The Swiss watch manufacturer Titoni has introduced a significant expansion to its well-regarded Seascoper collection, unveiling the Seascoper 300 Bi-Compax Chronograph. This new series marks a noteworthy evolution for the brand, integrating the complex functionality of a chronograph into the robust, dive-ready platform of the Seascoper. The introduction addresses a long-standing desire from the brand's followers for a timing-capable version of their favorite diver, resulting in a watch that merges historical design cues with contemporary mechanical engineering. This launch is not merely an addition but a statement, representing a new chapter for a collection deeply rooted in the brand’s heritage.
Titoni, a name respected for its independence and consistent quality since its founding in 1919, has a rich history in producing reliable timepieces. The Seascoper line itself dates back to 1963, a period when the demand for durable and water-resistant watches was surging due to the growing popularity of recreational scuba diving. The original Seascoper models were prized for their sturdiness and no-nonsense functionality. The new Seascoper 300 Bi-Compax Chronograph channels the spirit of that pioneering era, adopting a vintage-inspired aesthetic while being thoroughly equipped for the demands of the 21st century, continuing the legacy of its predecessors.
Courtesy of TITONI
The creation of this chronograph was a meticulous and deliberate process, born from direct feedback from the brand’s enthusiasts. According to Olivier Schluep, Co-CEO of Titoni and the great-grandson of the company’s founder, the call for a Seascoper chronograph had been persistent for years. The company invested more than three years in the development of this new model. This extended timeline was dedicated to ensuring the final product would not only meet the rigorous technical specifications required of a serious sports and diving watch but would also seamlessly integrate into the established and unmistakable design language of the Seascoper family. This commitment to getting it right underscores the brand’s philosophy of quality over expediency.
The foundation of the Seascoper 300 Bi-Compax Chronograph is its formidable 42mm case, crafted from durable stainless steel. This substantial case is engineered to be a protective fortress for the intricate movement within, built to withstand not only the immense pressures found deep underwater but also the shocks, dust, and general rigors of an active lifestyle. Its dimensions give it a confident presence on the wrist, with a lug-to-lug measurement of 52.30 mm ensuring a solid and balanced feel. The construction is a clear indicator of its purpose: to be a reliable instrument for adventurers, whether they find themselves in an urban environment or exploring the natural world.
Turning the watch over reveals a thoughtful design detail that reinforces its nautical theme. The solid steel case back features a centrally positioned, highly polished surface crafted to resemble a ship's porthole. This charming embellishment is a nod to the Seascoper’s maritime heritage, offering a smooth, reflective counterpoint to the brushed finish of the surrounding case back. It is a subtle feature, a sort of hidden discovery for the owner, that adds a layer of depth and character to the watch's overall design, connecting the wearer to the seafaring inspiration behind the timepiece.
A critical aspect of any true dive watch, especially a chronograph, is its water resistance and the systems that guarantee it. The Seascoper 300 boasts an impressive water-resistance rating of 300 meters (30 ATM), making it suitable for serious diving activities. This integrity is secured by several key features. The crown screws down into the case and utilizes a proprietary sealing system developed by Titoni to prevent water ingress. Furthermore, the chronograph pushers are also screw-locked. This design prevents the pushers from being accidentally actuated underwater, which could compromise the watch's water resistance at depth, demonstrating a professional-grade approach to its construction.
Courtesy of TITONI
Framing the dial is a unidirectional rotating bezel, an essential tool for any diver. It allows for the tracking of elapsed time, such as bottom time during a dive, by aligning the zero marker with the minute hand. Titoni has equipped this bezel with a high-tech ceramic insert, available in colors corresponding to the dial. Ceramic is the material of choice for modern premium dive watches due to its exceptional hardness, which makes it virtually scratch-proof, and its colorfast properties, ensuring it will not fade after exposure to sunlight or saltwater.
The user experience of the bezel has been carefully considered. The ceramic insert is set within a steel frame that features a pronounced, gear-cut edge. This aggressive grip pattern is not merely for aesthetic effect; it serves a crucial functional purpose. The texture ensures that the bezel can be easily gripped and rotated with precision, even when the user is wearing thick diving gloves or when their hands are wet. This tactile feedback and ease of use in challenging conditions highlight the watch’s identity as a genuine tool built for real-world application.
The face of the watch is where its retro inspiration is most apparent, featuring a classic bi-compax chronograph layout. This two-register design, with sub-dials positioned horizontally at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions, is a direct homage to iconic sports chronographs of the 1960s. This arrangement creates a clean, symmetrical, and highly legible display for the timing functions, lending the watch a character that is both sporty and infused with historical charm. The decision to use this layout solidifies the model's connection to the golden era of watch design from which it draws its spirit.
Delving into the details of the dial, the two sub-dials are executed with precision to maximize legibility and visual appeal. They are presented in a contrasting silver tone and are slightly recessed, adding a sense of depth to the dial architecture. A fine circular-grained finish, often referred to as snailing, is applied to the sub-dials, causing them to catch and play with light in a manner distinct from the main dial surface. The register at 3 o'clock serves as the 30-minute counter for the chronograph, while the one at 9 o'clock displays the continuously running small seconds.
Courtesy of TITONI
Further enhancing the dial's balanced composition is the thoughtful placement of the date complication. The date aperture is neatly integrated at the 6 o'clock position, a location that maintains the vertical symmetry of the dial. In a bi-compax layout, placing the date at 3, 4:30, or 9 o'clock can disrupt the visual harmony. By positioning it at 6, Titoni ensures the dial remains uncluttered and the primary functions—time-telling and chronograph measurement—remain instantly readable, showcasing a commitment to both form and function.
Legibility in all lighting conditions is a non-negotiable requirement for a dive watch, and the Seascoper 300 Chronograph excels in this area. The applied hour markers and the handset are generously filled with Grade-A Super-LumiNova®, a premium phosphorescent material. This high-grade lume absorbs light and then emits a powerful, long-lasting glow in darkness or in murky underwater environments. This ensures that the time and chronograph readings are clearly visible at a glance, a critical safety and convenience feature for any serious timepiece.
Protecting this intricately detailed dial is a flat sapphire crystal. Sapphire is the industry standard for luxury and high-performance watches, second only to diamond in hardness, making it exceptionally resistant to scratching. To further enhance clarity, the crystal is treated with an anti-reflective coating on both its inner and outer surfaces. This double coating dramatically reduces glare and reflections, rendering the crystal almost invisible in certain lighting conditions and providing a crisp, unobstructed view of the dial from any angle.
At the heart of the Seascoper 300 Bi-Compax Chronograph beats the Sellita SW510 BH a automatic movement. This Swiss-made caliber is a robust and reliable chronograph engine known for its performance. What elevates this watch to a higher echelon of timekeeping is its certification as an official chronometer by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC). To earn this prestigious certification, each individual movement must undergo a battery of rigorous tests over 15 days in different positions and at various temperatures, proving its ability to maintain an average accuracy of within -4 to +6 seconds per day.
Courtesy of TITONI
Titoni’s expertise is not limited to just selecting a high-quality movement; the brand applies its own watchmaking skill to every piece. Each Sellita SW510 BH a movement is carefully assembled, meticulously regulated, and extensively tested within Titoni’s own workshops located in Grenchen, Switzerland. This crucial step of in-house regulation ensures that the movement's performance is optimized to meet Titoni's stringent internal standards, which often exceed the base requirements of the movement supplier. It represents a hands-on approach to quality control that is a hallmark of the independent brand.
The watch is secured to the wrist by a solid and comfortable stainless-steel bracelet. The design of the bracelet, with its multi-link construction, is engineered to be both durable enough for adventurous use and flexible enough for everyday comfort. Its brushed finish complements the sporty, tool-watch aesthetic of the case, creating a cohesive and integrated look that flows seamlessly from the lugs around the wrist.
One of the standout features of this timepiece is its highly engineered folding clasp, which was specially developed for this model. The clasp includes a practical diver's extension system, allowing the bracelet to be quickly lengthened to fit over the sleeve of a wetsuit. More impressively for daily wear, it incorporates a sophisticated push-button micro-adjustment mechanism. This system allows the wearer to make small, precise adjustments to the bracelet's length without the need for any tools, ensuring a perfect fit as the wrist naturally expands or contracts with changes in temperature and activity. A final mark of quality is the small plum blossom logo, Titoni's emblem, elegantly integrated onto the push-button release.
The stainless steel versions of the Seascoper 300 Bi-Compax Chronograph are offered in three compelling dial colors. The model with a matte black enamel lacquer dial is the most classic and versatile of the trio, a timeless choice for a sports chronograph. A version with a deep blue dial evokes the watch's aquatic purpose, offering a rich color that pairs exceptionally well with the steel case. Finally, a model with a sophisticated green dial taps into a contemporary trend while providing an earthy, handsome look. On all three variants, the bright, silver-toned sub-dials create a striking and legible "panda" or "reverse panda" effect that enhances the watch's vintage character.
Courtesy of TITONI
Standing apart in the collection is a bold bicolor, or two-tone, edition. This model features a black dial and combines stainless steel with yellow gold PVD-coated elements on the bezel's edge and the center links of the bracelet. What gives this version a particularly modern and edgy twist is the use of black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating for the chronograph pushers. This combination of steel, gold, and black creates a dynamic and sophisticated look, positioning this variant as a piece that expertly fuses rugged performance with a more luxurious and contemporary style.
The new Titoni Seascoper 300 Bi-Compax Chronograph collection is positioned to offer significant value within the Swiss-made chronograph market. The three all-stainless steel models, with black (94300 S-BK-731), blue (94300 S-BK-732), or green (94300 S-BK-733) dials, are priced at $3,220.00. The distinctive two-tone model with black DLC pushers (94300 SY-BK-731) is priced at $3,340.00. These watches are available through authorized dealers, representing the latest evolution of the Seascoper story and providing a compelling new option for enthusiasts seeking a COSC-certified, dive-capable chronograph with a strong design heritage.
Case: 42mm stainless steel case (52.30 mm lug-to-lug), unidirectional rotating ceramic bezel, flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, water-resistant to 300 meters (30 ATM), screw-down crown and screw-locked pushers, porthole motif on case back.
Movement: Sellita SW510 BH a automatic chronograph, COSC-certified chronometer, bi-compax function with central seconds and 30-minute counter, assembled and regulated by Titoni.
Dial: Enamelled lacquer in black, blue, or green, silver recessed sub-dials with circular finishing, applied indices and hands filled with Grade-A Super-LumiNova®, date indication at 6 o’clock.
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet (optional yellow gold PVD coating on bicolor model), features a folding clasp with a push-button precision micro-adjustment system and a diver’s extension.
Price: $3,220.00 (Steel), $3,340.00 (Two-Tone).
Reference Number: 94300 S-BK-731 (Steel, Black), 94300 S-BK-732 (Steel, Blue), 94300 S-BK-733 (Steel, Green), 94300 SY-BK-731 (Two-Tone).
Notes: The watch is a COSC-certified chronometer with a true dive-ready chronograph function thanks to its screw-locked pushers. The specially developed clasp allows for tool-free micro-adjustments to the bracelet length. The bicolor model features black DLC-coated pushers.