No Two Alike: The McQuaide Q1 is the Damascus Steel Dive Watch We Crave

Here at The Coolector, we’re constantly inundated with timepieces that, while perfectly nice, feel a bit… repetitive. In a world of mass production, finding something that feels genuinely yours is the ultimate prize. That’s precisely why the British-based McQuaide Watch Company is so high on our radar.

They are a brand that just gets it, and they’re about to make another big splash. Get your wallets ready, because they’re launching a Kickstarter campaign for their brand-new C1 watch this Saturday, November 8th (a sneak peek of which you can see below):

But before we get to the new hotness, you need to understand the beast that built their reputation. We’re talking, of course, about the magnificent McQuaide Q1.

The Q1 is the antidote to boring. It’s a watch that celebrates individuality not as a marketing buzzword, but as its core manufacturing principle. How? By crafting its entire case from Damascus Steel. This isn’t just a cool-sounding material; it’s a metallurgical fingerprint.

The forging process creates unique, undulating patterns of layered steel, meaning no two McQuaide Q1 watches are ever, or will ever be, alike. The case on your wrist is yours and yours alone. It’s a statement of uniqueness before you even get to the specs.

And oh, what specs they are. This is a watch that perfectly balances rugged durability with elegant design, a sort of brute in a bespoke suit. The case measures a purposeful 43.2mm wide and 15mm thick, with a 52mm lug-to-lug that gives it formidable presence.

This is a proper tool, built to endure. The 120-click unidirectional bezel is topped with BGW9 White Emission Super-LumiNova, and the whole dial is protected by a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective Sapphire Crystal, ensuring legibility in any condition.

But this isn’t just a tough face. The Q1 is powered by the legendary Swiss Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement—a high-beat, 26-jewel, 38-hour power reserve workhorse known for its precision and bulletproof reliability.

This Swiss heart is protected by a case that is pressure-tested to a staggering 100 ATM. That’s 1,000 metres. This isn’t a “desk diver”; this is a watch that could be strapped to a submarine and would be bored.

It even includes a Helium Escape Valve, a piece of serious saturation diving kit that places it in an elite tier of professional dive watches.

Just when you think it’s all rugged utility, you look at the dial. McQuaide has fitted the Q1 with a stunning Brass Guilloché dial, a masterpiece of intricate craftsmanship. The repetitive engraved patterns create a dance of reflections and a sense of texture that is pure old-world elegance.

This beautiful face is contrasted by a distinctive ‘claw’ shaped second hand with a bold red tip, and BGW9 lume on the hands and indices that glows a crisp blue-green in the dark.

This entire package is meticulously assembled and tested by Horologium, McQuaide’s trusted UK-based partner, ensuring every watch meets exacting standards for timing and water resistance. For just £750, this is an absurd proposition.

You get a one-of-a-kind Damascus steel case, a 1000m-rated dive chassis, a Swiss automatic movement, and a stunning Guilloché dial. Backed by a 2-year warranty, the McQuaide Q1 isn’t just a watch; it’s a statement.

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