Vintage dive watches offer a combination of iconic looks, stylish versatility, and collectibility that’s hard to beat. Despite the timeless appeal of these pieces, wearing a 50-year-old watch as a daily driver can be risky — especially if you actually want to use it underwater. This selection of the genre’s greatest hits, however, offers the same classic mid-century aesthetic with the benefit of updated movements and materials.

PANERAI RADIOMIR QUARANTA, ($7,700)

CLOCKWISE: BREITLING SUPEROCEAN HERITAGE ’57 HIGHLANDS, ($8,100), RADO CAPTAIN COOK AUTOMATIC, ($3,500), CITIZEN PROMASTER DIVE, ($575)

JAEGER-LECOULTRE POLARIS DATE, ($13,500), GLASHÜTTE ORIGINAL SEAQ, ($11,600)

CLOCKWISE: LONGINES LEGEND DIVER, ($4,200), SEIKO PROSPEX SLA063 LIMITED EDITION, ($4,175), OMEGA SEAMASTER 300, ($7,400), BULOVA OCEANOGRAPHER DEVIL DIVER, ($995)

10 Dive Watches That Get Better With Time

1 of 4

PANERAI RADIOMIR QUARANTA, ($7,700)

10 Dive Watches That Get Better With Time

2 of 4

CLOCKWISE: BREITLING SUPEROCEAN HERITAGE ’57 HIGHLANDS, ($8,100), RADO CAPTAIN COOK AUTOMATIC, ($3,500), CITIZEN PROMASTER DIVE, ($575)

10 Dive Watches That Get Better With Time

3 of 4

JAEGER-LECOULTRE POLARIS DATE, ($13,500), GLASHÜTTE ORIGINAL SEAQ, ($11,600)

10 Dive Watches That Get Better With Time

4 of 4

CLOCKWISE: LONGINES LEGEND DIVER, ($4,200), SEIKO PROSPEX SLA063 LIMITED EDITION, ($4,175), OMEGA SEAMASTER 300, ($7,400), BULOVA OCEANOGRAPHER DEVIL DIVER, ($995)

Photography: Levi Hodson

Prop Styling: Chad Burton (Cadre Artist Management)

Styling: Haley Dach

Photo Assistant: Jasmine Mistry

Boat: Zhaba, courtesy of Roman Masley, Commodore, Mimico Cruising Club