I don't think I have ever been as impressed about a watch so much as with this following product coming from Swiss Military, namely the 20,000 Feet Diver, which sports an elegant design, with heavy industrial design features. When I say heavy you're probably thinking this will rip your hand off, but actually it is made out of titanium, which makes it a lightweight 265 grams.

No only can the watch withstand depths of 20,000 feet, or 6,000 meters, but it was actually tested for 7,500 meters so as to comply with the 25% safety margin according to ISO norm 6425. It gets more and more impressive, the more you read. This is not just a mechanical watch, it's a chronograph, chronometer-certified, sporting 25 jewels, 28,800 oscillations per hour and a power reserve of 48 hours. The other features of the movement mechanics I'll only enumerate, since they're way out of my comprehension, namely the etachron regulator system, glucydur mainspring and antichoc with incabloc shock-absorber.

Regarding the casing and bracelet, I will only mention the 10mm thick anti-reflective sapphire crystal, anti-magnetic ISO 764 and the folding clasp with safety catch and micro-adjustment. Next I really must tell you about the other tests this device was put through, which no other watch I know was ever even put to, not thinking of passing.

The 20,000 Feet Diver was shot at close distance with a 6,000 liters per minute water gun from a fire engine, then was run over by a truck, twice. Maybe, just maybe there is another watch that can withstand those, but when I saw the video with it, where it is shot with a pump action shotgun three times and it barely got a few minor scratches I realized Swiss Military started miniature tanks in watch shapes. Don't believe it's a tank? Check out the official 20,000 Feet website and watch the video with the explosion test.

As nice as this looks, mind that if you don't reach deep in your pockets for the $4,431 price tag when the limited 1000 pieces will be available, the price will surely sky-rocket to thousands of dollars.


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