Delma is no newcomer to pretending to be a tool watch brand. The independent, family-run company has been manufacturing robust sports watches in Lengnau since 1924 and has made a name for itself among capable (or highly qualified) divers since the late 1960s. Within this foundation, the Oceanmaster line (launched in 2017) is the brand's nautical tool: a large cushion case, a nautical bezel, a tactical planner and sailing point markers that resonate with sailors. We've seen significant spin-offs like the Antarctica (with proceeds going to ASOC), the Tide and the Oliver Heer Ocean Racing (OHOR) Edition, which went full throttle in Vendée Globe testing. The Oceanmaster Lume, which we will examine in detail today, takes the field-tested ideas and turns them into a permanent, multi-color series with tidier specifications and nicer details.
Case & Wearing Experience
The 44mm thick, padded metal case (13.8mm thick and 51mm lug to lug) feels utilitarian rather than oversized. Sure, it's not a small watch, but it has the cool, instrumental design that you sometimes want from a watch like this. The profile is mostly satin finished with clear, polished bevels that capture just enough light to break up the mass. The unidirectional rotating nautical bezel features deep, positive clicks and knurling that you can grip even with wet fingers. The crown screws on with a secure thread, sits cleanly and shows no traces of sand, and the integrated protection devices do not hinder operation. There is a helium escape valve at 9 o'clock. And 500m water resistance ensures you're safe if you fall overboard…
A nice surprise with such a depth rating is the presence of an exhibition back. Delma's sapphire window is thick and well sealed; The brand clearly wanted owners to see the movement while maintaining the “oversized” character of the Oceanmaster. The whole thing feels like a watch designed to be tossed around on a deck, then rinsed off and carried ashore for dinner.
Bezel logic that sailors will use
Unlike a diver's 60-minute mission, this one features a 360° nautical/compass scale that works in conjunction with the dial markings. If you're sailing, the workflow is straightforward: set your course/layline on the bezel, use the triangles/rectangles of the sailing points on the dial to judge the angle to the wind, and use the minute display for timing maneuvers. Even if you don't sail, you still get a distinctive, functional aesthetic. And even if the classic 5-minute markers of a dive watch are not present, the scale remains divided at the same intervals, maintaining the logic of a dive watch – it's not the most immediate display, but your brain should usually do the calculations pretty quickly.
Dialing options and nighttime behavior
During the day, the fully luminous dial looks like a matt color with high contrast: pastel blue, green, orange or yellow. The colors are soft and quite fun, making for a less serious take on the nautical/dive watch with a black or navy dial. The tactical planner and sailing hand displays are clear and legible without cluttering the minute display. The indices used are large and precise; the framed date at 6 o'clock is cleanly cut.
Turn off the light and the entire dial glows (color-matched Super-LumiNova), while the hands (C3) and indices (BGW9) appear a distinct shade brighter, so you don't have to search for the time display against a glowing background. The pointers remain dominant even after a few hours of total darkness, exactly the behavior you want when you call off a night hunt. The red central second hand features a luminous tip that is easy to pick up without distracting attention from the minute hand.
Movement & Operation
Delma sticks with the Sellita SW200-1 automatic, which runs at 28,800 vph, offers a 41-hour power reserve, with quick date adjustment and stop-seconds. You can see the tailor-made rotor of this alternative to the ETA 2824 through the back of the display. The winding torque is smooth and the movement of the crown is crisp. This caliber was obviously chosen for its fair price, ease of service and parts availability, and accuracy. For a watch intended for use at sea, this is the right decision.
Bracelet and clasp
The three-link steel bracelet matches the case finish (brushed exteriors, polished center links) and articulates well given its 24mm width. The double push button trigger is safe and unobtrusive. A tool-free micro-adjustment would be helpful for a quick fit over a rain cuff, but sizing via links quickly becomes convenient.
Thoughts, Availability & Price
The Delma Oceanmaster Lume feels like a produced version of Oliver Heer Ocean Racing's full-lume concept: the same core utility, now in four colors, with better nighttime readability and a display back that doesn't affect the 500m rating. If you're sailing at night, the luminous design immediately makes sense. If you don't, you'll end up with a distinctive, perhaps oversized, 500-meter vessel with real personality and a sensible, serviceable movement, exactly the kind of honest offering that Delma has been trading in for a century.
All four editions of the Delma Oceanmaster Lume are priced as part of the brand's permanent collection 1,500 euros, CHF 1,350 or $1,650 and available in the brand's webstore. For more information, visit www.delmawatches.com.
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