It looks, just like it is with their new Graham Chronofighter Prodive Professional diver, the British-based brand has finally found a good use for its (in)famous trigger-style chronograph push-piece. Capable of starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph even deep underwater, the trigger looks like an ideal choice for a tool, which is supposed to be operated by gloved hands.
I mean, just imagine how comfortable it could be to operate the time-measuring complication in situations where you just don’t have time to feel a small, traditionally shaped pusher whether it is located somewhere on the piece’s back or even on the winding crown itself!
Of course, for a timekeeper with such an impressive water resistance rating (there are lots of other watches that can withstand the enormous pressure, but only a few that can have their chronograph operated underwater,) the ability is sort of superfluous: even if you for some reason forgot to take your electronic diving computer with you, a simple rotating bezel with glowing scale would be more than enough for most applications, but it is still nice to have, just for the bragging rights if anything else.
Rated for impressive 600 meters of water resistance, the Prodive Professional 600M is literally stuffed with features that ensure its water tightness.
Besides a pretty obvious automatic helium escape valve (HEV), the Chronofighter Prodive Professional sports a rubber winding/setting crown, which is color-keyed to the yellow rubber strap and features a bayonet safety system and a special red ring that indicates that the crown is not screwed-in.
The unidirectional rotating bezel not only looks cool but also must be comfortable to operate, even if you happen to wear thick neoprene diving gloves. I am not sure whether the setting crown will be as easy to operate, even with bare fingers.
It is nice to note that the brutal-looking bezel is flawlessly matched by extra-rugged lugs that provide the timekeeper with an even more masculine look and feel: something that you expect from a “tool” of this kind.
The dial, while a little too “Japanese” in its design, is still legible with its wide hour and minute hands covered with Superluminova and the small seconds indicator styled like a turbine rotor and also featuring the same luminous substance on its blades.
Unlike many recent “extreme” divers, the new Chronofighter Prodive Professional will be delivered in a medium-sized body. Crafted from stainless steel, the case is only about 45 millimeters in diameter, which makes the watch wearable even with a more casual dress than a neoprene drysuit.
According to the British watchmaker’s press release, the watch will be issued as a limited edition model with a total production run limited to just 200 pieces. Damn.
See also: Graham Chronofighter 1695 Hosty Totsy
Photos: Graham
Graham Chronofighter Prodive Professional 2CDAV-B02A specification
Price: $15,750 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber G1750, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 25
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 48 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph
Case: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 45.00 mm
Dial: Black
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Steel, luminous
Water resistance: 600 meters
Strap: Integrated yellow rubber strap, steel folding buckle with diver extension
Crystal: Sapphire, domed, anti-reflective on both sides
Back: Solid steel, decorated