It’s no secret that dive watches are all the rage right now. The turning tides of fashion have made sportier pieces more acceptable in office environments, where previously only a dress watch would have sufficed.
That means the legions of Patek Philippe Calatrava’s and Cartier Tank Louis’ have been cast aside, replaced with Rolex Submariner’s and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak’s. Clearly very aware that many watch lovers aren’t blessed with pockets of that depth, we’ve also seen a flurry of more affordable, sporty options.
From Yorkshire, with love
And while there are all manner of affordable dive watches out there, I’ve recently found myself drawn to an unlikely option. The Ontic Utility 40 is made in Yorkshire, England – a far cry from the picturesque Swiss mountains.
It’s also not really made with aesthetics at the forefront. By founder John Hickling’s own admission, the piece isn’t designed to be ornamental. Instead, it’s intended to work, and work well, even when presented with the most demanding environments.
Ontic Utility 40 key specs
What that means in actuality is 300m of water resistance, a Swiss Ronda 215 solar-powered movement which charges in sunlight and keeps time to within +/- 1 second per day. You’ll also enjoy a lightweight, Grade 2 titanium case which is hardened with a diamond-like carbon treatment, making it four times harder than steel.
The whole concept comes from Hickling’s time spent with the Mountain Rescue division up in Yorkshire. He said, “My time on the team taught me what kit you can trust and what’s just along for the scenery. When you’re in a storm halfway up a hill, you don’t want something ornamental on your wrist. You want something that works.”
Ready for anything
Boy, does this watch fit that brief. You sort of get the impression when handling it that anything non-essential ended up on the design room floor. The only real flourish of showiness left is the dial, which is carved with a Clou de Paris pattern. Quite how that made it past the stoic team of Yorkshiremen behind the design I don’t know, but I’m glad it did, offering bags of visual appeal without detracting from the simple design.
My model comes on the FKM rubber strap, which is the standard for all of the models in the brand’s collection. However, you can also snag it with a matching hardened titanium bracelet, complete with an on-the-fly micro-adjust.
Lots of watch for less
After reading all of that, you might be expecting a pretty large price tag. Fortunately, there’s no such thing here, with the model starting at just $799. That is, frankly, exceptional for a watch of this quality. It’s also probably the right price for a proper dive watch in a luxury collection – high enough that you know it’s good quality, but not so much that it’s irreplaceable if it falls off your wrist
You’re getting the best of both worlds here – a watch designed with function prioritised over form, which actually still has a beautiful appearance. You can keep your Submariner, I’m happy here.