Top 10 Best Citizen Dive Watches in 2024 – Top Rated Picks

Navigating through the wide array of professional diving watch models can be quite challenging, given their unique characteristics and distinct features.

And I understand it, and it is clear: if this portal was born, it is undoubtedly also to meet those who want to try to get closer to this world, but do not have the necessary coordinates.

In short, try to consider some fundamental points: I try to guide you through a series of questions and answers that could help you to solve your dilemma. But let’s proceed in order, and see if, with these first steps, we can find the one that’s right for you.

Here we had listed out the some of the best citizen dive watches that are present below.

What to Look for Before Buying Citizen Dive Watches?

Utility and Special Features

Designed not to be damaged in contact with water, diving watches are distinguished from each other by their level of resistance and waterproofness.

Furthermore, especially in the case of professional diving watches, they are equipped to accompany us during dives at great depths.

This is why they are more cumbersome than standard watches, requiring a larger dial and mechanisms that allow them to be used in extreme conditions.

When choosing, it is good to understand not only how deep we want our diving watch to resist, but also to the mode we prefer between analog and digital. When we are at great depths, being able to read the information on the dial may be essential quickly.

Larger Dimensions Help to Read the Time

When we are dealing with everyday wristwatches, we are faced with many differences between male and female models. The latter are generally small in size to adapt to thinner wrists, have more delicate design, but above all have much less functionality.

When it comes to tools that are meant to help us while diving, there can be no difference between a men’s diving watch and a women’s diving watch.

There may be distinctions regarding the size, a diving woman watch may need a smaller strap, but being a useful and efficient tool, there are no differences in terms of accessories between the women’s model and the men’s diving watch.

This is why it is straightforward to find unisex water-resistant watches, although it is possible to choose slightly smaller and lighter models in case of need. Some of the essential features that all diving watches must have are:

• High-pressure resistance (saltwater has a higher pressure)
• Excellent shock resistance
• Anti-magnetic protection
• Optimal visibility even in the dark
• impermeability
• Always efficient movement

Exact dive time measurement

Being able to calculate depth, dive time continually, and the stages to be carried out – especially during the ascent – allows you to avoid any accident.

The strap must also be waterproof, which is why it is generally found in rubber or metal – steel or titanium – also, it is good that it is equipped with a resistant closure, easily replaceable in case of wear, and extendable to adapt to the thickness of the suit.

Leather is a material not recommended as it is not water-resistant – even if it is water repellent – and has poor adaptability. To prevent damage, it is good to wash the strap of salt residues at the end of each use at sea.

Case and Back

The cases of automatic diving watches are visually distinguished by their greater thickness and diameter than standard wristwatches.

This size is necessary as a function of greater resistance to too high pressures, but also strong impacts – for example, during dives – and to any type of impact.

The materials that generally make up the case are steel or titanium, since they must not be damaged in contact with water and must be robust enough to prevent the mechanisms contained in it from being damaged.

The steel also guarantees a long life, a pleasant aesthetic appearance, but above all, excellent water resistance also in terms of corrosion over time, and the presence of limestone and salt.

The Case Should Preferably Be Robust and Light

For a greater investment, but also safer, titanium has a level of endurance far superior to steel, with the not negligible advantage of being even lighter.

Alternatively, the advancement of technology has allowed the production of extremely robust and versatile synthetic materials, although not as resistant to extreme depths.

Another relevant feature is given by the shape, which must preferably be rounded, since the presence of edges would increase the risk of water infiltration, in addition to making it more subject to external impacts.

For further protection from scratches and corrosion, many diving watches are covered with a thin film made of a material called PVD, or Physical Vapor Deposition.

In the diving watch models designed for greater depths, you can also find a valve – manual or automatic – integrated to remove the helium that enters the case with high pressure, to prevent the glass of the watch from bursting when we return to surface.

Dive watches with monobloc cases are undoubtedly the most resistant to extreme pressures. However, they prove uncomfortable when there is a need to access the internal mechanisms, requiring the removal of the glass. As for the case back, there are two types:

Screw-Down Case Back

In both cases, access to the inside of the case is facilitated: in fact, simply remove the case back, directly – in the case of the screw case back, with thread along the edge and protective gasket – or by removing the small screws used to secure it.

The screws allow easier opening and reduce the risk of damage to the threads; however, in both cases, more than good pressure resistance is guaranteed.

Dial and Glass

One of the fundamental characteristics of diving watches is undoubtedly the ease with which the data they provide is read.

For a quick understanding of the time, in analog diving watches, the minute hand is much longer than the hour hand, while the numbers 12 (or 0), 3, 6, and 9 are larger and more evident.

In the case of analog diving watches, generally, the bright display enters “night” mode and illuminates the numbers leaving the dark background for better contrast.

In any case, it is essential that there is only one visible color, since dealing with a completely colored dial could distract and confuse the reading. Some general precautions that almost all models have are:

• Dial with a larger diameter than normal
• Dark background, usually blue or black
• Hands – or numbers – and all large and fluorescent relevant information indicators
• Obvious and legible design

Any indication of time, time, and all the functions necessary during diving must be distinguishable up to 25 centimeters away.

There are also diving watches with all the dark indicators on a fluorescent background. However, the first solution remains the most readable.

Since looking at an overly illuminated dial while we are in the dark could disturb our vision and make us waste precious time.

The movement of most diving watches is self-winding and can be mechanical or quartz. The quartz movement is more precise.

However, the mechanical one works well at any temperature and does not need battery changes, which require the periodic opening of the case back and, therefore, the risk of damaging the seals.

Optimal Readability Is Vital at Great Depths

As for the glass above the dial, it must be as resistant as the case to high pressure and possible impacts.

For the material, some prefer plastic – such as acrylic or plexiglass – since it is elastic and deformable and therefore reacts well to high pressure.

Others opt for mineral glasses, much more robust, which, however, must be tempered in order not to risk breaking due to their high rigidity.

The most common material is the synthetic sapphire, for its remarkable strength – especially against impacts, abrasions, and saltiness – but also for its transparency. Usually, the glasses are domed and have anti-reflective qualities that help readability.

Bezel and Crown

To keep dive time under control, analog dive watches are equipped with a generally external bezel (or bezel), numbered up to 60 minutes – the maximum allowed dive time – and scanned in intervals of maximum 5 minutes.

In other, less frequent cases, the pre-selection of the times is regulated by a rotating crown, while for digital watches, just use the stopwatch.

It is essential that the positioning of the numbering on the bezel corresponds precisely to that of the dial, and that this can only be moved in steps – which usually correspond to a minute.

To be easily adjusted even with gloves underwater. This is why it is usually larger than usual and equipped with an external indentation, which increases its pre-sterility.

A fundamental characteristic of the ring is the unidirectionality of the movement: it must be possible to move only in an anticlockwise direction since a stir in the opposite direction could compromise the precision of the measurement.

To time the dive time simply matches the zero of the bezel with the position of the minute hand at the moment you enter the water.

If the bezel were hit and moved in a clockwise direction, it would make us believe we had more time available, risking making us mistake the decompression times or even running out of oxygen available.

If, on the other hand, it was moved counterclockwise, it would only cause an accidental reduction in the time spent during the dive.

Water Resistance

For diving watches to be called such, it is undoubtedly necessary that they be waterproof against water infiltration.

The measurement of this resistance is carried out by calculating the pressure up to which an underwater waterproof watch can prevent water from entering.

However, we are talking about theoretical indications. Therefore it is always good to choose resistance levels higher than necessary since it is essential to take into account also possible impacts, sudden movements, or other external factors.

Furthermore, it is essential to remember that seawater as salt exerts greater pressure, in addition to not always being regular for the same depth.

Therefore resistance is generally indicated by coupling the depth in meters to the number of equivalent atmospheres measured in ATM or bar. But how many meters does 1 atm correspond to? Generally, 1 atm is considered to coincide theoretically with a column of 10 meters of water.

You must never be completely sure that diving watches withstand the pressure at the indicated depth, but above all, you must never test them by exceeding the atmospheres suggested.

Especially if we decide to swim or dive from great heights, we must consider that the pressure during the impact increases drastically. The following table shows the actual endurance levels according to NHIS parameters (Swiss watch industry standards) according to their impermeability.

Professional Standards

When it comes to choosing from several professional diving watches, you can also opt for real dive computers or military diving watches.

In general, however, an essential characteristic is undoubtedly the adhesion from the ISO 6425 standard, an indicator that the watch has undergone all the real resistance tests.

ISO 6425 suitability is achieved only by diving watches capable of meeting both basic and specific requirements for diving. It should not be forgotten, however, that these tests only ensure standard safety, which does not guarantee maximum efficiency at extreme depths. The verified parameters are:

• Dive time detector present
• Optimal visibility up to 25 centimeters per hour, dive time, and battery level.
• Antimagnetismo
• Resistance to saltwater and impacts
• Movement mechanism efficiency

Professional divers may prefer the use of a dive computer, or a computer capable of measuring not only the duration of the dive.

But also the depth reached, and body pressure to calculate when it is necessary to carry out an ascent decompression stop.

Other useful information can be the state of the air in the cylinder and the surrounding temperature.

They are also designed to emit visual and acoustic signals when climbing too fast, skipping decompression stops, but also when going too low or oxygen is in critical condition.

The dive computer must be durable, easy to read, and simple to use, and it is still worth having your watch with you.

As for military diving watches, they may be preferable because they are incredibly resistant and able to last a long time.

Their batteries are at least one year long, and their robustness will allow us to take them with us in any situation.

These are not only suitable for diving, but also excursions at high altitude and any activity in extreme conditions.

They are generally dark in color, equipped with sapphire crystal and quartz movement, and include unique functions such as GPS, altimeter, barometer, and compass.

In conclusion, diver watches (professional) to be defined as such must necessarily be resistant to 20 or more atmospheres, be suitable for ISO 6425 standards, and have a ring with unidirectional movement.