Obscure and Vintage Dive Watches

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noelekal

·Jan 12, 2015·Home For Wayward Watches

Never was much into vintage dive watches until this Zodiac Sea Wolf came along.

Now I find myself studying photos of them. Lots of different styling features to be seen.

 

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redpcar

·Jan 12, 2015

Love the Zodiacs. What about a Magnum PI first edition? Chronosport from seasons 1 to 3 😀
Quartz, I know but still cool. They bring stupid money only based on the show.

 

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timeismoney

·Jan 12, 2015

I am not much of a dive watch person but found this Mirexal quite easy on the eyes and easy to wear.

 

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Archer

·Jan 13, 2015·Omega Qualified Watchmaker

STANDY

I do know alot of Bulova,s had the 666 scratched of as it was not liked in the dive world when they first came out but think this is before that. Then all of a sudden they were cool. The Dive watch only collectors are harder core than Speedie collectors once something gets rare or unseen. Got out of that game years ago

My Snorkel still has the 666 - it was a big reason why I bought it.



Cheers, Al

 

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STANDY

·Jan 13, 2015·schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector

Sold mine a few weeks ago to the young fella at work and every time i see it i want it back. Loved the side on profile of the bezel

 

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CdnWatchDoc

·Jan 13, 2015

Not a great pic, but this Accutron Deep Sea 666 dive watch has great patina...wouldn't take it anywhere near the water though!


And then there is this lovely vintage Gruen, one of my favourite sit-around-the-house watches:

 

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TexOmega

·Jan 13, 2015

My circa 1963-64 version like Archers and my 1983-4 version with a A.Schild movement...plus a early 1960's Gruen

 

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Tony C.

·Jan 13, 2015·Ωf Jury member

Ironically, my most obscure and (probably) least expensive dive watch has the most sublime "beach" patina of any that I've ever seen. In fact, that is why I bought the watch.

 

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TexOmega

·Jan 13, 2015

and of course a Russian version

 

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X350 XJR

·Jan 13, 2015·Vintage Omega Aficionado

 

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pitpro

·Jan 13, 2015

LouS

No, I would call that absolutely obscure.

Not much in the know regarding dive watches, but this Bulova was listed on Ebay starting at $1. It has popped to $5107 in just a few hours. Who's gonna educate me and explain why? Some kind of Blancpain surrogate?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-197...637124804?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item27f65eaec4

Just surfing and pasting here,
but this might be a VERY special Prototype MIL Spec watch
http://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/990103944/m/5821038392?r=862106132
What I think we see here is a MIL-W-3181 (Ca. 1958) Bulova UDT prototype. In 1958 the U.S. Navy decideded to replace its aging stock of "canteen" diving watches. Retired General Omar N. Bradley, CEO of the Bulova Reseach and Development Laboratory came up with this design based upon the Blancpain 50 fathoms. The version I am aware of is that there were supposedly five prototypes produced, and three of them failed the Navy tests when the moisture indicators read that the watch had water contamination. Bulova abandoned the project, as it is speculated that their efforts were fully committed towards the development of the Accutron model. Bulova wanted their Accutron to be accepted as the NASA watch of choice (Omega won this distinction with the Speedmaster), and simultaniously the American watch industry was rapidly deteriorating.

Only two examples of the Bulova protoype are known to exist.

In 1961, the U.S. Navy changed the diver specifications to the MIL-W-22176A which reflected several improvements from the Bulova. Several companies competed for the contract, including Longines, but Blancpain won the contract for about 1000 TR-900 watches which were subsequently issued to Navy UDT frogmen and also U.S. Marine Force Recon units in during 1965-1966. These watches were labeled "Tornek-Rayville" after the U.S. distributor. The majority is said to have been issued to the Marines who were expanding the size of their recon units for Vietnam deployment and who, during 1966, received $1M to purchase "carte blanche" all their specialized SCUBA and Parachute equipment. They conducted training in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands (submarine insertions), and Panama Jungle Warfare training Center in preparation before shipping out for Vietnam.

Today, several companies have reproduced versions of these historic watches since finding one is an impossiblity.

Edited: Jan 13, 2015

 

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Alpha

·Jan 13, 2015·Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega Collector

Sorry Standy, no chance of this one leaving youngest daughters clutches.

 

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Alpha

·Jan 13, 2015·Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega Collector

Ok! I should have used this for target practice a long time ago.
WHY have I not thrown it out ?????????????
😀😀😀

 

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redpcar

·Jan 13, 2015

That Sekonda is a mixture of styles for sure. Early diver, world timer and LeCoultre all rolled into 1. How many have seen a Bulova Oceanographer Snorkel 666? Check out the markers. Glass cylinders. Very groovy clash between a turtle and Barbarella.

 

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pitpro

·Jan 14, 2015

redpcar

That Sekonda is a mixture of styles for sure. Early diver, world timer and LeCoultre all rolled into 1. How many have seen a Bulova Oceanographer Snorkel 666? Check out the markers. Glass cylinders. Very groovy clash between a turtle and Barbarella.

Zuke

Very cool watch and history - price is now at $11k

Ahhh the dick ended the auction "lost or broken"
when you have a hot one, why not let it fly, dumb

 

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LarryG

·Jan 14, 2015

An offer he couldn't refuse....
There were alot of eyes on that one and I'm sure many pleas and offers to buy-it-now. Only surprised that it took so long....

 

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base615

·Jan 14, 2015

Shouldn't be allowed to pull it once the reserve has been exceeded (in this case as soon as the first bid went in)

 

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redpcar

·Jan 14, 2015

I had this one on ebay and you should have seen all the stories. "My father served in Vietnam and he had a watch just like this. Now he is dying of cancer and I just want to give him one last memorable gift. Would you change it to Buy it Now for $100?" .............ummmmm nope.

 

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pitpro

·Jan 14, 2015

That watch was a Runner
it might have done $20k, $30k who knows
let it Fly
DUMB

 

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LarryG

·Jan 14, 2015

pitpro

That watch was a Runner
it might have done $20k, $30k who knows
let it Fly
DUMB

Im sure it did at least that in a private sale.