On Holden’s list, Absolute Favorites
Squale 1545 Grey
The Squale 1545 Grey (1545GG.AC) is a dive watch from Squale: a 40 mm 316 L stainless steel case, 12 mm thick and 48 mm lug to lug, with an automatic Sellita SW 200-1 movement and 300 m water resistance.
Going by its 48 mm lug to lug, it should sit within the flat top of a wrist of about 6.5 inches (16.6 cm) or larger.
Research found it at $1,050 list in the US (checked October 2026) and about $700 used (May 2024).
A no-nonsense tool diver with real dive-watch history, and it's near the top of my list.
Specifications
From the research, with the sources for each group of facts. Unknown means no source confirmed it.
| The watch [1][2][3][4] | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Squale |
| Reference | 1545GG.AC |
| Category | Diver |
| Production | Current production (shown as available on Squale's own site, shipped in 24–48 h) (introduced 2022) |
| Case and size [5][1][2][6] | |
| Case diameter | 40 mm |
| Lug to lug | 48 mm |
| Thickness | 12 mm |
| Lug width | 20 mm |
| Case material | 316 L stainless steel |
| Crystal | Flat sapphire with anti-reflective coating (Fratello and an owner listing both report inner/underside AR only) |
| Water resistance | 300 m / 30 ATM |
| Weight | 190 g |
| Movement [5][1][2][6] | |
| Movement | Sellita SW 200-1, Automatic, central rotor |
| Power reserve | 38 hours (Squale) |
| Accuracy | Unknown |
| Bracelet [5][1][6][7] | |
| Bracelet or strap | Yes — 20 mm stainless steel Oyster-style bracelet (also offered on other 1545 variants as a Tropic-style rubber strap; the 'AC' configuration is the bracelet… |
| Clasp | Stainless steel flip-lock clasp with safety catch (Squale lists 'clasp with safety'; an owner listing calls it a deployant clasp) with a… |
| Price and warranty (US) [5][1][2][3][4][6] | |
| List price (US) | $1,050 |
| Street price (US) | $1,050 (US authorized dealer / Squale's own US-priced listing, VAT excluded) (October 2026) |
| Used price (US) | ~$700 (private sale, excellent condition with caseback sticker still on, WatchUSeek, May 2024) (May 2024) |
| Warranty | 2 years — Squale official international warranty (stated by Squale, Teddy Baldassarre and Jura Watches) |
Will it fit?
A watch wears comfortably when its lugs stay on the flat top of the wrist. Here is the 48 mm lug to lug against the flat top estimated for common wrist sizes.
| Wrist | Flat top | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| 6 in 15.2 cm | 47 mm | Likely overhangs |
| 6.5 in 16.5 cm | 51 mm | At the edge |
| 7 in 17.8 cm | 55 mm | Comfortable |
| 7.5 in 19.1 cm | 59 mm | Comfortable |
| 8 in 20.3 cm | 63 mm | Comfortable |
Check it against your own wrist An estimate, not a guarantee; how the method works is on the tool page.
What the research found
These are the research’s judgments, scored against Holden’s priorities, not his own words.
Strengths
- Genuinely big-kit for the money: Swiss automatic, 300 m WR, ceramic bezel insert, flat sapphire with AR, applied indices, solid 316 L case and steel bracelet
- Excellent proportions — 40 × 12 × 48 mm on 20 mm lugs, effectively Rolex 14060 dimensions, and it wears that way on a 17 cm wrist
- Real heritage: Squale was an early water-resistant case maker (from 1950) and the 1545 name comes from the Y1545 case production number
- The 2022 redesign gave it its own identity instead of pure Submariner cosplay (no crown guards, big crown, Squale-specific dial accents)
- Grey-on-grey ceramic bezel is a restrained, versatile, cuff-friendly colourway; Fratello calls the family a credible 'only watch'
- Movement is a serviceability joy: Sellita SW 200-1, 26 jewels, hacking, hand-winding, parts everywhere
Weaknesses
- Bracelet is where the price shows: soft-edged faux centre-link end links and a clasp lip that scratches the bracelet (Fratello)
- Heavy on the wrist — 190 g on bracelet per an owner
- Clasp micro-adjust is awkward: four holes but the fourth fights the diver extension (owner report)
- Standard-grade, undecorated, hidden movement with a modest 38 h power reserve and no chronometer certification
- Lume is good but a step below Squale's own 1521 (Fratello)
- Still Submariner-derived at heart, and the price has climbed from $728 at launch to $1,050 while rivals (Christopher Ward, Glycine) undercut it
Research scores, 0 to 10
| Execution and feel in the hand | 7.4 |
|---|---|
| Design identity | 7.2 |
| Value at a realistic price | 8.0 |
| Long-term ownership | 6.8 |
| Movement and engineering | 6.6 |
| Wearability and proportions | 8.5 |
| Versatility and durability | 8.0 |
| Fit with Holden's collection | 8.1 |
Also on Holden’s list
Other diver watches on his list.
- Traser P67 Diver Blue 109375
- Glycine Combat Sub 42 GL0533
- Longines HydroConquest (third generation)
- Tudor Pelagos LHD 25610TNL-0001
- Grand Seiko Spring Drive U.F.A. Ushio 300 Diver SLGB023
Sources
- 1545 Grey Bracelet — REF. 1545GG.AC squale.ch · read October 16, 2026
- Squale 1545 Steel 40mm - Grey on Bracelet teddybaldassarre.com · read October 16, 2026
- Squale 1545 Grey Bracelet Watch 1545GG.AC jurawatches.co.uk · read October 16, 2026
- Squale 1545 Grey Bracelet 1545GG.AC the-watchmaker.store · read October 16, 2026
- Hands-On: The New Squale 1545 — Stepping Out Of The Shadows fratellowatches.com · read October 16, 2026
- Squale 1545 Grey Dial (private for-sale thread, WatchUSeek) watchuseek.com · owner report · read October 16, 2026
- Squale 1545 (bracelet clasp micro-adjust thread) watchuseek.com · owner report · read October 16, 2026
Personal research, not a source of truth. Spotted an error? Email a correction.