The Avidiver

From Gavox

Courtesy of Gavox

I actually got a chance to see one of these in person a few weeks ago at BaselWorld when Michael Happe was kind enough to take a few moments to share it with me.
A few important things to bear in mind - this is not a review as I have only seen and held one, not worn one.  But I can tell you that having seen one in person, they are very impressive.

Courtesy of Gavox

The Avidiver collection marks a new direction for Gavox in that it is a dive watch.  Typically when people think of Gavox, they think of chronographs or pilot style watches.  I realize that with a brand as young as Gavox it seems strange to use a phrase like "typical" but a lot of that is down to Michael Happe's passion for aviation, and his Gavox collections have often been inspired by this passion.

And in some ways this watch still does - the name Avidiver reinforces the duality that this timekeeper posses.  Clear and legible for aviation, but designed and engineered to go below the waves as well.

The case measures a sturdy 43 mm in diameter and is 12.8 mm thick.  It is available in either stainless steel or with a PVD treatment with three different dial variations of white, blue or black.

Courtesy of Gavox

Remember, this is a diver's watch and therefore it boasts a water resistance rating of 20 ATM (600  feet).

Courtesy of Gavox

Of the three, I would have to say that the blue really caught my eye.  It is not your typical "dive watch" blue - i.e. dark, nearly black.  Rather it is bright and sunny, but still offers extremely good contrast to the white indices and numbers. 

Courtesy of Gavox

And those indices and numbers are made even more prominent and visible thanks to the four (yes 4) layer sandwich dial which allows for a sense of depth and a stronger level of luminosity in dark environments, be they the briny deep, or the kitchen at night as you tiptoe in for a midnight snack ; )

Courtesy of Gavox

Now a dive watch, as we all know, must have a rotating bezel, right?

Well, yes and no.  And leave it to Micheal Happe to consider this notion from a different and unique perspective.  What about a movable marker that can be adjusted to time all sorts of events?  Not just dive times or remaining oxygen levels.  And what if you could adjust this marker via the use of one of the screw down crowns at 2 o'clock (conveniently marked with an orange triangle)?  And hey, while we're at it, what if you could also simply use it as a GMT marker?   Simple, easy to figure out, and wonderfully adaptable and practical.

Courtesy of Gavox

And that is why Michael Happe's Gavox watches are starting to draw the attention of a LOT of people outside of the "micro brand" world of watches.  It's these nice little touches.  It would be easy to do what everyone else does - slap on an external rotating bezel.  Or what some others do, internal rotating bezel ring.  But a stand alone marker is something a bit different and special.  And as is often the case, the simplest solution is also so functional!

The movement is Miyota's self-winding 9015.  Hours, minutes, seconds and the date at 4 o'clock.

Courtesy of Gavox (shamelessly borrowed from their Facebook page)

The strap is of molded silicon with a Gavox buckle.

And beyond everything else, the Gavox Avidiver is priced very well at 537,19 € for those of us not in the EU, and for the "locals" a still accessible 650,00 € inclusive of what goes to the taxman.

I WANT ONE!

There will only be 50 of each version (dial and case finish) available, so don't dawdle!


Here are the pertinents, straight from Gavox -

Specifications:

Automatic Movement Miyota 9015
Surgical 316L stainless steel case (PVD Steel of black)
Case diameter: ø 43mm
Case thickness: 12.8 mm
Lug to lug: 22mm
Date display at 4 O'clock
Screw-down Crown for bezel and movement
4 layer sandwich structure dial
Crystal: Domed Sapphire with Double Layer Antireflection
Luminescent hands and dial it (Superluminova BW-G9)
Internal Turning Bezel (Triangle use as a reference marker)
Unique serial numberMarker can be used as a minute or hour chronograph timer gold
Gavox molded silicone strap (for corrosion resistance to aviation and diver environment
Water resistant: 20 ATM (600 feet)