2 bargain jumbo and rare dive watches from ebay (one maybe Spillman, one bakelite)

So first up - I didn't buy these, as both went for more than I could currently do, (but not much when it comes to vintage dive watch prices). While they were active I did what I could to research them, and found absolutely nothing on either. Both are large too.

So the first one was made by the Ellis Watch Company - there seems to be very little about this company known - I couldn't even find anything on Mikrolisk for it. And it is missing it's bezel, but what really caught my eye was the case that seemed to be unique compared to any other vintage divers I've seen, and to my (complete novice) eyes seems to have a couple features that typically were on Spillman made cases - faceted lugs, and how the case back opens. But I can find no other examples of 3-hand dive watch Spillman cases to compare it to - all of the ones I see when I search are on chronographs. This is listed as being 40mm, even without the bezel!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-El...r-666ft-Divers-Watch-RARE-Manual/372576151369




The second watch - a Hanowa Super Submarine - is from a company that is more well known, but I couldn't find any information on this model at all. It's also large - listed as being 39MM and has a coin edge bakelite bezel and a greenish sunburst dial:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Ha...-Automatic-Divers-Watch-Bakelite/123607943927

Anyway I just thought I'd share them both since they are two of the most interesting I've seen at the lower end of the market in quite a while . I can't quite imagine how difficult it will be to track down the correct bezel for the Ellis, since I can't find any other examples of it (or even anything with the same case), but I am guessing someone is going to try and fit a replacement on there.

I almost put a bid in on the Ellis when it was at a lower price because I love a big diver without a date. But without a bezel, I decided I should pass. Killer looking piece though, and now that I know others saw it - I wish I would have been braver.

I definitely wasn't because of the bezel issue - I think that would be a real bear to track down something that works. But yes - the watch over all is definitely killer looking.

I hope it's OK to mention here (if not please let me know and I'll delete), but if anyone is interested in a Lip Nautic Automatic Calendrier dive watch (EPSA Supercompressor), I just recently decided to part with mine as you'll see on the FS forum. It's not as big, but runs beautifully from 1968 - and looks crazy cool.

So this lead me down a rabbit hole of looking at EPSA Compressor cases, and you are definitely right on that Ellis. It seems to be exactly the same as a Bulova, including the design of the dial and hands. This article on Worn & Wound even gives reason as to why the bezel is missing. They were acrylic and rarely survived.

https://wornandwound.com/guide-super-compressors/

The bracelet on the Hanowa looks awesome