What size dive watch should I get?

The median dive watch in our catalog is 41 mm across with a 48 mm lug-to-lug and 12.9 mm thick. Lug-to-lug matters more than case size: for an ideal fit, keep it under 47.2 mm on a 6.5" wrist or 55.1 mm on a 7.5" wrist.

How much does a good dive watch cost?

The 128 current dive watches in our catalog run from $30 to $16,100 list, with a median of $1,593. The cheapest is the Casio MRW-200H MRW-200H-1BV.

What is the smallest-wearing dive watch?

By lug-to-lug, the Doxa SUB 200T Professional 804.10.351.10 at 41.5 mm, followed by the Doxa SUB 250T GMT Professional 855.10.351.10 at 42.9 mm.

Are most dive watches automatic?

96% of the dive watches in our catalog with a known movement are mechanical (automatic or hand-wound); the rest are quartz or solar.

Do I need 300 m of water resistance?

Not for swimming or snorkeling. A rating in meters is a static pressure test, not a safe depth, but 100 m covers anything you'll do without scuba gear. Recreational scuba tops out at about 40 m, which a 200 m diver handles with a wide margin.

Dive watches

A dive watch is built to time a dive: a rotating bezel to mark the start, a dial you can read in murky water, and a case sealed well beyond what a swim needs. Most are never taken below a pool, and that's fine. The same features make them tough, legible everyday watches.

Current models

128

Median case

41 mm

Median lug-to-lug

48 mm

Median list price

$1,593

What makes a dive watch

A unidirectional rotating bezel with a 60-minute scale, so a knock can only shorten your remaining dive time, never extend it
At least 100 m of water resistance under ISO 6425, the diver's watch standard; 200 m and 300 m are the norm
Luminous hands and markers you can read at 25 cm in the dark, with a seconds hand or indicator that shows the watch is running
A screw-down crown, and usually a strap or bracelet with an extension for wearing over a wetsuit

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and Rolex Submariner both appeared in 1953, and Seiko's first diver followed in 1965. ISO 6425 set the rules in 1982. Since then the 40 mm steel diver on a bracelet has become the most copied watch shape there is.

Case sizes

36–38 mm3
38–40 mm25
40–42 mm45
42–44 mm38
44–46 mm13
46–48 mm2
48–50 mm1
50–52 mm0
52–54 mm0
54–56 mm1

Case width of the 128 current dive watches in our catalog, from 49 brands. Of those with a known movement, 96% are mechanical.

Seiko 5 Sports SKX Sports Style SRPD55 — Live eBay listings for picks below. Photos from eBay.

Invicta Pro Diver Automatic 40mm 8926OB — Live eBay listings for picks below. Photos from eBay.

Best dive watches under $500

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Water	Movement	List price	eBay median
Seiko 5 Sports SKX Sports StyleSRPD55	42.5 mm	46 mm	13.4 mm	100 m	Automatic	$350	$350
Invicta Pro Diver Automatic 40mm8926OB	40 mm	—	—	200 m	Automatic	$180	$105
Casio Duro MDV-106MDV-106-1AV	44.2 mm	48.5 mm	12.1 mm	200 m	Quartz	$85	$162
Swatch Blancpain x Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Atlantic OceanSO35A100	42.3 mm	48 mm	14.4 mm	91 m	Automatic	$445	$571
Citizen Promaster Dive Eco-DriveBN0151-09L	44 mm	48 mm	11.5 mm	200 m	Solar	$450	$350
Timex Q Timex 1979 Reissue 38mmTW2T80700	38 mm	45 mm	11.5 mm	50 m	—	$229	$201

Best dive watches from $500 to $1,500

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Water	Movement	List price	eBay median
Seiko Prospex Sea TurtleSRPE93	45 mm	47.7 mm	13.4 mm	200 m	Automatic	$525	$555
Citizen Series 8 890 MechanicalNB6060-58L	42.6 mm	50.7 mm	11.7 mm	200 m	Automatic	$1,425	$1,245
Mido Ocean Star 200CM042.430.11.041.00	42.5 mm	—	12.3 mm	200 m	Automatic	$1,360	$1,040
Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 40mmT120.807.11.051.00	40 mm	46 mm	12.5 mm	300 m	Automatic	$875	$844
Orient KamasuRA-AA0003R39B	41.9 mm	47 mm	12.8 mm	200 m	Automatic	$580	$350
Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto 40mmH82415130	40 mm	—	13 mm	100 m	Automatic	$975	$975

Best dive watches from $1,500 to $5,000

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Water	Movement	List price	eBay median
Tudor Black Bay 54M79000N	37 mm	46 mm	11.2 mm	200 m	Automatic	$4,725	$4,216
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date 42WBP5110.BA0013	42 mm	48 mm	12 mm	300 m	Automatic	$4,350	$3,843
Seiko Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver's GMTSPB381	42 mm	48.6 mm	12.9 mm	200 m	Automatic	$1,500	$1,500
Longines Legend Diver 39mmL3.764.4.06.6	39 mm	47 mm	12.7 mm	300 m	Automatic	$3,850	$3,180
Oris Divers Date 39mm01 733 7795 4055-Set	39 mm	46.5 mm	12.1 mm	200 m	Automatic	$2,800	$2,205
Squale 1521 Militaire (bracelet)Microbrand1521MIL.SQ20B	42 mm	48 mm	12.5 mm	500 m	Automatic	$1,510	—

Best dive watches over $5,000

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Water	Movement	List price	eBay median
Rolex Deepsea136660	44 mm	51.5 mm	17.7 mm	3900 m	Automatic	$15,550	$15,999
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M210.30.42.20.01.001	42 mm	49.9 mm	13.6 mm	300 m	Automatic	$6,700	$5,910
Tudor Black Bay GMTM79830RB	41 mm	50 mm	14.6 mm	200 m	Automatic	$5,275	$4,395
Breitling Superocean Automatic 42A17375E71C1S1	42 mm	47.7 mm	12.6 mm	300 m	Automatic	$5,700	$4,229
Oris Aquis Pro 4000m01 400 7777 7155-Set	49.5 mm	55 mm	23.4 mm	4000 m	Automatic	$6,900	—

One watch per brand in each price range, ordered by how many are listed on eBay right now, a rough measure of what people buy. List prices are manufacturer prices in US dollars.

Shortest lug-to-lug

Doxa SUB 200T Professional41.5 mm
Doxa SUB 250T GMT Professional42.9 mm
Doxa SUB 300T Professional44.5 mm
Baltic Aquascaphe MK2 37mm45 mm
Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300 38mm45 mm

Thinnest

Glycine Combat Sub 42 Blue10.5 mm
Doxa SUB 200T Professional10.7 mm
Doxa SUB 250T GMT Professional10.8 mm
Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300 38mm11 mm
Tudor Black Bay 5411.2 mm

Dive watches by wrist size

Cheaper alternatives to the icons

Questions

What size dive watch should I get?: The median dive watch in our catalog is 41 mm across with a 48 mm lug-to-lug and 12.9 mm thick. Lug-to-lug matters more than case size: for an ideal fit, keep it under 47.2 mm on a 6.5" wrist or 55.1 mm on a 7.5" wrist.
How much does a good dive watch cost?: The 128 current dive watches in our catalog run from $30 to $16,100 list, with a median of $1,593. The cheapest is the Casio MRW-200H MRW-200H-1BV.
What is the smallest-wearing dive watch?: By lug-to-lug, the Doxa SUB 200T Professional 804.10.351.10 at 41.5 mm, followed by the Doxa SUB 250T GMT Professional 855.10.351.10 at 42.9 mm.
Are most dive watches automatic?: 96% of the dive watches in our catalog with a known movement are mechanical (automatic or hand-wound); the rest are quartz or solar.
Do I need 300 m of water resistance?: Not for swimming or snorkeling. A rating in meters is a static pressure test, not a safe depth, but 100 m covers anything you'll do without scuba gear. Recreational scuba tops out at about 40 m, which a 200 m diver handles with a wide margin.