SKU: 100AT/12/SS/QZ/ST
Model Discontinued C Sold Out
This model, available in both PVD and stainless steel, is now sold out and has been officially discontinued. It was produced for a procurement company that secured a contract requiring a watch built to very specific technical standards. As a result, it differs in several key ways from other 100 ATM watches we manufacture. The additional contract requirements are outlined below.
About the MWC Depthmaster Military Diver
The MWC Depthmaster is one of our most rugged and high-spec timepieces to date. Built for professional use under extreme conditions, this model is part of our heavy-duty 100ATM range. Key features include:
Sapphire crystal for exceptional durability
100 ATM (1,000m/3,280ft) water resistance C suitable for mixed gas diving at extreme depths
Ceramic bezel C highly scratch-resistant and easy to grip in cold or wet environments
24mm strap width C wider than the standard 20mm on most military divers watches
Helium Escape Valve C A Crucial Feature for Deep Dives
All watches in the 100ATM range include a helium escape valve, a feature often misunderstood. Heres the short version: helium molecules are incredibly smallso small, in fact, they can sneak past seals that block water and other gases. Over time, helium can accumulate inside a dive watch, especially during saturation dives. When a diver decompresses, this internal pressure can blow off the crystal or unscrew the crownpotentially destroying the watch or injuring the wearer.
The helium escape valve allows helium to safely vent during decompression without letting any water in. Its a one-way valve, and while not every diver will need it, its an essential safety feature in a watch designed for the most demanding environments.
Why Use Helium in Deep Diving?
Good question! Helium is used instead of nitrogen in deep-sea diving because it avoids the effects of nitrogen narcosis, which can impair a divers judgment. In saturation diving, professionals live in pressurized habitats filled with an oxygen/helium mix for days or weeks at a time. As they decompress, helium must be safely releasedjust as it must be from their watches. Thats where our valve comes in.
While most recreational divers wont need this feature, its vital for professional-grade timepieces intended for such use. In short: better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
Special Features of This Contract-Specific Variant
Although this watch shares its DNA with our standard 100ATM models, it was built for a military procurement contract and includes two unusual specifications:
Altitude tolerance C Accuracy must be maintained at up to 12,000 meters / 40,000 feet without compensatory pressurization.
Magnetic resistance C The watch had to withstand exposure to magnetic fields of 4,800 A/m (approx. 60 gauss).
Why these specs were required remains a mystery, but they made this watch particularly unique. The contract also called for a sterile, unbranded dial, making it even more distinct.
This version features a European NATO-style dial and a brushed stainless steel case. It uses the Swiss Ronda 715li quartz movement, which offers a 10-year battery life and hacking function for precise time-setting.
Specifications
Movement: Swiss Ronda 715li, 10-Year Battery Life, Hacking Function
Water Resistance: 100ATM / 1000m / 3280ft
Crown: Screw-down
Helium Escape Valve: Yes
Case Diameter: 47mm (including crown), 44mm (excluding crown)
Bezel: Unidirectional, Ceramic Insert, Non-Reflective
Case Thickness: 18mm
Crystal Diameter: 31mm
Crystal Type: Sapphire with Anti-Reflective Coating
Lug to Lug: 48mm
Weight: 132g
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Illumination: Luminova on hands, markers, and bezel
Strap: 24mm NATO Webbing Strap (Includes 1x Black & 1x Grey)
Why Sapphire Crystal?
Were often asked: Whats the big deal about sapphire crystal? The answer is simpleits the toughest material you can use for a watch crystal. Its highly scratch- and shatter-resistant, which is why it's favored by military personnel, security professionals, law enforcement, and outdoor adventurers. These groups represent over 70% of our customer base.
To put it in perspective, most broken watch crystals we see are mineral glass, even the hardened kind. Sapphire is leagues ahead in toughness. Its also heat-treated to eliminate internal stress and finished with dual-layer anti-reflective coating. Its no wonder sapphire is now used on the latest iPhones, too.
While its more expensive, sapphire crystal is a hallmark of high-end, mission-ready timepiecesjust like the Depthmaster.
