SEIKO Solar Chronograph DIVER Ref. SSC017P

By TLex This was released earlier this year. The Solar Chronograph Diver has a 43mm x 12mm thick Stainless steel case which is water-resistant to 200 meters. It is fitted with a Hardlex crystal glass, a blue and black rotational divers bezel and a screw-down crown. Its black dial is with white Lumibrite hands and markers with a date display between 4 and 5 o' clock position.

It is powered by a Seiko Caliber V175 Solar Powered Quartz movement with chronograph function. It comes on a solid Stainless steel bracelet with fold over clasp with push button and secure lock. Made In Japan. List price is 460USD, but they can be had for a good 100 dollars less . . .

LUMINOX Navy SEAL Colormark newBLUE

By TLex LUMINOX have revised their Navy SEAL Colormark models. The 3083 Chrono and 3053 3Hands are now available with a new darker and stronger blue . . .

AQUADIVE Bathyscape 300 PressureTEST

By TLex Below is a copy of the final pressure test result for the Aquadive Bathyscaphe 300, when it tested in March of this year.

Even though the BS 300 is rated to 10'000 feet on its dial, it actually passed a pressure test of 502 bar, the equivalent of 5'020 meters or 16'70 feet of water-resistance.

It achieved this despite using a 40 year old Time Depth Model 50 case blank. A testament to Aquadive's fine Swiss and German engineering.

CORUM Admiral's Cup Challenger 44 Chrono RUBBER

By TLex For those of us, who find it hard to resist the charms of orange rubber even when the watch that it's presented on isn't strictly a diver.

CORUM have given the Admiral's Cup Challenger 44 Chrono a new look for the summer!

Read my review the Admiral's Cup DEEP HULL 48

t..a.c.t.i.c.o TC2 Giveaway 2DaysLEFT

By TLex Hey folks there are just 2 days left until the TC2 Giveaway comes to a close, so if you haven't already entered there's still time and you still could win yourself a TC2 with a custom leather strap!

t.a.c.t.i.c.o have once again teamed up with artisan strap maker, Jacob Straps of Spain to produce an exclusive high-quality vintage style leather strap for the TC2 AKA the 'Black Command'.

The custom straps will be tailor-made to fit each customer's wrist. They will be embossed with both the Jacob Straps' logo and the t.a.c.t.i.c.o logo.

Each strap will also be numbered to correspond with the TC2's own number. So if you have TC2 #10, you'll get strap #10, how cool is that?!

RICHARD MILLE RM 032 DARK DIVER Automatic CHRONO

By TLex Richard Mille have released a special all-black DLC version of the RM 032 Automatic Chronograph called the 'Dark Diver'. Like the original, the LE has a water-resistance of 300m or 30atm, which is in keeping with ISO 6425 norms for a divers' watch.

RM state that the degree of water-resistance was particularly difficult to achieve with the RM 032, because water pressure on the pushers and crown could potentially be powerful enough to unintentionally activate the Chrono.

In order to avoid any external pressure effect or accidental manipulation, RM developed a locking crown for the RM 032 that secures the pushers and as a result ensures perfect water-resistance. The crown and its pushers can be locked by simply rotating its ring (red arrow).

The massive 50mm tripartite Titanium case of the Dark Diver is curved for ergonomic comfort, a hallmark of all RM models. It features a Sapphire crystal dial and caseback. Its dark look was achieved with DLC treatment on the case and buckle, along with black bezel indicators, pushers and a rubber strap. Superluminova elements on the running indicator disc, hands and hour markers allow maximum visibility whilst diving.

Just 30 pieces of the RM 032 DARK DIVER Automatic CHRONO will be made. The Limited Edition watches will be sold at the RM Boutique Beverly Hills, CA.

Rolex DEEPSEA By BAMFORD Watch Dept.

By TLex Rolex Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA with custom 'deep blue' dial from Bamford Watch Department of London . . .

Click HERE to see Bamford's & DRx's collaborative custom Rolex Submariners . . .

CORUM Admiral’s Cup 44 Chrono CENTRO

By TLex When I'm not scuba diving, I'm racing yachts. OK, that might not be true, however it would be fair to say that I have more than a casual appreciation for nautical watches. CORUM's Admiral's Cup collection in my humble opinion has some of the finest yachting watches that there are. 

Here are three of their latest models. The Chrono Centro, the Bol d’Or Mirabaud 44, and the two Admiral’s Cup SEAFENDER Chrono Centros, the 48 and 44 respectively. The Admiral's Cup collection now includes a number of really great divers, the DEEP HULL 48 lead the way for the AC divers' collection.

BREITLING Superocean 42 ORANGE

By TLex Based on the smaller 42mm Superocean case, the Superocean 42 Orange has a water-resistant of 1500m, 5000ft. It features a screw-down crown, a unidirectional divers bezel and a domed sapphire crystal, which has anti-reflective coating on both sides.

The watch case houses a Breitling Caliber 17, which is an officially COSC certified chronometer with 25 jewels and a calendar. The dial, which is black is framed with a bright orange chapter ring. The Superocean text is also in orange. Finally the watch is presented on a black leather strap with contrasting orange edging. Very nice, who doesn't like orange?!

BREITLING Superocean 42 WHITE WATER

By TLex This is actually advertised as ladies' diver and quite rightly, so! I find all-white mens' divers a little disturbing! Introducing the great white dive watch, the White Water, which makes use of the smaller 42mm Superocean case, which is water-resistant to 1500m (5000ft) or 150bar. 

It features a screw-down crown, a white rubber-molded unidirectional divers bezel and a domed sapphire crystal, which has been glare-proofed on both sides. The case houses a Breitling Caliber 17, officially COSC certified chronometer with 25 jewels and a calendar. It is of course presented on a white rubber 'Diver Pro' strap with a raised central ridge to complete its look . . .

From BREITLING The Breitling spirit is set to make waves again with a new version of the Superocean 42 entirely clad in white from strap through bezel to dial.

Ultra-sturdy, ultra-sporty and water-resistant to the fabulous depth of 1,500 meters (5,000 ft), this diver’s watch with a steely character has already established itself as a champion of reliability on the wrists of those with a taste for powerful sensations.

In its new White Water version, it will appeal to women who enjoy mixing style and performance, boldness and excellence. Available exclusively from Breitling boutiques, this special series with its fresh and original look is equipped with a self-winding movement chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute).

The white rubber-molded unidirectional rotating bezel and the distinctive dial are adorned with dynamically styled numerals. The thick sapphire crystal is glare-proofed on both sides.

The powerful lateral reinforcements protect the screw-locked crown, while a safety valve serves to balance out differences in pressure inside and outside the case. An ideal instrument with which to cross any waters with the utmost confidence, and to sail through fashions with inimitable elegance.

BREITLING Superocean 44 GOLD

By TLex The BREITLING Superocean 44 GOLD is out now. I've tried one on and it's hot! The watch is fitted with a self-winding movement. It is water-resistant to 2000 meters and is fitted with a unidirectional rotating bezel featuring an 18K Rose Gold insert, which is complimented by a gold handset, itself perfectly offset by a black dial. The watches are available with either a leather or rubber divers strap, or a steel bracelet.

Breitling have a whole range of Gold Superocean and Superocean Heritage models that they have released for 2012. They all look stunning!

BREITLING Superocean Chronograph II GOLD

By TLex The BREITLING Superocean Chronograph II GOLD should have made its way into the boutiques by now. The watch is fitted with a self-winding movement with a Chrono function and calendar. It is water-resistant to 500 meters and is fitted with a unidirectional rotating bezel featuring an 18K Rose Gold insert, which is complimented by gold hands and indicators. The watches are available with either a leather or rubber strap, or a steel bracelet.

CLICK to see the new Superocean Chronograph II RED . . .

MIDO Ocean Star Captain IV DIVER PVD

By TLex An unassuming looking diver gets a new look! The Ocean Star Captain IV DIVER is now available in PVD. Its 42.5mm case is in black PVD coated Stainless steel with a water-resistance of 200 meters. It fitted with an AR-coated Sapphire crystal and houses a Swiss made automatic ETA caliber 2836-2 with 25 jewels, 28,000 vph and a power reserve of 38 hours. MSRP is 1100USD.

VintageVDB 2012 PROTO's

By TLex We finally have some better images of the VintageVDB 2012 prototypes, two outstanding looking watches that are available in two finishes, bead-blasted or PVD.

The PVD finish seems a deeper black than I had originally thought it would be, so it really allows the orange markers to pop.

This model will house a NOS A. Schild AS1920 Automatic movement.

Check out the enormous lume pips and the engraved lugs, very cool!

The watches are due to ship in September. They will come in special green presentation boxes.

Follow the the VintageVDB icon below for further info. and stay tuned for more updates soon . . .

HUBLOT King Power 48MM OCEANOGRAPHIC 4000 PressureTEST

By TLex When HUBLOT tested the Oceanographic 4000 they used a state of the art pressure testing tank, the Swiss made Roxer RXF 500, which can test up to 500 bar, the equivalent of 5'000 meters of water-resistance.

In order to meet the exacting specifications of the NIHS international standards of Swiss watchmaking and to be properly described as a dive watch with a 4'000m depth rating, the Oceanographic was submerged and pressurized to 5'000 meters, an additional 25% of its stated water-resistance.

To ensure the water-tightness of the watch and resist such extreme pressure, a 6.5mm thick synthetic sapphire crystal was used. Much thicker than normal, but of a fairly reasonable thickness given its level of resistance.

The case back of the Oceanographic is screw-down, a sine qua non for reaching such depths. It is constructed of Grade 2 Titanium, an extremely strong stainless material. The watch is fitted with two screw-down crowns, a protective measure that helps ensure water-resistance by compression of an O-ring seal.

Since its release in 2011 HUBLOT have released a further five versions of the Oceanographic 4000. Discover the Oceanographic 4000: Carbon, Only Watch, All Black Blue, Alinghi and the Gold White. Yet to be officially released is the Oceanographic 1000.   

HUBLOT Oceanographic 4000 King Gold WHITE

By TLex HUBLOT unveil the Oceanographic 4000 King Gold White. Its 48mm case is constructed of 'King Gold', consisting of 18K gold with 5% of platinum, which Hublot say gives it its special intense red color. The lug bezel and lateral inserts are made from white composite resin. The case back is constructed from Titanium.

The watch is limited to 100 pieces, which means that HUBLOT either believe that there are potentially 100 men with questionable enough taste to dare to wear such a watch or, that there are a 100 ladies who would rock such a watch!

Don't however be fooled by its looks, this version like all Oceanographic 4000's is certified to 400 ATM or 4'000 meters and was tested to 5'000 meters in accordance to the NIHS standards.