How to use a dive bezel in more ways than you think.

The bezel is one of the most quietly powerful features on a wristwatch. Long before modern smartwatches tried to do everything, the bezel offered a simple, mechanical way to track time at a glance. No menus, no buttons, no batteries required. Like the watches they surround, bezels come in many forms, each with a specific purpose shaped by history and use.

On the VERO Open Water 38, you’ll find a classic dive timing bezel. Its origins trace back to the early days of recreational and professional diving, when timing underwater wasn’t just helpful—it was critical. Divers needed a reliable way to track elapsed time to avoid decompression sickness and manage limited oxygen supplies. The solution was elegantly simple- a rotating bezel that could mark the start of a dive and clearly display elapsed minutes.

Why Dive Bezels Became Essential

The defining feature of a dive bezel is its ability to measure elapsed time instantly. Before entering the water, a diver aligns the zero marker (often a luminous pip) with the minute hand. As time passes, the minute advances, and the bezel shows exactly how many minutes have elapsed.

Over time, safety became a key concern in bezel design. This led to the widespread adoption of unidirectional bezels, like the one on the Open Water 38. If the bezel is accidentally bumped, it will only indicate that more time has passed—not less—preventing a diver from overstaying their safe limit underwater.

You’ll also notice differences in bezel “clicks.” Most modern dive bezels use either 60 or 120 clicks per rotation. A 120-click bezel allows for finer adjustment and precision, while a 60-click bezel—like the one on the Open Water—offers a more pronounced, tactile feel that many enthusiasts prefer. It’s a subtle detail, but one that contributes to the overall experience of using the watch.

Beyond the Dive: Everyday Uses

Even if you never plan to dive, the functionality of a dive bezel makes it one of the most practical tools you can wear on your wrist. Think of it as an analog countdown timer that’s always ready.

Here are just a few ways it can be used day-to-day:

• Timing a workout or rest intervals between sets
• Keeping track of parking meters
• Monitoring steeping time for coffee or tea
• Timing cooking tasks like grilling or baking
• Managing screen time for kids
• Tracking meetings or focused work sessions
• Measuring elapsed time while hiking, surfing, or skiing

Using it is simple: align the zero marker with the current minute hand, and read elapsed time directly off the bezel as the minutes pass. No distractions, no unlocking your phone—just a quick glance.

The 12-Hour Bezel: A Different Kind of Tool

While dive bezels measure elapsed time, a 12-hour bezel serves a different but equally useful purpose. Instead of counting minutes, a 12-hour bezel allows you to track a second time zone or distinguish between AM and PM hours.


To use it for a second time zone, you rotate the bezel so that the hour marker corresponding to your reference time aligns with the current hour hand. From there, the bezel acts as an offset scale, letting you read a second time at a glance.

For example, if you’re traveling or working with a team in another part of the world, you can quickly check their local time without doing mental math. It’s a simple, analog alternative to a GMT function—no additional hand required.

You can also use a 12-hour bezel more creatively:

• Tracking longer durations (up to 12 hours instead of 60 minutes)
• Marking a future hour for appointments or reminders
• Estimating time remaining during long drives or flights

A Timeless Piece of Functional Design

What makes the bezel so enduring is its simplicity. It doesn’t rely on software or connectivity. It doesn’t need updates. It works reliably, intuitively, and instantly.

On the VERO Open Water 38, the bezel isn’t just a nod to dive watch heritage. It’s a practical tool designed for everyday life. Whether you’re timing a dive, a dinner, or a deadline, it’s always ready with a quick turn and a glance.

And that’s the beauty of it: one small component, endlessly useful.