If there’s one thing that we’ll never to seem to have enough of, it would be a clean take on a classic dive watch. There’s a reason many new brands start there, and that reason is the versatility that the steel sportswatch design just gives things. One of the latest to catch our eye is the Aera D-1 Diver.
On one hand, a 44mm diver with a SW200 tucked inside might sound a little bit pedestrian. And sure, on the specs alone, we’d agree. Where the Aera D-1 Diver really stands out, though, is in the dial. It no doubt started out as the bars, pips, and triangle look that we’re used to, but then things have been tweaked ever-so-slightly. This, along with the handset, gives it just enough to look different that it catches my eye.
Then again, that is all couched in classic looks, with curved luges and matte finish bezel inserts that, well, gives it some of that familiar feel. It’s a very clean look, though we think the price tag might be a bit of a swing for the fences, particularly just starting out. Then again, that could just be us. If you want to check one out and pick it up, it’s going for $1400 directly from aera.co
Tech Specs from Aera
- Case and buckle in 904L stainless steel
- Water resistance 30ATM/300m
- Swiss made
- First edition run of 300 pieces
- 3-year warranty*
- Case
- Diameter 44mm
- Lug-to-lug 49.8mm
- Lug width 22mm
- Case thickness 16 mm
- Weight (without strap) 94 grams
- Screw-in 904L brushed stainless steel case back
- Caseback engraved with key specifications
- Matching serial numbers on caseback and rear of bottom right lug
- Unidirectional, 120-click bezel in 904L brushed stainless steel with matt black ceramic insert
- Water resistance 30ATM/300m
- Movement
- Sellita SW200-1 Automatic movement
- 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
- 38-hour power reserve
- 26 jewels
- Hacking seconds
- Display
- Matt black dial with white markings
- Blue accents (daylight) on bezel, seconds hand and crown
- Hand filled Swiss Super-LumiNova® in white on dial, hands and crown
- Domed sapphire crystal with double-sided anti-reflective coating
