ReviewExploring The Depths: Presenting The Titoni Seascoper 600 Dive Timer
Launched in 1979, the Titoni Seascoper was a rage back in an era when dive watches were soaring in popularity. Years later, it hasn’t lost its appeal. Today, its latest edition—the Seascoper 600—offers reliability, durability, accuracy and affordability, without compromising on the aesthetics
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The advent of dive watches has a very interesting past and one can trace the roots of the genre back to as early as the 1930s, when companies such as Rolex and Omega were at the forefront of manufacturing watches with highly waterproof cases and crown systems that would protect their timekeepers from water ingress. However, these were meant specifically for marine researchers and diving professionals and had little to offer to the common individual. It was only in the 1950s that various brands started revolutionising this space by creating diver’s watches for the ‘modern’ era reaching out to a larger population. Blancpain made a splash with its Fifty Fathoms diver’s watch—replete with a double O-ring seal in the crown (a patented mechanism), and an automatic movement so that the watch didn’t have to be wound manually each day. The black dial with luminescent hour markers also allowed for better legibility underwater, and this became an archetype for most brands that forayed into this segment. But again, this didn’t come cheap as production costs were high for these premium brands. A few years later, an independent player, Titoni, launched their own version of a dive watch in 1979, under the name Seascoper. Water-resistant to 200m, this timekeeper stood out for its futuristic yet practical design with an almost cushion-shaped case, a legible, black dial and a bezel with markings and a red insert. This was a robust mechanical, extremely watertight, and it was dedicated to adventure enthusiasts back then.
In 2020, Titoni revisited its archives to launch a contemporary version of this signature dive timer, and introduced the Seascoper 600—with the brand-manufactured COSC-certified chronometer movement, developed in collaboration with diver and marine biologist, Uli Kunz. He has been accompanying scientific expeditions since completing his professional training and a few years ago, he founded the ‘Submaris’, a group of research divers that make films for TV, amongst other things, and are also part of projects that generate awareness around the oceans and marine life. This watch promises water resistance to a depth of 600m, and has been specifically created for professional divers. Let’s take a closer look at the Titoni Seascoper, and its highlights.
Linking The Past And Present Of The Seascoper
Headquartered at Grenchen, Switzerland, Titoni was founded by Fritz Schluep in 1919 (at that time under the name of Felca), and the company is still run by the same family in its fourth generation, currently with Daniel Schluep as CEO. The independent company has a workforce of about 60 employees, and has been churning out watches for over a century now, combining the art of traditional watchmaking with the use of the latest technology and a flair for the perfect form, and will continue to do so in the future. The company started using the ‘Titoni’ name in 1952, using the meihua or the plum blossom, as its logo to further its business in China and the Far East. All their creations are guided by the philosophy of producing ‘Swiss-made mechanical watches of the highest quality at affordable prices’. With the Seascoper model in 1979, the brand developed a diver’s watch that was favoured by sportspersons and diving professionals for its reliability underwater, to a depth of 200m. At the start of the 1970s, divers’ watches were also popular as the interest in these watches reflected the adventurous spirit of that period. Back then, French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau dedicated many years to researching the underwater world of the oceans—a subject that began to fascinate more and more laypersons. Therefore, when Titoni brought out the Seascoper with a compressor-shell design, it enjoyed many years of popularity.
The Seascoper 600 also borrows heavily from the elements and features found in the 1979 original, albeit with a more 21st-century aesthetic. The rotating bezel with a ceramic insert, the sleek case lines and an automatic in-house COSC-certified movement make it an ideal dive companion. The collection is available in three variants: in steel with the dial in blue or black; and a version with yellow gold PVD elements. While the models are presented on bracelet straps, there is also an option to change the appearance of these watches, thanks to two eco-friendly textile straps, made 100 percent from recycled ocean plastic. With this initiative, Titoni make a valuable contribution to reducing the use of virgin raw materials, and the straps look lively on the wrist, while they ensure supreme wearing comfort.
The Seascoper 600 At A Glance
Titoni strictly adheres to its mantra when it comes to fine watchmaking: ‘Created to delight those who appreciate exquisite design, combined with the greatest horological precision’. The most striking feature of the Seascoper 600 is the durability and design. It features a brilliant combination of ruggedness and sportsperson-like design. Its winding crown is fitted with a special gasket system to ensure the watch remains absolutely waterproof. The tough casing also guarantees that the high-quality, in-house T10 manufacture movement is protected against not only water ingress, but also pressure, impact and dust.
While the brand have focused on functionality—a non-negotiable aspect for any dive watch—they haven’t compromised on the design and architecture. The ceramic bezel makes 60 sharp clicks, each time it is turned, can be rotated anticlockwise, and is characterised by its striking dive-timer scale. The outer edge of the bezel is serrated to make it easy to grasp when setting and adjusting the dive time. The triangular zero mark has a luminous dot so that the dive time can be read perfectly, even in dark and murky waters. This is where the luminous display also comes in handy. The indices, hours and hands are coated with luminous paint and glow brightly in the dark so that the diver can safely check how long they have been underwater at any time—a must for surviving at depths that are devoid of sunlight. All three Seascoper 600 models feature the basic three-hand timekeeping with a square date window at three o’clock, and the brand’s plum blossom logo at the 12 o’clock position.
The Powerhouse: Calibre T10
Another striking design feature is the transparent caseback, which offers a glimpse into the inner workings of the COSC-certified T10 manufacture movement. The brand new, self-winding mechanical calibre T10 differs from standard movements since it has a relatively larger diameter (29.3mm) when compared to standard movements. The T10 consists of 168 individual parts that are manufactured by specialised suppliers in Grenchen. Another huge benefit is the ample power reserve of three days, while it beats at a frequency of 28,800vph. Since November 2020, the T10 movement is available with an official COSC certification as a chronometer calibre, as found in the Seascoper 600 model.
Most dive watches come with solid stainless steel casebacks to minimise any chances of water entering the timepiece, thereby causing disruptions in accuracy and precision. However, here it has been designed and shaped like a porthole, and screwed into place, maintaining a considerable gap between the powerhouse and sapphire crystal. The steel bracelet complements the overall stainless steel framework of the Seascoper 600, where the folding clasp is designed specifically for this model. With a clever diver’s extension, it guarantees the highest degree of wearing comfort and safety, and also features the plum blossom logo here—a hallmark of fine watchmaking, found in every Titoni watch.
With the Seascoper 600, Titoni have managed to revive an icon, which was lost in the sands of time. Robust, reliable and high on precision; this watch stands out for its sport-meets-dress-watch aesthetic, and is a value-for-money proposition for anyone who is interested in an in-house mechanical that won’t cost an arm and a leg.
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