Bertucci’s Titanium Dive Watch and PDW’s Ti-NATO make a great combo for every day and adventures alike

I wear a watch 23 hours a day, and that has been the case for the last 20 years. I require a wrist watch that is durable, presentable enough for all but the most formal of occasions, and a few more features than just keeping time. For the last 10 years I’ve worn dive watches, and by watches I mean two. Both of these watches are from a popular brand, and they have both served me well. So well in fact I was slightly dreading the break from the norm when the Bertucci A-2TR GMT arrived.

Out of the box I was immediately struck by how incredibly light the A-2TR is. Without the strap the case weighs an absolutely airy 2.2oz. By comparison, my previous dive watch weighs 4.76oz. While this might not seem like a significant difference, it is very noticeable when comparing the two in hand, and I could definitely tell a difference while wearing the A-2TR. Outside of the svelte weight and strength of the titanium case the flat finish makes for an attractive timepiece that takes on scuffs to form a nice perfectly irregular look. The lightweight build in no way means a watch that isn’t durable enough for hard use. Bertucci doesn’t utilize traditional spring bars to attach the strap. Instead, they’re integrated into the case as a solid piece and this eliminates a common failure point. The rotating unidirectional bezel has a solid ratcheting click, and the scalloped edge allows for a solid grip when setting the bezel. This feature is originally designed for tracking time spent while diving, and the unidirectional function ensures that the diver doesn’t overestimate if the bezel is accidentally moved. The time, date, and second time zone functions are all controlled by a single recessed screw-down crown at the 4 o’clock position. The back of the case is also screw-down, and the A-2TR boast a 200m depth rating. 

In my personal opinion, a watch rides the line between an everyday tool and a fashion piece. The A-2TR would easily pass as a military issued watch from a few decades ago, but the materials and construction are most definitely modern. On the note of style, one way that I force a singular watch into dress, casual, and adventure wear is by swapping out the straps. I’ve been using a variety of NATO and Zulu style straps for a number of years. From fine leather to well-worn nylon varieties, I’ve come to truly appreciate the ability to easily swap out a strap depending on the occasion. The A-2TR ships with either a Horween leather strap or a heavy duty DX3 Zulu strap from Bertucci. I opted for the DX3 and wore it for a number of months. From the hardware to the webbing and stitching this strap says it’s ready for anything. Once the mercury began to climb, and I found myself in and out of the water more often I began to search for a lightweight option that dried faster than the DX3. It just so happened that our friends at Prometheus Design Werx had just debuted their Ti-Nato Straps. PDW struck a great balance between the heavy duty webbing found on many pass through style watch straps and the more ribbon like dress bands that can be found at the other end of the spectrum. The quality is obvious in the nylon weave, stitching, and the cut of the strap. The titanium hardware is 100% non-magnetic and corrosion proof. Aside from the great construction and design of the PDW Ti-Nato, the hardware is a near-perfect match for the Bertucci A-2TR. You would be hard pressed to find a better timekeeping combo for summer adventures of all kinds. I’ve been so impressed that my other divers from that popular brand haven’t left the drawer since the day the Bertucci arrived.

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