One of the more iconic bezel styles is the diving bezel. Diving watches are popular timepieces favored amongst divers and watch enthusiasts alike. Known for their bold design and striking look with a bigger case and two-toned bezel, there’s more to diving watches than just looking good. In this guide, we’ll be covering what a diving bezel is, the different types, and how to use them (spoiler alert: it’s not just useful for diving). Read on to learn more.
What is a Diver’s Watch Bezel?
Back in the early 1950s, when the dive bezel was first introduced to watches, the modern digital dive computers we have today didn’t exist. So, in order to measure the correct depth and decompression stops a diver needed to make, they relied on their diving bezel. And even though today there are many different computers, devices, and apps to help track all of that information for you, a diving bezel is still one of the best and most dependable ways to track your diving time.
A diving bezel is a unidirectional bezel (meaning that it only turns one way) that is used to track elapsed time. This means you can keep an eye on how long you’ve been underwater and when you make decompression stops, as well as how long those stops last. The unidirectional bezel ensures it won’t be bumped out of place, which could show an inaccurate amount of time and pose a safety concern.
Types of Diver’s Watch Bezels
There are two different types of rotating dive watch bezels; internal and external, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
External bezels
An external bezel surrounds the watch’s crystal and can be easily spun with your opposite hand making it an accessible feature. Of course, this poses the risk that it can be accidentally turned by bumping or catching on other objects, potentially risking the accuracy of the reading. That’s why unidirectional bezels were invented.
Internal bezels
The other type of bezel is an internal bezel which can be found under the watch’s crystal. They’re less common than their external counterparts, possibly because they’re less convenient to operate – needing an additional crown to turn.
Personal preference plays a big role in your choice of an internal or external bezel – internal bezels can give your watch a cleaner, more formal look, although the case may be thicker thanks to the extra mechanism inside. Meanwhile, external bezels are more accessible (especially if you wear gloves when diving) and can give your timepiece more of that iconic diving watch style.
Step-by-Step Guide: Using a Diver’s Watch Bezel
While it may look complicated, using a diving bezel is extremely simple.
- Before your dive, turn the bezel so that the 12 o’clock mark (usually something obvious like a luminous pip or arrow) aligns with the minute hand on the watch dial.
- After that, it’s a simple matter of reading where the minute hand is in relation to the starting point on the bezel. For example, if it points at the 10 mark, 10 minutes have elapsed since setting the timer.
And that’s all there is to it! The simple design of a diving bezel makes it easy to measure and track the time you’ve been underwater so you can pay more attention to exploring, but it can also be a helpful tool for activities outside the water. Anything that requires a timer, such as keeping track of how long food is cooking in the oven, how long you've been on a phone call, or even how long you've been parked at a meter, can all be timed using a diving bezel.
Why Choose Timex Diver-inspired Watches?
At Timex, we sell a range of different diving-inspired watches. Our Deepwater collection merges resilience and elegance with features like sturdy stainless-steel cases, screw-down crowns, and screw-on case backs to effectively keep water out and provide water resistance up to 200m. All accompanied by waterproof synthetic rubber straps and unidirectional diving bezels for accurate timekeeping underwater.
If you’re not a diver but love the look of diving watches, check out our diving-inspired collection instead. These watches boast the perfect balance between nautical aesthetics and functionality and are an excellent choice for those seeking a functional and fashionable diver-style timepiece that won’t break the bank.
Key Takeaway
Diving-inspired watches are well-loved for their striking style and bold aesthetics with their larger cases and useful, two-toned bezels. Knowing how your diving bezel works means you can time almost anything, from your time underwater to your commute to the office and beyond.
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Deepwater Meridian 200 44mm Synthetic Rubber Strap Watch44 mm Yellow/Gunmetal$229.00 -
Deepwater Reef 200 41mm Synthetic Rubber Strap Watch41 mm Blue/Stainless Steel$199.00
