Today, I have a new watch from a new brand, the Rivelta Metrodiver. Ok, maybe not an entirely new brand. Rivelta was founded by Jesse Prawiro, the same creative mind behind the Soldat race timer (which we reviewed here), so there is more than a little experience behind this project. With Rivelta, he has delved into tool watches and delivered a solid contender. I received a Rivelta Metrodive 02 in exchange for this review.
The Metrodive’s stainless steel case is nicely compact, measuring 39mm wide, 46mm long, and 13mm thick with a 20mm lug gap. It’s a refreshing departure from typically large dive watches. Yes, I realize that men’s watches are gradually shrinking, but it is still a bit of a novelty to release a diver under 40mm, and I’m here for it. I love my massive dive watches; I just don’t want to wear them every day. I wouldn’t hesitate to strap on a Metrodive every morning — as I have for the past two weeks. It fits my 6.75″ wrist well and does not leap out to attack every doorframe I pass.
Rivelta offers four variants of Metrodive: gray (01) or black (03) dials with black bezels, black dial and steel bezel (04), and the triple-black DLC model I’ve reviewed here (02). While all have their charms, I like the way the all-black case melts into the background, allowing the white markers to pop. The signed crown is polished, as is the bezel’s lip.
Right off, I’m going to say that the Metrodive is not what you might expect from a diver’s watch. It can dive, of course. It’s rated for 200m water resistance, its crown screws down, and the white-on-black layout provides easy legibility and a bright lume glow. It has a domed and AR-coated sapphire crystal. All the key elements are there, but then it takes a few unexpected turns.
First of all, the combination of large Arabic numbers and that sword-and-post handset strikes me as more of a pilot’s layout than a diver’s. Then we have a 60-click, bidirectional bezel, again, better suited for time spent in the air than underwater. Moreover, it’s a countdown timer, the opposite of what you might expect to find on a dive watch. Not one of these things is bad, merely different, giving the Rivelta its own unique spirit.
The Metrodive offers some other tasty details as well. I love the elevated central dial that floats above the index, the engraved markings on the brushed bezel insert look fabulous, and typography nerds will no doubt notice the Art Deco-inspired hours. Look at the sharp angle on that 4 and the stubby, nearly vertical descenders/ascenders on the 6 and 9! I also appreciate the numbers’ weight, as those thick figures provide excellent legibility and are sufficient to balance the white date.
Behind the tastefully restrained case back lid beats a Miyota 9015 automatic. One can hardly go wrong with this unit. It hacks, hand-winds, has Parashock protection, a 42-hour power reserve, and purrs along at a smooth 28.8k bph. Most importantly, it is a movement I’ve owned in dozens of watches without a single hiccup.
Rivelta ships the Metrodive on a black sailcloth strap that tapers to a signed 18mm buckle. It’s an attractive strap with leather lining and hole reinforcement. Drilled lugs make short work of swaps. The sailcloth suits the Metrodive quite well, but small-wristed folks like myself will have to wear it a bit before it develops the right bend at the lugs.
The Rivelta Metrodive isn’t an entirely traditional dive watch — indeed, Rivelta telegraphs this fact right in the name. I mean, what sort of diving does one do in a metropolitan area anyway? Instead, it is a well-tailored, and imaginatively rendered tool watch with deep water capability. As someone who already owns lots of dive watches (and doesn’t even dive), I’m grateful for Rivelta’s smaller, sharper, more fluid approach.
You can purchase a Metrodive directly from rivelta.one for $449, including shipping, for a limited time. That’s a nice price for an attractive and versatile tool watch. If you are looking for an inexpensive, stylish companion for your urban and/or subaquatic adventures, you would do well to consider the Rivelta Metrodive.
