Dive Watch Buyers Guide: Comparing Top Dive Watch Brands

You don’t need a certification in deep-sea diving—or a second mortgage—to appreciate what a great dive watch can offer. Maybe you’re looking for something tough enough to handle the outdoors but sharp enough to pair with your workday outfit. Or maybe you’re drawn to the timeless, rugged look of a diver and want to invest in something that’s more than just a fashion piece. 

Whatever brought you here, one thing is clear: you’re ready for more than the basics. 

Dive watches aren’t just built for underwater missions—they’re engineered for reliability, durability, and day-to-day confidence. From iconic tool watches with decades of legacy to modern pieces with high-tech movements and luxe finishing, the range can be overwhelming.

But the truth is, you don’t need to spend thousands to get a watch that’s built like a tank, looks sharp, and performs under pressure.

Let’s break down what actually matters when comparing dive watches and see how La Touraine’s affordable dive watches hold their own against the big names in the industry. If you’re after a timepiece that delivers performance without the pretense, you’re in the right place. 

What To Look For When Comparing Dive Watches

Before you start comparing brands, you need to know what actually matters in a dive watch. Here are the four essentials that separate the good from the gimmicks:

• Core dive features - Look for at least 200 meters (20 ATM) of water resistance, a screw-down crown, and a unidirectional rotating bezel. These features ensure your watch can handle real underwater conditions, not just the occasional splash.

• Build quality and materials - Make sure your dive watch is made with materials that don’t just look good; they also survive the elements. 

• Movement and reliability - A dive watch is only useful if it tells the right time. Whether you prefer quartz for low-maintenance precision or automatic for mechanical charm, choose a brand with a reliable movement that fits your lifestyle.

• Design and aesthetics - Dive watches come in all styles, from tactical to minimalist and refined. Make sure the watch fits your personal style and feels just as natural to wear while running errands as it does at the beach.

• Price and value - A high price doesn’t always equal high quality. Focus on the specs, materials, and craftsmanship you’re getting, not the logo. The best dive watches balance performance with price.

La Touraine’s Dive Watches

La Touraine’s dive watch collection is designed to deliver the core dive watch essentials without the luxury markup. These watches are about substance, designed for those who appreciate quality, wear their gear hard, and don’t need to flex about it.

La Touraine’s Maritimer Dive Watch

The Maritimer takes everything you expect from a classic diver and strips it down to what actually matters. This is a watch that feels purpose-built but still sleek enough to wear every day.

Key Features

• 20 ATM water resistance

• Sapphire crystal lens

• Full ceramic bezel

• BGW9 super lume

• Miyota 2115 quartz movement

The Maritimer is lean, tough, and understated, ideal for anyone who wants a real dive watch they can actually wear without babying it. Whether you choose the black, blue, or green bezel, you’re getting a look that’s classic but never boring.

La Touraine’s Commodore GMT Dive Watch

The Commodore GMT steps things up with added functionality and rugged styling. It keeps everything that makes the Maritimer a great diver—sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel, 200m WR—but adds GMT functionality with the Swiss Ronda 515 GMT quartz movement, allowing you to track two time zones at once. 

The Commodore is for people who move. Whether you’re jet-setting across time zones or hitting the water on a weekend adventure, this watch keeps up without slowing down.

How La Touraine Stacks Up to the Competition

With so many options out there, it’s tough to tell the difference between a legendary name and a genuinely good watch. Here’s how La Touraine compares against legacy brands like Seiko, Citizen, Casio, and Garmin. 

Seiko

Seiko’s SRPL51 from the Prospex Sea collection. Photo courtesy of Seiko.

Seiko’s Prospex line is beloved by hobbyist divers and collectors alike. With a Seiko dive watch, you’ll find sturdy 200m+ water resistance, great lume, and dependable automatic or solar movements. 

• Build - Seiko watches are typically stainless steel or titanium. Hardlex crystal, Seiko’s proprietary mineral crystal, is standard on entry-level models, while higher-end models are usually made with sapphire crystal.

• Movement - Seiko offers both automatic and quartz options, but most of the Seiko Prospex divers are powered by automatic movements. All movements are in-house, which sets Seiko apart from other dive watches in the same price range.

• Design - Seiko blends heritage and tool-watch functionality. Designs range from vintage-inspired to rugged.

• Price - Prices for Seiko dive watches range from $400-$1,200+.

La Touraine dive watches match up to Seiko’s durability with 316L stainless steel, ceramic bezels, and sapphire crystal, often reserved for Seiko’s higher-end models. 

Citizen

Citizen’s Promaster Dive EO2028-06L from the Promaster Sea collection. Photo courtesy of Citizen.

Citizen’s Promaster Sea line is all about function—eco-driven tech, big lume plots, and ISO-certified 200-300m water resistance. It’s a favorite among weekend adventurers and practical users. 

• Build - Citizen’s Promaster Sea dive watches are made with Super Titanium™  or stainless steel.

• Movement - Citizen touts Eco-Drive technology: solar-powered quartz movements that eliminate the need for battery changes.

• Design - Citizen dive watches range from utilitarian to bold. Some designs are a bit chunky, but dials are clean and functional with oversized indices and well-lumed hands.

• Price - Promaster Sea dive watches start just under $400 and typically range up to just over $1,000, with the Promaster 1000m Professional Diver priced highest at $2,775 for its functionality.

La Touraine doesn’t offer solar tech but makes up for it with Swiss and Japanese quartz reliability, ceramic bezels, and a more refined aesthetic. Where Citizen goes bold, La Touraine goes sleek and modern, ideal if you want your dive watch to go from the trail to the office.

Casio

Casio’s GWGB1000-1A from the G-SHOCK Mudmaster collection. Photo courtesy of Casio.

The Casio Duro is often a first dive watch—cheap, quartz, and functional. At the other end, G-SHOCK models go full tactical with sensors, dive logs, and shock resistance.

• Build - Casio G-SHOCK is built with resin, while Casio Duro dive watches are made with stainless steel.

• Movement - Depending on the type, you’ll get a basic quartz movement or a watch powered by solar digital technology.

• Design - Practicality is the name of the game for Casio dive watch designs. You’ll typically find very tough and utilitarian designs from Casio.

• Price - Casio’s entry-level watches start around $70, with many models from the G-SHOCK collection around $1,000.

If you’re looking for a dive watch with a design that is more rugged, Casio may be your best bet. But, where Casio feels basic or bulky, La Touraine brings sophistication without the price hike.

Garmin

Garmin’s Descent™ G2 dive watch. Photo courtesy of Garmin.

Garmin dive watches are more computer than watch. With the ability to track dive profiles, gas mixes, and even GPS entry points, it’s the choice for serious divers who need tech rather than tradition.

• Build - Garmin’s dive watches are typically made with lightweight polymers or titanium with sapphire glass and robust button seals.

• Movement - Garmin’s dive watches are entirely software-based. You’re not getting a traditional movement, but rather a full-featured operating system and battery.

• Design - Built for athletes and divers, displays are digital, bezels are chunky, and comfort takes priority over elegance.

• Price - Starting at $700 and ranging up with features to $1,500, 

La Touraine doesn’t try to compete with Garmin’s smart features. Instead, it offers a true analog dive watch with style and simplicity. If you’re looking for timeless form over tech, La Touraine delivers a mechanical feel at a fraction of the price.

There’s no shortage of options out there—heritage brands, high-tech tools, and luxury icons with sky-high price tags. But once you cut through the noise, it all comes down to the same core principles: durability, functionality, precision, and value.

La Touraine delivers all four.

With sapphire crystal, ceramic bezels, 200 meters of water resistance, and reliable movements—all for under $200—you’re getting a timepiece built for real life, not just a display case. Whether you lean toward the stripped-back utility of the Maritimer or the globe-trotting functionality of the Commodore GMT, you're walking away with serious dive watch functionality at a price that makes sense.