Wristwatch Journal
I’ve said this many times; dive watches are a dime a dozen these days. You’ve got Rolex, Blancpain and Omega (among others) covering the high end, while Seiko, Hamilton and Oris bring things down to Earth. From a usability standpoint, few things separate these offerings as depth ratings vary from 100 to 300 metres and it’s just a matter of finding the right tool for the job. The ultra-deep divers, like this new Edox SkyDiver Neptunian, bring a special spec to the table that few others can match. A full 1,000-metre rating is fairly rare and Edox achieves this at a surprisingly affordable price point.
Edox is no newcomer to the industry, founded in 1884 in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. It introduced several aquatic innovations in the 1960s, including the renowned Delfin dive watch with a patented crown system. This double waterproof joint allowed for a 500-metre depth rating, unheard of at the time, and became a hit with both divers and boatsmen. The SkyDiver Neptunian is based on the elusive SkyDiver from 1973 (and modern counterpart), and more than triples the rating to 1,000 metres. The stainless steel case is 44mm in diameter and 15.6mm in height and has a 3mm thick sapphire crystal. A gold PVD option is also available. An integrated crown guard protects the screw-down crown and a helium escape valve ensures safe decompression if saturation diving. The ceramic bezel has standard markings without a detailed scale (or numerals) and the solid case back features an engraving of Neptune, Roman God of the Sea.
The dial has the requisite bold indices with Super-LumiNova X1, which also coats the hour and minute hands. The lollipop seconds hand has a spot of lume as well. A date window tastefully sits at 3 o’clock and the watch has a simple, no-nonsense vibe. The dial itself is a nice gradient blue with an all-black option as well, and the gold PVD variant has a black dial with gold accents. Although a bit large and heavy, it’s certainly ideal for daily wear and built like a tank for any adventure. Strap options include black rubber or a stainless steel bracelet with deployment clasp.
Powering the watch is the Calibre 80 automatic, based on the Sellita SW 200-1 (ETA 2824 clone). It has 25 jewels, beats at 28,800vph (4Hz) with a 38-hour power reserve. Functions include central hours, minutes, hacking seconds and date. Average accuracy is rated at +/- 12 seconds per day.
The Edox SkyDiver Neptunian retails for EUR 1,250, which is a real value proposition for a Swiss saturation diver with a 1,000-metre depth rating. It’s available now worldwide and for more information, visit the Edox website.
Technical specifications – Edox SkyDiver Neptunian
Case:
44mm diameter x 15.6mm height – stainless steel (gold PVD option) – 3mm sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating – steel case back with an engraving of Neptune, Roman God of the Sea – ceramic rotating bezel with lume marker – screw-down crown with guard – 1,000m water-resistance
Dial:
gradient blue or black – bold indices with Super-LumiNova X1– hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova – lollipop seconds hand with lume circle – date window at 3 o’clock
Movement:
Calibre 80 (based on Sellita SW200) – automatic – 25 jewels – 28,800vph (4Hz) – 38-hour power reserve – central hours, minutes, hacking seconds and date – average accuracy of +/- 12 seconds per day
Bracelet:
stainless steel bracelet with deployment clasp
black rubber also available
