I’ll be honest, I never thought we’d see Caravelle getting this kind of buzz again. For most of us, the name has lived in that weird corner of vintage eBay browsing—affordable Bulova offshoots, oddball quartz pieces, and the occasional “Devil Diver” that carried that cheeky 666 feet of water resistance on the dial. Now, the brand is digging into its past with a reissue of the 1969 Sea Hunter, and I think it’s fair to say this one feels more like a love letter to collectors than a quick catalog filler.
The design hits familiar notes right away. Black dial, oversized minute track, those retro Arabic numerals at 12, 6, and 9—it all feels plucked straight out of the late ’60s. Caravelle even kept the quirky handset intact: the spade-tipped hour hand and sword-shaped minute hand look just as sharp now as they did in old catalog scans. The lume has been warmed up with that faux-patina tone we’ve seen plenty of brands lean on, but here it works—it gives the dial a little soul without veering into Instagram filter territory.
Of course, some changes were inevitable. The case has crept up from the original 35mm to a very wearable 39mm. That’s a size I can see sitting well with both vintage die-hards and folks who just want a solid diver that doesn’t disappear on the wrist. A domed mineral crystal replaces the acrylic of the past—tougher against knocks, not as scratch-proof as sapphire, but clearly chosen to keep the watch affordable and to preserve that old-school bubble profile.
Specs-wise, Caravelle didn’t cut corners where it mattered. We’re still looking at a proper screw-down crown and 200 meters of water resistance (yes, the dial still proudly says 666 feet). The Oyster-style bracelet gets modern upgrades like solid end links, quick-release spring bars, and a clasp that seems like it’ll hold up better than anything the brand put out in the ’70s. Inside, it’s the Miyota 8215—a great movement we’ve all seen before. Not the most glamorous, but reliable, cheap to service/replace, and right at home in a diver meant to be worn hard.
Then there’s the price. The Caravelle Devil Diver on bracelet has an price of $375. Think about that—just 375 bucks for a 39mm automatic dive watch with a great design, real history, legit specs, and the kind of wearability most reissues miss by a mile. Official sales kick off September 25 through Bulova’s site and a spread of authorized dealers.
I wouldn’t call this some earth-shattering revival. But for anyone who’s ever come across a beat-up Sea Hunter or Devil Diver on a forum and thought, “man, they don’t make that anymore?” this release scratches that itch. It’s not perfect, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s just a cool, affordable reissue that feels honest to the original—and that’s more than enough.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.