AbyssFlare 200M

Description

On a dive watch the minute hand is the one that matters. It tracks how long you have been down. That is why the AbyssFlare gives it the orange arrow and leaves everything else in white — at a glance, in poor light, there is no ambiguity about which hand you are reading. Underneath it is a Seiko NH35: a mechanical automatic that winds itself from the movement of your wrist, runs at 21,600 beats per hour, and holds a 41-hour reserve. No battery. Leave it off on Friday evening and it is still running on Sunday. THE BEZEL IS THE PART WORTH PAYING FOR The 60-minute scale sits on a ceramic insert, not painted aluminium. Ceramic does not fade in sunlight and does not pick up the fine scratches that make an aluminium bezel look tired after a season. It rotates in one direction only — the standard dive safety convention, so a knock can shorten your reading of elapsed time but never lengthen it. BUILT FOR WATER, HONESTLY DESCRIBED 200m water resistance, 20 bar, with a screw-down caseback and a 1.5mm sapphire crystal over the dial. That is a genuine swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving rating. The case is 304 stainless steel with a black coating; the ceramic bezel takes the most exposed surface. As with any steel dive watch, rinse it in fresh water after the sea. 42.5MM — THE WEARABLE ONE Our other divers run 43mm to 48mm. This is the one that sits comfortably on an average wrist and still reads as a proper tool watch. If the AbyssForce felt like a lot of watch, this is the answer. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE BUYING This is a 304 stainless steel case, not 316L. It is an automatic, so it will gain or lose a few seconds a day — that is normal for a mechanical movement and not a fault. The strap is silicone, which is the right material for water and the wrong material for a boardroom. We would rather you knew all three before you ordered than after.