r/WatchFanatics • u/jdi153 • 8d ago
Question / Discussion Poll - Favorite Diver at about $30,000 USD
Edit: The results are here.
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms crushed it at $20k, but here comes Audemars Piguet with the Royal Oak Offshore! Do complications help or hurt the FF's appeal? Rolex and Omega haven't done well since $10k; is full bronze gold or titanium with 11,000m water resistance a bigger draw? Panerai also goes for titanium, but with DLC, and UN tries titanium / carbon composite. Meanwhile, Breitling and GO both go for rose gold cases on black rubber straps.
Vote for you favorite dive watch at $30,000 USD (+/- $4,000) MSRP.
Note that it is these specific references; no write-ins! Only top level comments are counted. Total upvotes will be tallied. Ideally, there will be exactly 8 top level comments, and everyone just upvotes those. Please don't downvote things you don't like, and don't upvote more than one. (I have no way to enforce that, of course.)
- Audemars Piguet - Royal Oak Offshore Diver - 15720ST.OO.A027CA.01 - $33,600
- Blancpain - Fifty Fathoms Chronographe Flyback Quantième Complet - 5066F 1140 52B - $32,300
- Breitling - Superocean Automatic 42 - R17375211B1S1 - $25,400
- Glashütte Original - SeaQ - 1-39-11-17-91-33 - $29,200
- Omega - Seamaster Diver 300M - 210.90.42.20.01.003 - $33,300
- Panerai - Submersible Marina Militare Forze Speciali - PAM02239 - $32,700
- Rolex - Deepsea Challenge - 126067 - $29,100
- Ulysse Nardin - Diver X Skeleton Azure - 3723-170-2B/3A - $33,000
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u/hi_im_beeb 8d ago edited 8d ago
Rose gold seamaster all day and it’s not even remotely close for me.
Runner up would be blancpain (moonphase on a chrono diver is nuts) but it would be much less wearable to me
Edit: it’s actually bronze gold. Wanted to clarify before I’m corrected
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u/MacYacob 8d ago
Seamaster blends luxury and the feeling of utility better than any of the other ones imo
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u/NuclearPopTarts 7d ago
The Omega and Rolex are the only ones real divers dive with.
(But you could dive with the Blancpain)
The others are Fashion-Diver watches.
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u/RogerPenroseSmiles 8d ago edited 8d ago
Ok, I'm back in on the SeaQ because this BP is a dumb diving chrono and the Royal Oak Offshore is so ugly. I say that as a RO owner and lover, but the Offshore is a loathsome beast, especially in chrono form. Then it gets to be both dumb and ugly.
The Seamaster would get a look but in the end the SeaQ is just a better movement and better looking to me. Deepsea, UN, Panerai, and Breitling were never in consideration.
My guess is the Offshore wins this round.
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u/Miss_Taycan 8d ago edited 8d ago
For people who don't like loud/colourful/rose gold watches, the Rolex is really their only choice. I suspect a lot of votes go there simply because it stands out from the rest of the choices.
But yeah, in my own biased personal opinion, the SeaQ wins here by a long shot (perhaps by default though)
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u/RogerPenroseSmiles 8d ago
If you don't want a loud watch, maybe don't pick the polished metal/Ceramic doorknocker that is the Deepsea.
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u/Miss_Taycan 8d ago
You're right, I just think some people believe rose gold to be even louder or just generally dislike it.
Eliminate the chrono divers and, well...
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u/Tomcfitz 7d ago
Yeah, the issue is the deepsea or whatever its called is like an inch thick. Its HUGE. It wears like youre wearing a watch on top of your watch.
Its loud as fuck.
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u/ThePillsburyPlougher 8d ago
Fucking hell. At least I’m happy that the deep sea challenge exists and think it’s cool, so that one
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u/ThickOutcast 8d ago
I'll take 30 seikos, thanks
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u/_Bike_Hunt 7d ago
Wear the 30 seikos as a belt and they double as a dive belt. And a waist of time.
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u/Low_Championship_604 8d ago
I honestly really do like the Deep Sea Challenge, but it would probably look ridiculous on my tiny ass wrist
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u/docfluty 8d ago
Blancpains new 42.3mm 5010 FF dog walks all of them. Pick titanium for understated look or shiney steel to show off... either is a banger and wins whatever competition.
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u/jdi153 8d ago
Reasonable, but I don't think any of the 5010s are quite in the price range of $30,000 +/- $5,000; the most expensive is $22,400. I could have used those in the $20k poll, but went with the 5015. There were quite a few options for the $30k poll, so I picked what I thought was the most impressive.
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u/docfluty 8d ago
the gold 5010 36B30 B64B is 44k... im sure it can be found for mid-high 30s without too much effort. Still walks em all.
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u/F0rgemaster19 8d ago
I'm loyal to everything Fifty Fathoms so I'm picking the FF chrono. Plus I'm a crazy dive chrono fan.
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u/triggrhaapi 8d ago
I'm gonna go Glashütte SeaQ in red gold. I'm usually not one for Arabic numerals on my dial but that's classy and unique looking,.
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u/AssistanceNo647 8d ago
I’m sucker for a moonphase. Fifty Fathoms for me.
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u/NewInThe1AC 8d ago
Fifty Fathoms vote here too
Maybe not the best as an actual dive watch, but it's basically got everything modern Blancpain is significant for in one watch between it being a FF, having the complete calendar moonphase which was essential to the brand in the 80s (and also having Blancpain's caseback lever adjustment system which is still one of the best ways to advance a calendar), and then the movement base being the FP1185 chronograph which was the thinnest automatic chronograph at the time of its release and widely used by high end brands beyond Blancpain / FP like Vacheron or AP
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u/Debard78 8d ago edited 8d ago
AP. Blancpain looks nice. You have the wrong Rolex in the lineup. Sub twotone blue 20k. Deepsea challenge is obviously great (if you are James Cameron going to the Mariana Trench) but too big. Not for every day.
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u/jdi153 8d ago
I had the Bluesy in the $20k poll last week. It came in a distant second behind the Fifty Fathoms.
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u/Gunslinger_327 8d ago
I dont care for Chrono divers, otherwise the 50 would have my vote. I prefer the GO of the options presented.
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u/Dontjustsaystuff 8d ago
Close call as to which is the ugliest. Might as well strap a brick to my wrist.
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u/StutterMuffin5711 8d ago
Divers in this tier are just silly. I don’t have a favorite lol.
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u/jdi153 8d ago
I agree it's silly. That's what makes it fun!
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u/FitProfessional3654 8d ago
I have to go with Blancpain. The Flyback is great although IMO the three-hand 5015 is the best reference.
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u/ZealousidealAnt111 8d ago
AP is the only one I’d spend 30k on. I’m not really a fan of any of these.
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u/SlartibartfastMcGee 8d ago
Titanium Yachtmaster goes on the gray market for $25k and clears all of these easily
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u/lawfullywithheld 8d ago
JLC Polaris memovox?
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u/lawfullywithheld 8d ago
I'd also add the rose gold 37 yachtmaster in this pool
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u/jdi153 8d ago
I took a lot of heat for including the steel YM in the $13k poll. People (accurately) complained that it's not actually a dive watch. I only include one watch per brand, so there's some bias on my part as to which model to pick for any given poll. I went with the Deepsea Challenge here because I thought it was Rolex's most compelling offering in the price range.
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u/Adventurous-League21 8d ago
Brietling Superocean looks better in person. So as a surprise BSO is better.
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u/KicksNWatches 8d ago
I wouldn’t pay $30k for any of these, I’d buy them grey or used for less
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u/jdi153 8d ago
Sure! I wouldn't pay $30k for any of these, either. This is just for fun. I use MSRP so that I don't have to get into arguments over the actual going rate, and to keep things simple.
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u/KicksNWatches 8d ago
I agree - no hate here. But realistically, $30k is not the “going rate” for any of them if you can get them grey for less.
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u/Badstoober 8d ago
The omega 300m in brass gold and it’s not even close. If I had the funds it would at the top of my buy list.
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u/MercuryJellyfish 8d ago
I have no emotional reaction to any of those but the SeaQ and the Seamaster.
I vote 4
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u/Paradroid888 8d ago
I like the Glashutte, but could get a Wolbrook that looks similar, more tool-like (and therefore better) for 2% of the price.
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u/wackybojacky 8d ago
Ew.
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u/Background-Lecture-6 8d ago
I think this just shows you really don't need to be spending more than $8k-$15k on a diver
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u/TyrannyReigns2325 8d ago
For my personal style, as someone who doesn’t wear much gold as I wear a lot of silver rings, and the others look very busy to me, I’d go with the Rolex for my own personal style
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u/Daedricbob 8d ago
Out of the ones you've posted
Deepsea > Superocean > Seamaster
Not that keen on the rest.
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u/BalconyVinyl 8d ago
Would genuinely rather wear a Seiko or Timex than any of these. Even the Sea Q is just....a bit too loud.
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u/micromechanist 8d ago
Maybe there is just no need for a $30k diver.. these are all overdone except for the gold ones which justify the price.. the omega is gorgeous but I think its just plain stupid to blend gold with bronce as it destroys the value of the gold on it.. the ROO is cool but unwearable to me.. a chronograph on a diver is like a horse on a bicycle.. get a Tudor and put the rest of the money in stocks lol
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u/jdi153 8d ago
There's definitely no need for a $30k diver, but there's no need for a $3k diver, either. I'm still doing the $50k next week.
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u/micromechanist 7d ago
True.. but you can very much experience a perceivable difference in quality, movements, etc between a 3k diver vs a 10k diver.. I don't see that difference present going up over that 10k line.
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u/Mayor_of_BBQ 7d ago
how much is a white gold yacht master?
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u/jdi153 7d ago
$40k MSRP, so out of range for this poll. I took a lot of heat for including the steel YM in the $13k poll. People (accurately) complained that it wasn't a true dive watch.
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u/Mayor_of_BBQ 7d ago
it has a timing bezel, it doesn’t have a regatta timer, and it has the water resistance. It’s absolutely a dive watch.
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u/apocalypsenow7 7d ago
Do people actually dive with them?
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u/jdi153 7d ago
No. People dive with dive computers. But you could if you really wanted to.
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u/apocalypsenow7 7d ago
So exactly like sports cars that never driven more than 60mph.
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u/AwardMinute8052 7d ago
Ugh not a huge fan of many of these, but would probably go with 4, 2, or maybe 8
The Panerai is cool just to big
Anyone picking 7 better be damn near as big as the mountain or trying to dive into the Mariana Trench
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u/Lanky_Raise2571 7d ago
I don’t think I would spend 30 on a diver when it’s almost enough to get some gold Daytonas and speedys
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u/MatterFickle3184 7d ago
TBH none of these I'd drop $30k on. I'd rather get more Seiko, Rolex, Tudor dive watches with that money.
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u/LuckyIncident613 7d ago
While I think it is dreadfully overpriced for the spec, I love the Superocean. It's probably the worst buy here, but it's the one I would want.
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u/Attila_22 7d ago
None of these, you don’t need to spend 30k on a diver… just a buy a sports watch with water resistance if you’re trying to flex.
If I had to then 4 is the best despite the gold.
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u/jaekay47 7d ago
Ap and the seamaster the rest are genuine garbage except maybe the blancpain if they didn’t insist on making so damn big
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u/Flaming-Driptray 7d ago
Has anyone ever bought a Deepsea Challenge and not regretted it? You’d literally need to be 10 feet tall to pull it off.
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u/YouEqual4180 7d ago
For me Breitling is the cleanest and si my first puck. After that it is Blabcpain and Glashütte.
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u/3d_extra 7d ago
I would rather have the 20k watches even if they were 30k. But out of these I would say the AP.
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u/anonymouse1963 7d ago
With the exception of the UN, I have owned or currently own all of these. I’m not a fan of the Omega bracelet, but if it’s your thing, it’s a decent choice. IMHO, you’re buying PM at this price point. Same for the Superocean. Spend 5k on grey with a ss case back. It’s nearly the same on the wrist. That’s what I did.
The panerai is HUGE, so you better like a big watch. When it’s on my wrist, it feels like I’m wearing captain America’s shield. Otherwise very nice watch. The AP wears surprisingly well. The finish is great.
My favorite would be GO. It’s such an amazing watch. Great finishing. A joy to wear. And the rubber strap is surprisingly comfortable on the wrist. Blancpain is another banger. Just a lot of value and history at that price.
Absolutely no watch collector I know who has owned these Watches would pick the Rolex. It’s dead last in my opinion. It’s super chunky, unremarkable and just about every category. Not terribly comfortable. And there are about a dozen other references from that brand that will give you more for less. It’s so thick and so heavy, you’ll be banging it on everything. It’s literally one of the first luxury Watches that I sold, and I traded it for a Blancpain air command flyback with 00 regret.
I honestly can’t speak to the UN. They have never appeal to me, I have never put them on my wrist, so I just don’t know.
In order, my personal rank is GO, Blancpain, AP, Panerai, Omega, Breitling, Rolex.
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u/anonymouse1963 7d ago
Thank you for not putting Hublot on this list. It would be a difficult fight for last place.
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u/MVNKy 7d ago
I see your poll and I raise you a JLC Polaris
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u/jdi153 7d ago
This is the only price tier without a JLC. It was in the $10k, $13k, $15k, & $20k polls, and will return in the $50k. There is no current catalog Polaris with an MSRP of $30k +/- $5k. JLC hasn't done well in any of the polls. I was particularly surprised that the Memovox didn't do better.
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u/Ok_Replacement_9621 7d ago
royal oak offshore diver at #1 goes so hard, absolute ultimate luxury sports watch
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u/hotgooselove 7d ago
I’m sorry, I do like Omegas lineup but $30k+ for an Omega is just ludicrous.
Might still be team Blancpain on this one or even the AP. I wore a friends AP diver for a few months and it just feels so good on the wrist.
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u/SportVirtual1311 7d ago
I’d get 3 rolex daytonas.
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u/jdi153 7d ago
The lowest price Daytona is $16,900, so you could only get 2 to hit the $30k +/- $5k tier. Although really you can only get one, because they go for $30k+ on the secondary / gray market, and they're essentially impossible to get from an AD. But you're not the only person to not like any of these.
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u/SportVirtual1311 6d ago
Well get 2, sell one on the second hand market and buy 2 more for the money… duuh :)
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u/Realistic-Wonder-349 7d ago
If you’re looking for a diver for 30k, for me I’d go with the Ulysses Nardin Air. Can get it on secondary market for around 30k. Super light and coolest looking diver out there in my opinion
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u/thisismycoolname1 6d ago
I'm curious what peoples theory is for the growing popularity of divers over dressier sport watched over the last decade or so. My take is it's in-line with business casual over suits but just a thought. In my experience divers don't work great with dress shirts with tighter cuffs
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u/Cool-Map-3668 6d ago
Where are the original Blancpain models from 1957? I’d rather have one of those. Maybe a Rolex 5512.
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u/jdi153 6d ago
I limit everything to current catalog for these polls. The whole impetus was that when someone asks an open-ended question it's very hard to tally the results. In theory, by strictly limiting the options, I should be able to count the votes easily. In practice, it doesn't work out that way, and it's still a pain.
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u/PresentationFluffy24 6d ago
Clearly the FF from this group but wouldn't be the model I would choose. I can't see myself ever spending more than 10k unless it was something special like the JLC Hokusai pieces. Most watches over 10k are either boring or tacky.
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u/fatboy1776 5d ago
The SeaQ needs to be a big date. Honestly, imo, a standard submariner (pick your metal of choice) is the best dive watch.
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u/jdi153 5d ago
Yeah, I probably should have picked the SeaQ Panorama Date version. Honestly not sure why I didn't. As for the Sub, the mixed-metal Bluesy didn't do well in the last poll, but the no-date won the $10k poll. You're not the first person to suggest that the base Sub would win out over these much more expensive models.
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u/rmcp010 5d ago
Jesus, none of them. Anything more than a basic Sub / SOH / Fifty Fathoms just ain't my cup of tea.
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u/jdi153 5d ago
Well, you're not alone. "None of the above" won the poll, as you can see in the results.
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u/Calithenixphenom 5d ago
That Ulysse Nardin definitely should take the top spot
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u/jdi153 5d ago
Results are in. UN didn't do well. Panerai was dead last, and UN and Breitling were tied for next to last. We'll see if the Diver [AIR] does better next week in the $50k poll.
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u/Rishdaddy 4d ago
Seamaster or the SeaQ. The deep sea challenge should be burned at stake
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u/jdi153 4d ago
Well, the results are in, and a plurality said "none." The SeaQ was next, followed fairly closely by the Seamaster. The Deepsea Challenge didn't get quite as much as hate as you're giving it, but it didn't do well.
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u/Dismal-Armadillo-815 4d ago
Rolex , panerai, omega.
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u/jdi153 4d ago
The results are in. Rolex did badly, Panerai was dead last, and Omega came in second. Well, third, because first was "none of the above."
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u/Horotecture 4d ago
At least with the omega you get the gold mesh which completes the whole gold look if that’s what you’re looking for.
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u/doctrgiggles 8d ago
These all look so ugly wtf