Adventure Watches | Diving, Aviation, Military & Sailing
If you’re looking for a watch that does more than tell the time, you’re in the right place.
Filled with extra functions for specific purposes, a ‘tool’ watch is perfect for the adventurous at heart. Different hobbies require different tools, so we’ve rounded up some of our favourites for diving, aviation, military and sailing.
Diving Watches
An instantly recognisable style, dive watches have been around since the 1950s. Chunky and bold to withstand extreme pressure deep under the sea, a dive watch is easy to spot. The main functions of a dive watch include:
A unidirectional rotating bezel, which is a 60 minute ring around the dial that can be used to time how long you’ve been underwater
Easy-to-read markers and hands with luminous markers for optimum visibility in dark depths
A water resistance of at least 200m, which is fine for scuba and recreational diving. 300m and over is suitable for professional and deep sea diving
Some, not all, diving watches will come with a helium escape valve, a feature for professional divers diving to depths of 200m and beyond for extended periods of time
What is a helium escape valve? When diving to these depths, a diver will travel down with a diving bell which is highly saturated with helium and hydrogen to counteract the toxic air found at these depths. Helium atoms are extremely small so easily slip inside a watch case, and as the watch depressurises on the ascent to the surface, the build-up of helium atoms inside the watch case could cause the crystal to ‘pop’ off the case. A helium escape valve allows the excess helium to escape.
Oris Prodiver Titanium Automatic Chronograph
The ultimate professional divers watch
Highly robust with an impressive case size of 51mm
Equipped with the innovative Oris Rotation Safety System, which takes the unidirectional rotating bezel one step further with its special ring grip around the bezel
Super visible counter displays
Automatic helium valve
Water resistant to 1000m
Tudor Pelagos Titanium
Unidirectional rotating bezel with luminous markers for optimal readability
Tudor's iconic snowflake hands allow you to distinguish the hour hand from the minute hand easily
Helium escape valve
Water resistant to 500m
Highly respected by underwater professionals
Our collection of Tudor watches are available exclusively at our Gateshead Metro, Manchester, Chester, Oxford, Doncaster and High Wycombe stores.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Master Chronometer
Black ceramic unidirectional bezel with a Liquidmetal diving scale
Helium escape valve
Easy-to-read dial
Water resistant to an excellent 600m
Pilot Watches
The iconic design of the pilot watch originated during the first and second World Wars, when there was a vital need for clear, easy-to-read timekeeping in the cockpit. Leading watch brands such as Omega and Zenith created watches specifically for pilots heading off to war. The main functions of a pilot watch include:
• A clean and highly legible dial, usually a black dial with large white numerical markers
• A resistance to losing time when exposed to changes in gravity, centrifugal force and vibrations
• Some pilot watches have a dual timezone feature, which is obviously good for those who travel a lot!
Zenith Pilot Type 20
A matte black dial featuring Arabic numerals made entirely from SuperLuminova SLN C1
Vintage aesthetic
Bremont ALT1-P2
Designed with aviators in mind who demand both accuracy and clarity
Easy-to-read dial with vintage detailing
Breitling Professional Exospace B55
Can simultaneously indicate two timezones, one with the hands and the other on the digital display
Features a digital perpetual calendar with weeks indication
Record "block times" (the time elapsed between the moment the airplane begins to move to the time it stops at the end of its mission) along with flight times, while memorising the date, departure and arrival times, takeoff and landing times as well as airport codes. You can then download all this information to your smartphone
Military & Outdoor Watches
A military watch is designed to be in the outdoors. Durable and robust, these watches are for those who need a reliable timepiece that will withstand the most extreme conditions. The main functions of a military watch include:
• Extreme durability and robust design. They will be large timepieces made from tough materials, such as steel and rubber
• Long battery life, which is important for high performance in the field or outdoor activities
• Tactical military features such as a compass, GPS and solar powering
Citizen Royal Marines Commandos
Super titanium case and bracelet
Water resistant to 300m
Shock resistance, extreme temperature resistant (-10c to +60c) and anti-magnetic
Breitling Super Avenger II
Made for the most extreme missions thanks to its rugged construction, screwed-in pushpiece guards and solid screw-lock crown with non-slip grip
Water resistant to 300m
Sailing Watches
Often bringing together the features of a dive watch with functions like GMT and World-Timers, sailing watches are designed to be tough, resilient and highly water resistant. The main functions of a sailing watch include:
A GMT function, meaning the watch can show two timezones simultaneously
Countdown timer, to measure the countdown to the start of a regatta
Barometer. Some watches boast this scientific instrument, used to measure atmospheric pressure
High legibility on the dial
Omega Seamaster X-33 Regatta
Regatta function, enabling sailors to keep track of the critical five minute countdown before a race
Digital and analogue display
Rubber strap
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 7 GMT
GMT function
Subjected to over 160 specifically designed tests for salty exposures, pressure, humidity and intense heat
Easy-to-read dial
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