In general, sports watches improve on basic designs through increased durability and complications, which make a timepiece much more than a way to keep time. In particular, dive watches are made to survive underwater. Water is arguably the greatest enemy of any watch, bar none. A few droplets of water can lead to discoloration of visual elements such as the dial and cause the movement to rust, rendering your wristwatch a high-powered paperweight. In order to keep watches water-resistant numerous design elements have been developed.

Water Resistances

There are two main concerns when it comes to wearing a watch underwater: Does it work, and if needed, can it be read? The latter issue is easily solved with luminosity markers, but a variety of designs solve the question of durability underwater. Most watches achieve water resistance to some degree by using rubber gaskets to create seals where the components of a watch meet, resulting in hydrophobic protection up to a certain point. The limit at which a watch can be used consistently without the seal breaking and water entering the timepiece is called “water resistance.” Water resistance refers to survivability when static at a particular water pressure and is measured in either meters or atmospheres (ATM, which are equal to 10 meters each). Because any sort of movement raises the pressure put on the device, the practical depth at which you can use your watch is going to be lower than the number on the case. For example, a watch that says 100m won’t be ideal for use at that depth but will offer all-around protection when it comes to swimming. Even if you don’t often find yourself engaging in deep-sea activities, a dive watch can still be a useful addition to your wrist. Any watch built to withstand the pressure of water at that depth will be perfectly suitable for living a long life exposed to regular occurrences where you might want to keep your watch on despite water exposure, be it heavy rainfalls or the simple act of washing your hands. Fundamentally speaking, a dive watch offers function and protection.

Seatrek

The Seatrek is an appropriately named timepiece, suitable for the needs of any deep sea traveler. When it comes to water resistance, the watch has a tested water resistance of 300 meters as well as a screw-down crown and sapphire crystal for maximum protection. The watch also comes with a rubber strap, whose hydrophobic qualities make it perfect for taking a dip. From an aesthetic standpoint, the Seatrek’s visual language makes a bold splash for summer while invoking colors that make it equally appropriate for fall. The first thing you’ll notice is the eye-catching orange rubber strap, which you can swap out with any Jack Mason 22mm strap for cooler colors or leather bracelets, thanks to our quick-release pins. This is matched by an easily read black dial, with orange highlights on the indices, bezel, and dual-colored hands. While an essential part when it comes to wearing the watch, the strap is just an accessory to the case. The Seatrek comes with a unidirectional bezel, used for timing your dive, that, because of its nature, makes it so that you won’t find yourself staying underwater for longer than normal. Practical functionality in all contexts is aided by a date window at the 3 o’clock position, as well as luminosity markers on the indices, hands, and bezel.

Diving Necessities: Past, Present, and Future

In case there was any doubt of the nature of the Seatrek as a diving watch, the sculptural caseback reveals a key part of diving history: The bathysphere. This spherical vessel proved to be essential in the evolution of marine biology. It allowed humans to descend and observe marine life at a depth only previously achieved by windowless, observation-unfriendly submarines. Beneath the sea, only a portion of sunlight is visible, hence the representation of a bathysphere floating in a darkened ocean. The Seatrek showcases a truly impressive number of water-resistant features as well as a visual language that speaks to the early history of diving while presenting a bold silhouette for its present release. It is and will remain an authentic dive watch whose makers understand your accessories need to be acclimated to a life on the go while looking gorgeous in your moments at rest. Whether you find yourself using the dive watch as intended, utilizing the quick-release straps to keep it appropriate for more traditional settings, or wearing it on casual occasions, the Seatrek is an all-terrain watch for those who need it.

Seatrek Automatic Box Set

The Seatrek line offers high-powered dive watches, but among these the Seatrek Automatic stands out as a timepiece whose internal design choices match its external ones. The sleek, 42mm stainless steel case contains many of the design and durability features we come to expect from a high-powered dive watch. The same 300-meter water resistance, screw-down crown, and screw-back case are complemented by dual-colored SuperLuminova luminosity markers on the hands, indices, and bezel, as well as a sapphire watch crystal. The factor which fundamentally sets the Seatrek Automatic apart from other offerings in the line is the namesake Seiko (SII) Caliber NH35A automatic movement. Automatic movements have historic value, setting a fine middle ground between the precision craftwork of traditional mechanical movements and the convenience of modern quartz movements. In automatic movements, a rotor powers the watch through the movement of your wrist, meaning that so long as you wear it regularly, you won’t need to wind the piece. The Seatrek’s movement is capable of holding a 41-hour charge. The case is made from 316L stainless steel, also called marine-grade stainless steel, for its rust-resistant properties. Continuing the aquatic-minded design, the box set, in particular, comes with two bands. The first is a stainless steel bracelet made of the same rust-resistant composite, perfect for athletic and formal occasions alike, whereas the second band included is a black rubber band that maximizes comfort underwater.

A Variety of Choices

Two versions of the Seatrek Automatic exist. Both utilize the same stainless steel case and black, unidirectional bezel, but subtle coloring differences distinguish the two. While the base Seatrek is all about being bright and bold, the first version of the Seatrek Automatic relies on the cool simplicity of monochrome. A black bezel and dial are enhanced by stark white hands and indices, as well as the pale color of the case and bracelet. The second version features, for the most part, white lettering and indices, with partial orange coloring on the minute and second hands, as well as the 12 o’clock to 3 o’clock positions on the bezel. The navy blue dial combines with mostly dark coloring to create a watch with a distinctly aquatic feel, summoning the subtle palette of a deep-sea voyage.

Seatrek vs. Seatrek Automatic: A Final Comparison

Both the Seatrek and the Seatrek Automatic (“Automatic” for short here, for ease of reading.) make compelling cases for your choice of a dive watch, but a side-by-side comparison is helpful for figuring out which one is the best for you. Both watches are similar when it comes to the care of design put into them. On a visual level, they feature unidirectional bezels to prevent mistiming your dive, as well as a sculptural caseback revealing a bathysphere. On a functional level, both use a date window, luminosity markings, and a host of water-resistant features to keep your watch operating at a high parameter. The Seatrek is the more cost-effective of the two and showcases brighter coloring than the Automatic. A bold orange strap and matching markings on the watch face highlight its summer introductory date without compromising its use in multiple settings. By comparison, the Automatic Box Set is more costly, but for a good reason. Internally, the Automatic uses a highly desirable movement, giving a slight added weight on the hand and improving its capability as a legacy piece. Each version is marked by a visual design that is comparatively subdued while being anything but boring. The Box Set also comes with an additional strap, making it ready right out of the box for water-based activities and business and formal settings alike. Either choice you make, you’ll end up with a watch that’s built to last in the most strenuous conditions. So go jump in: The water’s fine.