Hands-On: The New Titoni Seascoper 300 DLC Black And Color Block Editions

Titoni introduced its Seascoper 300 in November 2022, and it quickly became apparent that this is a watch to be reckoned with. Regarding quality and specs, it’s one of the best in class in its price bracket, so what could Titoni possibly do to make it even better? Technically and specs-wise, everything that was good has luckily remained with these newest releases. The improvements are mainly in the aesthetics department. Be aware that the new black DLC-coated versions are not for everyone as both are made in limited numbers.

The new Black and Color Block limited editions still feature the 42mm case styled after the previous-generation Rolex Submariner. And, as Jorg already wrote in his review of the Seascoper 300, while not necessarily original, it’s not for nothing that we like that case so much. It wears comfortably, and quality-wise, it’s top-notch.

The Titoni Seascoper 300 DLC Black Edition

Although I introduced the features of the Black Edition as mainly aesthetic, as far as the DLC coating is concerned, that’s not entirely true. DLC stands for “diamond-like carbon.” It is a coating only a few micrometers thick that is applied to the case’s surface using a multi-stage, high-tech process. In this process, the surface is vaporized with diamond-like carbon to create an incomparable surface hardness and a deep black appearance. So the Black Edition doesn’t just have an iconic look. It is supremely robust and functional thanks to its scratch resistance as well. But as an aesthetic plus, the all-brushed black surfaces of the Seascoper 300 DLC Black Edition further prevent the case from looking like a diver’s watch that we know all too well.

The Titoni SeaScoper 300 DLC Color Block Edition

Alongside 500 pieces of the all-black version, Titoni introduces an even more limited version — the Seascoper 300 DLC Color Block Edition, of which only 100 pieces will be made. Besides the popping orange color of the dial, the watch, technically and size-wise, doesn’t differ from the DLC Black Edition. As had the opportunity to put the all-black version physically to the test, I’ll write this review mainly about that model.

Good things remained

Both the Black and Color Block Editions feature the exact dimensions of a regular Seascoper 300. That means a 42mm case which is 12.5mm thick and measures 52mm from lug to lug. You’ll find a screw-down crown with adequate crown guards on the right side. And following the type designation, the watch is water resistant to 300 meters. Despite its substantial size, the Seascoper 300 wears comfortably on my 18cm wrist.

Looking at the dial, the upper half features the Titoni logo and brand name. For my taste, the brand name is a bit too large. There’s no need to shout here; the watch doesn’t need that. The text on the lower half of the dial creates a solid block with minimal spacing between the lines, somewhat affecting the readability. A ceramic bezel remained from the standard Seascoper 300 remained, as did the flat sapphire crystal. The latter has an antireflective coating on both sides.

COSC-certified Sellita SW200-1

Like the regular Seascoper 300, the Black Edition houses a COSC-certified version of the well-known Sellita SW200-1. This automatic caliber operates at 28,800vph, uses 26 jewels, and offers 40 hours of power reserve. The Sellita SW200-1 is known as a reliable workhorse, and with the COSC certification, Titoni guarantees an accuracy of +6 to -4 seconds a day.

The things that made the Black Edition better

Although subject to taste, I do like Titoni’s choice of hands. They offer excellent readability and can’t be confused with the hands used by any other watch brands. Adding uniqueness and character to a watch that dwells in an overly crowded genre is good. The same is true for the raised hour markers. We don’t always see those on dive watches. To me, they bring the classiness up a notch and offer a luxury feel.

For my taste, a noticeable improvement is in the color of the text and the lume on the hands and indices. On the black-dialed version of the regular Seascoper 300, these were perfectly white (even with a touch of orange for the depth rating). On the Black Edition, however, these are all light gray. This toning down of contrast creates modesty, contributing to a luxurious feel, even for a rugged sports watch like the Seascoper 300.

A diver’s instrument?

Not many owners will use their Titoni as a diver’s instrument, but the Seascoper 300 could easily do the job. I don’t think Titoni specifically aims its watches at divers but, instead, promotes them as perfect watches for sports enthusiasts and those who love outdoor adventures. But a unidirectional rotating bezel with clear five-minute markings and a 300m depth rating is nice enough to dive with. It won’t qualify for the ISO 6425 standard due to an absence of a lume pip at 3 o’clock, but that doesn’t mean it can’t work as a diver’s watch. The unidirectional (60-click) black ceramic bezel sports the same light gray tone for the markings that we see for the text and lume. Additionally, it has a luminous triangle at the 12 o’clock position.

The perfect sporty rubber strap

Both straps and the watch are housed in a specially designed box set. Along with the box, the Titoni Seascoper 300 is accompanied by nicely executed COSC and warranty certificates and documentation. Besides being written on the documentation, the COSC number of each watch is engraved on the case back.

Wearing the Seascoper 300 DLC Black Edition

Before writing this review, I was lucky to wear the watch daily for over a week. And again, as my colleague Jorg already noted, that’s where this Titoni shines, especially in its wearing comfort. I didn’t expect that coming from a substantial watch like this and especially on a rubber strap. The light gray color of the markings and the finely brushed finish of the entire case also continued to amaze me.

But the Seascoper DLC Black Edition also “shines” for another reason. The main design feature of the watch lies in its tone-on-tone approach. Both the brushed surface of the DLC coating and the rubber strap create a matte black appearance. However, the ceramic bezel, flat sapphire crystal, and high-gloss black enameled dial all look shiny. So while the colors are tone on tone, the finishing of the different surfaces is not.

Conclusion

As mentioned, these new versions of Titoni’s Seaccoper 300 might not be for everyone. Titoni also understood that and decided to produce only 500 pieces of the Black Edition and 100 pieces of the Color Block Edition. At the same time, the regular version remains unlimitedly available. However, I would prefer the Black Edition over the regular Seascoper 300 in stainless steel. The reason for that is the all-brushed black surfaces of the DLC-coated case. Due to this finishing, this Seascoper 300 stands out further from other watches using the same case style. At €1,700 including VAT, the DLC Black Edition will only have a slightly higher price than the regular version.

For more information on the new Seascoper 300 and other models, visit Titoni’s official website.