[manixrock]

The quintessential dive watch is the Rolex Submariner, but with a diameter of 40mm and quite the wrist presence (there’s just a certain Rolex shine, isn’t there?), it appears too big on most smaller wrists. So, this list will focus on dive watches under 40mm. Just as important is how thick the watch is. For example, I recently tried on a Tudor Black Bay (41mm); it didn’t even look that bad from above, but at almost 15mm thick, it felt and looked like a tuna can on my wrist — Seiko Tuna be damned. And don’t get me started on the importance of lug-to-lug measurements. more

[snrlx]

I love dive watches; I am also cursed with small wrists (6.5 to 6.75 inches depending on the day). These are two things that aren’t supposed to work together. Fortunately, the rising popularity in vintage watches has meant a boom in smaller modern watches, perfect for my diminutive circumference. As such, there are more dive watch options than ever for the modestly wristed. more

[kahealani]

You might think of these as "dive watches for women”, but I don’t think that’s quite right. Let’s take Omega’s “women’s” collection as an example: the brand seems to think women’s watches means sizing down the case, swapping in a quartz movement, and throwing some diamonds on it. We’re pretty woke here at Rescapement HQ, so we think that’s wrong! So we’re focusing on legit dive watches with mechanical movements here — gender be damned. here

[Limpan94]

To me (and to the ISO), two things define a dive watch: water resistance to at least 100m (most in this list have more than 200m) and strong lume on the hands and hour markers. A rotating bezel is a nice-to-have, but not necessary (and honestly, some of them look like shit). here

[beking168]

There’s been much written about the “sweet spot” for watch sizes. Ten years ago, the conventional wisdom skewed between 40mm and 42mm. Today, things have widened a bit, to include watches down to around 38mm. Why the drop in millimeters?

[harrifolfenced]

I’d argue it’s largely about comfort. You see, the way a watch sits on the wrist is hugely affected by its diameter, which is mostly what we mean when we refer to a watch’s size. But there’s more going on here: the way a watch wears has just as much to do with its thickness, also measured in millimeters; and its lug-to-lug length, literally measuring from the tip of one set of lug to the other, has much to do with whether you want to take it off at the end of the day or sleep in it. And, generally, a watch with a smaller diameter width will also be slimmer, and have a shorter lug-to-lug length. [links]

[Brandon]

There are exceptions, of course. But they don’t sway me, personally. I have what you’d call average-sized wrists, and I wear a 35.5mm vintage Zodiac Sea Wolf every day. It’s great. The crown doesn’t dig into my hand, and, when I camp, I wear it to sleep, no problem. Here’s the other side of things, the one I think a lot of guys think about but don’t mention, when they talk about why they don’t wear small watches: No one has ever seen this watch, taken it into their hands, and said, “But it’s so small!” Men wore them this small throughout the middle of the 20th century, and I’m not buying that we’ve “moved on” from that size. Fashion is cyclical, after all.

[coins]

A watch should be framed by your wrist, not enveloped by it. [links]

[wscott]

In fact, when a watch is undergoing stress testing, they are put under pressures exceeding their recommended limit so that the people who will end up actually wearing them, such as you and me, aren’t skirting death if we ever dive down to 200m underwater. As such, a diver’s watch that has been certified with 200m of water resistance may even be capable of withstanding the pressures at a depth 10-20% deeper, though you shouldn’t test that theory.

[Bth8]

Next, you need to consider the diameter of the watch case which is an important metric if you have small wrists. Assuming you’ve followed the video instructions above on how to measure your wrist size, you can then determine which watches with certain case sizes are suitable for you. here

[bittersweet]

Sadly, most diver’s watches are designed with men in mind. As such, there are not that many watches designed for small wrists or with a diameter under 40mm. However, don’t lose hope. A man’s wrist and woman’s wrist have no differences except in size. Unlike in a wetsuit or scuba BCD where there are large differences in men’s and women’s versions, for a watch there should be no such discrepancy.

[charliesome]

The size of the dial is necessarily going to be affected by the watch size. With a smaller watch, we recommend a dial with minimal or no subdials. The reason is that it is harder to read the markers on a smaller watch, and there simply isn’t as much space to fit more features without cluttering the dial. [links]

[marycaouette]

The Omega Seamaster 36.25mm even has a helium escapement valve located at its 10 o’clock position which, honestly, will probably never get used, however it’s nice to know it’s there. The Seamaster 36.25mm has all of the same features you’d expect in a professional diver’s watch: screw-down crown, date window, bright lume on the markers and hands, a durable sapphire crystal, etc. more

[morgans]

This watch features a date display window at the 3 o’clock position, and next to it is the screw-down crown as well. What we didn’t like is how the actually 3 o’clock marker was removed to provide room for the date window. It looks awkward and creates an asymmetric appearance that we feel is not pleasing to look at. While the date window usually at least partially obstructs a marker, in this case we feel they went too far.

[donaldmoreg]

The whole thing is power by quartz with the movement inside the case driving a day/date window found at 3 o’clock. With this model, you’ll also get a rotating top ring bezel, a woven stainless steel bracelet and an acrylic crystal, but don’t get too excited about the water resistance. At just 50m, it’s a diving watch that’s more for style than serious underwater adventures, but saying that it’ll still be safe to wear for casual swimming.

[HChris4913]

We take a big jump up in spec for our second watch by coming to the Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba. Hamilton is a fantastic Swiss brand that specialises in watches that bridge the budget and mid-range categories.

[Jerryparson]

Why it makes our list – A stylish 38mm dive inspired watch that strikes a balance between looking great and being tough, all on a very affordable budget.