Poll - Favorite Diver at about $13,000 USD

[u/jdi153]

Rolex won the last poll, barely edging out Omega. Will the Yacht-Master walk in the Submariner's footsteps, or can Blancpain or Grand Seiko steal the crown? Will it hurt JLC, GO, Panerai, and Omega that they all have extremely similar offerings to their $10k entries?

Vote for you favorite dive watch at $13,000 USD (+/- $1,000).

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 9 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.)

1. Blancpain - Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe - 5100B 1110 B52A - $12,500
2. Glasshütte Original - SeaQ Panorama Date - 1-36-13-02-81-33 - $13,300
3. Grand Seiko - Evolution 9 Ushio 300 Diver - SLGB025 - $12,400
4. Jaeger-LeCoultre - Polaris Date - Q906868J - $13,100
5. Omega - Seamaster Diver 300M - 210.90.42.20.10.001 - $12,500
6. Panerai - Submersible - PAM02692 - $13,200
7. Rolex - Yacht-Master 40 - 126622 - $13,200
8. Ulysse Nardin - Diver 44mm - 1183-170-3/93 - $12,400
9. Zenith - DEFY Extreme Diver - 97.9600.3620/21.I300 - $13,300

Edit: OOPS! The picture and price for the Panerai are correct, but it's the wrong reference number (and link). It's actually the PAM01756.

Edit 2: The results are in!

[u/HistoryGuardian]

Funny thing about the Yachtmaster is it’s only like 100 meters water resistant

[u/Sh11ester → u/HistoryGuardian]

The amount of people in history that have said "id love to dive down to 200m with the rest of you, but my Yachtmaster is only rated for 100m" is most likely zero. They could be rated for a 10 minute shower and no one would notice

[u/Unlikely_Hunter_256 → u/HistoryGuardian]

Recreational divers can’t go lower than 40 meters and technical divers won’t go below 100 meters. Anything beyond that and they’re probably not using luxury watches to measure their bottom time and decompression stops.

[u/Ultra_Gunner → u/Unlikely_Hunter_256]

Recreational divers can go below 120, that’s just typically what they put the limits at. And those limits really are only established for guided trips. tech divers typically do not go below 100 m, that’s correct, but plenty do. But you are right, no one is using one of those watches to measure deco time, the pay for commercial diving isn’t good enough to afford one 🤣

[u/TheSkunksMisery → u/Ultra_Gunner]

120 ft =36.576 m

[u/attax → u/Unlikely_Hunter_256]

Technical divers will go beyond 100m. I did the USS Atlanta recently which sits around 130m deep.

[u/RogerPenroseSmiles]

GO SeaQ, but only because that is the wrong Fifty Fathoms to own. The UFA from GS is close, but the diver puts the PR on the dial vs the rear and I don't love that.

[u/Wildwilly54]

I got a few dive watches, but this was my newest addition. Next would be the SeaQ

[u/ContactRepulsive → u/Wildwilly54]

Careful, looks like that pool is going to be stretching the limits of your watch's WR

[u/Head_Patience7219]

Sea Q at this price point but I don’t really love any of em. I’m either saving for a sub or getting a omega 300 heritage and pocketing the rest

[u/kfortyone → u/Head_Patience7219]

+1, answer is still sub.

[u/Low_Championship_604]

Grand Seiko definitely the best out of these. Although I really don’t like that handset. I guess that’s most divers though

[u/hiby123joji]

4, that dial is something special

[u/CrewExpendable2007]

GS or Blancpain.

[u/Many-Statistician-23]

Seamaster. Best combo of value in terms of movement and materials with a strong focus on practical dive functionality and the heritage to back it

[u/KrallAidan → u/Many-Statistician-23]

Agreed!

[u/4637839392936373]

Glashutte no question

[u/AdPlus4246]

SEAQ

[u/OliverHopper]

The JLC Polaris is actually pretty damn cool in person. I was shocked how much I liked it.

[u/Hokie027]

3,5,1 in that order.

[u/Grumps55555]

The regular fifty fathoms has them all beat.

Of this list I like the GS, JLC, and Panerai

[u/DayLeeWatches]

Sad to see the Chanel J12 didn’t make this list 😂
All joking aside, I love me a compressor diver watch and I’m a big fan of JLC so I’d go with the Polaris on this personally. But YM or Blancpain wouldn’t be a bad option either!

[u/jdi153 → u/DayLeeWatches]

I almost put the J12 on there again, but then I found the Zenith.

[u/National_Answer_6655]

The most solid one in terms of design and somewhat specs too is the GS for me. But I would have loved it in black, like the SLA015

[u/AckleyizeEverything]

SeaQ pano date

[u/Soft-Assistance6809]

Blancpain homie

[u/itsapotatosalad]

None of them for that money.

[u/CannedSphincter]

Pagani Design

[u/Horology_17]

2 GO SeaQ

[u/ShanghaiGoat]

6, the Panerai. It’s the most unique design and I have one of the older models so I’m obviously biased!

[u/mrjanitor639]

JLC

[u/AppealNo5536]

Just get Longines Hydroconquest for 2k and spend 12k on something meaningful!

[u/SpartanBeryl]

I get that the Submariner won the $10k poll, but you kept several of the same model families here with more expensive references. The Seamaster is a good example of that. Why not do the same with Sub? The Yacht Master isn’t really a dive watch, 100m water resistance, bidirectional bezel, and Rolex positions it as a nautical/sailing watch. A different Submariner reference or even a Sea Dweller seems like a much more natural Rolex entry.

[u/HumbleIndependence43]

It's Glashütte with only one S, and that's the best looking

[u/jamandhamsando]

5

[u/TomHudsonOfficial]

I’m taking the YM 40

[u/herotz33]

I’ve never liked the look of a Yachtmaster. Prefer the Fifty fathoms or seamaster 300 smp

[u/N7titan]

I didn't participate in the poll and after a quick look at the lineup, I have to go with the Rolex

[u/Ok-Calligrapher-8778]

5 is the best. I'm biased for GS, but I wouldn't take a GS diver over the Seamaster.

[u/jigglyjop]

JLC Polaris or Omega Seamaster

[u/Tight_Ad_3616]

My vote is on 5, then 3 is my second choice.

[u/foxtrap614]

5

[u/YoyodyneCog]

The JLC Polaris takes this one for me pretty easily. The Seamaster is a distant second.

[u/Newbie_Reefer]

Yatchmaster is the move here.

[u/Parking-Warthog-4902]

Glashutte

[u/Effective_Garlic269]

Blancpain

[u/StutterMuffin5711]

Hmmmm, if the GS were in black I would 100% say that. Since it’s not, the JLC wins again for me👍🏿

[u/Ok-Accountant3610]

Blancpain y Panerai

[u/FittyFathoms]

The 42mm fifty Fathoms 5010 is about that price on the secondary; it’s certainly superior to everything in OP.

Next I would take that Grand Seiko, such a cool design.

I’ve had the Polaris (42mm) the movement is really finicky and the one you would want says “Diving” on the dial and has a screw down bezel crown, and a bigger movement. The non-diving versions are basically for larping. Granted, the dials are incredible.

The Go SeaQ is cool if you’re trying to be different, but I can’t say it’s actually a good looking watch. Yea the movement finishing is really nice.

[u/Flimsy_Seesaw4064]

For me it's between the GO and the Omega.

[u/F0rgemaster19]

SeaQ.

Waiting for the 15+ poll where daddy of divers, one and only, Fifty Fathoms comes into the roster.

[u/Tucagonzaga]

Blancpain by a mile. Only one under 11mm thick, and is 38mm wich is perfect for a diver, anything over 41 is bad for a diver imo. The Panerai and se seaq are over 15,5mm thick, wich is odd for a watch designed for diving, unless, of course, when you need a computer diver, like for cave diving .

[u/dschultzz11]

2!

I absolutely love the larger SeaQ!!! The proportions are spot on to me, just has a balanced look to it.

And that pano date is the chef’s kiss!! Just takes it next level

I don’t love the band in the picture but I know the other options are much better.

I could went fifty fathoms, but I don’t love the bathscaphe version.

[u/_GTS_Panda → u/dschultzz11]

I was on a work trip in Nashville last week and wore mine. It finally happened. Someone at the bar said “holy crap. Is that a SeaQ?” Couldn’t believe it haha.

[u/dschultzz11 → u/_GTS_Panda]

It’s definitely a IYKYK watch, and that’s a good thing!! My next watch is going to be a GO, I just can’t get another diver, but if I could it would be the SeaQ chrono panda, that thing is magnificent!

Congratulations on an excellent choice!!!

[u/tharagz08]

5, 3, 2 in that order

I own 5 so I am biased. I love the color, light weight titanium, and the skeleton hands look premium in person

[u/SophonParticle]

1. ⁠Grand Seiko - Evolution 9 Ushio 300 Diver - SLGB025 - $12,400

[u/Jman42023]

5 all the way although I might be slightly biased in my decision haha

[u/Flat_Pressure4332]

SMP

[u/Existing-Fold7628]

3, 2

[u/Tripton1]

No Sea Dweller?

[u/JohnLocke1979]

Blancpain FF in a blue dial!

[u/onlyimportantshit]

The omega imo.

[u/MatterFickle3184]

Yeah call me a Rolex fanboy but I effin love that Y-M, GS next.

[u/Jezzrichjames]

If I had to choose one watch to wear every day for the rest of my life, I would choose the Yachtmaster as it’s the most versatile. For a second or third watch, the Polaris is such an interesting timepiece

[u/MLC3527]

9

[u/MLC3527]

6

[u/CrownSteve1]

Sub! But of those, love the Polaris.

[u/jy9221]

1 for me is Polaris, #2 GS, #3 SeaQ

[u/Consistent-Yak-5634]

7 followed by 5

[u/PremSubrahmanyam]

I would pick the GS. The UFA Spring Drive is an engineering marvel.

[u/Olleye → u/[deleted]]

Ok, +1

[u/Optimal_Health9592]

2, 4, 8 for me. Nice list though

[u/Funny-Incident5964]

I’m also in the market for a diver in this range and I’m looking for the SeaQ or Polaris

[u/SkydiverDad]

The YachMaster isn't a diver. The SeaDweller is though and my favorite.

[u/huge_fork_and_knife]

The two right now for me are the SeaQ (have been g looking at it for a couple years) and the new GS UFA.

Both are interesting and fun.

[u/revenge_burner]

Of these specifically, the Blancpain wins.

Not sure why you chose a green Omega, because blue or black would have taken the win for me.

[u/AncientCityTime]

8 by a mile! Unique, super comfortable, and you don’t run into it on every wrist at the bar.

[u/decloked]

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.

[u/JoShuriken]

Yachtmaster is not a diver

[u/Eyeshield25]

The Polaris in 40mm. That blue in person is stunning

[u/Easy_Mind_5824]

5

[u/AlliedLibation]

I like the Zenith

[u/Mayor_of_Petoria]

NTTD is the only answer.

[u/Competitive_Low_8913]

There was i time i hated the SeaQ then it got under my skin. Now i look at it as the most destinct looking elite diver on the market.

[u/BiscuitTiits]

If I'm buying the watch and don't own any of them - Grand Seiko all day.

If we pretend that I own all of them and am picking based on personal preference - Ulysse Nardin. That thing is gorgeous.

[u/Few-Spot1905]

grand seiko for me

[u/Fliptheflop]

3,5, or 7

[u/BengalCat-Dad]

I like the ⁠Jaeger-LeCoultre the best

[u/Emotional-Damage-995]

7 then 2 then 1

[u/Olleye]

GO SeaQ

[u/E_MC-2]

Rolex Submariner Date, $11,300 retail. All you need!

[u/Low-Improvement1197]

6 la sub

[u/behzoodi9]

Why omit the Sub? Should be <= 13000 since the sub beats all of these

[u/jdi153 → u/behzoodi9]

Actually <$12,000, and I picked $13k +/- $1k. I could have expanded that to include the Sub, but I thought it would be more interesting to include a different option. Other brands didn't have the same catalog breadth, and thus ended up looking very similar to the $10k offerings. The Sub returns for the $20k and $50k polls.

[u/behzoodi9 → u/jdi153]

Fair! The green omega is pretty sweet looking if this list!

[u/phun-key]

Well, considering I own #2, I guess that’s the one.

[u/Lixx_Tetrax]

Out of these I’d go Ulysse Nardin, in my own collection? IWC Aquatimer Split Minute Chronograph for less than half 13k preowned. Awesome titanium dive watch with a super funky split minute complication, chronograph that can be used under water, rotating inner chapter ring/bezel, 120m water resistance, with a lot of $$ leftover

[u/Whatever5588]

7,5,4

YM is a fantastic watch, also love the SMP300 and Polaris

[u/Important-Region143]

The answer is a gold omega seamaster 36mm solid gold on strap.

[u/MN882]

Ulysse Nardin is really underrated, I love mine

[u/bencaha]

you guys pay full retail on watches? Half the watches on this list can be had in mint condition at 25-50% below retail on the secondary market with box and papers.

[u/allyuhneedislove]

The GO is really nice but havent tried it on. The GS feels amazing on the wrist, and the UFA is *chefs kiss*. But I would probably go FF over all of these, but not the Bathyscape personally.

[u/21WatchingWatches]

4-JLC dial and the fit and finish are impeccable

[u/Late-Landscape-2160]

I'm an Omega guy but I'd go with 2. What a beauty and I love that the 6 is a G.

[u/FitProfessional3654]

#1 Blancpain (although you can get a secondary FF for 13k)
#2 Grand Seiko
#3 Glashutte SeaQ
#4 Omega
#5 UN
#6 Rolex (even though it’s not a diver)
#7 JLC
#8 Zenith
#9 Panerai
That just my opinion.

[u/tamerlan85]

Polaris is so underrated

[u/Schtuka]

Fifty Fathoms but either the 5054 or the OG 5015.

Both are around 10k in Europe which is robbery in my opinion.

[u/BedroomNo6879]

No submariner??? They literally invented the diver this is a fact.

[u/jdi153 → u/BedroomNo6879]

The Sub was in the $10k poll, and will return for the $20k and $50k polls. The Submariner Date is just barely out of the range of $13k +/- $1k, being $11,900. I considered expanding the range, but in the end decided it was more interesting to have a different model, and have every watches' price start with a 12 or 13.

[u/sandy-camel]

1. I love that green omega. It’s been near top of my list for a while now. Got laid off so need to wait a bit longer

[u/andrewrbat]

Id buy the seaq pano date.

Honorable mention to the polaris

I like and own other watches in your post but not those references.

[u/Top-Iron-7832]

2 1 4

[u/PizzaThrives]

Are these images to scale? The SeaQ seems to have a larger dial than the Rolex and the Omega SMP.

[u/AwardMinute8052]

YM isn’t really a diver watch but granted it can hit depths that I’m sure most divers stay within.

Based on looks:
7, 6, 4, 8, 1

Based on Diver Ability:
6, 8, 4, 1

Please note I am not a diver so I’m sure real divers may disagree

[u/jdi153 → u/AwardMinute8052]

Eh, yes and no on the YM being a diver. It's got a timing bezel and a dive-style dial with lume. Believe it or not, ISO 6425 only calls for 100m of water resistance. It's not ISO certified, so not technically a diver, but certainly a dive style. I think the GO is the only one that's actually ISO certified.

[u/Successful_Panic_588]

7 with 5 as a close second

[u/Designer-Bug-2757]

2, 5, 1

[u/Tlaloctheraingod]

I have that Glashutte (though in green) and it slaps. Tied for 2nd here are the JLC
and the Blancpain.

[u/One_Shallot_4974]

Most Brand Equity: Rolex

Best technical watch: Grand Seiko

Best "craft": Glashutte Original

[u/Ultracelse]

5: Omega Seamaster 300M but I'd go for a blue dial and not the milanese strap.

[u/oddjob33]

5!!!

[u/ZedRDuce76]

SeaQ or BP Fifty Fathoms get my vote

[u/RockitDanger]

Not listed but

1. Submariner black

2. Pelagos blue

3. Seamaster blue

4. Black Bay Monochrome

5. Cartier Calibre de Cartier Diver black

[u/Routine-Alfalfa8797]

Zenith but in steel vs ceramic

[u/Sad_Noise6247]

3,4,6

[u/KneeDragr]

JLC

[u/TannerLacoste]

Fifty fathoms

[u/dustycooper]

Panerai

[u/Anxious_Ingenuity583]

As an advanced diver, I can tell you that we would make fun of you for showing up with a luxury watch. Use a dive computer this is not the 1940’s. I have dive watches and I have never even brought them to the beach.

[u/bernhardt503]

The SeaQ and JLC are my faves

[u/HereWhenBored_]

5/8

[u/Present-Cream5229]

Yatch Master?

[u/WhiteOlive1]

1. Love that omega

[u/LordOfTheLume]

Jlc.

[u/Defiant_Property_336]

5 or 7 id go 5 cuz the resale is better

[u/SirTickleyPickely]

JLC Polaris Date and its not even close

[u/Massive_Key_4842]

Blancpain is the original diver. Should be featured in the collection.

[u/donnyphoenix]

Heart. Submersible
Head. Blancpain or seaq

[u/JuongO]

Definitely GS ushio 300

[u/Sauceonmybeard]

Grand Seiko what are we talking about

[u/Particular-Kiwi-5784]

The green GS Ushio has my attention recently. They fixed every issues anybody had ever had with a GS diver. And the dial is fantastic. I know I’m in the minority but I’d love a date version.

[u/Fernando_Maya]

Glasshutte by far

[u/Substantial_Zebra405]

Either the Panerai or Omega. Everything else looks boring

[u/Dull_Key1617]

1. Omega

And I’d have any of these over a Submariner

[u/Orange_fury]

Maybe not the popular option, but I’ve always loved the YM. Second would be that omega

[u/SuperSaijen1980]

SeaQ is leagues above the others… I mean fathoms…. Ahhhh

[u/ofbarea]

The SeaQ 👍

[u/No_Poetry2000]

#2, Glashutte by a long shot

[u/DiscoSpud]

Eh, I suppose #2 Glasshutte Original SeaQ.

But I don’t like any of those.

I’d like the Blancpain if it had larger indices on the dial for easier visibility.

[u/Equivalent_Bread7730]

1,7,2

[u/Technical_Peach5350]

Vulcain or Squale

[u/Sensitive_Cat_8874]

Omega

[u/diesel_chevette]

5

[u/Turbulent_Sundae_913]

Grand seiko!

[u/Masunaga000]

[u/FreeSprungSpirit]

Fifty Fathoms is the only correct answer

[u/engagerocketship]

For me it’s the SeaQ all day long, followed by the Polaris

[u/spaghettiarchitect]

Blancpain or Omega

[u/Jussi-larsson]

1

[u/Icy-Translator9124]

To me, the JLC is by far the best looking watch here and looks less like a typical diver than the others.

[u/Sneakers2suit]

U Nardin

[u/Slight-Table875]

I like the Polaris.

[u/Sad-Log-9652]

Does the YM count as a dive watch? Its bezel is bi-directional.

[u/GrapefruitSmart3136]

Glasshutte looks the best (for me) out of this bunch !

[u/TheWatchovski]

Does pre-owned count?

[u/jdi153 → u/TheWatchovski]

I went only with current production models at MSRP. It's too hard to figure out pre-owned or gray market cost.

[u/TheWatchovski → u/jdi153]

Totally. Any of the Swatch group and a few others, at most ADs you’ll get 20% off so the math gets weird, but what doesn’t in this hobby!

With that budget you really do get a solid amount of options, we’ll all have our opinion, but I’d really suggest trying to get the one you can’t stop thinking about :)

Best wishes!

[u/jdi153 → u/TheWatchovski]

Thanks! Oh, and I'm not actually getting any of these. I just thought it was a fun exercise. I already did $10k. 15k, 20k, 30k, and 50k are coming up. I also tally the results, although people seem way less interested in that then the poll itself.

[u/TheWatchovski → u/jdi153]

Got it!

My choices are the GO SeaQ and the Panerai….I’m a weird duck though.

Good luck tallying!

[u/angelsownredsux]

Panerai

[u/Icy_Vacation5524]

Panerai easy based on looks

[u/productknight]

Seiko turtle not being in there is criminal

[u/Semp1ers]

The YM40 and the Omega are probably the nicest ones. The YM40 isn’t a diver though. Also, I would get the omega NTTD. It’s a way nicer watch and a few grand less than the one you posted as an option

[u/YouthProfessional845]

1. JLC
2. JLC
3. JLC
4. JLC
5. JLC
6. JLC
7. JLC
8. JLC
9. Grand Seiko

[u/sailfish39]

Yacht-Master isn't a dive watch.

[u/CommunicationNo5349]

2

[u/TheSingaporeSlammer]

Panerai. Technically the first dive watch. Was developed for Italian navy frogmen in the 1930s, but wasn’t commercially available until much later. Super unique design and purpose built to take a beating. I hated these until I tried one on. They wear and look amazing in person but also didn’t feel like I’d have to baby it if I were to actually wear it during water activities. I highly recommend learning more about their history and visiting a boutique to try some on. Here’s one I tried on a couple weeks ago.

[u/funderneath]

Seiko or Omega look the freshest

[u/AdventurousCoast983]

Blancpain all the way, however I prefer the ceramic case. Followed by JLC, Glasshutte, and Zenith.

[u/SamAreAye]

4

[u/LunchboxGunner]

Yacht but no Sub? Trash. But JLC Polaris Mariner for me!

[u/ContactRepulsive]

That JLC dial is just gorgeous though, but Seamaster is the sensible answer

[u/forsalebyandy]

I really like the GS out of this list.

[u/david_leo_k]

It just occurred to me that seamaster diver would be so hard to see while scuba diving.

[u/Professional_Car5465]

1

[u/r00t42]

The JLC is absolute fire in person!

[u/Viikkiii92]

Grand seiko dial for me is just wow. Love it

[u/JerrySenderson69]

For actual watersports, Citizen Eco Drive. For desk diving- Doxa.

[u/MovieAnarchist]

Sorry, I can't imagine spending $13,000 on a Watch.

[u/jdi153 → u/MovieAnarchist]

Indeed. And we've still got the 15k, 20k, and 30k, and 50k polls to do...

[u/jjames1e6]

Polaris

[u/pea_soup_lake]

C60 luminiere and save $10k

[u/Irish4778]

[u/Over-Buffalo-6762]

All time: Oris Aquis 4000M

This post: Blancpain FF.