Scurfa Diver One Review: The Best Dive Watch Under £500?

The story of Scurfa watches is a unique one in the industry. It all starts with Paul Scurfield, the founder of Scurfa watches. Paul is a veteran commercial deep-sea diver working in the North Sea with a keen interest in watches as a piece of his operational gear. Paul started collecting with a primary interest in Rolex, but as the brand became collectable he found himself quietly brokering sales for colleagues whose tools had become unexpectedly valuable.

After becoming more involved in the industry Paul decided he wanted to make a true tool watch that respects historic watches but is tough enough to survive in the modern commercial diving profession.

Enter the Diver One.

The Diver One was the first line of watches released by Scurfa, and it remains the most tool-focused. Featuring an ultra-accurate ETA quartz movement, a water resistance rating of 500m and a helium escape valve; the watch is among the most capable in its price range.

Wearability and Construction

The Diver One range is available in a variety of colour combinations and either 316L steel or T2 titanium metals, with the titanium carrying a slightly higher price. The weight of the titanium models on a rubber strap is 75g which puts it into the ‘forget-you’re-wearing-it’ category.

Photo by The Analogue Collective

The case measures 40mm and the sapphire crystal is deeply domed with blue anti-reflective coating on the underside. The design leans into vintage while using modern materials and skipping any faux pas “faux patina”. On my 6.5 inch wrist the watch feels a modest size and wears comfortably. Some criticise that the domed crystal reduces legibility, which perhaps it does, but it lends a porthole-like nautical charm that feels entirely deliberate.

The right side of the watch features a bold crown guard that closely hugs the screw down crown and on the left is the helium escape valve to disperse pressure build-up in saturation diving environments. To achieve that 500m water rating the watch utilises a large 1mm gasket for the screw down caseback and an impressive four gaskets on the crown.

The 20mm lugs are drilled to allow the use of shoulder-less spring bars for greater strap security. In the box each Diver One arrives with two straps, a NATO and a natural rubber, both are high quality, though bracelet lovers may want to add one at checkout. The bracelet is a multi-link design with a milled clasp, a very comfortable execution with no rattle and highly impressive for the price.

The Review Models

To illustrate the range, the three models that I have to hand are the MS23, MS24 and a standard Diver One with an orange dial in polished stainless steel. The MS23 belongs to myself and the other two belong to my grandfather.

Photography by The Analogue Collective

The MS23 and MS24 have a brushed titanium case, while the orange Diver One is polished 316L stainless steel. Initial comparison shows the clear outlier to be the orange Diver One: to be frank, the mirror finish doesn’t really suit the nature of the watch; but this finish is a deliberate exception to the line-up presumably suited to the collector who already has a few other Scurfas.

When comparing the MS23 and MS24 models you can see the itterative progression. The MS24 switches to a ceramic bezel over aluminium on the MS23. This new bezel features lume on all the numbers and looks great at night. Another difference is the MS24 has a bevelled edge between the top of the lugs and the flanks leading to a more refined case shape.

Overall, the MS24 feels like a more sophisticated offering; but that being said, aluminium bezels can develop a beautiful fading over time and I particularly look forward to seeing this develop on my MS23. Whatever your preference there is a reference in the Diver One lineup for you.

Movement

The ETA F06.412 movement within the MS23 and newer models isn’t glamorous, but it’s quietly brilliant. Its core technologies, Heavydrive and Precidrive elevate performance in harsh conditions. Heavydrive resists shock by generating a counter-pulse that stabilises the hands, while Precidrive adjusts for temperature shifts to maintain exceptional accuracy. The movement is a brass-constructed, three jewelled quartz workhorse that those early divers likely would have trusted if it had existed at the time.

Scarcity & Service

Scurfa watches are a grassroots operation that is still managed by its founder, which contributes to their appeal, though it also means availability is limited.

Each release gets announced via email, like a signal flare from a quiet outpost. No hype. Just a heads-up and a scramble. The scarcity is not engineered; it’s due to the nature of Paul’s personal touch. I have been fortunate enough to secure an MS23 for myself and a year after the MS24 for my Grandad.

The current method to obtain a Scurfa is to sign up to the mailing list, where you get notifications of upcoming releases, and to try your luck when they are released. It’s a game of chance with the website sometimes crashing with the rush to buy limited editions. Since demand outweighs the availability Scurfa could profit by increasing prices, but they choose not to, remaining faithful to their community.

This personal approach extends beyond sales. After a couple of years of use my MS23 developed a fault with the crown. The repair job was not routed to some service centre but instead Paul handled it personally. The crown stem was replaced and a full service performed with new battery, o-ring, and a waterproofing test at no cost. Shortly after I took the watch surfing and it held up flawlessly. This level of care during service is rare these days, even from the top brands, so I can vouch for feeling in safe hands.

Final Note

Undoubtedly what makes this watch brand unique is the story of the founder. The brand has a level of intimacy where you feel connected to Paul. This intimacy is something that you would usually only get out of high horology but here it is on an affordable tool watch. The Diver One punches above its weight, I would suggest that it’s the best micro-brand tool watch for under £500.

Availability has been a bit of an issue, sure, but if Paul was to bring on a large team, or hand off the rights to someone else, something truly significant would be lost about the brand. It feels like Paul is doing this more for enjoyment and legacy rather than profits – and that’s exactly why these watches matter.