Review: Dietrich SD-2 Skin Diver

Before we get to the Dietrich SD-2, I’m going to do something I usually don’t and wouldn’t—and in a way that most sites such as this certainly do not and would not. I’m going to suggest you read a review from another site. To be fair, I wrote the review, so this isn’t quite the bold stroke it seems. My review of the Dietrich SD-1 for The Time Bum will give you a reference point for this updated version.

I was taken by the original Dietrich Skin Diver and I’m in fact more taken by the new version. As a model, the Dietrich Skin Divers represent modern interpretations of the skin diver watch design, which differentiates itself from other dive styles with a squared lug box, a lack of crown guards. Because the watches were originally meant for those doing actual skin diving—diving without any assistive apparatus—their water resistance was typically between 100m and 200m, meaning they also tend to be thinner than other divers.

The first things you’ll notice about the Dietrich SD-2 is the sandwich dial, following by the handset design, and the unique lug design. Everything manages to come together quite nicely in a refinement of the original SD-1.

The Case

If you were familiar with Dietrich before, the Dietrich Skin Diver may have come as a surprise—the brand wasn’t known for conventional design. But there are some places where the SD-2 bucks convention. For instance, the slightly recessed portion between the lugs harkens to classic skin diver design while suggesting discrete traditional lugs. The bezel has excellent tension and is easy to operate in any condition—including oily cooking hands and kids’ bath time. The crown operates easily enough but could stand to be enlarged slightly.

The polished chamfer around the case sides’ perimeter adds a bit of refinement and the breaks in the coin edge bezel bring a little quirk. As with the SD-1, the SD-2 wears marvelously on the wrist. Surprisingly, it’s the better part of a millimeter thicker than the SD-1, but this didn’t seem to affect wearability.

The Dial

The old model had an intriguing sapphire dial that created dimensionality, which on the new model is created by the sandwiching. The sandwich is a more immediate and observable effect, but I think both approaches have their merits, even if I do favor the sandwich. The other major change to the model is the use of a flat aluminum insert in place of the SD-1’s sapphire insert. For my part, I’ve never been a fan of sapphire inserts, so it’s a welcome change.

The handset is now brushed metal, which rids them of the dimensionality and shine I liked in the SD-1 but allows them to better coordinate with the case. It’s a coin flip. I’ll leave it to your imagination, but there’s been much discussion of what the hands resemble, with an egg being the tamest suggestion.

Gone is the cavernous date window that casts shadows upon itself. What a relief it is to be free from the chilling uncertainty of a date that could never be truly known, obscured not just by its depth but by some other thing, some ineffable terror.

The lume is improved from the SD-1, with all applications being bright enough for low-light legibility. The bezel triangle shone amply (unlike the lume on the old sapphire insert), while the recessed sandwich plots were somewhat dimmer but not problematically so.

The Rest

This is how I prefer my casebacks: blank. You may be wondering where they’ve managed to hide the specs. The answer is between the lugs. When the strap is removed, you can see the model, serial, and water resistance etched into the flat surfaces.

The SD-1 was paired with a hexagonal-link bracelet that was pretty and comfortable, but never betrayed the utility of the watch. What’s more, the watch looks much better on straps because the slight overhang of the lug box hides the very ends, making it appear as though the strap emerges from the case itself. Thank goodness, then, that Dietrich has paired the new model with a quick-release NBR rubber (it also comes with a NATO strap).

The Dietrich SD-2 is another winner in my book. I’m not sure what I or anyone who had experienced the SD-2 might have expected, though: Dietrich took a great watch and made it greater. If black isn’t your thing, the watch also comes in a lovely blue, with matching bezel and strap. I might as well keep linking to other sites: you can see a review of the blue model on Beans & Bezels. If you’re looking for a skin diver with a bit of refinement and no discernible flaws, the Dietrich SD-2 has you covered.

You can find out more and pre-order the SD-2 directly from Dietrich.