The Delma Quattro is a deep-dive special with plenty of reef cred
Borna BošnjakDelma brings back the Quattro, originally presented in the 1980s and having garnered significant popularity in the US market, now upgraded with modern materials and an automatic movement. But the new Delma Quattro aims to be more than just a run-of-the-mill dive watch, with specs worthy of plenty of reef cred.
No-nonsense diver’s layout
Round features are common theme in the new Quattro, as Delma opted for softened shapes on this bold diver. Circular and pill-shaped indices dominate the dial, complete with rounded, luminous markings on the dive-time bezel in place of more common numerals. The hands side-step this rounding, taking on a simple fence-post shape, possibly feeling a little undersized considering the size of the watch. Size shouldn’t cause any visibility issues, however, with a bright orange minute and seconds hands matching the minute markers on the steep rehaut that doubles as a chapter ring.
Lume was also a serious consideration with the Quattro as Delma filled the dial indices, hands and bezel full of C5 SuperLuminova. Printing is minimal which helps reduce detractions in a diving environment, though the oversized Delma logo and crown dominate the otherwise clean dial, which is further helped by a colour-matched date wheel and framed date window. The dials are available in blue and a very diver-friendly orange, along with the pictured black.
Tank of a case
The construction of the Quattro is where Delma’s dedication to making it look like a dive instrument is most obvious. The six protruding points of the bezel will make it easy to operate with gloves, partly owing to the gargantuan size of the piece of metal the bezel consists of, finished either in brushed stainless steel or black DLC.
The left-hand side of the case integrates a helium escape valve just above the lever-operated case release. This is part of Delma’s Rapid Bracelet Exchange System, or RBES, allowing the wearer to separate the case from a plate integrating the lugs and strap, before bayonet-mounting it onto another strap. Delma also hid the Quattro’s crown completely, protecting it from impacts, though in order to access it, one must remove the entire watch head from the rest of the strap and case assembly.
There is reason to this madness, however, as Delma intends serious divers to mount their Quattros to specially designed aluminium plates printed with decompression scales, going as far as including different tables for diving above and below 700 metres above sea level. At 44mm in diameter and 15.3mm in height, the Quattro is expectedly large, certainly in part due to the RBES, but also the 500-metre water-resistance rating.
Reliable movement
A watch that needs to withstand professional diving efforts needs a reliable and easily-replaceable movement. Quartz made perfect sense in the 80’s, but the new Quattro opts for Sellita’s SW200, which is a rational choice. With a 38-hour power reserve, it’s proven to be a steady performer over the years.
Delma Quattro pricing and availability:
The Delma Quattro is a limited edition of 999 pieces, available now from Delma. Price: US$2,390/CHF1,990/€2,090.
| Brand | DELMA |
| Model | Quattro |
| Case Dimensions | 44mm x 15.3mm |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 500 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal |
| Dial | Black, orange or blue |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet and rubber strap |
| Movement | Sellita SW200, automatic, 38-hour power reserve |
| Price | US$2,390/CHF1,990/€2,090 |