A few months ago, I already did a deep dive into Oceaneva’s Deep Marine Explorer (DME) collection of Swiss-powered dive watches. At that time, Oceaneva was already teasing a new diver on their website—once again using the Sellita SW200 movement—this time promising an insane 6000 meters of water resistance. Naturally, I signed up for their mailing list so I’d be notified as soon as pre-orders opened.
Pre-orders started on April 24, 2025, with the promise that deliveries would begin by mid-July. Before the launch, Oceaneva sent out a survey asking subscribers what kind of price they expected for the watch. I shared my opinion and was honestly surprised to get a detailed reply from the brand.
On launch day, Oceaneva revealed 10 different versions of the watch, each limited to just 50 pieces—so 500 watches total. One of the models had a damascus dial, which I already knew from my Damascus Deep Marine Explorer II. The other nine had dial designs that were totally new and unlike anything previously seen in the DME lineup. That alone was enough to convince me to go for one of the nine new models.
I narrowed it down to two gradient dials: one fading from blue to black, the other from red to black. The single-color dials didn’t appeal to me so much. In the end, I went for the red/black combo. So, the watch I’m showing you today is the freshly released Oceaneva Deep Marine Explorer VI (DME VI), featuring the red-to-black gradient dial.
The name’s a bit odd. Technically, this is the fourth watch in the DME series. Up to now, the Roman numerals always indicated the model generation. But this time, it seems “VI” refers to the 6000m water resistance. (Hmm. Maybe even the DME III was supposed to hint at 3000m WR rather than it being the third generation?)
When I placed my order, I was already aware this watch was going to be chunky. If you’ve read my review of the DME III—rated for 3000m WR—you’ll know I was quite critical of it. I found it way too thick and, above all, too heavy. I ended up selling it.
Back then, I also said that a watch so thick should have the case diameter larger than 42mm, and it should be made of titanium, not steel. Now, when I wrote that, I had no clue how Oceaneva was planning the next model—but apparently, I wasn’t far off! The new DME VI is indeed bigger, with a 44mm diameter, and it’s made of titanium! That gave me a lot more confidence when placing the order.
But now that I’ve got it in hand, I have to admit I’m a bit underwhelmed with the design choices. It feels like the designers tried to cherry-pick the “best of” features—either based on their own preferences or customer feedback—from earlier models. Apart from the dial face, which is entirely new, everything else feels familiar. The dial layout, indices, date window placement, text—all borrowed from earlier DME models. The bezel is identical to the one used on the Deep Marine Explorer II Damascus. The hands are slightly modified versions from the “GMT Auto” and “Titanium GMT” models (I haven’t reviewed those because they use Seiko movements, and I focused on the Swiss-powered ones).
What makes this worse—at least for me—is that they went with "Mercedes" style hands, which I really dislike. In fact, it's usually a dealbreaker for me. I don’t care if it’s Rolex, some Chinese homage, or anything in between—I’m just not a fan of that hand style.
One slightly different detail is the inner ring below the bezel. On other DME models, the ring typically says “Helium Escape Valve” on top and “Limited Edition” at the bottom. On the DME VI, it features a continuous engraving of “Oceaneva VI” all around. It’s also much less in-your-face because they went with a light engraving on a light background—unlike the black-on-silver text used before. Smart move, in my opinion. I’m not a fan of busy inner bezels, and a more aggressive contrast here would’ve been a mistake.
So yeah, mixed feelings so far—far from love at first sight. But one thing I genuinely like is the dial. The red-to-black fade is visually striking, and the grey wave texture adds depth and motion. Depending on the viewing angle, the dial shifts dramatically—from almost fully red from the top to nearly black when seen from below. It’s a great optical effect.
The caseback has also been upgraded. Gone is the boring “Oceaneva” engraving. Now we get the Oceaneva Trident logo, all the key specs, and the individual serial number (xx/50). I like the change.
Unlike most DME models that come with both a bracelet and a rubber strap, the DME VI ships only with a (again known) rubber strap—but it does feature a titanium buckle, which is a nice touch. With the Damascus models, it made sense not to include a steel bracelet because it would’ve looked weird. But here, I was hoping they’d finally include a titanium bracelet. Then again, my experience with the DME III taught me that thick watches don’t necessarily wear better on bracelets. Personally, I prefer rubber straps anyway—but a combo option is always better than just one.
The lug width is the same (22mm), so technically you could swap in any other DME bracelet. But visually, a titanium bracelet from the DME II doesn’t really work—the DME VI has a polished case, whereas the DME II titanium bracelet (and case) are brushed.
Speaking of the case, the DME VI is 44mm wide now. That 2mm jump feels even more significant in person. I took a side-by-side shot with the Damascus model, which is probably the closest visual comparison. What’s interesting is that the case wasn’t enlarged proportionally. The lug-to-lug distance remains the same at 49.5mm, which is great news for anyone afraid of oversized watches. It wears more like a 42mm piece but looks more balanced visually, especially with its 18.5mm thickness. Despite the doubled WR (from 3000m to 6000m), the thickness stayed exactly the same. Impressive.
As for weight, the watch comes in at exactly 130 grams with the rubber strap. That’s just a few grams lighter than the DME II Damascus on rubber. Honestly, I expected it to be even lighter considering the titanium case (the DME II Titanium weighs about the same BUT with a titanium bracelet).
On my 19cm wrist, it wears surprisingly well.
And as always with Oceaneva, the lume is excellent—bright and long-lasting. The larger dial improves legibility, too.
One more upgrade compared to other DME models: the pelican-style large waterproof case with a pressure relief valve is even better than before. The side latches are solid. You get a strap-changing tool, stainless steel certificate of authenticity, stainless steel warranty card, plush embossed polishing cloth, commemorative two-sided challenge coin, and an Oceaneva survival paracord with carabiner.
And finally, let’s talk price. During the pre-order phase, it was €835. The regular retail price is now €1388. Add to that import duties and taxes for your country. The pre-order price was higher than usual for DME models, and the gap between the launch and retail price is also wider.
Two models sold out quickly (unsurprisingly: the damascus dial and the blue-black gradient). The rest are still available. All things considered, I think the price is fair. But here’s the catch—buyers can still get other DME models for significantly less. I doubt many people actually need 6000m of water resistance. The DME II offers 1250m WR and costs much less.
So if you’re considering the DME VI, think carefully. A DME II might be the smarter buy. But if that insane WR is a must-have for you, then the DME VI is a no-brainer. You simply won’t find a better or cheaper 6000m diver out there.
One last thing—I told Oceaneva during their survey that, based on materials, performance, and execution, the watch could easily be priced in the €1000–€1500 range (which it now is). But I also warned them about the internal competition they create when they slash prices on older models. In my view, this means they’d need to price the DME VI closer to €700–800. They replied that with the new US duties, it’s getting harder to stay afloat. In order to invest in new models, they sometimes have to clear out inventory to maintain cash flow.
Does that mean the DME VI will eventually get discounted too? Only time will tell.
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