The Best Dive Watches of 2024

There’s hardly a category of watches that is as disputed as the diver. Every year, in all price ranges and all possible styles, we’re seeing hundreds of new dive watches released by watchmakers from all over the world. Choosing the best models in this segment of the watch industry is not an easy task and is always subject to long internal discussions. But the MONOCHROME team has made it, and we’ve come to an agreement… Here are what we think were the 5 Best Dive Watches of 2024, ranging from accessible to high-end – and the funny thing is that both are closely related. 

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 42mm Titanium

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is, without a doubt, one of the most important dive watches ever. Created back in the mid-1950s and one of the first purpose-built modern dive watches, it’s long been one of our favourites – but we had our reservations concerning recent collections. They were either too big or perfectly designed and proportioned but highly limited, and the collection was missing a readily available and nicely sized model. Problem solved with the Fifty Fathoms 42mm Titanium, a more compact, fully equipped, classically designed watch that does everything you’d expect from a FF. Inside you’ll find a powerful, 5-day power reserve in-house movement, the case is greatly finished and the dial, specifically this blue edition, is truly appealing.

For more details about the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 42mm, please consult our hands-on article here.

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M No-Date

Omega loves to tease us… It took about four months for the brand to officially unveil the watch many had spotted on Daniel Craig’s wrist, a watch that everybody knew to be a no-date, vintage-inspired version of the Seamaster Diver 300M. And it’s finally here. A tribute to the early versions of this collection, this new sub-range comes with multiple evolutions first seen in Bond-dedicated models (60 Years of Bond and NTTD), including an aluminium bezel insert, a box-shaped sapphire crystal, an aluminium dial with mini-wave pattern and, as you’ve guessed from its name, a no-date display. While there’s also a version with a steel-toned dial and a 3D-like bezel, we’ve selected this black-on-steel edition for it to be a classic that won’t go out of style. It’s not all perfect, we’d love a slimmer, smaller case, but it’s a great watch nonetheless.

For more details about the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M No-Date, please consult our hands-on article here.

Seiko Prospex 1965 Divers SPB451, SPB453 & SPB455

The Seiko 62Mas, the first dive watch created by Seiko, has long been a source of inspiration for the brand, whether in modernized “reinterpretations” or faithful “recreations” over the past years. This year, Seiko returned to the drawing table to improve one of its best-sellers, the mid-range 62Mas-inspired dive watch. The result is this collection of Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s (SPB451, SPB453 & SPB455). What has changed? Not really the design, which retains the classic 1965 look, but with a smaller 40mm case, a slightly slimmer profile and a reduced L2L measurement, all of that despite moving from 200m to 300m water-resistance. Inside, we also have an updated calibre 6R55, and it’s worn on a revised three-link steel bracelet. Yes, the position of the date window is debatable, but the rest is pretty appealing indeed.

For more details about the updated Seiko Prospex 1965 Divers, please consult our review with video here.

Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty-Fathoms Ocean Of Storms

Following the initial storm caused by the launch of the Swatch x Blancpain collaboration, Blancpain & Swatch presented a new version of their accessible Bioceramic dive-inspired watch, the Scuba Fifty-Fathoms Ocean Of Storms. And because we’re named MONOCHROME, this all-black edition speaks to us the most – plus, in all fairness, it’s also the best-looking one with its subtle colour scheme (at least, that’s our opinion), and the one that will be least prone to outdating. Apart from the black-toned case and dial, nothing has changed. It’s still a Swatch at heart, with a bioceramic (synthetic compound) case and a Sistem51 mechanical movement inside. The water-resistance of 91m (fifty fathoms) limits its diving credentials a bit, but it’ll be enough for sports activities. And design-wise, it truly looks like a Blancpain FF, as you can see above in this article. Pretty cool.

For more details about the Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty-Fathoms Ocean Of Storms, please consult our introducing article here.

Tudor Black Bay Master Chronometer Monochrome

The epitome of a cool, solid, timeless and fully equipped dive watch made to last for the coming decades… Yes, this Black Bay Master Chronometer “Monochrome” is probably the most boring version in the collection, and this is why it’s also the most sensible choice you can make if you’re looking for a great dive watch to follow you for the next 20 years. Based on the update made by Tudor in 2023, it comes with a redesigned, slimmer case, new bracelet options, a monotone dial without vintage accents and a manufacture movement certified Master Chronometer by METAS… Sure, there are some more striking and cool watches on the market, but this one will be hard to beat regarding specs and timelessness.

For more details about the Tudor Black Bay Master Chronometer, please consult our hands-on article here.