If you want one Swiss automatic that can handle a reef dive, a desk job and a dinner out, the Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 in black and steel is a hard combination to beat. It has the hallmarks of a proper diver, from 300 meters of water resistance to a ceramic bezel insert, yet it costs a fraction of what many mechanical dive watches ask.

The real advantage is the movement. Tissot’s Powermatic 80 stores up to 80 hours of power, so you can leave it on the dresser from Friday evening and it will still be running on Monday morning. Its Nivachron balance spring improves resistance to magnetism and temperature changes, two everyday enemies of mechanical accuracy, and a see-through caseback shows the movement at work.

At 43mm with a 21mm bracelet, it has a confident wrist presence. The black dial with round and baton markers, filled with Super-LumiNova, keeps the look classic, while the steel bracelet’s diver extension lets it fit over a wetsuit sleeve.

Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 43mm Black: T120.407.11.051.00

• Case: 316L stainless steel, 43mm, 12.7mm thick
• Bezel: unidirectional with ceramic insert
• Dial: black with luminous hands and markers, date
• Movement: Swiss automatic Powermatic 80 with Nivachron balance spring
• Power reserve: up to 80 hours
• Crystal and back: sapphire crystal; screw-down see-through caseback
• Bracelet: steel, folding clasp with safety and diver extension, 21mm lugs
• Water resistance: 300m, screw-down crown

An honest, capable automatic diver for the long weekend and the long haul.