TOKYO SKINDIVER 37

The Tokyo Skindiver 37—a timepiece that recreates the 1960s skindiver’s essence with a refined Japanese aesthetic. It’s not just in size and details but also in its market position as a versatile, practical utility watch, designed as a reliable everyday companion. Affordable enough to be a fearless beater watch, it’s built for everyday adventure—on the beach, in the office, under the surface, or under the cuff. Powered by the VH31 movement, it captures the charm of a low-beat mechanical watch with a clean, no-date, three-hand design. Equipped with premium dive watch features, it showcases a distinctive domed dial and box sapphire crystal, revealing an abyss of depth beneath the crystal’s surface.

Under the Surface, Under the Cuff​

In the 1960s, skindiver watches were ideal for weekend surfing or diving adventures, yet were sleek enough to slip under a weekday cuff. The TOKYO SKINDIVER 37 captures this balance with a 37.2mm bezel, 36.7mm case, and 47.4mm lug-to-lug span—dimensions true to the era’s iconic proportions. Built for everyday adventure wherever you go from beach to office, it recreates timeless versatility.

Wear It Compact, Show It Large

Some might think a 37mm dive watch, popular in recent years, feels small, but the Tokyo Skindiver 37 commands a bold presence that rivals 39mm watches. Its elongated 47.4mm lug-to-lug span, squared H-shaped lugs, and a wide 29.5mm dial opening—made possible by cutting-edge materials—combine with a curved bombe dial and the lens effect of a box sapphire crystal to create a striking look that feels larger than its size. Compact enough to slip under the cuff yet versatile for casual and adventurous settings, it delivers the commanding presence of a larger timepiece, making it the perfect companion for any occasion.

Slim, Arched H-Shaped Case​

Drawing inspiration from the primitive, minimalist H-shaped cases of 1960s skindiver watches, this design recreates the iconic slim, arched case supplied to numerous brands. The elegantly thin, curved case sides are designed for versatility across various settings, with the movement precisely positioned to align with the visual center of the case, reminiscent of the curve and tip of a Japanese katana. Chamfered edges enhance aesthetics, and the absence of drilled-lug holes prioritizes beauty. The slim case middle contributes to a lightweight feel, while the elevated arch and extended lug-to-lug design ensure only the rounded screw-back case gently contacts the wrist, reducing interference with wrist bones for a comfortable fit.

Small innovation on the caseback

Screwback is enlarged to meet today's 20ATM waterproof standard, upgrading from 60s standards. The back side of the lugs mixes unique flat surfaces, complementing the slim arch design. It optimizes lug hole thickness and removes edges to keep NATO straps scratch-free.

A Deep Abyss Beneath the Crystal: Bombe Dial and Box Sapphire Crystal

The domed dial, paired with a box-shaped sapphire crystal, lies at the heart of WATA TOKEI’s aesthetic. Inspired by the bombe dials of 1950s dress watches, adopted by select skindivers, it rises gently toward the center, enhancing the crystal’s lens effect to create a mesmerizing three-dimensional depth.Our distinctive larger dial opening draws in abundant light, accentuating the lacquer-like, jet-black curvature.

This dance of light and shadow, harmonized with curved hands and a rotating bezel, evokes a profound beauty typically found in high-end dive watches. WATA TOKEI embraces this feature wholeheartedly, crafting a skindiver of unparalleled elegance and presence.

Dynamic Bold Hands, Static Minimalist Dial

The Tokyo Skindiver 37 features a minimalist dial with equal-length, equal-width markers and centrally aligned numerals, contrasted by bold, sword-shaped hour and curved minute hands and an ultra-fine seconds hand, clearly prioritizing visual hierarchy.

Bezel with Ceramic Insert, Without Compromise

The surgical stainless steel unidirectional 120-click ratcheting bezel features a ceramic insert laser-etched with a custom typeface, modernizing the friction-fit, bidirectional aluminum bezels of 1960s skindivers in both function and material quality.  

H-Link Bracelet, Standard Redefined.

To enhance the skindiver’s inherent versatility as a go-anywhere-do-anything (GADA) sports watch, we crafted a robust H-link bracelet with a timeless design. Based on the pitch and profile from classic three-link bracelets, the H-link design doubles its axes for enhanced comfort and sleek style. Each link’s “H” shape balances vertical and horizontal element, creating a clean, minimalist aesthetic. The H-link’s brushed stainless steel surface, free of embellishments, exudes refined elegance through subtle light and shadow play. Designed to stand independently, the bracelet’s end links prioritize continuity with the bracelet over the case, ensuring a deliberate step for visual clarity. It tapers from 19mm to 16mm at the double-lock clasp.

Quartz Revolution, Resurfacing Skindivers

The VH31 4-step quartz movement, ticking four times per second, delivers a smooth motion reminiscent of mechanical watches, embodying the skindiver’s practical elegance while preserving the affordability of 1960s originals. This movement makes the TOKYO SKINDIVER 37 a truly effortless and reliable grab-and-go watch, requiring minimal adjustments over extended periods, freeing you from the maintenance of mechanical movements.
 
WATA TOKEI does not consider the VH31 a mere substitute for mimicking the seconds hand motion of mechanical movements. Its drive torque, four times stronger than that of standard quartz movements, meets the demands of mission-critical divers’ watches, advancing the essence of the skindiver beyond what vintage originals pursued, as the only quartz movement capable of such enhancement.
 
Using quartz movement enables premium components, including a bombe dial, curved hands, ceramic bezel insert, and box sapphire crystal, enhancing functionality and quality.
 
In the 1970s, skindivers, swept away by the quartz crisis tsunami, sunk beneath the market’s waves. With this new quartz revolution, the TOKYO SKINDIVER 37 resurfaces the skindiver from Japan. It brings accuracy and effortless practicality while preserving heritage style.

Heritage Style, Today's Waterproofing

In the 1960s, dive watches’ waterproofing technologies were still emerging, constrained by manufacturing techniques, materials, structural design, and patent restrictions. By reducing waterproofing to suit light-duty activities like skindiving or surfing, skindiver watches met widespread demand. Though many displayed 20 ATM ratings on their cases and dials, their simple construction—gasketed crowns, sealed edges, and resin crystals with inner tension rings—which limited their practical depth.
Drawing on modern advancements, the TOKYO SKINDIVER 37 employs advanced materials and technology, featuring a screw-down crown, a reinforced screw-back case, and an updated waterproof design. With built-in safety margins, it achieves water resistance exceeding 20ATM.
No longer constrained by traditional skindiver limits, the TOKYO SKINDIVER 37 offers modern dive-watch functionality while maintaining a sleek, timeless silhouette.

Forged in Passion, Distinctly Designed

The Tokyo Skindiver 37 is meticulously designed by the brand owner, who believes the delicate skindiver aesthetic is captured only through relentless pursuit and countless trials and errors. Not outsourcing to external designers or relying on factory templates as many homage watchmakers do, we designed it from the ground up, starting from scratch. Every detail—from the case and bracelet to the knurling pattern of the crown and rotating bezel, bezel insert’s contours, domed dial, even box sapphire’s cross-sectional profiles, dial indices, and a caseback logo inspired by Japanese wave patterns, to the brand logo and numerals harmonizing with vintage-inspired elements—is drawn with fiery passion, with only the clasp and movement being off-the-shelf designs. Supported by seasoned engineers for waterproofing, rotating bezel mechanism, and movement integration, this timepiece fuses precise engineering with passionate design, built to last for everyday adventures, whether in the ocean or field.