Oceaneva Deep Marine Explorer II Brings Titanium to 1,250m Dive Collection

Everyone says that the watch industry moves slowly and while that’s true to a certain extent, there’s no stopping the relentless march of trends and what’s popular among collectors. A trend I’m noticing in 2023 is the proliferation of titanium watches. It makes sense, titanium is the perfect material for wristwatches being both lightweight and durable. The latest watch to be reimagined in the robust metal is the Oceaneva Deep Marine Explorer II Titanium.

What makes the Deep Marine Explorer II a great watch regardless of the material it’s produced in is its value for money. This is a watch with 1,250m water resistance for less than £500. If you’re serious about swimming with your watch but can’t justify the cost of an Omega Planet Ocean or Sea-Dweller then the Deep Marine Explorer II Titanium is a serious proposition – especially as the titanium makes it much more wearable and corrosion resistant.

Aesthetically it keeps pace with the watches of Omega and Rolex too, which is no accident as it’s inspired by the iconic dive watches of the 20th century. The brushed titanium looks good, as does the broad bezel, smooth lugs and crown guards. In terms of size, it’s 42mm in diameter, which is standard for dive watches as it allows the watch to feature a strong, water-resistant construction and a thick bezel while also having a wide dial for legibility. Plus, the Oceaneva Deep Marine Explorer II Titanium is lightweight, so it’s easy to wear for most people.

Speaking of the dial, there are multiple versions to choose from – 16 to be specific. It sees the return of fan favourites from the existing stainless-steel model such as the blue-black gradient, Mother of Pearl, full green, yellow, and an opaline silver with two-tone bezel in black and blue. Whichever colourway is your favourite, it comes with lume filled hour markers in hyper legible circle, rectangle and triangle shapes. The different shapes are designed so that you can still read the time in the dark even if the watch is at an odd angle.

Picking a favourite colourway is difficult. The two-tone bezels are nice, but I personally prefer them on GMT watches rather than divers. I think I would have to say the yellow as it’s the most vibrant of the bunch and I tend to consider it a good colour for diving watches as it contrasts with the water. That’s the same reason orange is popular on professional dive watches like the Doxa Sub 300.

Beneath the surface of the Oceaneva Deep Marine Explorer II Titanium is the Sellita SW200-1. It’s an automatic movement with a power reserve of 38-hours and a calibre that’s used in more watches than I can count. A real staple of the watch industry, although it could probably use a spruced-up power reserve.

The Oceaneva Deep Marine Explorer II Titanium is limited to 1,000 pieces per colourway. Which is celebrated through the “Limited Edition” inscription on the flange opposite “Helium Escape Valve”. As for price, it’s available for pre-order now at $499 (approx. £390), which is absolutely insane value for a titanium watch with 1,250m water resistance.

​Oracle Time 

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