While most watches on this list tend to be in the sports watch realm, Longines has a far different offering. The Dolcevita is a rectangular dress watch series that fits in almost as well with jeans and a t-shirt as it does under a suit. The unique bezel does a proper job of adding a bit of flash to an otherwise utilitarian timepiece. Surprisingly, this gold also pairs quite well with the bright orange dial. I’d have never guessed that gold and orange could look so good together but alas, it is true. Speaking of that dial…

Keep in mind that this is a slightly older watch than many on the list. That means that the advertised water resistance may not be quite up to the standard of the others. But who needs to go in the ocean when you’re strolling around the land with a sweet Rolex strapped to your wrist? 6. Nomos Glashütte Club Campus (ref. 710) Like Dufa and Avi-8 they are owned by Dartmouth Brands. They’re all affordable watches brands, produced in the far east, but readily available in the UK and US.Stylistically, the case is relatively straightforward - although the dial is reasonably unique. It’s certainly far from a Submariner homage and uses large indices and prominent hands to create a layout that is highly legible. Part of the appeal is the dial layering - three layers if you include the chapter ring. The Doxa Sub 200 really is one of the best-looking classic dive watches you’ll find anywhere. Based on some of their famed dive watches from decades earlier, the Sub 200 has 200 meters of water resistance, a size of 42mm, making it both unassuming and legible, and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. If it is a practical orange diver that you are looking for, then the Supersub meets the criteria. The massive 500M water resistance is more than you’ll ever need. Essentially, it’s a quartz version of Zodiac’s Sea Dragon watch from the 1960s-70s - so yes, another reissue. The bi-colour 24-hour bezel is coated in Hardlex, to ensure durability while the GMT hand improves practicality, visibility and legibility. The ‘beads of rice’ bracelet remains true to the SKX heritage with a ‘five-piece link’ design that forms a series of small X-shaped patterns.

Pilot’s watches may not be the first thing you think of when you hear orange dial, but from now on, they may just be top of your mind. This beautifully muted orange dial Oris ProPilot is pure style. This ProPilot is unique on the function end too. Its automatic movement has an accuracy -3/+5 seconds a day, which is within COSC tolerances, and it’s built with titanium for an extra-strong but lightweight construction. Hamilton Ardmore Quartz Throughout the case and integrated into the crown guards and crown is a dual-finish of the stainless steel. The case is largely polished on its flanks while its top surface is brushed. This produces an attractive contrast of finishes that makes the case visually intriguing. SBSA009 Diver’s BezelI’ve highlighted the best of these watches - across a range of budgets and specs. There should be at least one that will scratch your itch for an orange dive watch. This time it’s a slightly more conventional-looking diver, more suited to wear to the office than the Bulova. It’s from a brand that is often under-rated and not one that you’re likely to see on the high street. If there’s one thing that nobody does better than Bell & Ross, it’s exciting and out-of-the-ordinary designs. This interesting angular watch offers an eye-catching square case design with four screws at the corners. But it’s not just about the looks. As one of the premier watch brands in the famed Glashütte region of Germany, Nomos has built an excellent reputation for quality and refined style. The Club Campus model also adds a bit of flare to that description with its gorgeous muted orange dial variant.

The resulting watch had an over-sized tonneau or cushion case, slightly unusual but very legible hands and a bright orange dial. And the dial is the first feature that you notice. Powering this orange-dialed sports diver from Seiko is another trademark of the Japanese manufacturer: the Seiko 4R36 movement. Seiko Prospex watches were developed with ocean exploration in mind, and this watch will definitely make you want to explore. It has a day date function, navy and orange unidirectional dive bezel, applied indices, a screw-down crown, and 200 meters of water resistance.Unlike many automatic watches, this model comes with a Seconds-Stop function which allows the wearer to completely halt the movement within the watch. Personally, I find the SRPD59 more attractive and a more convenient watch to wear because of the upgraded movement & bracelet, but there are undoubtedly some who much prefer the utilitarian aesthetic of the SKX. Indeed, these are supposed to be “tool watches” and the SKX looks the part much more than the 5KX. By merely taking prototype watches with different colour dials into Lake Neuchatel they were able to determine that Orange was the easiest colour to read underwater. There is plenty of colour and flair, but at heart, this is a tough dive watch. It just happens to look like the watch a cool surf kid would have worn in 70s America. The fact that the finished watch is a stunning design is a bonus. But I don’t want to include it here. It’s neither affordable nor new to you.

Of course, one can always change the strap on the SKX011 to make it more pleasant to wear, but if we’re doing an apples-to-apples OEM comparison, the steel bracelet wins “every day of the week and twice on Sunday.” Seiko is one of the most well-respected watch brands on earth. Solid dive watches like the SKX781 are just one reason why that won’t likely be changing any time soon. It has a sturdy and attractive stainless steel diving bezel that rotates unidirectionally and a bright and highly visible orange dial. The sapphire crystal has a box magnifying lens over the date window which isn’t a common feature and it reinforces the Devil Diver’s distinctive appearance. The same can be said of the lume filled tubes that are used for the hour markers. Both are nice features that catch the eye. At the time, Bulova was pushing the existing water resistance limits of their watches. They managed to get their dive models to 666ft. The watch that they created was jokingly referred to as the Devil Diver. The dial is protected by a sapphire crystal, the movement is a reliable Swiss quartz, and the lume will glow in the dark for a quarter of a century.

SPECIFICATION

The Seiko 5 Sports SRPD59/SBSA009 is a clear winner in the OEM band department. That’s because it’s equipment with a sturdy 3-link bracelet with folding clasp. As I’ve mentioned, a 46mm diameter case isn’t ideal for me - but neither is it a dealbreaker. I’d certainly prefer a 40mm or 42mm version of this watch, but I’m realistic - the point of this model is to be easy to read in all conditions. It’s not meant to be dainty. This timepiece is sporty and bold, with fun, extra-large hour markers for six, nine, and three. It’s almost like a combination dive and aviator watch, with a case with beautiful curvature, adding a touch of elegance. It has some similar styling to a Submariner, but there are other features that differentiate this from the multitude of Submariner watches on the market. Not least, the tritium illumination or GTLS.