Steinhart is a brand known for its Swiss-made timepieces with great price-to-quality ratio. Unfortunately, a lot of people tend to hate on Steinhart for their "unoriginal" designs, but the hate isn't warranted.
For instance, Steinhart's diver collection is filled with tons of unique timepieces that will suit anyone's preferences. Indeed, with so many models to choose from, getting a Steinhart diver watch can be a daunting task.
Fortunately, we are diver watches experts here at Romeo's Watches, so we created a list of the 5 best Steinhart diver watches.
Steinhart Ocean One / Ocean One Vintage
The first watch on this list is a staple in Steinhart's lineup. The Ocean One/Ocean One Vintage has been in productions for several years, so it's been perfected throughout its life.
Measurements | |
---|---|
Case Diameter | 42mm |
Lug-to-Lug | 49mm |
Case Thickness | 13mm |
Lug Width | 22mm |
Weight | 205g |
The Steinhart Ocean One is the most accessible watch in the collection, both because it's the cheapest and because it has a medium shape. With its 42mm case size, its optimal wrist range is from 6.5'' to 7.5''+.
The 13mm thickness is average for mechanical diver watches, and the 205g weight is expected from a stainless steel timepiece.
SPECS | |
---|---|
Movement | ETA 2824-2 |
Water Resistance | 300M / 30 bar |
Crystal | Flat/Domed Sapphire |
Case | 316L Stainless Steel |
Lume | Superluminova BGW9 |
Bezel | 120-Click Rotating |
Movement
Since Steinhart put so much effort into the design of their timepieces, they don't have time to make their own in-house movements. That's why they choose to source swiss-made movements from the reputable ETA company.
The 2824-2 is a 25 jewels mechanical movement that is both automatic and hand-wound. It offers pretty good specs, such as 42 hours of power reserve, a 28,800 bph frequency, and a hacking seconds hand.
Water Resistance
Water resistance is a huge selling point for Steinhart watches, which is why the Ocean One has a nice 300m rating. This comes from a screw-down crown, which has coin-edge pattern all around it.
Crystal
When you pay over $500 for a timepiece, you expect to get a high-quality crystal. Steinhart doesn't fail to deliver, as the Ocean One is available with a sapphire crystal, which is flat on the original, and domed on the vintage version.
Case
The case of the Ocean One is made from 316l stainless steel, which is very durable but will get scratched quite easily. Both the case and bracelet share a satin and polished finish, which goes well with the diver styling.
The case back is screwed-down and totally made of 316l stainless steel. It features a big seahorse logo that's cool-looking and original.
Lume
Steinhart takes a lot of pride in the lume they use for their diver watches. On the Ocean One, you get a thick layer of Superluminova BGW9 on the hands & indices, which is bright and extremely durable.
Bezel
Like all proper dive watches, the Steinhart Ocean One is equipped with a 60-minute rotating bezel. The color of this 120-click bezel matches the dial, and the edges feature a "sub" pattern.
This aluminum insert isn't the most scratch-resistant, so you can expect it to show a bit of wear and tear after a few years of ownership.
Design
I must admit the Ocean One is not the most original Steinhart diver watch out there. This timepiece is a not-so-subtle homage to the Rolex Submariner with the same circle indices, cyclops lens, and set of Mercedes hands.
You can also see a bit of the Tudor Black Bay mixed in there, with the elongated triangle at the 12 o'clock mark.
Since the Ocean One is the center of Steinhart's diver watches lineup, it is also offered in a few iterations, such as the 39mm, 44mm, or the GMT versions.
Steinhart Ocean Two
Why change a winning formula? That was Steinhart's whole mindset when creating the Ocean Two. Building upon the huge success of the Ocean One, Steinhart used the experience they acquired from making the first model to create a unique timepiece: the Ocean Two.
Measurements | |
---|---|
Case Diameter | 43mm |
Lug-to-Lug | 51.5mm |
Case Thickness | 13mm |
Lug Width | 22mm |
Weight | 212g |
For the second iteration of the Steinhart Ocean, the watchmaker decided to increase the size a tiny bit.
While the case's diameter was only bumped up by 1mm, you can see that the lug-to-lug length increased by an important 2.5mm, which can't be overlooked. This means you should probably steer clear from the Ocean Two unless you have 6.75''+ wrists.
The 13mm thickness and 22mm lug width remain the same, but the added bulk brings the weight up to 212g.
SPECS | |
---|---|
Movement | ETA 2824-2 |
Water Resistance | 300M / 30 bar |
Crystal | Domed Sapphire |
Case | 316L Stainless Steel |
Lume | Superluminova BGW9 |
Bezel | 120-Click Rotating |
Movement
Considering Steinhart put all their efforts into creating a new unique and original design for the Ocean Two, they didn't change the ETA 2824-2 movement.
I'm perfectly fine with this, as the 2824-2 has built quite a name for itself as an incredibly reliable movement, which is also accurate.
Water Resistance
Like the Ocean One, the second version features a screw-down crown which allows for 300m of water resistance. This means you can take your Ocean Two for a dive without a single worry.
On this model, the crown has a distinctive cogwheel pattern all around, with Steinhart's "S" logo on top.
Crystal
Like every Steinhart watch on this list, the Ocean Two is equipped with a sapphire crystal. These are all applied with two layers of anti-reflective coating on the inside of the glass to reduce the reflectiveness inherent to sapphire.
The reason why Steinhart only applies AR coating on the inside is because external AR coating can get scratched very easily, defeating the purpose of getting a sapphire crystal in the first place.
The Ocean Two is only available with a domed crystal shape.
Case
Even though the Ocean Two is a bit more expensive than the Ocean One, it is still situated at the bottom of the price range for Steinhart diver watches. This means you get a traditional 316l stainless steel case and bracelet combination.
Once again, you get a mix of satin and polished finish across the case and bracelet. As you flip the watch over, you can see the shark logo at the center of the screw-down case back, letting you know the Ocean Two means business.
Lume
Like most watches on today's list, the hands & indices of the Steinhart Ocean Two are coated with Superluminova's BGW9 application.
This greenish luminous phosphorescent is the second brightest application in Superluminova's lineup, coming just after their famous C3 lume. (it's about 5% less bright)
Bezel
You also get a 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel on the Ocean Two. This time, the first 15 minutes of the 60-minute scale is covered in white paint, giving a distinctive look to the watch.
Design
The Ocean Two was pretty much Steinhart's answer to everyone saying they make unoriginal designs. This one is filled with cool quirks such as the thick syringe hands, the curved "Automatic - 300m" font, and the 6 o'clock unframed display.
Steinhart Triton 1000 Titan
As we get higher up in Steinhart's diver watches price range, we can start to see impressive specs that are usually found on much pricier timepieces. The Triton 1000 Titan is Steinhart's display of what they're capable of when the budget allows it.
Measurements | |
---|---|
Case Diameter | 45mm |
Lug-to-Lug | 55mm |
Case Thickness | 15mm |
Lug Width | 24mm |
Weight | 148g |
While the two Steinhart Ocean models where in the midsize range, there's no doubt that the Triton 1000 is a bulky watch. With its 45mm case and 55mm lug-to-lug length, this timepiece aims to please men with medium to large wrists (7'' and above).
Even though it uses the same movement as the first two watches, the Triton Titan has a 15mm thick case, which is caused by the beefed-up seals and gaskets that allow for such a high water-resistance.
An interesting fact is that this huge diver watch is lighter than the Ocean models, which is possible thanks to the titanium case & bracelet.
SPECS | |
---|---|
Movement | ETA 2824-2 |
Water Resistance | 1000M / 100 bar |
Crystal | Flat Sapphire |
Case | Titanium |
Lume | Superluminova BGW9 |
Bezel | 120-Click Rotating |
Movement
As I mentioned earlier, the Steinhart Triton 1000 also uses the renowned ETA 2824-2 caliber. Not only is it reliable and accurate, but you also get a few useful features, such as the semi-instantaneous date change and the Etachron system (which allows for easy adjusting).
Water Resistance
Water resistance is where the Triton 1000 shines. As the name implies, this Steinhart diver is rated for 1000m of water resistance, which will be plenty for anyone, including professional divers.
To achieve this impressive feat, Steinhart equipped the Triton Titan with advanced components, such as double seals, a jumbo screw-down crown, and even a helium escape valve.
Crystal
The sapphire crystal of the Triton 1000 has a flat configuration and a double layer of anti-reflective coating on the inside.
Case
The higher price of the Steinhart Triton 1000 allows for a more expensive titanium case. This material is twice as strong as stainless steel and weighs half as much.
Lume
Like the other watches on this list, the Triton Titan has Superluminova BGW9 coated hands & indices. The advantage of the BGW9 over its brighter C3 sibling is that the former has a whiter color (during daytime), which is often sought-after by enthusiasts.
Bezel
Once again, the Triton 1000 Titan is equipped with a 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel with a 60-minute scale. What's special about this one is that the insert is coated with DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon).
DLC is a material that shares some properties with diamond, so it will increase both the scratch resistance and shock resistance of your insert, rendering it almost indestructible. Also, the DLC coating gives a neat matte black finish to the bezel.
Design
Everything about the Steinhart Triton 1000 is bulky: the large crown, the big cogwheel bezel, even the hands & indices are large. This stocky styling is aligned with most professional dive watches, so I think the Triton 1000 is another great example of Steinhart's styling capabilities.
Steinhart Ocean Titanium 500 Premium
Measurements | |
---|---|
Case Diameter | 42mm |
Lug-to-Lug | 49mm |
Case Thickness | 13mm |
Lug Width | 22mm |
Weight | 144g |
The Ocean Titanium 500 Premium has a very long name, but it's basically an upgraded version of the Ocean One. This explains why you get the same case size, with a lighter frame.
SPECS | |
---|---|
Movement | ETA 2892 |
Water Resistance | 500M / 50 bar |
Crystal | Domed Sapphire |
Case | Titanium |
Lume | Superluminova BGW9 |
Bezel | 120-Click Rotating |
Movement
The Ocean Premium 500 is the first watch that isn't equipped with an ETA 2824-2 caliber.
For this high-end model, Steinhart still went with an ETA movement, but they chose the 2892 caliber. Like the previous models, this automatic caliber can be hand-wound, hacked and beats at a 28,800 bph frequency.
The advantage over the 2824 is the increased accuracy as well as the power reserve which is bumped up to 50 hours.
Water Resistance
The Steinhart Ocean Titanium Premium is a happy medium between the Ocean One and the Triton 1000. It does have a screw-down crown and beefed up seals & gaskets, bringing the water resistance up to 500m, but it lacks the helium escape valve necessary for deeper diving.
Crystal
The Ocean Titanium Premium comes equipped with a flat sapphire crystal. This material is almost impossible to scratch, so you can be sure that your timepiece will look great for years to come.
Case
Like the Triton 1000, the Steinhart 500 Premium gets a full titanium case and bracelet combination. As I said earlier, this material is extremely light and resistant to scratches and shocks. Also, a titanium surface will not corrode, so your watch will look brand new for years, and maybe even decades.
Lume
Like every other watch up to this point, the hands & indices are painted with BGW9 Superluminova application. Additionally, the bezel's numerals are also covered in lume, giving great legibility in the dark or underwater.
Bezel
The 60-minute bezel on the Ocean Titanium 500 rotates unidirectionally thanks to a 120-click mechanism. As far as styling goes, it is very reminiscent of the Rolex Submariner, both in its shape and numerals design.
Design
The Ocean Titanium Premium is a mix between a Submariner homage and an original Steinhart timepiece. The bezel and indices are undeniably drawn from the Rolex Sub, but the thick sword hands, fonts, and chapter ring are all unique.
Steinhart Ocean One Vintage Dual Time
Measurements | |
---|---|
Case Diameter | 42mm |
Lug-to-Lug | 49mm |
Case Thickness | 16mm |
Lug Width | 22mm |
Weight | 194g |
The Ocean One Vintage DT shares the same dimensions as the original, with the exception of the case thickness. The 16mm thick case is caused by the use of a GMT movement, which is taller than other calibers.
SPECS | |
---|---|
Movement | ETA 2893-2 |
Water Resistance | 300M / 30 bar |
Crystal | Domed Sapphire |
Case | 316L Stainless Steel |
Lume | Superluminova Vintage "Old Radium" |
Bezel | 120-Click Rotating |
Movement
The ETA 2893 is structurally very similar to the 2892, with the addition of a GMT/dual time zone hand (used to tell times in two different timezones at once). You get the same 28,800 bph frequency, 21 jewels, and 50 hours of power reserve.
Water Resistance
The Premium GMT Ocean One gets the same 300m of water resistance as the rest of the line. The screw-down crown shares the same cogwheel pattern as the bezel.
Crystal
The AR-coated sapphire crystal on the Premium Ocean One is domed, giving a vintage vibe to the watch.
Case
Even though the Ocean One GMT Premium is the most expensive diver watch sold by Steinhart, the case is still made of stainless steel. A key difference with other cheaper timepieces is the case back.
For this one, you get a sapphire glass case back, allowing you to peek through the GMT movement at work.
Lume
The Ocean 1 Vintage Premium is the only watch on this list with a lume that isn't BGW9. Instead, this one gets the Superluminova vintage "Old Radium" application. It is much tamer than the BGW9 application, but it gives off a radium vibe during daytime.
Bezel
The 120-click rotating bezel of the Ocean 1 Vintage Premium features a nice "Pepsi" layout, reminiscent of the Rolex GMT-Master II. The colors are a bit tarnished to give an old-school/patina look to the timepiece.
Design
Everything about the Steinhart Ocean 1 Vintage Premium Dual Time screams class and vintage. The pearl dial looks amazing while staying understated, and the Mercedes hands give a classic timeless look to the watch.