Are you looking for a diving watch with good value retention but are put off by current market prices for a Rolex Submariner or Sea-Dweller? Luckily, there are plenty of options out there that aren’t from Rolex. I’ve selected three divers that all cost around $5,000 or less, aren’t from the brand with the crown, and boast good value retention. After all, purchasing a luxury watch requires some degree of saving for most of us, so it’s only natural that we want our beloved new timepiece to hold its value over time.
1. Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight / Heritage
If you know a little bit about the world of watches, you probably thought of the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight immediately after reading the title of this article. Any discussion of divers with good value retention would be incomplete without the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight. It offers (almost) everything a diving watch fan could wish for and is currently one of the most stable watches going. And even better news? I think there is some upward potential for this watch in the future. The 39-mm, vintage-inspired diving watch offers a COSC-certified, in-house movement with 70+ hour power reserve and water-resistance to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft). Two often-mentioned critiques, however, are the lack of a quick adjustment system for divers as well as the old-fashioned, supposedly vulnerable aluminum bezel. As I said, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight offers almost everything you cold wish for in a diver. While I think the first criticism is justified, I have to disagree when it comes to the bezel. I don’t think the Black Bay would be nearly as charming with a ceramic bezel. It is precisely this feature that gives the Tudor diver its unmistakable look and fabulous tone. If you’re worried about the bezel’s sensitivity, I can offer some reassurance: I’ve already had several Black Bay models in my collection and the bezel is absolutely durable – the odd knock or bump isn’t a problem in the least.
If the Tudor Black Bay 58’s vintage look isn’t your thing, you should take a closer look at the blue version or taupe version made of silver. These variants released in 2020 and 2021 have a distinctly fresher and more modern feel than the original, despite featuring the same vintage accents. Feel like the Black Bay is simply too small for your wrist? If so, check out the Heritage line. You have even more options when it comes to this series. The watch measures 41 mm across, making it a perfect fit for enthusiasts with larger wrists or those who just prefer their divers big. Don’t fret, the Tudor Black Bay Heritage is another watch with good value retention that is generally easy to buy and sell on the open market. Although it used to be frequently spotted in shop windows, the standard Black Bay is now becoming increasingly popular, with certain color variants expected to perform particularly well in the years to come.
2. Omega Seamaster Diver 300M
The Omega Seamaster 300M not only enjoys stable value, it’s also one of the most exciting diving watches of our time. It boasts both a unique design and impressive technology. All of this is available at an unbeatable market price of less than $5,000 – no wonder the Omega diver is so popular at the moment. The best thing about this watch is its wave-like dial pattern, which is one-of-a-kind in the industry. But it’s not just the looks of this watch that are so impressive, what’s inside is just as great. There are few divers out there that can offer more technically-speaking, even those at much higher price points. The Seamaster is water-resistant to 300 m (30 bar, 984 ft), and features a date complication and sapphire crystal case back, the latter affording a view of the movement within. This alone constitutes a great overall package, but it doesn’t end there: Omega outfits this watch with a METAS-certified, Co-Axial automatic caliber that is not only extremely accurate, but also antimagnetic to 15,000 gauss. While most watchmakers merely subject their watches to pressure tests to certify their depth ratings, Omega actually submerges their Seamaster 300Ms to 300 m (30 bar, 984 ft) below sea level and beyond – a pretty big feat compared to the competition, in my opinion.
I’d especially like to highlight the numerous Omega Seamaster 300Ms on offer. Every diving watch fan should be able to find a color combination that suits their tastes. I personally prefer the watch with a white dial and black ceramic bezel. It’s important to note, however, that the bezel is the only weakness I can think of on this timepiece. It just doesn’t have that great haptic feeling that I’ve come to know on the Rolex Sub or Tudor Black Bay. To be completely honest, operating the Seamaster’s bezel feels more akin to an entry-level watch. I hope that Omega makes some improvements here. That aside, the Omega Seamaster 300M is, without a doubt, a great watch. It is one of the most beautiful divers currently available for purchase, particularly when paired with a black rubber strap.
3. Tudor Pelagos
First things first, in terms of performance, I don’t see the Tudor Pelagos having quite as much upward potential as the Black Bay line. Nevertheless, if you are able to buy at the current market price, you won’t go wrong with this diver from Tudor. While the Pelagos may not be quite as popular as the Black Bay, this is a respected watch among collectors and one that is likely to find a buyer rather quickly if you decide to sell it. Interestingly, the Tudor Pelagos offers everything that is often criticized as lacking on the Black Bay, but I’ll cover the bezel and diver’s quick adjustment in more detail later on. This watch’s 42-mm case is made primarily of titanium, making it extremely lightweight and comfortable on the wrist. As is typical of Tudor, the Pelagos has the odd vintage touch, but it can hardly be called a vintage-inspired timepiece. This is a modern diver through and through, both in terms of design and technology.
While the Black Bay also offers an in-house movement with a 70-hour power reserve, it can barely keep up with the Pelagos in other areas. Water resistance to 500 m (50 bar, 1640 ft) makes the Pelagos extremely safe to wear in everyday life, but also suitable for serious dives. The matte bezel looks like it’s made of aluminum, but it’s actually ceramic – exactly what watch enthusiasts crave on the Black Bay. The best feature of the Tudor Pelagos, however, is its clasp featuring an exclusive diver’s quick adjustment. This patented clasp not only makes it quick and easy to adjust the band length, it also automatically adapts to changes in your wrist circumference due to fluctuating temperature. This is a truly innovative clasp that leaves more expensive watches in the dust. To be fair, the clasp was designed with a focus on function over form, but it perfectly complements the sporty, functional nature of the Tudor Pelagos. This becomes even more evident when you wear the diver on the rubber strap that comes included with every full set. If you add a Tudor Pelagos to your collection, you can call one of the best divers available on the market your own for less than $4,000.
