DELMA BLUE SHARK III

1969 was a truly rich year for watchmaking, and not only because of the moon landing. In 1969, among other advances, Delma produced its first diving watch. In 2011, it issued its Blue Shark, already capable of diving to 3,000 metres – a depth that few attain. This year sees its third generation, which can attain 4,000 metres. Those extra thousand metres make a huge difference, forcing Delma to review the construction of the case, further improving its pressure-resistance and water-tightness.

With an imposing 47 mm diameter and thickness of 18.5 mm, along with robustness it gives pride of place to convenience and legibility, with clearly spaced, chunky, luminous typography against an orange, blue or black dial.

Interchangeable steel band or rubber strap. Helium valve. ETA 2824 automatic movement.

Price: limited edition of 500 pieces with a steel bezel (CHF 1,990) and 500 pieces with a DLC bezel (CHF 2,090).

TAVANNES WATCH SUBMARINE COMMANDER

The history of the Submarine Commander goes back to 1917, when the Tavannes Watch Co supplied the British army with its first batch of watches for its submarine officers. These watches met stringent criteria with regard to water-tightness, pressureresistance, amagnetism, robustness, and legibility at all times.

More than 100 years later, the watch has been reborn. In black PVD-treated polished steel, mounted on a NATO strap, 41 mm in diameter and water-resistant down to 100m, the Submarine Commander is driven by an automatic movement based on the ETA 2824.

Price: CHF 1,995

HEGID VISION

Made up of three interchangeable components, the Vision is an “evolutionary” watch: the capsule, case middle and strap can be mixed and matched with other accessories offered by the young French brand Hegid. In this particular configuration, with its bidirectional rotating bezel and its “capsule”, water-resistant down to 100 metres, why not use it as a diving watch?

Swiss-made automatic movement, 40h power reserve, sapphire crystal, luminescent hands and markers, 40 mm steel case, leather or rubber strap.

Price: € 2,800

RESERVOIR HYDROSPHERE

Inspired by scuba-diving pressure gauges, the Reservoir Hydrosphere combines three complications: a retrograde minute at 240° that recalls RPM counters, manometers and depth gauges, a jumping hour that recalls mileage meters, and a power reserve that echoes the design of fuel and oil gauges.

The patented automatic movement made up of 124 components is based on an ETA 2824. Precision, exactitude and reliability: this is all about measuring time, delivering performance and assessing risk factors.

Price: € 4,250

ORIS GREAT BARRIER REEF LIMITED EDITION III

In close partnership with the very active Reef Restoration Foundation, Oris, which year after year renews its commitment to the conservation of the oceans, has unveiled a new model specially created to defend this cause of global importance.

Limited to 2,000 pieces, the new model sports a dial of an intense blue, further intensified by a blue ceramic insert on the bezel of its broad 43.5 mm case. Automatic movement. Central hours and minutes hand, small seconds indicator at 9 o’clock, circular date. Water-resistant to 30 m.

Price: CHF 2,450

RADO CAPTAIN COOK AUTOMATIC

Like so many other brands at the moment, Rado is revisiting its past. And it is a rich one, as this re-edition (limited to 1962 pieces) of the Captain Cook, produced between 1962 and 1968, attests. Its 37 mm steel case has the same dimensions as the original, as well as its diver-style rotating bezel, distinctive hands and red date. The differences are the use of ceramic inserts in the bezel, a sapphire crystal and a modern automatic movement that provides 80 hours of autonomy. It comes with a leather strap, a steel Milanese mesh bracelet and a NATO strap.

Price: CHF 2,100

ANONIMO NAUTILO VINTAGE

The Anonimo Nautilo diving watch, designed 15 years ago by naval engineer Dino Zei, is reissued this year in a version with the epithet “vintage”. It has retained its characteristic crown at 4 o’clock but sports a new 42 mm steel case with a blue sunray-patterned dial, railway-type minutes and a slightly domed sapphire crystal. Its unidirectional rotating bezel has a ceramic blue insert.

Water-resistant down to 200m, it is driven by a Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement. 38-hour power reserve.

Price: CHF 2,290