Debaufre Triton Divers Watches

Homage. Debaufre is a watchmaker based in the United States which builds watches using Swiss ETA and Unitas movements. Historically, the watches built by Debaufre mimic designs by Rolex, Bell & Ross and IWC. We have written  about Debaufre's Rolex Explorer II, GMT Master and Submariner  lookalikes before. Recently, Debaufre launched a interesting new model in its Triton line-up. Debaufre has two lines of divers watches, the Ocean-1, which mimics Rolex Submariner, and the more distinctive Triton series. 

Debaufre Triton Metal. The first divers watch in Debaufre's Triton series is the Metal. The Metal is a divers with a massive looking 44.7 mm case diameter with a rotating bezel hat mimics the popular Seiko Monster divers watches.  This uni-directional rotating bezel can be used to measure period of time not exceeding sixty minutes. The suggested retail price is US$580, so it will cost you a fair amount more than a Seiko Monster.

This is no Seiko clone. The Metal has a decided attractive dial with the currently popular orange accents. The watch is a date watch, displaying the date in a round aperture at the 6 o'clock.  The dial is covered by a sapphire crystal glass with the anti-reflective coating applied on the inside to prevent  the coating from getting scratched.  Inside the watch is the tried and tested ETA 2824 automatic movement with runs at 28,800 beats per hour, or eight beats per second, resulting in a near smooth movement of the second hand.  The watch is rated to 300 meters water resistance. 

Debaufre Triton Metal

Debaufre Triton 2000 Meter Diver. While we believe the Triton Metal is the more interesting watch in the Triton line-up, we think the watch that will generate more interest is the Triton 2000 Meter Diver. Like the Triton Metal this watch is a date watch powered by the ETA 2824 movement, with the traditional divers bezel. In style in mimics more Rolex Submariner with a bezel with an aluminum insert.  

Debaufre Triton 2000 Meter Diver

 

The 45 mm case diameter of the Triton 2000 Meter Diver is not much larger than the Metal, but this watch is massively think at 17.3 mm. This more massive case results in a 2000 meter water resistance rating.  It also has a helium gas release valve.

Helium Release Valve. When deep sea divers operate at great depths, they spend prolonged hours in diving bells under pressure breathing a gas mix that contains helium. Helium molecules are the second smallest found in nature and thus available to work its way inside even water resistant watches. When a diver resurfaces, the helium which built up inside the watch starts to expand quicker than it can escape, leading to an increase in pressure inside the watch. This can cause great damage to the watch. Placed inside the case at 10 o’clock, a self-winding decompression valve guarantees the security and the reliability of the watch, without requiring any handling on the part of the wearer.

Priced at US$850, it is very competitively priced for a watch with that level of water resistance.

About Debaufre. Debaufre watches are built by a company based in in Florida. The company started manufacturing watches in 2005.