Time On Our Hands: Crepas Cayman 3000

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Crepas Watches out of Malaga, Spain is a niche dive watch company that elicits true horological lust, in contrast with many of the countless so-called “micro” brands that roam the oceans (and office desks). Each of Crepas’s three previous releases sold out, if that’s any indication. Using classic dive watches as their muse, Crepas issues one watch per year, and their latest release, the Cayman 3000 (~$1,190), found its way to our doorstep this summer.

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This fourth model continues in that same vintage spirit that’s made Crepas successful but diverges from the brand’s previous models on two fronts. First, it’s a true dress-diver; second, it boasts an impressive 3,000-meter depth rating — both qualities that might seem mutually exclusive upon first read but that come together in harmony. Second, unlike their previous releases, the Cayman’s visual cues are entirely streamlined and cohesive, lending a more sophisticated appearance that comes in low on the radar.

TICK LIST

Movement
Calibre: ETA 2824-2 Top Grade
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Jewels: 25
Reserve Power: 38 hours

Functions
Hours, minutes, center seconds

Case
Material: Polished stainless steel
Diameter: 43mm
Case Back: Screw-in with luminescent Crepas propeller logo
Crystal: Domed sapphire, anti-reflective
Water Resistance: 300 bar (3,000 meters)

Dial
Ceramic
Applied markers with BG W9 Superluminova

Strap/Bracelet
Rice bead steel bracelet with two deployant clasps
Black nylon
Black leather

The watch gave the impression of a well-constructed timepiece before we even touched it. The slightly wider, coin-edged, sapphire-coated, 120-click bezel is elegant and melds well with the AR-coated domed sapphire crystal. The Cayman’s high-polish stainless steel case is large (43mm x 16.9mm) but not overly so, categorized as an extreme diver due to its abyssal depth rating. It feels heavy in the hand, especially with the DOXA-style rice bead bracelet, yet wears quite comfortably and doesn’t dig into the wrist. The center strip of rice bead links is polished to match the case; the outer links are brushed. Crepas even includes two bracelet clasps, one flat deployant that’s dressier, one a diving clasp with an appropriate diver’s extension. Crepas also appends a robust black nylon dive strap with a logoed buckle and a dressy black leather strap — and we always appreciate extra straps.

Crepas makes use of an ETA 2824 Top grade self-winding movement and also incorporates an automatic helium escape valve for the saturation divers in its clientele. The dial is coated in a matte black ceramic, which is offset by the reflectiveness of the domed crystal. The markers and polished faceted hands are simple but stylish, with a blue-tinted, glowing BG W9 Superluminova that matches the lume on the bezel as well as the Crepas propeller logo on the caseback (also sapphire coated). The caseback has an aesthetic that’s unique and quite attractive — though, unfortunately, it won’t be seen much. Regardless, we can easily appreciate Crepas’s efforts to make a vintage-inspired timepiece with modern and tasteful touches.

Limited to only 299 pieces and priced well under its level of features and construction, the Cayman 3000 is a worthy watch to add to your collection. Moreover, it’s one dive watch that doesn’t scream at the world with all manner of colors, overly bold design, or a massive case diameter. Purpose-built but also designed to be a gentleman’s diver, the Cayman 3000 is at home in the water or at the water cooler (just make sure to get larger shirt cuffs).

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