Dive watches – for us non-divers – are a funny proposition. I mean, do we really need all the engineering that goes in to making a watch that’s ready to time dives in the depths that require a 300m (or more) WR rating? Well, no, we certainly don’t. But we like how they look, and all that they represent. Which is why something like the Angelus U50 Diver Tourbillon – while being a perfectly ridiculous proposition – is such a fun one.
Why ridiculous? Well, if none of us really have a need for something that is ostensibly diving-oriented, like a helium escape valve, where does a tourbillon fit in? Of course, the Angelus U50 Diver Tourbillon features one prominently, and it’s a lovely movement for it. However, if the tourbillon is more an engineering exercise than one in accuracy (I’ve not seen anything that conclusively says it helps counter the effects of gravity), then it really is a design in excess for a dive watch.
And you know what? It’s an excess that I would be totally willing to consume. As I’ve mentioned time and again, I’m not a diver, not in any sense of the word. I like dive watches for the implied ruggedness and the styling. And, you have to admit, the Angelus U50 Diver Tourbillon has style in spades. And as far as dive watches go, I’d say the 300m WR rating, along with the interior rotating bezel, makes for a dive watch.
If you’re looking to lounge poolside (or, more likely, on the super yacht deck) with the Angelus U50 Diver Tourbillon on your wrist, you’ll need to bring along just about $32,995 to call one of these titanium, tourbillon-equipped beauties your own. For the rest of us, well, we can admire it from afar. angelus-watches.com
Tech Specs from Angelus
- Features and Indications: Central hours, minutes and small seconds, one-minute flying tourbillon
- Movement and Finishing
- Caliber: A-300, mechanical hand-winding tourbillon movement
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- Complications: One-minute flying tourbillon
- Jewels: 23
- Diameter: 32.80 mm
- Height: 4.3 mm
- Power reserve: around 55 hours
- Frequency: 4 Hz / 28,800 vph
- Balance wheel: Black gold-treated
- Escapement: Swiss lever
- Regulated: Set to 5 positions
- Gear train: Wheels with exclusive Angelus six-spoke design to maximize rigidity
- Main plate: Snailed with chamfered edges, black ADLC coated
- Upper bridges: Snailed with chamfered edges, black ADLC coated
- Tourbillon cage: Mirror-polished with chamfered and polished edges
- Dial
- Chapter ring: Dial with seconds counter, flange with index and minutery. Blue and yellow with white Superluminova.
- Case
- Material: Grade 5 titanium
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- Diameter: 45 mm
- Thickness: 12.47 mm
- Crown: 2x screwed Engraved with ANGELUS logo, 2 positions: 1 for movement, 1 for flange
- Back: Sapphire
- Distance between lugs: 21 mm
- Water resistance: 300 m / 1000 ft
- Crystal: Box sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Strap and buckle
- Material: Black rubber, with 3D motif, Angelus logo and titanium pin buckle
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- Length range: 120/75 mm
- Width: 21/18 mm
- Buckle: Titanium pin-buckle
- Reference number: 0TDAT.B01A.K008T
