Wolf Pack Inc

A couple of decades back if one wanted to buy it dive watch it was probably Swiss. All the way through to the 1970s the Swiss completely owned world watch making. There just was not much of an alternative to buying Swiss if you wanted a decent timepiece. In fact, even during the Second World War, Swiss craftsmen made many of the fine pieces of equipment that went into bombsights used by both the Allied and Axis forces, The reason for their expertise was that these are, in effect, sophisticated watches with an analogue computer bolted on top.

But then in the 1970s along came the Japanese who managed to exploit a huge innovation in the world of timekeeping, and that was the quartz movement. Ironically it was a Swiss invention that almost destroyed the Swiss industry. For quartz movements were far easier to make and thus far cheaper to make than the handcrafted Swiss mechanical movements that had previously dominated the industry. The arrival of Japanese watches on the world stage sparked a complete revolution that has been great for consumers. It dropped prices, increased choice and forced hidebound Swiss companies to adapt or die.

These days, instead of being forced to buy only Swiss watch, you have the choice of also buying high quality Japanese ones. If you are looking for a diving watch, the question is which country’s manufacturers should you go with? Much will depend on how much you want to spend and on how important style is to you. If you simply want a functional timepiece that is rugged and waterproof then you can get away without spending too much on a Japanese make such as a Casio. These are perfectly accurate, have a range of features and will stand up to knocks and bashes relatively well. If good looks and a brand name are more important to you and you are happy to start with prices in the hundreds of dollars, then a Swiss dive watch such as the Raid Commando watch may well be your first choice. It will work well under the water while looking good above it.