Obscure and Vintage Dive Watches

[ghce]

J JSpdx

Hello everyone, I have a dive watch from perhaps the 60s or 70s I'd love to learn more about. It is a Benmore 17 Jewel Incabloc rated for 10 ATM. What I love about this piece is that the bezel is countersunk into the case for a sleek look and thinner case. The case is 36 mm in diameter without the crown and only 10 mm thick. The watch still functions as does the lume on the dial and hands. Any information would be great as I'm considering having this watch serviced. Thank you!

The 10 Atmosphere rating is likely to be pure fiction or aspirational at best when new let alone now, you wouldn't probably even want to wash your hands wearing this.

 

[Ron_W]

w154

Yikes !

A massive diver at 46mm ?
LeJour also had this model and there is also a modern version From Laco, the Atacama.

 

[w154]

Ron_W

A massive diver at 46mm ?
LeJour also had this model and there is also a modern version From Laco, the Atacama.

Yeah a few companies put their name to this, LeJour and Royce being the most common. They’re pretty far from haute-horology but a bit of fun.

 

[Ron_W]

w154

Yeah a few companies put their name to this, LeJour and Royce being the most common. They’re pretty far from haute-horology but a bit of fun.

Those are great fun !

 

[MoclovFlop]

w154

Yeah a few companies put their name to this, LeJour and Royce being the most common. They’re pretty far from haute-horology but a bit of fun.

Nice! Currently rebuilding a LeJour version myself. This is good inspiration.

 

[X350 XJR]

 

[effovex]

The very relevant-for-the-times diver branded ‘Rona’

 

[JSpdx]

Here are photos of the movement.

 

[Chachi]

Does anyone know much about Continental Gulf Stream dive watches from the 60's? I've seen a few for sale here and there and I think they look pretty cool, just doesn't seem to be much info out there about them?

 

[Filip Belgium]

Does anybody know who made these thick 1970's divers? or has seen these before with another brand on the dial
In the meantime I have 3 of these divers, so you would think finding any information on them isn't that hard 😗

What I do know:
Origin: France (he who finds the writing error first gets extra points) - I bought them all of them in France
no swiss made on the dial
Brand: Michelin Herbelin and Erosa
Case: very sturdy steel 39mmx41mm (Doxa 300T as reference)
unmarked casebacks on the inside
the black one has a screw crown and is rated 30 ATM, without screwdown crown are 20 ATM
Bezel: the bezel (bi directional) turns in a groove in the case. Only @12 an 6 o'clock the case is recessed to access the bezel
Movement: ETA 2790 day date - one movement is also signed underneath the balance with 1-74 (seems to me as plausible date of manufacture)

more pictures

 

[hmmmcamu]

Filip Belgium

Does anybody know who made these thick 1970's divers? or has seen these before with another brand on the dial
In the meantime I have 3 of these divers, so you would think finding any information on them isn't that hard 😗

What I do know:
Origin: France (he who finds the writing error first gets extra points) - I bought them all of them in France
no swiss made on the dial
Brand: Michelin Herbelin and Erosa
Case: very sturdy steel 39mmx41mm (Doxa 300T as reference)
unmarked casebacks on the inside
the black one has a screw crown and is rated 30 ATM, without screwdown crown are 20 ATM
Bezel: the bezel (bi directional) turns in a groove in the case. Only @12 an 6 o'clock the case is recessed to access the bezel
Movement: ETA 2790 day date - one movement is also signed underneath the balance with 1-74 (seems to me as plausible date of manufacture)

more pictures

https://michel-herbelin.com.sg/pages/michel-herbelin

 

[JwRosenthal]

Haven’t seen this thread in a while. A new one for me, my second Mondaine

 

[Anthony Lane]

@Filip Belgium i don’t have any info. Favre-Leuba (French) also used some square chunky cases back in the 70’s.

 

[Filip Belgium]

find the error 🤪

 

[Anthony Lane]

HIGHT. Oops, someone lost their job.

 

[UWG]

This Testudo was "lost" by DHL during delivery, on it's way back from my watchmaker.
Two years later I found exactly that (my) watch advertised on local fleabay and just bought it back.

 

[Ron_W]

UWG

This Testudo was "lost" by DHL during delivery, on it's way back from my watchmaker.
Two years later I found exactly that advertised on local fleabay and just bought it back.

That is great news you have it back!

 

[UWG]

Ron_W

That is great news you have it back!

Yes, and coincidentally it was freshly serviced 😉

 

[Ron_W]

👍

 

[JwRosenthal]

UWG

This Testudo was "lost" by DHL during delivery, on it's way back from my watchmaker.
Two years later I found exactly that (my) watch advertised on local fleabay and just bought it back.

More info needed: did you get paid out by insurance? Did the guy who has it get it delivered to him? Did you not ask questions and just pay the guy? And run with the watch?