Originally Posted by
Wheelwright
I know this is way off topic for a bike forum, but I cannot resist. Good luck, enjoy.
If you must do Rolex - Sea Dweller, but get a non-metal band for the thing. SD is the only one that is fully ruggedized and lives up to its reputation. In a field test, SD & Panerai were the only automatics that survived the tests/came out equivalently on top.
Panerai - Luminor Marina together with B&R below has the best visual field of any quality watch. Go with the stainless, "left hander fit" built for wearing on the right wrist, use it on the left wrist like normal and the crown points toward your forearm and does not dig into the back of your hand on the bike. They come in a couple of different sizes . . . big and bigger. Like all my suggestions . . . bomb proof . . . go with the rubber dive band. I wear mine whitewater kayaking where is gets bashed up against rocks, so I can attest to its ruggedness.
Bell & Ross - Hydromax. Similar case to the watch B&R designed for bomb squad professionals only this is their professional dive version . . . kindof redundant to say . . . bomb proof . . . It is filled with silicone gel liquid for extra impact and pressure resistance which requires a Quartz movement but enables it to function at a depth of 11,100m. The crown is offset by 45 degrees so that it does not dig into the back of your hand while riding, spear fishing, welding, or de-fusing bombs. Quartz movement keeps the afficionados away, but it rocks, and fits easily under barrel or french cuffs. Oh yeah, and it is the lightest of the recommendations, so it is great for hill climbs. Comes with a 7 year battery, requires a certified shop to replace due to the silicone fill.
Finally in the budget automatic category (<$3,000), ORIS makes several great, if chunky, automatic movement dive watches that are really rugged. Also with crowns that are rotated 45 degrees for freedom of hand movement. Dual time zone, titanium dive version is light, interesting, and quite a good deal.
OK one more: for the truly budget conscious, Seiko makes a couple of old school dive watches that have offset crowns and look great. They are more of the disposable variety, and in my experience they last for a few years with hard use.
Rolex, Panerai, B&R & ORIS will get stolen before you wear them out or break them. Seiko is a good alternative for the money.
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