The best dive watches under $5,000 are built with durability and performance in mind and are perfect for divers of all levels. Plus, the variety of straps and colors on some models make them stylish enough to wear as everyday gear.
And in this price range, you’ll find some models that offer excellent resale value for your investment. Some budget-friendly watches cost around $3,000 (or even less) but perform just as well as larger divers.
So whether you’re looking for a stylish watch or a watch packed with features, you can find what you want without breaking the bank. Before we dive into the specifics, let’s take a look at how to identify the right model for your first dive watch.
Contents
- 1 Best Dive Watches Under $5,000
- 2 1. Tudor Pelagos
- 3 2. Breitling Superocean
- 4 3. Oris Aquis 400 Caliber
- 5 4. Tag Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300M
- 6 5. Oris Divers Sixty-Five
- 7 6. Seiko Prospex Sea SLA061
- 8 7. Omega Seamaster Diver 300M
- 9 8. Bell & Ross BR0392 Diver
- 10 9. Longines HydroConquest L3.784.4.56.9
- 11 10. Doxa Sub 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US Divers
- 12 11. Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M
- 13 12. Breitling Superocean Limited Edition
- 14 13. Bremont S501 Supermarine
- 15 14. Mont Blanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date
- 16 15. Ball Watch Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU
- 17 16. IWC Aquatimer 2000
Best Dive Watches Under $5,000
1. Tudor Pelagos
Tudor is at the top of the list of watch brands for professional divers and Marines. The Swiss watchmaker produced the Tudor Submariners specifically for the U.S. Navy SEALs and the French Marine Corps.
For less than $5,000, you can get your hands on the Pelagos FXD, designed for the French Navy National Guard. The Pelagos FXD uses a titanium case (which is impressive for this price range) and will remain sharp for generations.
The 42mm case of this watch is made primarily of titanium, making it very light and comfortable on the wrist. Typical of Tudor, the Pelagos has the odd vintage touch, but it’s hardly a vintage-inspired watch. This watch is a modern diver both in terms of design and technology.
The Black Bay also offers its own movement with a 70-hour power reserve, but otherwise falls short of the Pelagos. Water resistant to 500m (50bar, 1640ft), the Pelagos is perfectly safe for everyday wear, but also suitable for serious diving.
The matte bezel looks like it’s made of aluminum, but is actually ceramic – exactly what watch enthusiasts crave in a Black Bay. But the Tudor Pelagos’s most distinctive feature is its exclusive diver’s quick-adjust clasp.
This patented clasp not only allows for quick and easy adjustment of the band length, but also automatically adapts to changes in wrist circumference as temperatures change.
This is a truly innovative clasp that leaves more expensive watches in the dust. To be fair, the clasp is designed with function over form in mind, but it perfectly complements the sporty and functional nature of the Tudor Pelagos.
This becomes even more apparent when you wear the diver on the rubber strap included with every full set. Add a Tudor Pelagos to your collection and you’ve got one of the best diver watches on the market for less than $5,000.
2. Breitling Superocean
The latest release of the Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57, which has been a runaway success, is based on the quirky “diver” of the late 50s, boasting a concave bezel and a shabby water resistance.
The Superocean Heritage we chose here is super water-resistant. In fact, this versatile, vintage-inspired beauty can take you up to 200 meters without worrying about the watch.
Aside from its impressive price tag of just over $3,000, there’s a lot to like about this 42mm piece. The release of its sleeker sibling has caught the eye of this enviably chameleon “beach-to-boardroom” beater.
If you’ve been keeping an eye on it for a while, that’s a good thing. Now that those susceptible to recency bias are flocking to the Heritage ‘57 and maybe even getting rid of this Superocean Heritage 42 model, you might as well grab it.
The Breitling Superocean Heritage 42 is an impressive piece. It seems to fit both the old Breitling idea and the new Breitling brand concept. It can be placed alongside the old and fancy Navitimers and Chronomats watches, or even the Breitling for Bentley.
Likewise, it fits very well with the modern Superocean range and the more streamlined and heritage-inspired times we live in. When you have the chance to analyze a watch during a noticeable style transition, you can assess how likely it is that the design will not fit with the trend. We think the Breitling Superocean Heritage 42 passes that test.
3. Oris Aquis 400 Caliber
The Date Caliber is Oris’ diver watch and is one of the most attractive diver watches under $5,000. Like most dive watches, it has a typical round case but an intricate bezel and dial color. The dial is painted in a hypnotic chrome blue paint. It is accented with baton markers and hands and an 18-karat gold-plated ceramic bezel.
Plus, the Oris Aquis 400 caliber has the longest power reserve of any dive watch in this price range. It features a date window, date corrector, an impressive 120-hour power reserve, and 21 jewels. You can basically wear this watch for five days without worrying about winding it every other day.
The Aquis reference also features an open case back to show off the engineering beauty. Plus, it comes with a COSC-certified movement and up to 10 years of anti-magnetic protection.
If you’re intrigued by the chrome blue dial of the Aquis 400, you’ll be amazed by the other designs in the collection, most of which cost less than $5,000.
4. Tag Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300M
Like many diving watches, it features well-sized hands and hour markers with bright fluorescent paint in two colours, making it easy to read in low light conditions. A date window at 6 o’clock adds functionality without compromising the clean, balanced design of the textured black dial.
Part of TAG Heuer’s renowned Aquaracer collection, this watch is built to withstand the rigors of underwater exploration while maintaining a sophisticated aesthetic that’s suitable for everyday wear.
The Aquaracer Professional 300M is powered by TAG Heuer’s Calibre 5 automatic movement, known for its precision and reliability. This Swiss-made movement boasts a power reserve of approximately 38 hours, ensuring consistent timekeeping both underwater and in everyday life.
As the name suggests, this watch is water resistant up to 300 meters (1,000 feet), making it ideal for professional diving activities and water sports.
The 12-sided unidirectional rotating bezel with 60-minute graduations allows divers to easily and safely track their elapsed dive time. The ceramic bezel insert provides scratch resistance and improves the overall durability of the watch.
The watch’s case and bracelet boast a combination of fine brushed and polished surfaces, creating a sleek and sophisticated look that complements its impressive technical capabilities.
5. Oris Divers Sixty-Five
Although this watch is also 42mm (the brand also offers 36mm and 40mm sizes), the Oris Divers Sixty-Five is significantly smaller than the other 42mm models on this list. A relatively subtle choice, it goes well with the strap (leather or rubber) as well as the metal bracelet provided.
The deep green dial looks great in both natural and artificial light, and provides a fantastic yet rare base for assembling almost any outfit you want. The watch is sleek enough to wear with cuffs and sturdy enough to wear with shorts.
Some may find the Oris Divers Sixty-Five range too spartan compared to other dive watches, but this kind of spartanness goes a long way. Class never goes out of style, and what we have here is one of the most confident, laid-back, rock-ready divers on the market.
And best of all, at under $2,000 on the open market, the Divers Sixty-Five is well within your budget.
6. Seiko Prospex Sea SLA061
Seiko fans will love the SLA061, the Japanese watchmaker’s most expensive diver’s watch ever. This limited edition of 1,000 pieces is a reinterpretation of Seiko’s 1970s mechanical diver’s watch, made entirely in black.
The first thing you notice about this Prospex is its unusual case shape. In fact, it is an asymmetrical extension to protect the crown at 4 o’clock. It was field-tested by adventurers on a 12,000 km dog sled trip from Greenland to Alaska from 1974 to 1976.
The front is black. The case and bracelet are made of hard-coated stainless steel and feature a domed sapphire crystal. The case back is also solid black and encodes the edition number (which of the 1,000 limited editions it is) and the 200m water resistance.
The movement of the Seiko SLA 061 is as robust as its appearance. It features the in-house caliber 8L35, which features a 50-hour power reserve, a date display, and 26 jewels.
7. Omega Seamaster Diver 300M
The Omega Seamaster 300M is not only a solid value, but it is also one of the most exciting dive watches of our time. This watch boasts a unique design and impressive technology. All of this at an unbeatable market price of under $5,000. It’s no wonder that Omega divers are so popular these days.
The best part about this watch is its wave-like dial pattern, which is unique in the industry. But it’s not just the outside that’s impressive, it’s the inside that’s equally impressive.
Few divers can offer a more technically advanced product, even at a much higher price point. The Seamaster is water-resistant to 300 m (30 bar, 984 ft), features a date display, and a sapphire crystal case back, the latter of which allows you to see the movement inside.
This alone makes for a great overall package, but it doesn’t end there. Omega has fitted this watch with a METAS-certified, Co-Axial automatic caliber that is not only extremely accurate, but also magnetically resistant to 15,000 gauss.
While most watch manufacturers simply put their watches through a pressure test to certify their depth rating, Omega actually submerges the Seamaster 300M to over 300m (30bar, 984ft) below sea level. In my opinion, this is quite a feat compared to its competitors.
I would like to highlight the numerous Omega Seamaster 300Ms on offer in particular. Every dive watch fan should be able to find a color combination to suit their taste. I personally prefer a watch with a white dial and black ceramic bezel. However, it is important to note that the bezel is the only real weakness I can think of on this watch.
It lacks the tactile feel that I get from a Rolex Sub or Tudor Black Bay. To be honest, manipulating the bezel on the Seamaster makes it more of a beginner’s watch. I wish Omega had improved in this area.
That aside, the Omega Seamaster 300M is without a doubt a great watch. It is one of the most beautiful dive watches you can buy today, especially when paired with a black rubber strap.
8. Bell & Ross BR0392 Diver
The BR0392 is a square diving watch born from Bell & Ross’s marine experience. This watch demonstrates the brand’s commitment to creating functional and aesthetically unique watches, making it an ideal choice for divers and watch enthusiasts who love a different design.
The BR0392 Diver is powered by the reliable Swiss-made automatic movement, Caliber BR-CAL.302, which guarantees outstanding precision and functionality. This movement boasts a power reserve of approximately 38 hours.
Designed with professional divers in mind, this watch is water resistant to up to 300 m (1,000 ft). The watch features a unidirectional rotating bezel with 60-minute graduations.
The screw-in crown ensures water resistance and prevents accidental adjustments during underwater activities. The bold hands and hour markers contrast sharply with the black dial and black anodized aluminum bezel, all of which look great against the square stainless steel case.
The BR0392 Diver features Bell & Ross’ signature square case, made of stainless steel or ceramic, depending on the model.
This unique design element sets the watch apart from traditional round case diving watches, creating a bold statement piece. It comes with a black synthetic woven black rubber and fabric strap, specially designed for divers.
9. Longines HydroConquest L3.784.4.56.9
The Longines HydroConquest is an affordable luxury diver for the sophisticated and stylish adventurer. It looks like the refined Planet Ocean. It features a ceramic case, bezel, and dial. The dial features a mix of round markers and Arabic numerals for a refined craftsmanship.
The HydroConquest is powered by the L888.3 automatic movement and comes with a two-year warranty. The caliber beats at 25,200 vibrations per minute, and it also has a 65-hour power reserve, 300m water resistance, and 21 jewels for precise performance.
The Longines Hydroconquest L37844569 is the ultimate casual dive watch for men. The matte black face and case, combined with a sweat-wicking silicone band, complement any outfit. This Hydroconquest model is likely to be a hot cake for resale once Longines discontinues production.
10. Doxa Sub 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US Divers
The Doxa Sub 300 collection is easily one of the top 3 most beautiful professional diving watches. But the Carbon Aqua Lung, limited to just 300 pieces, adds exclusivity to its beauty.
Instead of the flashy appeal of the Sub 300 line, it combines a variety of blacks to create an “urban camo vibe.” The case and dial are made of ultra-light matte black carbon with a charcoal hue to give it an urban feel.
The Sub 300 is also the first from the Swiss manufacturer to feature a unidirectional bezel with dual scales for depth and dive time to calculate safe ascents without decompression stops.
At this price point, you can be sure you’re getting a certified diving watch. Inside the Carbon Aqua Lung US Diver is a COSC-certified automatic movement with a 38-hour power reserve.
11. Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M
The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean is a high-quality dive watch that’s perfect for professional and recreational divers. If you’re on a budget, the Planet Ocean is a must-have.
Similar to the Rolex Submariner, but at a fraction of the price. The Planet Ocean is also built to last, with 316L stainless steel, a sapphire crystal, and a helium escape valve at the 10 o’clock position. And with its water resistance to 600 meters, it’s a great choice for divers in this price range.
Featuring the famous Omega Co-Axial 8500 movement, it’s accurate to within 2 seconds per day and has a 60-hour reserve, so you’ll rarely have to worry about rewinding it. The only downside is that it’s close to $5,000 without taxes, insurance, and shipping, so give yourself a little extra cash.
It also has a date window, power reserve indicator, and a 12 o’clock index design that differentiates the Professional from the Co-axial reference.
12. Breitling Superocean Limited Edition
The Superocean is a feature-packed dive watch from Swiss watchmaker Breitling. It’s a reincarnation of the Slow Motion line that was launched in the ’60s when scuba diving became a popular sport. But unlike the Slow Motion, which was strictly a dive watch, the Superocean is suitable for any occasion.
Despite its hardcore features, this sporty watch is one of the most beautiful yellow dial dive watches I’ve ever seen. The brightly colored dial is easy to read, combined with thick fluorescent indexes and square hands.
This limited edition takes the 1960s Slow Motion design to the next level of readability. The inner bezel features bold Arabic numerals for a 10-minute countdown, while the ceramic outer bezel features a 15-minute countdown.
Safe for diving up to 300 meters, it uses a Breitling 17 caliber. It features a 38-hour power reserve, 26 jewels, and is COSC certified. The Superocean is perfect for the diver who wants a reputable brand without spending a lot of money.
It ticks all the boxes for a dive watch, and best of all, it’s COSC certified and can reach an impressive depth of 500 meters. It’s a great value diver watch for under $5,000. And because it’s a Breitling watch, the Superocean will hold its value if properly used and maintained.
13. Bremont S501 Supermarine
The Bremont S501 Supermarine starts at around $4,000. Launched in 2009, Bremont’s S501 was the British watchmaker’s first diving watch. The co-founders set out to create a watch that would rival any professional diver in terms of design, price, and engineering.
And the S501 Supermarine is a worthy contender in its own right. It has a scratch-resistant stainless steel case and an anti-magnetic Faraday cage protecting the caliber.
Not to mention its water resistance up to 500 meters. The S501’s protective movement is a modified caliber BEE-36AE automatic chronometer with a 42-hour power reserve, date function, and 25 jewels.
COSC certified, perhaps a nod to Bremont’s British heritage, and featuring a Faraday cage magnetic protection. In this regard, the Bremontt S501 Supermarine is a top-of-the-line dive watch and a collector’s piece of British engineering.
14. Mont Blanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date
Montblanc’s latest dive watch, the 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date, was launched at the 2022 Watches & Wonders trade show.
This German diver has one of the most iconic dials on the list. There is a frozen texture that mimics the core of a glacier. Montblanc applied the ice effect using an old technique called gratté boisé.
And to show the water resistance of the Iced Sea, Montblanc added a 3D engraving of a scuba diver and an iceberg in the sea on the back of the case.
Inside the Iced Sea Automatic Date is an automatic movement with a date function based on the Sellita SW200-1 a, caliber MB24.17. It also has a 42-hour power reserve and 21 jewels, ensuring reliable timekeeping.
Ultimately, if you like beautiful watches from a reputable brand that can maintain its value, you will love the MontBlanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date.
15. Ball Watch Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU
The Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU is a classic dive watch and easily rivals the Omega Seamaster. First of all, the Hydrocarbon NEDU was designed for the Navy’s Experimental Diving Unit. The Navy’s members used to set diving and decompression rules for the entire military.
Second, it was the first watch to feature a helium escape valve built into the crown. Prior to the Hydrocarbon collection, performance dive watches had a separate button on the case.
The Hydrocarbon NEDU case is also made of grade 5 titanium, a stronger version that is only found on aerospace and marine gear.
The Hydrocarbon also features a unidirectional rotating bezel with markers at up to 60-minute intervals. This is a nice addition if you don’t want to do math while calculating your dive time.
The Ball also features luminescent gas tubes on its hands and markers for excellent visibility. Unlike traditional luminescent watches, it doesn’t require external lighting to charge, and it’s as bright as a smartphone in the dark depths of the ocean.
And to round out the exquisite watch, the Hydrocarbon is powered by a COSC-certified automatic movement with a date function.
16. IWC Aquatimer 2000
The Aquatimer, a diving watch from IWC Schaffhausen, is a great watch. In fact, it’s a simple diver’s watch from the famous Swiss watch manufacturer. It has a thick 14mm stainless steel case, a luminous black dial, and markers.
The Aquatimer 2000 uses applied stick indexes, a luminous bezel, and Roman numerals to keep track of the time in deep blue. The IWC has a quick-change bracelet system, so you can change the rubber strap to a polished IWC leather or stainless steel one.
The IWC Aquatimer 2000 is powered by the automatic 30110 caliber with a power reserve of 42 hours. It also features a date display and 21 jewels. Ultimately, the IWC 2000 may be a basic diver’s watch, but the brand’s reputation makes it a great investment.