Diving Watch: How to Use the Rotating Bezel?

Waterproofness, impact resistance, legibility ... Among these essential criteria for diving watches, we will today address the subject of the rotating bezel, a time control system underwater.

The rotating bezel is a French invention and it made its first appearance in 1952.

It is a mobile outer ring fixed on the dial of the watch and to calculate accurately the duration of immersion and, in fact, the passage of different levels.

Depending on the model, the telescope can rotate in one direction (unidirectional) or much more rarely in two directions (bidirectional). It is generally equipped with a security to block the ring so that it does not go out during the dive, thus distorting the immersion time. If, by accident, the telescope were to shift, know that this will be possible only in the counterclockwise direction. Thus, even if the duration is distorted, it will not be able to indicate less time than you have spent and therefore does not present any danger.

The rotating bezel can be graduated or not and is divided into 60 minutes or 12 hours. The indexes of the dial are generally luminescent, thus offering an excellent visibility even in the darkness of the depths.

Rotating bezel: operation

The scope of the diving watch from NORTH EDGE Watch is particularly simple to use. To calculate the time spent underwater, simply place the zero mark of the telescope (small triangle or marking line) in the same position as the minute hand just before diving. The marker remains fixed while the needle continues to advance, marking the time spent in immersion since it was fixed.

To calculate a specific time, for example, 30 minutes, look where the minute hand is and then move the marker 30 minutes after it. If the minute hand is 15, rotate the crown so that the marker is on the 45 (ie 30 minutes). You will be able to know exactly how much time you have left.

Of course, besides its original function for diving, the rotating bezel is used for any kind of time calculation, from pasta cooking to sports performance. It is, therefore, a particularly useful tool!

Some of the most popular models include the Rolex Submariner (cover photo), Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea, Omega Seamaster, Tudor Pelagos and Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.