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Zach Weiss
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When it comes to affordable boutique dive watches, one of the original names behind the rebirth of the trend is Deep Blue. Based out of NYC, Deep Blue was one of the earliest of the modern brands making overbuilt tool dive watches in China (they also have Swiss-made watches), bringing both quality and good value with them. Their focus on using tritium gas tubes then set them apart from most of their competition, making their products unique and earning them cult status. In the years since the brands inception it has grown tremendously, now even having a booth at Basel, which is always fun to visit.
Despite having been around since before we started w&w, somehow we’ve never reviewed one. So, today we’re going to change that as we take a look at one of their core models, the DayNight Scuba. This 300m watch is a tool watch through and through, with a hearty steel case, great construction, some kickass lume, both tritium and SuperLuminova, and the various trappings you’d expect on a good diver. Coming in at $699, the DayNight has a sapphire crystal and is powered by the trustworthy Miyota 9015. So let’s take a closer look.
Deep Blue DayNight Scuba Review
Case: Steel
Movement: Miyota 9015
Dial: Matte Black
Lume: T-100 Tritium tubes and C3
Lens: Sapphire
Strap: Steel
Water Res.: 300M
Dimensions: 45 x 52 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Lug Width: 22 mm
Crown: 8 x 4mm
Warranty: Yes
Price: $699
Case
Solid. That’s the single word that comes to ming when describing the case of the DayNight Scuba. It’s hefty, thick, dense and incredibly solid. Measuring 45 x 52 x 15mm, it’s a large watch, no doubt about it, but one with smart proportions, making it wear better than expected and perhaps look a bit smaller than it is. The design has a classic shape with thick, contouring lugs, slab sides and small but purposeful looking crown guards. The majority of the case has light brushing for an even sheen, but running along the edge of the lugs and following the line of the case is a polished bevel. This detail does a lot to dress up the case, and since it’s perfectly executed adds an overall feeling of quality.
On top of the case is a well pronounced diver’s bezel. It features a 120-click uni-directional mechanism with a light, but precise snap. Speaking of solidity, bezels can be a point of weakness in any design, as they are a moving part with various tolerances at play. This one does not budge. It doesn’t take any special amount of pressure to rotate, but when it’s not in motion, there is no play. The bezel edge is designed with periodic deep cuts, rather than an edge texture, for grip. It works, and gives the watch a certain chunkiness I like.
Off of three is a screw down crown that measures 8 x 4mm. The wide but flat design makes the crown well proportioned to the case, but not stick out too much, saving your wrist from crown-bite. The crown has a simple design that mimics the bezel with occasional deep grooves, and a beveled edge. On the flat outside surface is Deep Blue’s clover-esque logo. Flipping the watch over, you have a solid steel case back with a light etching in the center of a diver beneath waves. Around the edge of the art are all the various details about the watch, including the 300m water resistance.
Dial
The dial of the DayNight Scuba is clean and bold, with a design that is largely defined by its use of flat tritium tubes. The main surface is matte black with an inner circle featuring a wave-form pattern. It’s a subtle texture that is only viewable in good lighting, and does a good job of activating what would have been empty space. Within this area is various text: Deep Blue logos below 12, and a block of small text above 6 reading “DayNight Scuba T-100”, “300 Meter/1000 Feet” and “Automatic” each on a separate line. It’s quite a bit of text though the small font keeps it from over taking the dial. That said, I wonder if it is all necessary info for the dial.
The primary index consists solely of large, rectangular, flat tritium tubes. Thought they might look like applied markers painted with lume, each is in fact a tube filled with radioactive tritium gas, which in turn lights up a layer of illuminating material for a constant glow. This is my first experience with a watch with flat tubes, and I like them. I like tritium in general, but these integrate more sensibly with a dial design. The tubes then are all green, save those at 12 which are orange. 12, 3, 6 and 9 are all presented with double tubes, giving the dial a slight cross-hair feel. In daylight, the tubes just appear a bold markers, simple but effective. In the dark, these things really light up. Once your eyes adjust a bit, the tubes are quite exceptional. Between each tube are white lines for the individual minutes/seconds.
The post Deep Blue DayNight Scuba Review appeared first on worn&wound.
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Let us know your thoughts and impressions.
When it comes to affordable boutique dive watches, one of the original names behind the rebirth of the trend is Deep Blue. Based out of NYC, Deep Blue was one of the earliest of the modern brands making overbuilt tool dive watches in China (they also have Swiss-made watches), bringing both quality and good value with them. Their focus on using tritium gas tubes then set them apart from most of their competition, making their products unique and earning them cult status. In the years since the brands inception it has grown tremendously, now even having a booth at Basel, which is always fun to visit.
Despite having been around since before we started w&w, somehow we’ve never reviewed one. So, today we’re going to change that as we take a look at one of their core models, the DayNight Scuba. This 300m watch is a tool watch through and through, with a hearty steel case, great construction, some kickass lume, both tritium and SuperLuminova, and the various trappings you’d expect on a good diver. Coming in at $699, the DayNight has a sapphire crystal and is powered by the trustworthy Miyota 9015. So let’s take a closer look.
Deep Blue DayNight Scuba Review
Case: SteelMovement: Miyota 9015
Dial: Matte Black
Lume: T-100 Tritium tubes and C3
Lens: Sapphire
Strap: Steel
Water Res.: 300M
Dimensions: 45 x 52 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Lug Width: 22 mm
Crown: 8 x 4mm
Warranty: Yes
Price: $699
Case
Solid. That’s the single word that comes to ming when describing the case of the DayNight Scuba. It’s hefty, thick, dense and incredibly solid. Measuring 45 x 52 x 15mm, it’s a large watch, no doubt about it, but one with smart proportions, making it wear better than expected and perhaps look a bit smaller than it is. The design has a classic shape with thick, contouring lugs, slab sides and small but purposeful looking crown guards. The majority of the case has light brushing for an even sheen, but running along the edge of the lugs and following the line of the case is a polished bevel. This detail does a lot to dress up the case, and since it’s perfectly executed adds an overall feeling of quality.
On top of the case is a well pronounced diver’s bezel. It features a 120-click uni-directional mechanism with a light, but precise snap. Speaking of solidity, bezels can be a point of weakness in any design, as they are a moving part with various tolerances at play. This one does not budge. It doesn’t take any special amount of pressure to rotate, but when it’s not in motion, there is no play. The bezel edge is designed with periodic deep cuts, rather than an edge texture, for grip. It works, and gives the watch a certain chunkiness I like.
Off of three is a screw down crown that measures 8 x 4mm. The wide but flat design makes the crown well proportioned to the case, but not stick out too much, saving your wrist from crown-bite. The crown has a simple design that mimics the bezel with occasional deep grooves, and a beveled edge. On the flat outside surface is Deep Blue’s clover-esque logo. Flipping the watch over, you have a solid steel case back with a light etching in the center of a diver beneath waves. Around the edge of the art are all the various details about the watch, including the 300m water resistance.
Dial
The dial of the DayNight Scuba is clean and bold, with a design that is largely defined by its use of flat tritium tubes. The main surface is matte black with an inner circle featuring a wave-form pattern. It’s a subtle texture that is only viewable in good lighting, and does a good job of activating what would have been empty space. Within this area is various text: Deep Blue logos below 12, and a block of small text above 6 reading “DayNight Scuba T-100”, “300 Meter/1000 Feet” and “Automatic” each on a separate line. It’s quite a bit of text though the small font keeps it from over taking the dial. That said, I wonder if it is all necessary info for the dial.
The primary index consists solely of large, rectangular, flat tritium tubes. Thought they might look like applied markers painted with lume, each is in fact a tube filled with radioactive tritium gas, which in turn lights up a layer of illuminating material for a constant glow. This is my first experience with a watch with flat tubes, and I like them. I like tritium in general, but these integrate more sensibly with a dial design. The tubes then are all green, save those at 12 which are orange. 12, 3, 6 and 9 are all presented with double tubes, giving the dial a slight cross-hair feel. In daylight, the tubes just appear a bold markers, simple but effective. In the dark, these things really light up. Once your eyes adjust a bit, the tubes are quite exceptional. Between each tube are white lines for the individual minutes/seconds.
The post Deep Blue DayNight Scuba Review appeared first on worn&wound.
Continue reading...
Let us know your thoughts and impressions.