by Brent Robillard
A Modern Skindiver with Vintage Soul
You hate to reduce a watch to its price. Most enthusiasts would agree that the value of a watch can’t be measured solely in dollars and cents. There are too many other factors at play: design, history, craftsmanship, emotional connection, and the simple pleasure of wearing something you genuinely enjoy. Yet with the Sheffield Allsport Diver 1A Black/Blue, ignoring the price would be doing the watch a disservice.
You don’t always need the logo everyone recognizes. Sometimes you just need a good watch with the right DNA.”
Luxury watch prices have been climbing steadily since the pandemic. Brands that were once enthusiast favourites have moved further upmarket, chasing higher margins and more affluent customers. From a business perspective, that may make sense during a slowdown in the luxury sector. From the perspective of the average collector, however, the results are harder to celebrate. More and more watches have become aspirational in a way that feels disconnected from the people who built enthusiast culture in the first place.
That is one reason I find myself drawn to what Sheffield is doing.
A brief history of the skin diver
The Diver 1A Black/Blue isn’t trying to be a luxury object. It isn’t trying to justify a five-figure price tag through exclusivity or elaborate storytelling. Instead, it reminds me of a different era of watchmaking, when dive watches were tools first and lifestyle accessories second.
The skin diver boom of the 1950s and 1960s wasn’t built entirely by Rolex, Blancpain, or Omega. It was also fuelled by brands like Bulova, Caravelle, Waltham, Wittnauer, and yes, Sheffield. These watches were designed for the growing middle class. Recreational diving, boating, fishing, and watersports were becoming increasingly popular, and manufacturers responded with affordable watches that promised a little adventure for the weekend.
Those watches spoke directly to suburbia. They suggested that a day at the lake, a canoe trip, or an afternoon spent exploring a shoreline was within reach. You didn’t need to be Jacques Cousteau. You didn’t need a yacht. You just needed a watch and a sense of curiosity.
That message still resonates today.
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Check out the SeL Insgtrument Omnidiver XOS 42 at work
Key Features of the Sheffield Allsport Diver 1A Black/Blue
Tapping into authenticity
In a culture increasingly shaped by algorithms, social media performance, and digitally polished perfection, there is something reassuringly authentic about a simple mechanical dive watch. A day spent on the water remains one of life’s great pleasures. The Sheffield feels like it belongs there.
The Black/Blue variant may be the standout of the collection. The combination of colours shouldn’t work quite as well as it does. The black dial serves as a subdued backdrop for the large blue triangular markers, while gold-coloured hands add a surprising warmth to the overall presentation. A red-tipped seconds hand provides a final splash of colour. The result is distinctive without becoming loud.
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Value proposition
I was immediately reminded of a watch I once owned: the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 53 Skin. The two share several visual cues, most notably those oversized triangular markers at the cardinal positions. The Zodiac remains a handsome watch, but even at the heavily discounted prices frequently found on the brand’s website, it still sells for more than double the cost of the Sheffield.
That’s where the Diver 1A starts to make a compelling argument.
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Case
At 38mm in diameter with a 46mm lug-to-lug measurement, the watch feels perfectly proportioned. The dimensions closely reflect the vintage skindivers that inspired it. There are no crown guards, no oversized case flanks, and no unnecessary bulk. Sheffield has managed to preserve the visual character of a 1960s dive watch while incorporating modern specifications collectors expect today.
The case is particularly impressive. Despite offering 200 metres of water resistance, a screw-down crown, sapphire crystal, and automatic movement, the overall thickness remains a very manageable 12.8mm. On paper that might not seem especially thin, but the watch wears noticeably slimmer than the specification suggests. Much of that comes down to the case design and excellent proportions.
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Strap
On my wrist, it felt balanced from the moment I strapped it on. The supplied Tropic-style rubber strap deserves special mention. Vintage-inspired dive watches often live or die by their strap choices, and Sheffield got this one right. The perforated design reinforces the watch’s mid-century character while remaining comfortable during hot weather. It feels like the natural partner for the watch.
That said, I suspect the Diver 1A would be equally at home on sailcloth, canvas, or any number of NATO straps. Its versatility is one of its strengths. The watch has enough personality to stand out, but enough restraint to adapt to different styles.
Legibility
Legibility is excellent. Those large triangular markers are impossible to miss, and the contrast between the dial elements makes reading the time effortless. The Swiss lume on both the hands and dial is surprisingly strong, lingering well into the evening. While the bezel remains non-luminous in keeping with vintage examples, the dial itself offers plenty of nighttime visibility.
Strap
Citizen pairs the watch with a grey nylon strap, and while it works perfectly well, I found myself immediately experimenting with alternatives. The watch has one of those versatile designs that seems happy on almost anything. Leather, sailcloth, canvas, rubber, or a simple NATO all change its personality in interesting ways. That flexibility is something I always appreciate in a daily wearer.
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Movement
Powering the watch is Seiko’s familiar NH35 automatic movement. Nobody buys an NH35-equipped watch expecting haute horlogerie, but that’s missing the point. The movement is robust, easy to service, widely available, and proven over countless applications. For a watch designed around accessibility and practicality, it feels like exactly the right choice.
Specs
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 38mm Diameter 46mm Lug to Lug 12.98mm Thick 20mm Lug Width Screw Down Case Back & Crown 200m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Crystal Matte Black Dial Printed Markers Sword and Arrow Handset Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | NH35 24 Jewels 21,600vph 42-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Tropic-style Rubber |
Sheffield Allsport Diver 1A Black/Blue
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Final Thoughts
Perhaps my favourite thing about the Diver 1A Black/Blue is that it knows exactly what it wants to be. It’s simply a handsome, well-proportioned skindiver with excellent lume, solid specifications, and a distinctive design that feels rooted in an era many collectors still romanticize.
Sometimes that’s enough. Actually, more than enough.
Brand founder Jay Turkbas has built something increasingly rare in today’s market: a watch that feels accessible. Not merely affordable, but approachable. The Diver 1A Black/Blue captures much of what made vintage skin divers appealing in the first place while remaining practical for modern daily wear.
The fact that it does so at a price point within reach of ordinary enthusiasts makes it even more appealing. You don’t always need the logo everyone recognizes. Sometimes you just need a good watch with the right DNA.
Pricing & Availability
The Sheffield Allsport Diver 1A Black/Blue retails for $330 CAD. That’s not a typo. Click here to visit the brand website.
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About the Author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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