The money that you spend on your watch gets you a 42mm stainless steel sports watch with a black DLC coated steel bezel which has the distinct advantage over a ceramic bezel of not being prone to shattering on impact with the floor. Perhaps the most versatile version is the steel on the rubber strap, so that’s the one we’ll focus on. The retail price is $7900 and for that money, Cartier really hasn’t skimped out when it comes to a proper tool watch. In fairness, it can do damage to pretty much any competitor it comes across while being a relative breeze to your wallet. Onto the watch itself, Cartier describes the Calibre Diver as “an authentic diving instrument”, meaning it can put a Submariner in its place.

Cartier’s excellent work on the design (as they are particularly famed for doing) has also assisted significantly in changing the perception of the people that try it out in the store or even take the plunge and go the full nine yards and buy one. In that sense the Calibre Diver was the Bentley Bentayga of the Cartier world, like the car, I’m fully in the support group for the watch. Others, however, would prefer it if Cartier kept to their more classical pieces such as the Tank and Ballon Bleu. Indeed, I have spoken to many enthusiasts who say they love the idea of a true luxury diving watch that’s functional and sophisticated with a strong whiff of suave. When the Cartier Calibre de Cartier Diver watch appeared on the scene a couple of years ago the audience was divided quite literally down the middle. But does Panerai really have what it takes to bring down the best of the best? Cartier isn’t exactly a competitor to be taken lightly. It’s a long-established maker of fine jewellery and the company responsible for popularising wristwatches against a rising star in the industry which has garnered itself a strong fanbase of enthusiasts and celebrities alike.

This time, around we’re taking things a little more upper middle class here. These articles seem to be somewhat controversial without audience, but we thrive on all kinds of feedback and are willing to challenge the preconceptions of the watches we look at. We’re back for yet another bash at thing two highly rated sports watches from the world of scuba diving and putting them in a head to head to find out for ourselves which deserves to be king and which just misses out.

Cartier calibre de cartier diver