The Banana Reef is our tribute to the golden age of underwater exploration. It honors the clever watchmakers and the timeless style of the 1930s. The black dial is a nod to the depths of the ocean. The chronograph functions, a wink to the tools those first divers used. The corrosion-resistant case, an example of the rugged construction that defined that era. If you’re after a dive watch that combines the iconic style of the 1930s but is still practical for everyday use, this is the one for you.
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
● Movement: Light-powered self-recharge quartz movement (EpsonVS75A), full battery life for 5 months
● Chronograph: 1/5 second center chronograph, up to 60 minutes of stopwatch function
● Case: Stainless steel case with Black DLC coating [40mm in diameter]
● Crystal: Museum-grade anti-reflective coated retro-style domed crystal
● Strap: Vegetable tanned leather strap and Tyvek strap, both with three keepers [20mm in width]
● Water-resistance: 100m
● Dial: Black with gold accents
● Luminescent hands and markers
● Date window
● Screw-down crown at 3 o’clock
OLD TECH, MODERN TAKE
Epson VS75A Solar
Built with a contemporary twist on traditional technology, the Banana Reef Diver’s Chronograph uses solar-powered movements—Viluminus.
This watch runs on light. The dial’s solar cell converts light intoelectricity, powering itself and storing excess in its secondary battery, providing up to 5 months of charge when fully powered.
NOD TO THE PAST, MADE FOR THE PRESENT
The 1930s were a revolutionary time for diving watches. Picture divers with homemade goggles and simple diving masks, plunging into the depths with the kind of bravery that makes you question their sanity. Diving back then was for the most daring amongst us, largely because the gear was more suited to a Jules Verne novel than real life.
But as the thirst for underwater exploration grew, so did the demand for better tools. Tools like the diving watch.
Underwater timepieces were almost non-existent before the 1930s. That is, until the needs of navy divers and frogmen pushed watchmakers to innovate, resulting in water-resistant timepieces that blended rugged functionality with precise timekeeping.
This golden age for diving innovation meant that when, in the 1970s, a group of adventurous divers geared up to explore the uncharted waters of Banana Reef, in the Maldives, they had 3 things at their disposal: Basic gear, a need for adventure, and a trusted chronograph watch.
The Banana Reef Diver’s Chronograph is our ode to that time. Combining the iconic style of the 1930s we love so much with the everyday practicalities that come with modern craftsmanship, we created a watch those early divers would have loved. And we’re willing to bet you’ll feel the same when you glance at your wrist.