A dedicated diving watch capable of withstanding 500m depth pressure and being 100% visible in the darkness of the deepest ocean.
In certain circles, mainly military and Special Operations, Traser already has an enviable reputation for building specialist equipment which absorbs the demands of a tough life in harm's way. They have also built a reputation in the world of scuba diving with 200m watches in their portfolio; many of which are the choice for elite organisations such as the US Navy SEALs.
The Taser P67 500m Super-Sub Diver Watch - Image Credit: Traser
However, the world of deep-sea diving puts wholly different demands on a watch and the technical transition to dive from 200m to 500m is quite a leap. At 500m depth, the water is not only pitch black, but the pressure is an eye-watering 743psi. So, to build a watch capable of surviving this environment is quite a feat.
In July 2020 Traser will release the P67 Super-Sub. A dedicated diving watch capable of withstanding 500m depth pressure and being 100% visible in the darkness of the deepest ocean.
The Taser P67 500m Super-Sub Diver Watch - Image Credit: Traser
The watch is a bold statement which begins with a Peli-Case style box. Before opening immediately there is the impression of a serious bit of equipment contained within. Each watch also comes with both a stainless-steel bracelet and a rubber diver strap with a tool for changing.
The watch itself is purposeful with a clear face and a ceramic bezel. The sword hands nod to military heritage and the 46mm dial has a contemporary look. There are suggestions towards iconic divers such as the Submariner or the SuperOcean, but this is watch is parallel evolution and not in any way a simple re-issue of a common design.
The Taser P67 500m Super-Sub Diver Watch - Image Credit: Traser
It is at night, or low light, where the Traser becomes a specialist watch as it deploys Trigalight tritium vials in place of standard lume. This intense material glows with a bright light for 20+ years and will make the Super-Sub highly visible as natural light fades in the ocean depths. Traser offer the watch both in the commonly accepted T25 millicurie radiation level and the more unusual T100 level if your country permits the import of such devices. Fortunately, the UK does.
The P67 also is equipped with a helium escape valve. Not a feature most of use every day but all serious dive watches have one and Traser are to be complimented for fitting the device as it opens the use of the watch to professionals.
The Taser P67 500m Super-Sub Diver Watch - Image Credit: Traser
If deep-sea divers operate at significant depths, they live in a pressure habitat with an atmosphere containing both helium and hydrogen. Helium atoms are small gas particles, which can penetrate the seals of a diver watch which normally hold back the water. Provided the watch remains under pressure this is not a technical issue. However, once decompression begins, the trapped gas in the watch case can cause a build-up of pressure which will pop the lens off the watch. An automatic or manually operated Helium escape value alleviates this problem.
P67 SuperSub T25 & T100 technical specifications:
Illumination: propriety Trigalight & Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 50 atm / 50 bar / 500m
Watch Case: Stainless steel with helium escape valve and ceramic bezel
Movement: Swiss quartz
Size: Ø 46mm
Glass: Anti-reflective sapphire
Strap: Stainless Steel and rubber
Price: £500 for T25 with rubber strap, up to £760 for stainless steel and rubber at T100
A personal perspective:
The Taser P67 500m Super-Sub Diver Watch - Image Credit: Traser
I confess I am a Traser user. I have owned one for five or more years and it has survived some of the harshest working conditions and environments I have been to. They are very robust watches and the DNA of the original Traser H3 which won a major US military tender in the 1980s still can be seen in their watches today.
The P67 is quite a diversion for Traser and it represents a move in their current portfolio away from the traditional Traser look, into more mainstream watch aesthetics. This can only be a positive marketing strategy as the classic Spec Ops image Traser are synonymous with is perhaps not everyone’s style. The P67 is, without doubt, a serious divers watch which is competitively priced when you consider the technical capability. Given the robustness of the 200m models they are well known for this high-end Traser should be a serious player in the deep-sea market.
Traser UK has recently loaned WatchGecko a P96 and P68 watch from their latest range. Look out for full reviews on these two watches very soon.
