Zorbello D1 Ocean Dive Watch

by Tyler Frederick

High Polish

Who says a dive watch can’t have a bit of sparkle and shine? When I think of a “proper” dive watch, I think of a standard dive watch (yes, the one you just thought about). On my desk is a dive watch, which, funny enough, combines some of my favourite watches into one complete package. Not to mention, it combines both brushed and polished case finishing. Today, we’re checking out the Zorbello D1 Ocean.

Zorbello D1 Ocean Dive Watch Review — Zorbello D1 Ocean @horologyobsessed

Zorbello has previously released models, the T3 Tourbillon, M1 Mechanical, and G1 GMT Mechanical, with the D1 Ocean being the newest in their lineup. The D1 Ocean is an amalgamation of different design inspirations, which all work well together, and a watch that genuinely surprised me in looks and fit.

Key Features of the Zorbello D1 Ocean

The D1 Ocean sports a 42mm stainless steel case with brushed and polished finishing. While the case is on the larger side, it doesn’t feel huge on the wrist, thanks to the short and angular lugs, and being someone who prefers 38-40mm, the 42mm case is comfortable. A significant component of the case is Zorbello’s Crown and Crown Protection Device; a gap cut in the crown allows for a latch locking system to be placed to secure it. To add comfort and wearability, the D1 Ocean features a 22mm stainless steel bracelet, which feels robust and balances the overall
wearing experience.

The uni-directional bezel follows the case and bracelet of both brushed and polished finishing: brushed for the numeral sections and polished for the remainder of the bezel, creating some glint and shine. Shifting our focus to the gorgeous Degrade Blue dial with applied indices coated in Super-LumiNova and sword hour and minute hands with an accenting orange seconds hand. The reliable Seiko NH35 powers the D1 Ocean, a perfect choice for this glistening diver.

SPECS

Case	316L Stainless Steel 42mm Diameter 22mm Lug Width Screw Down Crown & Caseback Unidirectional Dive Bezel 200m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Sapphire Crystal Degrade Blue Date Window @ 3 Applied Markers Pencil Handset Super-LumiNova
Movement	NH35 24 Jewels 21 600bph 42-Hour Power Reserve
Strap	Stainless Steel Bracelet /w Butterfly Clasp

Zorbello D1 Ocean Dive Watch

Of Interest

Zorbello watches focus on an ever-changing industry, the necessity of change, and their passion for horology to create beautiful watches. Their name comes from their Slavic roots (Zor) and the Italian reference for beauty and style (Bello).

Quibbles

The D1 Ocean is a gorgeous watch, but you should know some things. The first is the highly polished sections of the bracelet, case and bezel. While it looks fantastic to have the brushed and polished together, the choice to implement polished sections is slightly strange, considering this is meant to be used as a tool/dive watch; high polish scuffs and scratches easily. I find this ironic since I don’t dive and will most likely be wearing it while sitting at a desk, but for those who actually use their dive watches, it is something you should know. The clasp on the bracelet is another talking point. The butterfly clasp has no micro-adjust, so finding the perfect size for
your wrist can be difficult. The last thing on the list is the Crown Protection Device. While it is an excellent feature to have and does guarantee the crown is protected at all times, it does make it awkward to wear with sleeves or to have on under a jacket.

Final Thoughts

The Zorbello D1 Ocean is a great watch that feels comfortable on the wrist. The design inspiration is striking, to say the least. It’s an enjoyable watch to wear, and seeing the high polish catch and play with different lighting is fun. Not to mention, the dial, in all variations of the D1 series, is stunning and highly legible. Whether a desk diver or a watch that sees the water, I think you’ll have a lot of fun; just keep in mind that it might scratch easily, but that just means it turns brushed, right? If you haven’t had a chance to check out the D1 Ocean series, feel free to visit Zorbello.

Pricing & Availability

The Zorbello D1 Ocean retails for approximately $510 USD. For more information, please visit the brand website.

About the Author

Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.

Off The Cuff articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of the watch in question and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise. If you would like to have your watch reviewed on this site, contact us here.

Please understand that using any links to products on this site might result in us making money.