Alpina?s Seastrong Diver 300, Hamilton?s Khaki Navy Frogman and Davosa?s Apnea Diver Automatic love to dive, but today they?re at a swimming pool. In this comparative review from WatchTime’s March-April 2018 issue, we test these three sporty dive watches to see how they perform swimming laps and jumping from diving boards.
l-r: Alpina Seastrong Diver, Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman, Davosa Apnea Diver Automatic (Photo: OK-Photography)
Even a quick glance at Davosa?s unconventional Apnea Diver Automatic, one of the few watches specifically designed for free divers, makes it clear that this extremely athletic pursuit not only demands peak physical performance but also self-confidence and self-reflection.
Like the Apnea, the extroverted 2016 edition of the Khaki Navy Frogman was developed in collaboration with a world-renowned apnea diver. In all other respects, however, the current edition of this Hamilton watch pays homage to the divers? watch that appeared in the 1951 movie, The Frogmen, and became the first Hamilton watch to grace the silver screen. And last but certainly not least, Alpina?s Seastrong Diver 300 is also influenced by history but is much more understated in its styling. This model is the direct descendant of the Seastrong 10 from the 1960s, which was watertight to 200 meters when it first debuted. The current Seastrong is watertight to 300 meters, which brings up an ?old? debate. The misconception that the phrase ?watertight to xxx meters? specifies the d...