Omega

In 1932, Omega introduces the Marine – the first commercially available diving watch. Before that, diving watches were not readily available to consumers. This rectangular Marine watch had the unique designs-  the double-layer watch case by sliding connection and unique locking devices constituted a airtight waterproof space, thus make the wrist watch waterproof deeper than 100 meters (at least it is true in theory). And the design of the Omega Marine allowed its normal watch case – worn on all other occasions as an elegant dress watch. Being the predecessor of today’s successful Seamaster collection, the Omega Marine was tested on the wrist of Charles William Beebe, a famous naturalist and explorer, and survived a water depth of 14 metres. This watch was not only worn by the diving pioneer William Beebe but also worn by Yves Le Prieu.

Panerai

In the early 1930 s, Swiss replica Panerai began to offer all kinds of instruments for the Italian navy and worked together with the Rolex to provide them with the first batch of watches that were specially made for divers- the Panerai Radiomir. Its name derives from the radium-based powder that gives the numerals and markers of this watch its luminosity.  An early Panerai from that time, equipped with a Rolex Oyster case and movement. In 1938, Panerai started mass-producing the Panerai Radiomir watches, which is today considered to be the first underwater military watch worldwide. In 1940, the brand improved its Panerai Radiomor Collection because the Italian Navy had very specific requirements. Panerai improved the water resistance of the watch and made it more robust. It can be said that Panerai Radiomir is the real action hero of the Panerai brand- The frogmen of the Italian navy of the 1930s and 1940s used the Panerai Radiomir on their underwater missions.