The Melbourne Watch Company started out in 2013 and with the help of a successful crowdfunding campaign release their first model, the Flinders. In 2014 after a more successful crowdfunding campaigns they were able to release the Hawthorne, Parkville, and the Portsea. Following that success they were able to release the Avalon, and Carlton models in 2015. Since their start they have been able to establish themselves pretty well in the watch community. I have been following them from the start and have been impressed with the watches they have come out with, but wished they had something a little more to my taste. I love divers and up to now, all their models have geared more towards the dressy side. Well, not anymore. New in 2016 they have introduced the Sorrento Diver and I have been lucky enough to try one out.
The Melbourne Sorrento is not your rugged, strap-on-over-your-dry-suit-and-hit-the-ocean-depths type of diver. It’s more of a refined, strap on the wrist, and go to the office type of diver. This is not a bad thing at all. I love my divers but most of mine are, well, for diving. They don’t fit the office setting at all, unless I worked at a dive shop office. This one however has the dressy elements you would want but with that diver look.
CASE
This is not a little watch at all. Coming in at 42mm wide, 49mm in length, and 14mm think, this a good-sized watch but sits well on my wrist. The case is a mixture of brushed and polished stainless steel. There is a screw down crown and crown guards to keep it safe from that rogue desk drawer.
BEZEL
The bezel is a very unique feature on this watch. The bezel is an engraved aluminum insert with a wave pattern that gives a bit of a nautical look to it. It is a 120 click unidirectional bezel that has a very solid feel to it. There is no play on this bezel at all.
BRACELET
The stainless steel bracelet is a 22mm solid three link style with polished middle link. After wearing this all day for several days, I found this to be very well-made. There was no pinching or hair pulled at all. The bracelet comes with a lot of removable links for adjustment. With my 6.5-inch wrist I removed them all and it fit me perfectly.
DIAL
What has taken this watch from being a tool diver to a dressy diver would have to be the dial. This is a multi-layered dial with refined elements. There are three layers to this dials. The base layer has horizontal lines which adds a quality look. The second layer is a ceramic ring with Japanese super-lume markers. The third, top layer, is white and has the minute markers in black. The three layers on this dial give a lot of dimension to the look of the watch. The hands are nicely polished indices painted with the Japanese superlume.
OVERALL
I am very pleased with this Sorrento Diver. With the refined elements and quality finishes this will fit well in any office or even some dressy occasions. This is a very solid and hefty 196 gram watch but it is comfortable to wear all day. I love the fact that I can wear a diver to work and instead of using the bezel to mark my bottom time I can use it to mark my lunch break time. Melbourne has set themselves up as a reputable watch brand in a pretty short time and with new models like this I am sure excited to see whats next. Check them out at www.melbournewatch.com.au.
Watch Overview
? Brand and Model: Melbourne Watch Co Sorrento Diver
? Price: $822 US
? Who we think this would be for: Dive watch fans needing a dressy watch.
? Would I buy one for myself?: Yes this fits my taste perfectly.
? If I could make any changes,it would be: A date window.
? What spoke to me most about this watch: Clean, refined look on a diver.
Tech Specs from Melbourne Watch Co
? Case size – 42mm 316L Stainless Steel
? Case Thickness – 14mm
? Lug to Lug Distance – 50mm
? Lug Width – 22mm
? Movement – Miyota Cal. 9015 high-beat automatic
? Crystal – Flat Sapphire
? Function – 12 hour, dive bezel
? Water Resistance – 200m/20ATM
