Serica teams up with the French Navy bomb disposal squad for their new dive watch
Russell Sheldrake- The new Serica 5303 PLD was made in collaboration with the French Navy EOD unit.
- It sports design tweaks such as at DT Max bezel scale and an elasticated strap.
- The new model still retains the best parts of the French dive watch for €1,690.
It should be fairly clear by now that we are big fans of the French brand Serica. Whether we are teaming up with our friends to give them away, celebrating their latest watches, or singling them out from an entire watch fair as one of the best dive watches there. We can’t help but talk about this maker of rugged tool watches. So when we learnt that they were joining forces with the French Navy for their latest project, we were all on board. The new 5303 PLD has been designed in collaboration with the French Navy EOD unit, or Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit. In other words, the guys who disarm and safely dispose of bombs on shorelines and underwater. If there is a more badass yet safeguarding job, I am yet to hear of it.
Because of this collaboration, there are a few key differences between this new model and the original 5303. First, and perhaps most significantly, is a new scale on the bezel. Doing away with the standard elapsed time scale, we now have a DT Max scale on the Abyssal blue ceramic bezel insert. Showing both meters and minutes, the scale is designed to show the maximum amount of time you can spend at a specific depth while you can safely do a continuous ascent to the surface – an extremely important time to know if you are working on disarming an explosive underwater, and may need to make your way quickly back to your boat. Serica has also given this watch a larger lollipop seconds hand, giving it greater visibility, especially under the waves when you may only have time for a quick glance at your watch as you decide between cutting the red or black wire.
The next key change that has been made is the new line of text that has replaced the depth rating and now says “Amagnètique”. This is different to the term anti-magnetic, and instead signifies that there are no magnetic signatures being produced by the watch. This is a very important factor for those who work around explosives, as any small magnetic field produced by electronic circuits can trigger an explosion without warning. This makes a mechanical watch a must-have tool for those undertaking this high-risk job.
Finally, we have a new strap from Serica. The PLD elasticated pass-through strap is ideal for those who may need to adjust the length of their strap on the go, but also require a material that can go in and out of water with ease. And personally, I find this style of stretchy strap a lot more comfortable than your traditional NATO style. The watch also comes with the standard metal bracelet that all Serica dive watches are equipped with.
Everything else stays true to the 5303 that we know and love. There’s 300m of water resistance, an uber-satisfying rotating bezel, and a logo-less black dial with distinctive lume plots. The lyre lugs with their contrasting matte and polished surfaces add that small touch of class to this fully utilitarian watch, and the movement remains the chronometer-certified Soprod M100 calibre.
Serica 5303 PLD price and availability
The Serica 5303 PLD will be available to order from May 20th from the Serica website or directly through Time+Tide. Price: €1,690
| Brand | Serica |
| Model | 5303 PLD |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 12.2mm (T) x 46.5mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 300 meters, screw down crowns |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front |
| Dial | Black |
| Strap | Green PLD elasticated strap Metal bracelet |
| Movement | Soprod M100, automatic, COSC-certified |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, diving bezel |
| Availability | May 20th |
| Price | €1,690 |