width : 22 mm
- Bezel type : Unidirectional Rotating Bezel
7. Victorinox Swiss Army Men’s I.N.O.X. Pro Diver
The classic Swiss Army I.N.O.X. is a popular pro diving watch with a rounded, robust look made almost entirely of stainless steel. This is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of watch since you’ll need to be a big fan of stainless-steel wristbands. The I.N.O.X. is designed to be as durable as possible, with a shockproof, anti-magnetic housing.
Like other Victorinox watches, this model comes with a three-year warranty against any manufacturer defects. The thick hands are easy to see in the light, and they feature large lume that make them even easier to see in the dark.
- Water Resistance : 200M / 660 feet
- Movement : Analog Quartz
- Case Diameter : 45 mm
- Case Thickness : 14.44 mm
- Dial window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Stainless Steel
- Band width : 22 mm
- Bezel type : Unidirectional Rotating Bezel
8. Tissot Seastar
The Tissot Seastar is a mid-to-high priced watch with a stylish deep blue face mated to a stainless-steel band. This medium-sized watch is just as much of a fashion statement as it is a functional diving watch, able to withstand depths of up to 1000 feet.
The Seastar 1000 is equipped with a quartz mechanism, and it keeps time better than watches that are worth twice the price. Gaining less than two seconds per day, you won’t have to adjust this watch’s timing too often. The only thing to consider is that the blue background can make the time more difficult to see in certain lighting conditions.
- Water Resistance : 300M / 1,000 feet
- Movement : Swiss Automatic
- Case Diameter : 43 mm
- Case Thickness : 12.7 mm
- Dial window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Stainless Steel
- Band width : 22 mm
- Bezel type : Unidirectional Rotating Bezel
- Power Reserve : 80 hours
9. Citizen Aqualand (Model: BN2039-59E)
The BN2039-59E variant of the Citizen Aqualand is a functional-looking watch with a modern appeal thanks to its Stainless-steel wristband and its reddish-orange accents. This watch uses Eco-Drive technology, deriving its power from any convenient light sources, and ensuring that the watch can remain powered for longer.
This watch comes with a few impressive, diving-oriented features, including an alarm for rapid ascents as well as memory of your deepest dive. You can also rest assured that you’ll get your money’s worth out of this watch, as it comes included with a five-year warranty.
- Water Resistance : 200M / 660 feet
- Movement : Eco-Drive
- Case Diameter : 46 mm
- Case Thickness : 16 mm
- Dial window : Mineral Crystal
- Band Material : Stainless Steel
- Band width : 19 mm
- Bezel type : One-Way Rotating Bezel
10. Seiko Prospex Diver Scuba PADI (Model: SBDC055)
Our next diving watch from Seiko is a much pricier model than the one we looked at earlier, and it comes with a few extras to make it worth the bump in price. Just the gradient on the watch face alone puts this watch in a different league compared to many of Seiko’s other offerings.
The build quality in this watch is also tremendous, with drilled lugs making it easy to swap out the wristband on the fly. By default, this watch comes with a ridged silicone wristband that will fit over a diving suit, thanks to its XXL size. One of the few problems we ran into with this watch was that it consistently ran fast.
- Water Resistance : 200M / 660 feet
- Movement : Eco-Drive
- Case Diameter : 42.6 mm
- Case Thickness : 13.8 mm
- Dial window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Silicon
- Band width : 20 mm
- Bezel type : One-Way Rotating Bezel
- Power Reserve : 50 hours
11. Marathon Tsar (Model: WW194007)
The Marathon Tsar is the most expensive watch on this list, but it still hovers below the max price point of $1000. This watch comes with either a stainless-steel band or a silicone one, and it features a classic diving watch aesthetic with muted black aesthetics, giving this model a serious look.
With a max water resistance level of 1000 feet, this watch is designed for technical diving with closed-circuit rebreathers, but it will be just as effective on shallower scuba dives. This model also has impressive lumes made out of tritium gas tubes, so they’re not reliant on external light sources.
- Water Resistance : 300M / 1,000 feet
- Movement : Quartz
- Case Diameter : 41 mm
- Case Thickness : 14 mm
- Dial window : Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Rubber
- Band width : 20 mm
- Bezel type : Unidirectional Rotating Bezel
12. Citizen Promaster (Model: CA0715-03E)
The next Citizen Eco-Drive watch that we’re looking at is the CA0715-03E, and it features a slick, diver-oriented appearance with a black silicone wristband. The three knobs on this watch are stylishly recessed, and the dial features a high-visibility layout with plenty of lumes.
This watch is water-resistant at depths of up to 660 feet, and it uses B612 movement which is extremely accurate. Like many Citizen watches, this one uses the Eco-Drive system that will harness the power of ambient light to keep this watch running.
- Water Resistance : 200M / 660 feet
- Movement : Eco-Drive
- Case Diameter : 46 mm
- Case Thickness : 13.8 mm
- Dial window : Anti-Reflective Mineral Crystal
- Band Material : Rubber
- Band width : 22 mm
- Bezel type : One-Way Rotating Bezel
- Power Reserve : 50 hours
Buying Guide
Durability
When looking for a quality diving watch, you’ll need to consider the materials that it’s made of and how durable these materials are. Out of the three choices of sapphire crystal, mineral glass, and hardlex, the most durable option is sapphire crystal, but it’s also the most expensive of the bunch.
The watch band can be made of rubber, silicone, or stainless steel, with stainless steel being more durable than the other two options but also less flexible. This means that a stainless steel wristband can break apart if it gets stuck on something, but most diving watches are well-made enough for this not to be a concern.
Also, consider the material that the watch case is made out of, though this is almost universally stainless steel, though other metals can be used for trim. Stainless steel is so popular in diving watches due to its resistance to corrosion, making it ideal for use in watches that will be exposed to water repeatedly.
Movement
There are a few types of movement systems used in watches, though we’ll be going over automatic, quartz, and eco-drive systems.
While automatic systems are more mechanically-impressive, they’re also a lot more expensive than quartz and eco-drive. For under $1000, you’ll typically have to settle for a quartz or eco-drive watch.
Quartz is easy to mass-produce, but it will have to be wound up more frequently than an eco-drive watch. Eco-drive watches tend to require less power than quartz because they use a built-in solar panel to create energy for the watch.
Water Resistance
Under the ISO 6425 certification process, a diving watch must be able to withstand depths of at least 100 meters (330 feet). Most modern diving watches are designed for depths of 200 meters (660 feet). To pass the certification test, a watch needs to survive depths of 125% of its rating, meaning that a watch rated for 200 meters will need to withstand 250 meters of water.
Some of the best watches are rated for depths of up to 1000 feet, but depths beyond 660 feet can only be attained by highly-skilled divers.
Rotating Bezel
The rotating bezel is a key characteristic of a diving watch, as it allows a diver to easily time the amount of time that they’re underwater. The rotating bezel is essentially a timer with a max time of 60 minutes, ensuring that a diver doesn’t stay underwater long enough to injure themselves.
Screw Down Crown
Another feature that is typically unique to diving watches is the screw down crown, which screws into place to ensure that water or dust doesn’t get inside of the watch. The air-tight seal is accomplished with the use of rubber gaskets that help trap air in and keep water out.
Luminous
Since light is scarce below the surface of the ocean, most diving watches have some sort of illumination system built into them. Some will use materials that need to be “charged” by light sources before they work, while others will use trapped gases that can stay luminous even without a charging process.
