American
The American brand keeps churning out new tool watches designed with professional divers in mind. Their new Deep Blue Master Explorer automatic diver is rated for whole 1000 meters, which makes it suitable for just about any submersion that you can accomplish without the use of heavy gear. It is especially nice to see that -while the great majority of professional-grade divers are usually issued in deliberately dull, rugged look- this new collection features a bunch of bright colors and can in fact be worn with more or less casual outfit: you don’t really need heavy boots to match one of these oversized beauties.
Available in at least four enamel burst dial colors (yellow, black, orange and, of course, blue,) the new Deep Blue Master Explorer comes in an unremarkable, but rugged-looking stainless steel case. By the way, calling the case ‘unremarkable’, I am using the adjective in a positive way: it is as ‘unremarkable’ as your average Rolex or Omega, the American watchmaker doesn’t try to attract your attention with a cantina-style winding crown guard or some other contraption that looks outrageous, but lacks actual meaning. This ‘unremarkable’ case is sober and ergonomic and seems to do its job efficiently.
Like most tool watches rated for such bone-crushing depths, the watch is not usable as an everyday timekeeper that you could wear with casual dress (well, at least if you are not a maniac.)
With its case measuring 46 millimeters in diameter and whole 17 millimeters in height, the watch is just too big and heavy to feel comfortable on a surface. It is simply designed to be worn with a neoprene wet suit, not with a white shirt.
As you can see on the photos, the watch is equipped with a traditional rotating bezel. Its 60-minute diver’s scale is stamped and painted with naturally-colored Superluminova: a thing you will not often see on a diver of this price range.
Another useful feature of the new Master Explorer is, of course, its helium-release valve. Designed to prevent the timekeeper’s sapphire crystal popping out during decompression, the valve is conveniently placed between 10 and 11 o’clock on the left side of the satin-finished stainless steel body.
Some people may be slightly disappointed that the timekeeper is equipped with a solid screw-down case back.
However, there is nothing really to lament about, since the watch is equipped with a standard Miyota caliber 9015 automatic movement (we have already seen the engine in the Deep Blue Depthmaster 3000 Diver that was released this summer.)
Designed to compete against the Swiss made ETA 2824, the movement is robust and reliable, but it certainly won’t blow you away with an unprecedented level of decoration.
So far, the watch is available only on a massive stainless steel bracelet and is priced at $600 (shipping not included.)
See also: Deep Blue Marine Diver 500
Photos: Deep Blue
Deep Blue Master Explorer 1000M specification
Price: $599
Movement: Automatic, Miyota caliber 9015, Made in Japan
Number of jewels: 24
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Movement decoration: Standard finish
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case material: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 46.00 mm
Case height: 17.00 mm
Lug width: 22.00 mm
Dial: Black, Orange, Yellow, Blue
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 1000 meters
Strap: Steel bracelet
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Solid, engraved