I’m going to level with you here, there are not a lot of purpose built women’s dive watches on the market as of 2023. As a matter of fact, this list has just about every serious women’s dive watch on the market listed below. The options for men are far greater, there are hundreds. It’s getting better, and certainly there are more women’s dive watches on the market than there were just a few years ago. If you are looking for a watch for yourself or a loved one, I’m guessing you will find one to suit your needs and style below.
Beware: out in the world you will see a lot of watches marketed as dive watches that only have a water resistant rating to 100 meters, or sometimes even less than that. Now you’re most likely never going to dive that deep, but a proper dive watch needs to be rated to 200M or deeper. Without going into detail, the International Organization for Standards has done a lot of work in this area. The full parameter list can be found on my posting here.
Suffice it to say, I have only included watches on this list that meet the 200M minimum.
My definition of a ladies diver may differ from conventional wisdom. I do not consider a 24mm watch suitable for diving. It’s just too small to manipulate the bezel as well as too small to read at a glance. For practicality I consider the proper size of a lady diver to be 34mm on the small end to 38 or 39mm on the large side. Any bigger and I don’t think most women can wear it comfortably. Your mileage may vary.
There are a couple of watches on this list that do surpass the 39mm barrier I set, but it’s nice to have options, so I listed them on here. Once you get to 40mm, that is where men’s dive watches start, and there are hundreds of models and variants starting there.
If you know of a women’s dive watch that should be on this list, please drop me a line on my contact page and let me know what it is.
Invicta 8932 Pro Diver
Invicta sells a lot of these Pro Diver watches. They are very inexpensive, decently built, and readily available. This one features a quartz movement, mineral crystal and is 37.5mm wide. It is only about $50 though, this is the cheapest dive watch on the market, or close to it. If you are on a budget and need a watch to go diving, this is a good watch. It’s basically a copy of a Rolex Submariner with Invicta branding all over it.
Technomarine Women’s Dream
The Technomarine Dream is really a beautiful watch for just over $100 USD. It’s WR to 200M with a quartz movement and a day/date complication. It even has a sapphire crystal. I really like the artistic flair with the fish design on the dial. Great value Technomarine.
Citizen Womens Analogue Quartz
This is the same watch as the men’s Citizen Promaster, which I own. The only difference is this one is smaller at 33mm in width. This is a great dive watch. Now I’m not sure how many women will find it aesthetically pleasing, and it’s a little small, but it has dive heritage in spades.
This watch has a quartz movement that is powered by a solar panel that resides in the dial. You won’t have to change the batteries. It is also ISO rated.
Seiko SKX013
This is a scaled down version of the 42mm Seiko SKX. Seiko has sold a lot of dive watches, they are great watches. As with the Citizen listed above, This is a scaled down men’s watch. It is 36mm wide which is a great size for many Women, depending on wrist size.
The SKX013 is ISO rated. Just a few years ago you could pick one of these up for around $300 USD, now they are around $1000 because it has officially been discontinued. You can still find brand new ones around though.
Phoibos Sea Nymph
The Phoibos Sea Nymph is a great women’s dive watch with a mother of pearl dial, automatic movement and a sapphire crystal. This watch is purpose built for women, not a downsized version of a men’s watch.
Deep Blue Lizzy Blue
Comparing all of the watches on this list, concerning value for money, I would say this one is the winner. You get a lot of value in a beautiful watch. It has a simple, yet elegant design, a WR depth of 200M, a sapphire crystal and it’s only around $150 USD. I don’t think you can get more in a ladies dive watch at this price.
Momentum M1
No matter what color you are looking for, the Momentum M1 probably comes in that color. There are 13 different colors as of me writing this post. The M1 is technically a unisex dive watch, but it is 38mm wide so it should be a great size for a lot of women.
This is more of a sport watch, you’re not going to be wearing it with a suit or fancy dress, but it will be right at home on a dive boat or sailing charter where you are always in a bathing suit and nearly always in the water.
The Momentum M1 is WR to 200M, has a Japanese quartz movement and a 316 grade stainless steel case.
Victorinox Swiss Army Dive Master 500
Victorinox is more commonly known as a knife maker for the Swiss Army as well as anyone else who wants to buy them. I have one of their knives in my pocket right now. They also make Swiss watches as well. The Dive Master 500 is marketed as a unisex watch, but it’s decidedly feminine and at 38mm in width, is a very good size for a ladies dive watch.
It’s WR to 500M, deeper than you or I will ever go, has a Swiss quartz movement and a sapphire crystal. I love the minute hand on this watch, it’s very easy to read.
Oris Aquis Lady
Oris has been making watches in Switerland since 1904. The Oris Aquis Lady is a luxury watch that is also a serious dive watch. It’s water resistant to 300M, features a Swiss automatic movement and a sapphire crystal. It’s 36.5mm in width so it really fits a sweet spot for a lot of women.
This is a watch that will be just as comfortable on a dive boat as it will at a cocktail party.
Abingdon Marina
The Abingdon Marina is the only titanium watch on this list, and as far as I’m aware the only titanium women’s dive watch period. I love the Abingdon story, they only make watches for adventurous Women. Sorry guys.
The Marina is a tad big at 40mm, but it includes a titanium bracelet as well as a silicone watch band. It also has a titanium case as listed above, sapphire crystal, 200M WR, divers clasp extension and automatic Miyota movement.
Tag Heuer Aquaracer
Tag Heuer is a legendary Swiss watch maker and the Aquaracer is their flagship dive watch, and has been for years. This is a do it all watch at 35mm wide and a mere 11mm thick, you could wear this with a suit to the office or on a deep dive off the Cayman wall and it will be at home doing both.
The Aquaracer features a Swiss quartz movement, sapphire crystal, stainless case, and is WR to 300M. If you only wanted to own one watch for the rest of your life, this could be the one. It’s just that well thought out.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean
The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean is a great watch, one of my all time favorite dive watches. Even better it comes in two sizes that will probably work for women. Omega offers both a 37.5mm and 39.5mm sizes. My Wife wears a 40mm dive watch. So I think some women can pull off the 39.5, but that range will work for a lot of people.
The Omega Planet Ocean has everything you could ever want in a dive watch, 600M water resist, helium escape valve if you find yourself diving from a bell, exhibition sapphire case back, ISO rating, this watch is even a certified chronometer. I don’t think there’s anything else you could want in a dive watch.
Breitling Superocean 36 and Superocean 2
The Superocean was created by Breitling in 1957, so it’s been around the block a time or two. The powder blue version is lovely. Don’t let its looks fool you, this is a serious dive watch. I think this is my favorite watch on this list. At 36mm it is a great size for a women’s dive watch. It has an automatic movement, sapphire crystal and basically everything you would want on a dive watch. The powder blue is somewhat feminine, but not overtly girly. If you want to buy it, save your pennies, it’s not cheap.
Longines Hydroconquest
If you are really petite and a 36mm watch is just too big for you, this could be the watch for you. The Longines Hydroconquest Ladies is only 29.5mm wide. If you’re wondering if a 29.5mm watch can be waterproof, yes it’s WR to 300M. It also features all of the other features on a dive watch such as an automatic Swiss movement and a sapphire crystal.
Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver
The Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver is a high end luxury watch with a matching price tag to go along with it. There are many variants and some of them are truly works of art, they’re stunningly beautiful. Men’s dive watches are often referred to as tool divers, this watch is a work of art diver.
Don’t let the looks fool you, this is a real dive watch with a WR rating to 300M. All of the variants I looked at were 39mm or 40mm, so a bit on the larger size for many women.
Tissot Seastar
Personally I think this is one of the most visually appealing watches on this list. If you’re after a dedicated dive watch you’ll only use for diving, then this probably isn’t it. But if what you really want is a beautiful Swiss made watch you can wear to work, to a party, on a dive boat, and on a beach vacation, this is your do all women’s dive watch.
The Tissot Seastar has everything you would want in a dive watch, with great looks at a price that won’t break the bank.
Rolex Submariner
Rolex is the most recognizable name in luxury wrist watches, and the Submariner is one of the most popular luxury dive watches on the market. So I won’t go futher into detail about the heritage. They make great watches and they’ll probably always keep going up in value.
Rolex currently offers a Submariner that is 40mm wide, this is going to be a little large for a lot of women. Some can pull it off, but others will not be able to. They used to make the 5508, which is still readily available in the used market. So, if you really have to have a Rolex, there is one that you could probably make work.
Luminox Women’s 7252
I added this watch to the list against my better judgement. Although Luminox, which is a prodigous watch maker of serious military and dive watches, lists this as a women’s dive watch, it’s a full 42mm wide.
Now do’t get me wrong, this is a great watch, it has a sapphire crystal, great bracelet with a milled clasp, 200M depth rating, etc. etc. there’s nothing that screams women’s dive watch to me from this watch. So if you can handle a 42mm wide watch, you just opened yourself up to hundreds of men’s dive watches. So, this is listed as a Women’s watch, but it’s pretty darned big.
Final Thoughts
When putting this list together I tried to give a wide variety of what is available on today’s market for women’s dive watches and have listed nearly all of them. That said, there are a few on the list that I think stand out. If I were buying one for my Wife, yes she’s a diver, I would really be looking at the Phiobos, Deep Blue, Breitling, Alpina, Tissot, Longines, Rado and the Omega. There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of the other watches on this list, but these to me seem to be the best value and quality combination plus the most versatile to be worn in many situations.
If you find another Women’s dive watch that you think absolutely should be on this list as one of the best Women’s dive watches, please drop me a line on my contact page.
