You don't have to be a diver to wear a divers watch.
After all, diving watches aren't limited to your profession or hobby. These watches are classy, elegant, and stylish for any watch lover.
With so many options, though, the struggle is undoubtedly real.
Don't worry. I'll help you choose the best watch for diving through this review.
After hours of research and data gathering from my diving buddies, I've selected 8 of the best dive watches for your budget!
Oris Aquis Date Dive Watch: Best Overall
The Oris Aquis Date diving watch is the embodiment of individuality.
It's unlike any diving watch you'll find and the reason why I've chosen the Oris Aquis as the best overall diver's watch under $2000.
- Brushed and polished stainless steel case (43.50 mm in diameter, 13 mm thick), Mineral crystal...
- Black dial with 'Oris' printed at the 12 o'clock position, Silver-tone hands with luminescent...
- Date window at the 6 o'clock position, Scratch resistant domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective...
Let's start by mentioning its design. Its 43.5mm case features a kettle-style shape, providing a masculine, bold, and unique identity.
The prominent crown guards and sapphire crystal broad bezel showcases not only the Oris Aquis' originality but also the meticulous handwork and durability of its dial window.
Since its dial window also features an anti-reflective material, it's easy to read at any angle for any user.
Paired with the luminous material and faceted hour markers, each part complements one another to produce a well-polished appeal that fits any wear occasion.
Powered by the Swiss movement, Oris Caliber 733, one can expect accurate automatic movement and 38 hours of power reserve.
With a water resistance of 300m, it's also one of the top-notch watches you can go for if you're serious about your diving activities. [R]
All in all, the Oris Aquis is a diving watch that combines toughness, elegance, originality, and functionality that looks stunning on any user.
- Showcases originality
- Highly durable
- Water-resistant up to 300m
- Oris Caliber 733
- Meticulous, exceptional design
- Elegant appeal
- Flexible & comfortable wear
- None we could find
Casio G-Shock Master of G Frogman: Best Value
If you need a diving watch that's extremely durable and reliable, the Casio G-Shock is worth every penny. On that note, it's highly affordable.
The Casio G-Shock may not have a sophisticated appeal as most dive watches do; however, if it's one quality you can trust and rely on G-shock watches, it's their toughness. [R]
- Movement : Tough Solar MULTIBAND 6
- Made in japan
- Band Material : Carbon fiber insert Band
This is evident from their stainless steel case, carbon fiber band, and shock-resistant properties.
What stands out with the Casio G-Shock is charging it via solar energy [R], saving you from the struggle of needing to buy batteries often.
It even comes with outdoor functions, such as atomic timekeeping [R], tide information, moon phase calendar, 200 meters water resistance, and so much more!
For a watch that sports a rugged, sporty look, it's true when they say never to judge a book by its cover.
The Casio G-Shock carries an abundance of features, incredible durability, and an affordable price any diver would easily appreciate.
- Extremely tough & durable
- Great price value
- Shock-resistant
- Carbon fiber band
- Sporty appeal
- Various outdoor features
- Rugged look doesn't suit everyone
Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster: Best Budget Pick
The simplest design and features can also be the best choice among many diving watches.
In the case of the Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster, it's simple, practical, and functional. While sophisticated features are as intriguing as they look, most also demand a fairly steep learning curve and, worse, a difficult setup process.
- LIGHT-POWERED ECO-DRIVE: Converts any light, whether natural or artificial, into energy. Energy is...
- WATER RESISTANT TO 200 M: This Citizen tactical watch is water resistant to 200 meters (660 feet)....
- ANTI-REFLECTIVE MINERAL CRYSTAL: With a mineral crystal dial window, Citizen men’s watches are the...
The Citizen Eco-Drive provides a straightforward operation for a watch that's easy to use as it is to wear on your wrist.
Citizen spared no expense in providing the Eco-Drive Promaster with all the essential functions and features any diver would need.
These include an ISO-compliant water resistance up to 200 meters, a depth meter (useful for diving underwater), luminous hands, and an anti-reflective mineral crystal window for scratch-resistance.
All these features also complement the Eco-Drive technology (powers your watch through light), date window, screw-down crown, and a silicone band.
In case the watch breaks or you happen to be dissatisfied, it's not a problem either since Citizen offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 5-year warranty!
- Comfortable wear
- Practical choice
- ISO-compliant water-resistance
- 5-year warranty
- Money-back guarantee
- Easy operation & setup
- Fragile band
TAG Heuer Men's 'Aquaracr' Dive Watch
For any serious diver, you'll love the Tag Heuer 'Aquaracr'.
Its beautiful blue dial that complements the stainless steel strap and case provides a classy, elegant look any watch enthusiast would appreciate.
- Stainless steel case with a stainless steel bracelet. Uni-directional rotating bezel
- Black dial with silver-tone hands and index hour markers
- Swiss-automatic Movement
Despite being a watch under$2000, its design is on par with even far more expensive watches.
However, the Tag Heuer outshines most diving watches thanks to its 300m water-resistant rating.
You might think that a 200m water-resistant watch might offer similar performance, but really, the additional 100m is a prized quality if you want a serious underwater diving experience and extended submersion.
With the unidirectional rotating bezel, Swiss-made movement, luminous hands, and sapphire crystal window, it's an excellent watch if you're looking for great diving performance and a stylish appeal in one package.
- Sophisticated appeal
- Great diving performance
- 300m water-resistance
- Luminous hands
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal window
- Durable case and band
- Not ideal for small wrists
Longines HydroConquest Dive Watch (Women's)
The Longines HydroConquest is another stunning timepiece featuring a two-tone gold strap, rose gold bezel, and black dial for an elegant look.
In fact, the Longines HydroConquest carries similar features as the Tag Heuer watch. This includes luminous markers, a sapphire crystal window, and water resistance up to 300 meters.
The only difference is it's a women's watch, and with a case diameter of 33mm, it's perfect for women with small wrists.
Other design features include a dial window, Quartz movement, and stainless steel case and strap for a durable build.
- 300m water-resistance
- Classy, elegant appeal
- Luminous markers
- Comfortable wear
- Durable build
- Great diving performance
- Not suitable for larger wrists
Seiko Prospex 1968 Automatic Dive Watch
If you're willing to spend premium and want a chunky diving watch, the Seiko 1968 fits that description accurately.
Chunkiness aside, the Seiko Prospex 1968 is a charming piece that resembles Seiko's best watch designs' hallmark collection.
- Made in Japan, Seiko Caliber 6R15, 23 Jewels
- Power reserve: More than 50 hours
- Second-hand Halt Mechanism (Hacking)
For some, a large wrist footprint may not look appealing, but if you want a masculine and refined look, the Seiko Prospex doesn't disappoint.
Timing your dives is also easy to do thanks to the 60-click unidirectional bezel and sapphire crystal window for easy readability.
It's also worth mentioning its caliber 6R15 watch movement, which operates at 21,600 BPH [R] and an incredible power reserve of 50 hours! Seiko Prospex also offers a watch resistance of 200 meters.
Finally, you have the option to choose a Sunburst blue or Matt black dial in which both provide exquisite appeal any diver would love.
- 50 hours of power reserve
- 6R15 movement
- Masculine, refined appeal
- Precise & accurate timekeeping
- 60-click unidirectional bezel
- Too 'chunky' for some
Marathon GSAR Military Issue Dive Watch (Women's)
Marathon watches are quality timepieces you can't go wrong with.
I picked the GSAR primarily because apart from its 300m water-resistance, 26 jewels self-winding automatic movement is an impressive quality on its own.
- MIL-SPEC: Built to Government specifications for use by military personnel. NATO Stock Number...
- TRITIUM GAS TUBES: Self illuminating tritium gas tubes glow with no need to be charged by an...
- SEARCH & RESCUE: Designed for Search And Rescue missions at sea, water resistant to 300 meters (1000...
You might be wondering, do the 26 jewels even matter? [R] You'd be surprised.
There's one thing that makes jewels important in your watch, and that's friction. Friction is the archnemesis of watch movement. Too much friction and your watch's movement degrades and underperforms.
In effect, reduced friction ensures your watch performs impeccably even after years of use. In the case of having 26 jewels, that translates to a smooth movement for many years to come.
The Marathon GSAR even features a self-illuminating glow thanks to the tritium gas tubes. This also means it doesn't require charging through any external source like sunlight, for example.
Complemented by the watch's stainless steel case material and Government specs certification, it's one of the few dive watches under $2000 that's truly built to last.
- 26 jewels self-winding movement
- Government specs certified; Military grade
- 300m water-resistance
- Tritium gas tubes provide a self-illuminating glow
- Extremely durable
- None we could find
Here's a fun fact about this watch: the Hamilton BelowZero was featured in the blockbuster movie, The Martian, on the wrist of the main character, or should I say, the hero of the story.
What took me by surprise, though, was its 1000 meters water resistance!
- Additional bracelet
- Black dial
- Pin buckle
Pair that with its Helium Escape Valve (HEV) system [R], PVD case surface, ETA 2826 caliber watch movement, and sapphire crystal window, you get a watch that's seriously underpriced for the value it gives.
Not to mention the unique yet beautiful Khaki Navy appeal, it's hard to believe this watch is even under $2000. However, the dirty brown color of its bezel may be slightly off-putting for some.
Additionally, it felt quite heavy on the wrist, but that didn't come off as a surprise considering its 46.5mm case diameter.
I would've preferred, though, the watch had luminous markers to provide better visibility at night. Since this watch allows for saturation diving, it might be harder when you reach depths beyond 500 meters.
Nevertheless, I love Hamilton BelowZero for its strong features and relatively affordable price value. Plus, wouldn't it be great to wear a watch that was also worn by a hero who survived Mars?
- 1000m water-resistance
- PVD case
- Helium Gas Valve system for great diving performance
- Luminescent markers
- Sturdy, robust build
- Great price value
- No manufacturer's warranty
- Heavy on the wrist
How to Buy the Best Watch for Divers
The ideal watches for divers isn't as simple as choosing one with the label "diver" slapped on it.
Measuring a diving watch's actual credibility and merit falls to 3 vital elements: water-resistance, material design, and accuracy.
Water-Resistance
Obviously, getting a watch with adequate water-resistance is crucial to any dive watch's performance. However, there's a certain depth or meters your watch should be capable of reaching.
Considering how the waterproof rating is the most significant aspect of dive watches, the minimum waterproof rating you should go for is 100m or 330 feet.
In case you want a diver watch with serious diving performance, go for watches that offer a 300m waterproof rating or ISO 6425 standard.
Looking for an ISO 6425 standard is also one excellent way to know the watch can handle significant pressure and depth without breaking.
Material Design
The material design comes down to your personal preference and budget.
Nowadays, most watches will come with a stainless steel band and case or nylon, rubber, silicone. These material types are relatively inexpensive and offer great durability.
However, if you're willing to spend more than your budget, go for titanium or ceramic diver watches.
Not only do these types offer excellent durability, but they're also lightweight, making it easy and comfortable on your wrist.
Accuracy
Accuracy isn't merely about precision. It's also mostly about functional longevity.
The most common movements you'll find are quartz, solar (powered by light), automatic (no winding required), digital, and kinetic.
While it's hard to say there's a top contender among all movements, a good standard is an accuracy rating that can resist a magnetic field of 4,800A/m.
Conclusion
I hope you found this review of the best watches under $2000 helpful and you pick the one that suits you perfectly.
Links, prices and images pulled from Amazon Product Advertising API. Last update on 2020-12-01.