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Luxury watches seem to remain popular, even during times of financial crisis and tumult. That’s probably because watches are often purchased as the representation of a personal or professional milestone. Those moments don’t simply stop happening because the job market is slow or because inflation is close to its highest point since 2023. Life goes on, and what better reminder that time continues to march forward than a luxury watch that can mark every single second. When people start shopping for a new luxury watch, one style seems to stand above the rest in popularity, and that’s the rugged dive watch.
There isn’t one specific characteristic of a watch that makes it a quintessential diver, but rather a combination of traits that let you know you’re looking at one of the most versatile styles of all. For starters, the case (and, at times, the bracelet) is typically made from stainless steel or titanium due to the durability of those materials. Dive watches most often have a rotating timing bezel as well, so you can time your dives. Perhaps the most important of all is water resistance. In order to be truly considered a dive watch, a timepiece will need at least 100 meters of water resistance. Fortunately, I stumbled on a watch at Amazon that meets all those requirements and more from a well-known microbrand with impressive watchmaking chops.
The microbrand trend
Microbrands are watch companies that are relatively small and, therefore, able to change quickly with market trends and technological developments. That doesn’t mean that these aren’t established respectable brands. It often means that they deliver specs and quality that can compete with high-end Swiss luxury watch brands without charging multiple thousands of dollars for each piece. While many large watch brands leverage economies of scale to gather the most profit, many microbrands use a wide range of supply chains to keep costs low for the consumer. That’s why they’re able to deliver extremely high-quality watches with incredible finishing at relatively reasonable prices.
Undone is one of those microbrands that’s beloved by watch nerds and newcomers to the hobby alike. Not only does Undone make the most of its headquarters in Hong Kong to source the best possible components from affordable Asian suppliers, but the brand’s design aesthetic is next level. They have a number of different designs, ranging from field watches and GMT’s to dressier options and the aforementioned diver look. One of its most popular dive watches is worth a look, whether you’re a seasoned watch collector or just getting started.
Undone Aquadeep 300 Meters Titanium PVD
The Undone Aquadeep 300 Meters Titanium PVD is a microbrand luxury watch with maximum high-end vibes. As the name suggests, it has an impressive (and rare) 300 meters of water resistance, which makes it a leader in its price category. The patterned dial and rotating dive bezel give it a depth and level of sophistication that you rarely see in a watch that doesn’t cost at least $3,000. Also belying the affordable price is the ceramic bezel insert atop the bezel. That’s a detail usually only reserved for the most expensive watches. The black PVD-coated titanium case is matched perfectly with a black canvas strap for a sporty look and feel, while pops of yellow and a small seconds sub-dial make the watch look more interesting than most.
Those are all great selling points for this piece, but the real treat is on the inside. Housed in the aforementioned black PVD case is a Seiko NH37 movement. The high-accuracy Japanese movement keeps this watch on an incredibly accurate course, and will assure that you’re never running late. This is an automatic movement, which means, much like a Rolex or Omega mechanical watch, you’ll never need to replace a battery. It functions thanks to the motion of your arm throughout the day, and keeps on ticking for hours, even after you’ve taken it off.
If you’re ready to build a serious luxury watch collection, this piece is the perfect place to start without breaking the bank.
More microbrand watches
If the Undone Aquadeep 300 Meters Titanium PVD is the right first luxury watch for you, then there are lots of other microbrand picks that you may prefer. Whether you want something sporty or dressy, Undone and many other brands can fill that need. With that in mind, we recommend you grab whatever microbrand luxury watch you’re coveting quickly, because this trend is only getting more popular, and you don’t want to miss out on an amazing piece because someone else was quicker than you were in snapping it up.
Undone Basecamp Field Watch
Boldr Venture Automatic Field Watch
San Martin Automatic Stainless Steel Watch
About Vintage 1960 Racing Chronograph
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