Underrated Dive Watches You Should Know - 18 Watches From Orient, Zodiac, Breitling, MIDO, & MORE

Best Dive Watches Complete Guide On TeddyBaldassarre.com: teddybaldassar...
Shop Watch Brands Featured In This Video:
Orient: teddybaldassar...
Bulova: teddybaldassar...
Marathon: teddybaldassar...
Hamilton: teddybaldassar...
Zodiac: teddybaldassar...
Mido: teddybaldassar...
Written Content: www.teddybalda...
In this video, I'll highlight some excellent dive watches that aren't getting the attention they deserve both from enthusiasts and the mass market. We'll tackle a wide range of designs and the full spectrum of price ranges to help round out your dive watch expertise. What's your favorite underrated dive watch?
Watches Featured:
Orient Kano: teddybaldassar...
Bulova Devil Diver: teddybaldassar...
Marathon GSAR: teddybaldassar...
Marathon MSAR: teddybaldassar...
Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba: teddybaldassar...
Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Skin: teddybaldassar...
MIDO Ocean Star 200: teddybaldassar...
Videos Mentioned:
Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Guide: • An Underappreciated Di...
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Top Articles On TeddyBaldassarre.com:
50 Luxury Watch Brands You Should Know: teddybaldassar...
10 Affordable Watch Brands And Their Best Watches: teddybaldassar...
Best Watches Under $5,000 Complete Guide: teddybaldassar...

[@birthdaybatter815]

I just got the Marathon GSAR for myself to celebrate a successful open heart surgery and multiple valve replacements at the end of August. Knowing you will be on a heart and lung bypass machine for multiple hours really puts into perspective how fleeting life can be. With that in mind, I reasoned with myself that once my surgery was successful, I would open my wallet a little more than I normally would in celebration. I’m 31 years old, recovering well with a clean bill of heart health, and now have dipped into the four figure price tag world of watches. This was a successful and expensive end of summer for me, but it couldn’t have been more rewarding. Teddy, thank you for all of your exceptional content.

[@GS-go9qq]

Hopefully every time you check your watch it reminds you of progress towards better days. Congrats and good health brother, take care

[@Officialv5a]

What a story! Glad you're here, and congrats on the watch

[@diavalus]

Enjoy the watch and wish you could spend a looong time enjoying the watch (and others, if that’s the case)!

[@VictorGutierrez-rm2tu]

Everyday above ground brother! Hope you enjoy that beautiful timepiece, and the beautiful new lease on life. All the best. 🙌🏼✊🏼

[@garyhoffman503]

WOW! Well said brother. 👏 I just got 3 teeth pulled and I am 59! I didn't want to say goodbye to my teeth! I am still numb after 2 days! Hang tough. Make sure your cash flow is in the bank!

[@HFV_Junkyardin]

I have a Zodiac Super SeaWolf Skin Diver. It’s my favorite watch. I wear it Doing anything. Swimming, skateboarding, running, sleeping lol. I’ve dropping it from chest height onto a ceramic tile floor with no damage. Hell it survived a motorcycle accident. I love the smaller size, and very “tool watch” finishing. No bling here just a nice watch.

[@alexandergk9947]

I like how i see more passion in you about overlooked watch brands then popular watch brands! Good job Teddy 👍👍👍

[@youtubeuser8436]

The Breitling Superocean Heritageis awesome! Such a beautiful watch! I love it! ❤

[@younusimam-thesalamproject6340]

On the Breitling, I think one of the reasons many brands don't use mesh bracelets is because so many low tier fashion watches have been using it as their default. It is a generally cost-effective solution for getting a steel bracelet. While I personally love the look, I think most brands are trying hard to differentiate as much as possible from these fashion brands.

[@diavalus]

Also on the Breitling topic, I must say the silver dial is the best I’ve seen in the industry. And I say this as a silver dial “collector”, despite Breitling being one of the cheapest ones here. Very impressive.

[@jaredhill1021]

The mesh on the Serica diver is pretty special. Doesn't look cheap at all.

[@eyeheartsushi2212]

@@diavalus Interesting. I didn’t know the Superocean Heritage was available with a silver dial.

[@diavalus]

@@eyeheartsushi2212 not sure if it is still available right now, but as far as I am aware, not many have been interested in this dial and therefore, they sold very few.

[@youtubeuser8436]

Only the SUPEROCEAN HERITAGE B01 CHRONOGRAPH 44 is available with the silver dial. The SUPEROCEAN HERITAGE B20 AUTOMATIC is unfortunately not availbe with a silver dial.

[@matthiasbohm3071]

I bought the Certina DS Action Diver 38mm (bicolored variant) as well as the MIDO Ocean Star Tribute (blue dial variant) a couple of weeks ago. They're great dive watches and I absolutely love them! Greetings from Germany! ✌

[@sjfrank88]

Great choices.

[@aarontrill2251]

Saving up for a Doxa Sub 200 as a Christmas gift to myself this year. Going with the aquamarine colorway on the beads of rice bracelet!

[@yankeesandgiants1886]

Teddy -you have some of the best content out there. I can skip through and see all 18 watches easily and listen in detail to the ones I'm more interested in. You are a voice of reason (and budget consciousness) in a field of over-hyped watches and BS grey-market watch dealers. Thank you.

[@IDeeprootedI]

Great choices and some of my personal favorites in here with the Bulova, Aquastar, Breitling SuperOcean Heritage and JLC. Two of my absolute favorites that would deserve a place here and are totally underrated as well are the beautiful Ball Hydrocarbon 40mm and the unique ZRC 1904 Grands Fonds 300, both the more modern 40.5mm and the new 38mm that's almost identical to the vintage version.

[@neorx7fc]

Great list! I love my Orient Kamasu and Bulova Oceanographer but picking up the Mido Ocean Star 200 sure changed my view! Now I really want to shoot for the Rado Captain Cook and some entry level Longines and Tag Heuers! Love this hobby and thank you for all the knowledge! 😁👍

[@fightsandfinance7570]

Good Choices.

[@younusimam-thesalamproject6340]

A timing bezel is just so useful everyday, I use mine to time work tasks all the time and set reminders. Thanks for this!

[@gagazzo82]

One of the best videos you made recently Teddy. And I was just thinking this morning - why do you never talk about Certina, such an under appreciated brand, even more so than Mido. You have explained it here. One thing that I would say though, please bear in mind that you’re audience is from all over the world, not just US. And Certina certainly deserves to be talked about.

[@zillsburyy1]

i like that B20 but thick

[@RahulVanganicreations]

I am not a diver but I just love my Tissot Seastar Powermatic 80. I just adore its matte and shiny accents, my first Swiss watch and feels special.

[@rolandvaneijk]

That Breitling is a great pick. The Titoni Seascoper 600 would be a great addition to this list.

[@denisdaly1708]

Agree about the Titoni

[@zhicaofang2354]

Glad to see Certina finally featured in one of Teddy's videos! Would encourage anyone looking for an affordable diver's watch to take a look at their DS Action divers line (although, like Teddy said, you have to figure out a way to get one that is also returnable given the lack of authorized distributors here in the US). I own a 38mm blue dial and I think it is the best affordable alternative out there for Tudor Black Bay 58 line. Also owns the Mido Ocean Star in black dial and loved it as well; best stainless steel strap and sliding diver's extension for the price around $1,000 in my opinion. The day-date function also doubles it up an everyday watch.

[@mauricehontz3508]

I currently have the Orient Kanno blue dial as a placeholder for my future breitling superocean heritage 2 blue dial. Awesome to see them both on this list. I like watches that are little underrated

[@respectablylate3081]

The"dress diver" is my favourite style. I own the Certina, the Rado CC, the Breitling superocean heritage, BB heritage smiley with burgundy bezel, Longines Hydroconquest with red bezel, Oris Aquis, Aquaracer in blue, Seamaster in black, Hamilton khaki scuba, Helm Vanuatu, Christopher Ward, MaS Irukandji just to name a few. Love their design and features! Thanks for the content!

[@kingadjust6201]

Wassup Teddy amazing video the Breitling super ocean heritage is one of my favorites 😁😎👍

[@manueljnegrete5048]

Hi Teddy, I have the Zodiac SSW Skin and love it. It is a super comfortable diver that is in my opinion very handsome. It constantly run at +1 second per day. It gets as much wrist time as my two Omega seamasters. A plus is that I wore a Zodiac that I picked up at a px during the early 70 while overseas. I initially was wanting a Oris 65 heritage diver but got the Zodiac Ininstead and it is one of my very favorite divers.

[@WatchesBeAwesome]

I have had issues with my STP movement - it stopped winding, unfortunately. I've thrown an ETA2824 in my Super Sea Wolf Skin 53, because I don't want to go through the service process right now.

[@jochenkey]

Great video Sir and superb selection

[@snakeman469]

Hello, I enjoy your videos and have learned more about watches, thank you. I have two questions. when you store your automatic watches, How often should you take them out and get the movement running? The other one is with quartz watches should I pull the stem out to stop movement to save the battery or just let them run?

[@anthonystevens8683]

It's great to see the ProPLof in this list Teddy, it may not be for everyone but it is a watch that's growing on me so maybe sometime in the future I'll take a look. I think the Pelagos 42 should also be considered here but I appreciate that this video could go on for too long. I love the inclusion of the Captain Cook, this has been on my radar for a while so who knows it might end up on my wrist sometime in the future.

[@bogrot69]

Regarding the STP movements. I own a Super Sea Wolf 68 50th Anniversary Edition with the COSC cretified STP 3-13. I had heard several instances of people having the same issue with these movements where after a short time, the setting function would fail. One KZbinr with a SSW 68 made a video about this issue. After a year or so passed, he was unable to set the time in the clockwise direction but in reverse the hands would move. I babied mine but yesterday, I found mine has developed the same issue. I've owned the watch around for or five years but I have a larcge collection so I don't wear it every day. I contacted the KZbinr yesterday to ask about the outcome and apparently the winding gear, which has angled teeth on one side, had been installed upside down during assebly at the factory! STP QC had never caught this. He said the fix was inexpensive, his watchmaker corrected the placement of the part, problem solved. I have read several reports of this same issue with STPs so I'm assuming one of their assemblers is dyslexic 😁

[@Madmanmarque]

Great choices! I have had a GO SeaQ Pano in blue on a bracelet for a year now and absolutely love it. One of the things that makes it my go to is the Brogioli bracelet with the push button micro adjustment. The same company that makes the bracelet for the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus.

[@bnick25352535]

Love Rado and wanted to love the Captain Cook but man that bracelet doesn't match the case at all.I know I shouldn't expect much at this price range but I'll rather spend my money somewhere else.

[@istvantoth7431]

Zodiac is like a proper ex girlfriend you dumped long ago. You still admire the looks even today, but you know its rotten to the core inside and it will never work out well.

[@jrgdrumsandwatches]

Nice to see the Certina DS Super Ph500m. This watch is a rock solid diver and it feels much more expensive. My black dial version is actually my all time favorite diver.

[@tpoz48]

I have a Raymond Weil Tango. It's a nice looking watch with 300 meters water resistance. I don't dive, but it looks good in casual clothes. It can also be worn on fishing trips, and I don't have to worry about wearing a $1,000 watch when I fall out of the boat. I also bought a Citizen Promaster only because I wanted an eco drive. For the price, I am impressed. It's become my do everything work and outdoor watch. It's a tough watch watch, and I have put it through the paces. The lume is fantastic. I can actually see the time in the dark without my glasses.

[@gavinBsussex]

So I think there is a glaring underrated Dive watch missing from this list in the Grand Seiko Diver. I have the SBGA229 and this watch compares and I think In many ways beats my Omega SMP 300, Tudor Pelagos and Rolex sub. A lot of people adore Grand Seiko for their dress watches but I think their divers are amazing and go totally under the radar. Good video Teddy, thanks.

[@uhohDavinci]

I picked up my Orient Ray 2 in blue for just $94 brand new off ebay, absolute steal of a find/watch. love it.

[@josemedina1983]

My list: 1. Not sure why they keep living out the Glycine Combat Sub a very perfect affordable Swiss dive watch. 2. Alpina Seastrong another Swiss watch with tons of heritage and very different design 3. Can't beat a nice Casio Duro under 40 bucks 4. Longines Hydroconquest 5. Invicta Pro diver probably the cheapest nh35 out there.

[@ryanm9554]

I own a SSW53 Compression Black dial with the creme/white chapter ring. It was an earlier model that came with the black cloth strap/nato thing but had the STP3-13 movement. I LOVE the watch! Perfect dimensions, unique style, and very high quality finishing on the indicies, hands, case, and dial. The movement has been consistently running +2-3 SPD (the 3-13 has a gooseneck regulator), has 44HR PR, and winds smoother than a 2824. Overall very impressed! I wear it every sunday (for #ZodiacZunday) and it still looks and operates like new. The finishing on the indices and logo really do stand well above other offerings in the price range and catch the light like a much more expensive watch.

[@jjjfffppp]

Literally no one thinks squale is a "KZbin watch". I think TGV is living rent free in Theodore's dome.

[@guitarsandcheesecake1632]

Great video. I bought a dive watch last month. I tried the seiko prospect, Hamilton, oris 43.5mm and the titanium bracelet model. I ended up with a Tag heuer Aquaracer with the black dial. excellent quality and wearing experience it was a bit more expensive than the other but so much better. Tag heuer get very little love on KZbin, but I love them....... keep up the great work 👍

[@jorgeolguingarcia]

Teddy, with all my respect, but IMHO you should just mention the Squale watches and forget TGV, don't bring it up. It sounds petty and not very graceful of your part. I enjoy your channel; I also enjoy once in a while "that other channel". If you guys just don't like each other, give it a rest, just talk about the watch. Be the bigger youtuber, and give the Squale brand it's place without bringing up TGV (it's the second time I watch one of your videos in which that happens, last time I made a similar and respectful comment). That's all, for the rest of the video, great watches, great takes on the watches. Cheers!

[@sjfrank88]

Orient will get you hooked. For first over 500 the MIDO really is amazing at about 750. I wear it over more expensive watches. If it's too simple the tribute does some jazz.

[@stephenw1799]

I have the Brietling and love it. My want for a Submariner has gone once I put it on my wrist. You can pick it up for a lot less than retail with grey dealers.

[@ignaciopadilla5150]

That Bulova Devil Diver cought my eye, also the Marathan Gsar. Once again great video Teddy!

[@greenerriddim]

That Aquastar is very cool, I hadn't heard of it before. Thanks for a cool and informative video. Couple of watches that might merit inclusion would be the Eterna Super Kontiki, and the Stowa Prodiver.

[@nekomimi5471]

I absolutely love my Doxa Sub 200 Divingstar with BOR bracelet like in your video. Glad to see it profiled!

[@garywilson3582]

I love that breitling but every time I buy a watch it's always been second choice...I purchased seamaster and tudor bb58 because they both seemed better value for money...I would buy the breitling at £3000

[@unixnerd23]

Nice to see Certina mentioned, very underrated brand.

[@elrebelde4610]

Great video as always Teddy. Any chance you could do similar list but with Titanium watches please? Thank you 👍

[@fevinman7162]

Got my Green Captain Cook on the wrist right now, and it’s my favorite watch of the current collection. Your channel was one of the first to review it, and that review definitely helped me make the decision to purchase it, so thanks Teddy!

[@canadianwatchmonkey3992]

I love the Sumo, Just a super solid diver and a we bit on the large side

[@donaldduck7628]

Nice collection. You have some wide variety shown, along with brands i have never seen. Thank you for the presentation. Enlightening.

[@stevenv.surawski1178]

I just purchased the RADO Captain Cook Dive Watch with Black Dial. It came with Two additional watch straps and leather travel pouch. Very happy with this purchase. Even my wife who is not a watch person likes it. As an aside I own over 10 "good" watches, and this is one of my favorites.

[@sinjon]

You can actually see the misalignment on that Seiko even over a video. Seiko just doesn’t care anymore. That Navy Scuba looks good though

[@omegawatchfan]

Hamilton Khaki Scuba is very nice for the money. If you include older watches, the Omega Planet Ocean 2500 is very underrated. Beautiful, 600m rating, and cheaper than some of the watches on this list.

[@nelsonc6173]

The Bulova and Mido were my two faves. That Bulova was definitely the most interesting watch I have ever seen from them!

[@jazzjackson9875]

I agree ...it's very striking

[@SCROOGE1111]

Another great video! I personally would never wear a diver's watch written devil and with the devil's number like Bulova did

[@VictorGutierrez-rm2tu]

Nice list Teddy! I was just promoted at the bank and am looking for a watch to commemorate! Any recommendations from the community? Was looking at an Alpinist, but I like that Sumo! Budget would be $1000. Nobody mention the Bulova Banker! 😂

[@stu632]

Love most of them, have always loved what Aquastar are doing. Such a cool look.

[@centurio34]

The only AD for Certina in the US is Hodinkee, but they’re not too difficult to find on the gray market.

[@ericmaleky691]

the zodiac jubilee bracelet is PHENOMENAL, I reach for it more than any other watch because of how comfortable it is

[@palicar]

I have a SSW Skin and no issues with the 1.11 STP movement. Loses around 20 seconds a day. Fine with me. Quiet rotor. Nothing weird with the crown operation. It’s one of my favorites. ZO9207 on their 5-link bracelet.

[@EmperorProtects4848]

Not sure about less know, but despite coverage on several outlets it is definitely a lesser represented model: the Serica 5303.

[@khronosbest9448]

Detailed, extensive, informative. Well done !👏

[@ryanshredz9743]

I recently imported a JDM black Orient Kamasu with a kanji day wheel and paired it with a Strapcode oyster bracelet and the result is amazing - at a net cost under $350! I absolutely love the feel and design of this watch, it looks so damn cool and so... Japanese! Absolutely the best budget alternative to a Submariner out there, if that's your thing - not me though, when it comes to divers, it is Seiko or nothing (Orient is a quasi-Seiko)! As someone who owns higher-end watches from Seiko to Sinn up to Grand Seiko, the Kamasu is honestly changing the way I think about watches in general, because it is that good!

[@tonybugg7665]

STP Movements are a problem. I bought a Stella Felix and have been through 3 movements in 16 months. The first one just stopped running. It was replaced by one that could not be wound and ran way fast. It was replaced again with the apology that STP sent them a bad batch. The one I have now runs well and with 10 seconds a day; however it has quirks when setting the time. Never again. STP movements get 1 star.

[@user-mk1bn1gp4g]

I had a BULOVA great watch and attracted attention.

[@mrbud8524]

Watched your videos on Doxa l ended up buying 2 Doxa 200 on the bracelet love them both ❤️

[@kili7728]

I was hoping for the kano because I got the pepsi bezel + bracelett version for christmas last year as my first watch

[@homeofwatches]

I love the MIDO Ocean Star series. I’ve got a GMT and it’s one of my favorite watches in my collection 🥰

[@GeeMood]

Love Aquastar. Other slept on dive watches imho would be zrc grand fonds 300, zrc founded in 1904, of course a casualty of the quartz crisis but has had a rebirth of sorts. The Calibre De Cartier Diver, another slept on watch as well as the Carl F Bucherer Patravi Scubatec. JLC Master Compressor Diving 178T170 is a grail of mine. Great list Teddy, great vid as well!

[@fieldwalker]

STP Zodiac Aquamarine dream Sea Wolf here. +/- 1 sec a day. Another underated and sleeper option for the lux category is the Prospex LX (lux!) divers. Love those.

[@williamrichardson6242]

Hi Teddy I’m looking for that Seiko 5 with Blue and I believe that second hand was green or it was the date. That watch is calling my name. Thank you for all your great videos. That’s going to be the start of my collection.

[@brulc4fun]

Teddy can you do review of seiko 5 Sports SSK models i think that this would be very nice video

[@dtroutmann]

It be cool to do a dedicated Seiko, Grand Seiko dive watch episode

[@peasantstimekeeper]

Always loading videos when im at work 😆 Ill watch it later, sure its another good one!

[@danielschumacher6720]

I have the Mido Ocean Star 600. A top-diver. Great Build quality and modern movement ...

[@nekomimi5471]

Hodinkees is now a US distributor for Certina. That's where I got my DS Super PH500M.

[@mrpaul1979]

Please do a detailed Aquatimer video. Thanks Teddy

[@benc1222]

Have the zodiac ssw lime green shown in the video it’s. I have the watch no issues with the movement so far. Love the bracelet. The only thing I don’t like about the movement is screw down crown mechanism. There’s a odd bite point for the screw down threads. No issues so far, but it feels like it may cross thread some time down the line.

[@Comicath]

surprised to not see a christopher ward on here! the trident 300 looks very appealing for the price

[@jasonsmith1375]

Thank you for this video Teddy! Love Love Love me a Dive watch!

[@slowbluesmaster]

On behalf of all quartz lovers, I'd respectfully ask you to make a 'quartz-only' version.

[@rustyconlan2165]

Never seen a watch I appreciate more than the Sinn U1 tegeminted…gorgeous

[@bjlochow7136]

I have owned the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf skin diver reference ZO9203 for two years. Unfortunately, I’ve had to send it in for service twice in that timeframe. Both times were covered under warranty, but the warranty is lapsed now. I absolutely love the history and the design of the watch which makes it all the more disappointing that I’ve had these issues. I personally won’t buy another watch with a soprod movement.

[@dangerosos3594]

The alpina Seastrong somes to mind, really nice finishing and the discounts are equally as nice. I was hesitant about their 44mm case, but the lug to lug is a very manageable 48/49

[@canadianwatchmonkey3992]

I absolutely love the smaller dive watches at 38mm to 39mm .

[@fishmeister2625]

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 38mm is my grail watch.

[@canadianwatchmonkey3992]

@@fishmeister2625 great choices

Mido Ocen Star Blue 200. Great Watch

[@kokhui32liau88]

My thoughts of other dive watch that seldom talk about... 1. Titoni sea scooper 600 2. Mont Blanc 1858 Iced sea 3. Tudor pelago

[@quadrupleheart]

I'm excited to watch this, I just completed and obtained my advanced open water diving certification and want to celebrate with my first dive watch (and first watch that's not from Walmart, haha) but I don't have a budget for something that's caught my eye like a doxa sub 200 or marathon search and rescue. I'll definitely be sticking to cheap watches for a while 😅

[@johnp2773]

That is great congrats. I use the aqualung i200c dive computer / watch as my everyday carry. It can Bluetooth log your dives to a phone which is nice. Not as dressy as these but descent enough. Shearwater makes really good looking computers/ watches.

[@quadrupleheart]

@@johnp2773 good to know, thanks

[@glenndrayton3641]

Is U-boat a dive watch or fashion watch?

[@DavidDatura]

It’s telling that the lug to lug measurement of the IWC wasn’t given here. As like many other IWCs they wear much larger than the diameter of the watch would suggest, unfortunately.

[@ryanloucks1435]

Oris also has some good options to consider.

[@nahyanrajee198]

Love your lists of lesser known or cheaper watches teddy.

[@JWnFlorida]

Great video as always.

[@caiusKeys]

Wrist check: Casio Duro

[@johnyoung8144]

Thanks for the great content Teddy. Been on the fence contemplating some of these watches. After hearing your thoughts on them I might just have to lay down the cash to get a few of these. You brought up the Orient Kanno. I was thinking on getting a diver from the Orient Star line. In particular Diver Shinrin Green Pwr Rsv Ref. RK-AU0307E. Looks much better than the Orient branded divers.

[@micksumo]

Squale 1521 has one of the best case designs I've ever experienced. If your wrist is around 7 inches would defo recommend. Also a zodiac sea wolf cos they're different and really pop.

[@jonathanturner1581]

AWESOME THANK YOU 😊 never knew about the "AquaStar" brand. Would love to see an updated list for dress watches too at some point. And also get your recommendation for a good dress watch for under $1000, that has good enough water resistance that you could swim with it 🙂

[@craigdlazarus]

The JLC for me...thx Teddy ...keep 'e coming...

[@joeskeptical4762]

*None better than a Seiko Turtle. The original and still the best no-gimmicks diver. Everything about it is for function, nothing for show.*

[@brianbuchert1521]

If I had the means I’d have the Breitling super ocean omit the Bulova devil diver! Staying within my means it’ll most likely be the Bulova lol

[@Faetter-Blobs-Filmbiks]

I got myself a DS super ph500m a few months ago and absolutely love it. It is a bit tall and the bezel is something you need to get use to. But the value for money is outstanding

[@KRBY555]

Ahhhh the B-list. I keep it close to the vest.