These are the best of the best divers of the year 2016. Discover my very personal ranking and let me know what YOU think …
What you see is a ranking of my five favorite divers of the year 2016. They were presented this year either at the SIHH in January in Geneva or later in Basel during Baselworld 2016.
Since a lot of divers were presented this year it was not easy to find the top 5. But after thinking a while these were the ones that matched my criteria to now be listed here.
You will find all technical information, the prices and other interesting stories of the five divers on the blog. Please use the search-function and find out more …
1. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe
What shall I say? Since I saw the Blancpain with its grey ceramic case and blue dial/bezel during Baselworld it is my favorite diver. This diver clearly outmatches all the others this year. On the wrist, in reality the Bathyscaphe even looks better! It is available with two blue straps; a “Nato” and the one you see on the picture.
BRAVO! Well done Blancpain!
2. Omega Seamster Planet Ocean Deep Black
Gorgeous, stunning and fully packed with Omega´s latest state of the art antimagnetic technology. An absolut cool diver in a deep black ceramic case! It would deserve an ex aequo first place with the Blancpain. I thought about doing this, but than came to the decision that the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is my clear number one of 2016.
3. Oris Carl Brashear Limited Edition
The coolest diver in a bronze case this year. A limited edition of 2500 pieces that was sold out in only a few weeks. A watch that tells the thrilling story about Carl Brashear – a great man. A cool watch with a very beautiful blue dial. All the pictures of aged versions I saw so far do simply look stunning.
BRAVO! Well done Oris!
4. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Chronograph
Audemars Piguet launched these diver chronographs in different (shinny) colors. Yes, color sells! The blue one was my personal favorite – of course! A watch that fits perfectly on your wrist and looks so different. An impressive statement on the wrist!
BRAVO! Well done Audemars Piguet!
5. Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze
The Tudor in its bronze case is a little too tamed, too proper. It is a very beautiful watch! It could have done better in this ranking if Tudor would have added a little extra portion of coolness. But it is still one of the best divers of the year 2016.
BRAVO! Well done Tudor!
I agree with everything but the Omega. To me it looks cheap and plasticky. I do not like the surface treatment, I do not like the seemingly conceptless addition of coloured parts and in particular I do not like that it is a me-too product. The design concept is a mix of old Breitling, IWC, Chanel and AP designs. For what it is it is massively overpriced and will be available with significant discounts soon, if you ask me.
Omega has released great watches recently and proved to be innovative. The Deep Black Planet Oceans definitely are an exception to this.
My winner would be the Oris, not only because of this particular Carl Brashear model but because the whole range of Sixty-Five divers is beautiful, very reasonably priced and technically robust.
Oris really is on the right path in my opinion. Cool watches, great designs and a reasonable price are tough to beat.
I’d chose the Carl Brashear over the Bronze Black Bay, mostly because I think the colours and case shape of the Oris are more in tune with the vintage looks concept of both. I’d like the Black Bay better if it was thinner.
I have been looking at the Bathyscaphe. Read that the calibre was too “fragile” for a dive watch and lots of people had issues with. Can you confirm? Thanks
I have a Blancpain calibre 1315 in a 45mm Fifty Fathoms since 2009 and it is perfectly reliable, even though never being serviced. The sail cloth straps are not very robust, however. I replace it once every two years.
I am a watch collector and a diver. Dive watches constitute a major part of my watch collection. So I was rather curious for your top 5 in 2016 selection, Alexander.
This year’s new dive watches that caught most of my attention are the Oris Carl Brashear, Tudor Black Bay Bronze, Bulgari Diagono Scuba (blue dial), Blancpain Bathyscaphe (grey ceramic case) and Sinn U1 S E. So you and me have 3 matches.
But not posessing unlimited financial resources unfortunately I am very good in finding arguments against certain watch models:
– The Bathyscaphe definitely is an interesting watch. But this grey ceramic to me has an appearence without any value.
– The Omega is a fine watch with a very special movement for a very resonable price. But this model is absolutely unattractive to me. This watch for me is the greatest surprise in your selection.
– The Royal Oak Offshore is tempting for me. But I cannot accept AP’s very high prices for very standard chronograph modules.
– I was wondering why the Black Bay Bronze did not capture me. I think that your analysis of being “a little too tamed” hits the nail on the head. And, well, I can’t get myself accustomed to that snow flake hand.
Yes, the Oris Carl Brashear remains without any criticism. 😉
Andreas, AP does not use its module construction for this one! It is a FP-calibre.
Alexander, it is difficult for me to disagree. But according to the AP web site the calibre used in the new diver chronographs is not the FP calibre 2385 that is being used in the Royal Oak Chronograph but a module construction identified as 3124 / 3841. That’s not exactly the 3126 / 3840 that was used in former Offshores. But it is very similar to that one and therefore most probably a DD module.
Fallen for lady number 1, she has a nice blue dress and stunning.