The diver is one of the most popular categories of wristwatches, originally conceived as a tool for explorers and military divers. In its early years, it was built purely for function – waterproof cases, legible dials and rugged construction were essential.
Today, the diver watch is as likely to surface in a boardroom as it is to plunge into the ocean’s depths.
Omega was the first to dive in. In 1932, it released the Marine, the world’s first diver’s watch, worn by renowned explorers and oceanographers including Jacques Cousteau and Charles William Beebe, one of the inventors of the bathysphere, a deep-diving vessel.
That pioneering watch was followed in 1948 by the Seamaster, which went on to become one of the most recognisable dive watches in history.
Blancpain, another watchmaker with a storied heritage, introduced the Fifty Fathoms in 1953. Named for its water tightness up to 50 fathoms (about 91 metres), it quickly became popular, adopted by French naval divers, as well as by Cousteau and marine conservationist and photographer Laurent Ballesta. Its reputation was not only technical, but cultural. It was a watch that spoke to the romance of the sea.
Other houses soon joined the current. Panerai developed the Luminor, instantly recognisable for its oversized crown guard, sandwich dial and luminous numerals. Breitling launched the Superocean.
These, like the Rolex Submariner, were conceived as pure tool watches – sturdy, practical and uncompromising. But their functionality did not prevent them from becoming style icons. Omega’s Seamaster was strapped to James Bond, and Steve McQueen was forever linked to the Rolex Submariner. The diver’s aura of toughness and adventure became inseparable from its allure.
That enduring appeal has allowed the dive watch to evolve beyond its utilitarian roots. Increasingly, models are being designed for lifestyle wear and for a broader audience. One clear trend is smaller sizing, appealing to both women and men with slimmer wrists.
Tudor’s Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue, for instance, shrinks to a well-balanced 37mm case, with a dial inspired by Tudor’s 1950s divers. It’s a nod to the Oyster Prince Submariner reference 7922, adopted by the French and US navies, but inside beats the modern Calibre MT5400, engineered for robustness.
Colour is another force reshaping the category. Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms Tech line, for example, makes a bold statement with new orange rubber straps. Still substantial at 45mm, the titanium case houses a unidirectional bezel with 120 clicks for use with gloved hands.
For Blancpain chief executive Marc A Hayek, innovation is central. “When we developed the Fifty Fathoms Gombessa in 2023 [a watch named after Ballesta’s scientific expedition to research the coelacanth fish, thought extinct for 70 million years], it came from a question I asked myself: ‘If the Fifty Fathoms were invented today, what would it look like?’”
The answer is the new Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC, which brings advanced technology into a more wearable form. “Now, I love that we can bring colour and style into the Tech line, proving that a serious diver’s watch can also have a lifestyle side,” says Hayek.
Omega has also embraced vivid hues in its Seamaster Aqua Terra series. The latest release is a striking turquoise, available in both 38mm and 41mm cases. With ceramic bezels, a turquoise varnish dial shaded with a black gradient and Super-LumiNova markers, the watch is as stylish as it is capable, water-resistant up to 150 metres.
It carries forward the DNA of the original Seamaster while nodding to the technical refinements of the modern Seamaster 300M.
Montblanc, better known for its mountaineering-inspired timepieces, has moved decisively into diving with its Iced Sea Automatic Date collection.
These are ISO 6425-certified divers watches, thanks in part to the brand’s O Oxygen technology, which eliminates fogging under extreme temperature shifts and prevents oxidation so the components last longer.
The line now comes in a smaller 38mm size, broadening its appeal, and offers glacier-patterned dials in crisp white and ice blue, paired with rubber straps or a steel bracelet.
Breitling’s relationship with the sea goes back to 1957, when it debuted the Superocean. Then, as now, the model was as much about design as utility. Today, it has been reimagined as the Superocean Heritage.
The collection includes a 42mm chronograph and automatic models in 40mm, 42mm and 44mm, equipped with the new B31 movement, plus a more compact 36mm version with the Calibre 10 automatic movement in mint green.
“It’s our most elegant sea watch and this update is about refinement,” says Breitling chief executive Georges Kern. “Details have been perfected, but the spirit stays the same. It’s about style at sea.”
Oris, meanwhile, continues to champion accessibility and conservation. The Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph is a vintage-inspired piece with ocean-green accents, retro pump pushers and 100-metre water resistance.
In its bestselling Aquis line, Oris has launched the Aquis Date in a fashionable New York Harbour aqua-green, paired with a rubber strap. Released last month, it supports the restoration of oyster reefs in New York Harbour.
Marine conservation has become a rallying cry for many watchmakers, tying the diver’s tool-watch heritage to today’s environmental concerns.
Ulysse Nardin has just released the Diver Hammerhead Shark chronometer, a muscular 44mm model in blue PVD-coated titanium, its case-back engraved with a hammerhead motif. It continues the maison’s Shark series, which supports ocean protection.
Panerai, too, has integrated sustainability into its identity. The brand has forged partnerships with causes such as manta ray conservation and Ocean Literacy With All, making each watch purchase feel like a contribution.
This year, it revisits the Luminor Marina of the 1990s, originally a military instrument, reinterpreted for civilians in lighter titanium and with a thinner case profile. The result is a watch that remains faithful to its military toughness, while offering clarity and lightness for those venturing below the surface.
From Omega’s pioneering Marine to Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms, and from Panerai’s rugged military instruments to today’s vibrant, conservation-minded designs, the dive watch has continually evolved.
What began as a practical solution for professionals, is now an icon of style, adaptability and purpose. Whether strapped on in the depths of the ocean or peeking out from under a shirt cuff, the diver remains one of watchmaking’s most enduring creations.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
if you go
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Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Spec%20sheet
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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