Hands-On: Victorinox’s Dive Pro Automatic Is Built Like a Tank, But Without Wearing Like One

Victorinox’s foray into watchmaking is relatively recent, especially when you look at the brand’s legendary history. Equipping the Swiss Army with its snazzy new invention, the Swiss Army Knife™, back in 1897, the company eventually expanded its range with its first watches in 1989. Though these early models were made with the help of Xantia SA, Victorinox opened its own in-house watchmaking factory in the late ‘90s.

Swiss watches have long been known for their luxury status but not necessarily for ruggedness. This puts Victorinox in an interesting position, considering their history with rugged utility. As such, their models like the I.N.O.X. and Dive Pro Automatic are among the toughest Swiss watches on the market. Recently, we were fortunate enough to get hands-on with the Dive Pro Automatic, where we were able to see just how unique it is amidst a crowded market.

Built on a 43mm titanium case that’s been sandblasted gray for a stealthier look, the Dive Pro Automatic also has a solid 14.5mm thickness and is water resistant to 300m. Needless to say, this is a true diving machine with pretty insane durability. Meeting professional diving criteria with its ISO 6425 certification, the timepiece is also certified ISO 1413 for shock resistance and ISO 764 for antimagnetic properties. If that’s not enough, the watch is designed, engineered, manufactured, and tested at the Victorinox Delémont Watch Competency Center in Switzerland.

As expected, the brand has built the watch with some safety features, including a robust, non-slip unidirectional bezel with a 20-minute gradation scale so you can easily keep track of how much time you’ve spent underwater. Likewise, the dial layout is super clear for quick glances, and is given dual-tone Swiss Super-LumiNova® lume for visibility in low light conditions.

Under the hood, it’s powered by a Sellita SW 220-1 automatic, a very reliable movement that helps balance price with performance, along with giving you 38 hours of power on tap and a day-date display on the dial side. Lastly, the Dive Pro Automatic is adorned with a hi-vis orange rubber strap (more on that below).

The first thing you’ll notice on the Dive Pro Automatic is the stark contrast it’s working with. Incredibly versatile for either work or play, the blacked-out bezel continues to the dial for a stealthy appearance, but this is not just for show. Victorinox makes sure to heighten the legibility of the watch’s other elements, such as the nearly-sweeping seconds hand, which is striped in orange, or the large yet simple hour markers and hands, which really pop in white. 

The bezel design is also very useful, with a large lume pip at the 12 and a large orange arrow pointing to the off-center crown for quicker access. While every ten gets its own numeral, the fives in between are sectioned off with small orange dots for legibility, while a wave graph pops up to mark the gradation between 0 and 20. As we already stated, this watch is designed for both safety and visual aesthetic, and accomplishes both goals.

Like any watch, the most important thing is how it feels when worn. The Dive Pro Automatic is a serious dive watch with 300m of water resistance, and it shows. Nevertheless, despite boasting a 43mm case, the watch wears very well, weighing just 3.7oz, and is incredibly comfortable. This is in part thanks to the titanium construction, which, as you might know, is around 40% lighter than its steel counterparts.

Another thing we loved about the watch is its hi-vis orange rubber strap, which has a ripple shape towards the case that’s designed to stretch as your wrist expands or contracts, whether underwater or in the heat. It’s highly comfortable and certainly more robust than other rubber straps we’ve gotten hands-on with from other brands. Rounding out the aesthetic, the band is connected with a titanium buckle. 

If rubber isn’t your style, you can easily swap it out in seconds — tool-free — for one of Victorinox’s other straps, since this model is compatible with the brand’s Watch Accessories program. Other options include steel mesh bracelets, leather straps, and even paracord bracelets for hardcore adventurers. 

As you can tell, we’re big fans of the Dive Pro Automatic. Victorinox simply makes some of the best tool watches around, and this 300m diver is a quintessential example. It’s stealthy and comfortable, and every last inch is thoughtfully designed to optimize the user experience. 

If you’re looking to purchase the Dive Pro Automatic, it’s available from REEDS Jewlers website now for $1,500. Best of all, the brand backs up every watch with its 5-Year Warranty, covering manufacturing and material defects that appear after the date of purchase.

Recap

Victorinox Dive Pro Automatic

Victorinox has made one of the toughest dive watches around, with ISO certification and 300m of water resistance. However, it’s also incredibly comfortable despite the robust build, thanks to its titanium construction and thoughtful proportions.

Learn More: REEDS Jewlers