Sharp Watch Shout Out: Ratio FreeDiver 200M Professional Diver Watch

If you want a sharp-looking diver-style watch that diverges from the typical Rolex Submariner-inspired watches, you might want to check out the RATIO FreeDiver Professional Dive Watch with 200-meters of tested water resistance.

RATIOI Freediver with 200 meters of water resistance

The RATIO watch brand started in Singapore and is dedicated to bringing rugged high quality watches to the market at attainable price points.  They offer dive watches with 200, 500, and 1000 meter water resistance, aviation watches, and field watches. 

[As of September 2025, Ratio watches seem to have disappeared off of Amazon. You may be able to find it used on the platform if you search.]

Watch Sighting: Guess Rigor Silicone Sports Watch

I recently saw this beautiful Guess diver-style watch at my local Belk department store.  With it's rose-gold tone case and eye-catching bezel, it looked like a winner.  But, further research has shown me that this watch has some good performance features like 100 meters of water resistance.

Close study of the dial shows that this watch keeps track of the day, date, and 24 hour time.  It also hits all the right modern tones with a carbon-fiber pattern dial and a comfortable silicone strap.  This watch caught my eye while I was Christmas shopping at an actual mall.

[As of July 2025, you can find many Guess Watches for Men at Amazon.]

Affordable Dive Watches

Spring is sprung!  Summer is coming and it's time to think about trekking to the beach.  For those of us who like watches, spring is a good time to think about waterproof watches.  The Bureau of Fictional Internet Statistics reports that 85% of all stolen watches are taken from shoes left on the beach by swimmers.*  You can help cut that statistic by wearing a waterproof watch!  Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable diver-style watches that will fit the bill.  I've run down some of the brands that I know about here:

A Guide to Dive Watches Under $100

Since I wrote this article, I've learned  of another great watch brand that has a nice dive watch with a screw down crown and 200 meters of water resistance starting at $99.  If you'd like to learn about it, come back on Sunday!

The New Insignum Subwave

My watch collection recently grew with the addition of a brand new Insignum Subwave Dive Watch from my friends at ZuluTimeZone.com.  They are now carrying the full line of watches from this German brand that combines German design and quality control with global sourcing and affordability.

I'm really excited about this Insignum watch because it is a real dive watch rated for 200-meters of water resistance.  With this rugged watch, I'm all set for serious underwater adventures.  It's made with 316L stainless steel for the case and the bracelet.  It also has a sapphire-coated glass crystal.

The Insignum Subwave Dive Watch

It has a unidirectional rotating bezel for timing your dive (or my pizza).  Most importantly for water resistance, it has the screw down crown to keep water out of the Japanese quartz movement.

An Impromptu Test of the screw down crown on the Insignum Subwave

 If you'd like to read my full review of this watch, you can find it here -

Wristwatch Review:  Insignum Subwave Dive Watch

Once you've got a watch like this one, you'll have to gear up!

Rolex Blow Out at T.J. Maxx!

As many of you may know, there are "run way" T.J. Maxx location in selected upscale communities around the country.  Sometimes you can find some great deals.  Tonight I was flabbergasted by this amazing deal:  Rolex Submariners for $250!

Rolex Submariners at T.J. Maxx!!!

Like many watch collectors, I've always wanted a Rolex.  I appreciate the fine craftsmanship and the amazing waterproof qualities of these dive watches.   It's nice to not have to write "diver-style" watch!

Unfortunately, I owe on my taxes and I didn't have $250 to buy one of these babies!  They are still there!

Of course, it is April 1st.  So, you have to act fast because I'm sure they won't last long!

By the way, before you jump in the car, it is April Fool's Day!

APRIL FOOLS!

Photo by:  Eternalsleeper at en.wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

 But, for us mere mortals, there will always be Invicta!

[For the official record, the preceding article was an April Fools Joke and there were never $250 Rolex at TJ Maxx.  But it is fun to dream about Rolex watches.]

Structure Men's Diver-Style Watch

Structure is one of my favorite inexpensive watch brands.  Their watches sell at Sears for $30 to $35 or so.  Made by MZ Berger, Structure watches are a definite step up from the $10 to $20 watches that MZ Berger makes for retailers like Walmart.  Structure watches are always up to date in their styling and look good on the wrist.  One of my latest Structure watches is a very cool diver-style watch.  It looks like it would be a great watch for a diver, a surfer, a preppy, or a rapper. 

Structure Diver Style Watch

A Merona Diver-Style Watch from Target

For $19.99, you can't really get much of a diver's watch.  But, you can get a pretty nice looking "Diver-style" watch.  This Merona Diver-Style Watch from Target looks good and is a steal for $19.99.  However, I wouldn't try to scuba dive with it!

You'll notice that the case shape has a passing similarity to that of higher end dive watches like this Citizen Promaster Aqualand:

By .Naklig at el.wikipedia (Transferred from el.wikipedia) [Attribution], from Wikimedia Commons

Perhaps you see a bit of this Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean in the humble Merona? 

By Naklig (προσωπική εργασία) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Of course, if you want a real dive watch, you might check out this Seiko Adventure Kinetic Diver Watch:

The Secret Life of a Watch Dude

Ever since high school, I have liked the James Thurber short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." It's about a man who daydreams of adventure while handling the mundane chores of life.  As a bit of daydreamer, I've always identified with the story.  As a watch collector, I find that each of my watches evokes a certain daydream and the possibility of grander adventures.  When you strap on a watch, you can momentarily be a soldier, a deep sea diver, a mountain climber, a sea captain, or a pilot with every glance at your wrist.

Do you feel the same way about watches in your collection?  For example, if you were or wanted to feel like one of the guys in the picture below, which of your watches would you be wearing? 

US DoD Photo (Public Domain) via Wikimedia Commons

In this case, I'd probably pick my Timex Expedition Core Analog Watch.  It has that all black diver-style look with luminous hands.

Timex Expedition Core Resin Analog Watch

My Favorite Diver Style Watch: The Caravelle by Bulova Stainless Steel Diver Style Watch

[I can't believe I've been blogging about watches for 14 years.  It's been amazing and fun.  Now, I can update some of my original posts with a little more watch wisdom.]

I really enjoy classic Diver Style watches.  They have a simple, clean, functional design, and they usually have a bezel that turns.  A rotating bezel is great for timing things while wearing an analog watch.  My favorite diver style watch is my current Caravelle By Bulova Stainless Steel Watch (Model 45B35K).

Caravelle By Bulova Stainless Steel Watch

It's black.  It's stainless.  It has a simple rotating bezel. What's not to like? 

Update 2025: There were some cool things about this watch. The classic style, rotating bezel, stainless steel case, and richly enameled bezel surface gave this watch an awesome look. But, as it turned out, there were a few flaws not to like with this good looking watch. It wasn't the face or case, it was the strap that presented problems. Within a year, the strap got brittle, and showed signs of white oxidation. The unusual shape made it impossible to replace the strap.  After my experience with this watch, I would recommend watches with more conventional lug dimensions and traditional spring bar strap or bracelet attachment mechanisms.

You won't find the Model 45B35K Caravelle watch on Amazon anymore, but Caravelle branded watches are still going strong.  

As of July 30, 2025: To maximize value, use my affiliate link to visit the Bulova Store on Amazon and check out their selection of Caravelle watches.