I’ve always had a soft spot for tool watches like Ocean7, Sinn, Bell & Ross, Marathon and the like, but until I picked up an Ocean7, I never saw the value that was placed on these watches. Many basic larger 40mm+ Sinn models would cost well over $1000, which in my mind was a bit too much for a tool watch. Marathon has a nice watch, but I’ve always felt the GSAR is too small, and the CSAR is too big, not to mention the $2000+ Pricetag on the CSAR. Bell & Ross is obviously even further out of the ball park as far as pricing.

Then a couple years ago a company comes along called Ocean7. The company’s PR rep, Mitch, has a fairly big presence on Watchuseek forums, and used the forums to assist in the launching of their product line, to great success. Ocean7 is a quintessentially American brand, with Swiss made watches, very much like Kobold, Hamilton or Ball Watch.

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I had been eyeing the Ocean7 peices, especially the LM-1LE, which is a limited edition watch, now long sold out, but I didn’t try hard enough, and the opportunity passed. Recently I decided to buy the LM-6C, which is the Chronograph tool watch diver in stainless steel, and I could not be more pleased. Rugged craftsmanship, with everything you could want from a Diving Chronograph at a selling price of $1699. The pricing is better than anything comparable.

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Their line has become very extensive with the LM series representing their Swiss Made automatic timepieces and the G series their quartz watches. They have everything from Titanium and Ceramic to good old stainless steel. Their new LM-4 with the Ceramic case and Shadow dial is looking really good to me – so good that I might have to add it to my permanent collection, where the LM-6C has earned a spot. The LM-6C is shown above.

So.. if you have not heard of Ocean7, take a look at them. Website is here.