Most dive watches can tell you how long you’ve been underwater. The new Squale Galeazzi Artiglio can also warn you if moisture has entered the case.

At 6 o’clock, a small Wet Indicator changes color if moisture gets inside the watch. It’s an unusual feature on a modern dive watch and gives the Artiglio a practical connection to the diving equipment that inspired it.

A serious diver in a manageable size

The stainless steel case measures 39.5mm across, 47mm from lug to lug, and 13.2mm thick including the sapphire crystal. Despite those relatively compact dimensions, Squale rates the watch to 600 meters of water resistance.

A deep blue dial sits beneath a flat sapphire crystal. The matching unidirectional bezel has a blue K1 glass insert, while luminous markers help keep the time readable in low light. Squale prints the DRASS Galeazzi logo on the crystal, making it appear to float above the dial.

The watch comes with two straps: a sand-colored microfiber strap and a blue textured rubber strap. That gives it two quite different looks without changing the watch itself.

Inside is an automatic ETA 2824-2 Elaboré movement with a 42-hour power reserve. It’s a familiar choice, which feels appropriate for a watch whose most interesting ideas are on the outside.

The story behind the name

Squale created the Artiglio with underwater technology company DRASS Galeazzi. The release marks 100 years since Roberto Galeazzi’s 1926 patent for a pressure-resistant diving structure.

“Artiglio” takes its name from a ship connected to Galeazzi’s deep-sea salvage work. The Wet Indicator is a fitting detail for that history: it serves a purpose, and you can see it right on the dial.

The Squale Galeazzi Artiglio is limited to 500 pieces and listed at $1,990 on Squale’s website. For buyers who like smaller dive watches with substantial specifications, it’s worth a look. The feature that makes it memorable, though, is that little indicator at 6 o’clock.