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·Circa-1970 Tradition Skin Diver - Ref. 10577 - produced for Sears, Roebuck & Co. - powered by A. Schild cal. 1902/03 Swiss automatic movement - originally retailed for an accessible $49.95.
The true cherry on top is the bracelet: an original Tradition-signed coffin-link bracelet. In my many years of collecting, I’ve never encountered another Tradition-branded bracelet, making this an exceptionally rare find. Reunited with the watch, the complete package truly punches well above its weight.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, Sears, Roebuck & Company—one of the largest retailers in the United States—partnered with several Swiss manufacturers to produce watches under its Tradition label. For chronographs, Sears commonly relied on Heuer and Hamilton, while Mondia served as the primary manufacturer for the Skin Diver line.
A key aspect of Mondia’s U.S. market presence was its close relationship with Sears, with watches sold either under the Tradition name or as Stellaris, a Mondia sub-brand registered in 1963. The Tradition trademark itself, registered by Sears in 1954, became synonymous with offering high-quality yet affordable alternatives to more prominent Swiss brands.
The Tradition Skin Diver was produced in two distinct case styles: the classic skin-diver case with squared lugs (Ref. 10466) and the more conventional dive-watch case seen here (Ref. 10577). Ref. 10577 may represent the earlier variant, as it is the only version I’ve found documented in Sears catalog, appearing in Winter 1968 and Spring 1970. Given that the two references are otherwise identical, it’s also possible they were sold concurrently, with case selection driven by availability and market demand rather than a clear generational progression.
Positioned above standard Sears-branded watches, the Tradition line typically featured robust all-stainless-steel cases, Swiss automatic movements—such as the A. Schild 1903 family, also used by brands including Blancpain, Waltham, and Aquastar—as well as Valjoux 7733/34 movements for their sports chronographs, shared with respected makers like Heuer, Hamilton, and Zodiac. These watches offered an accessible entry point into the diver and chronograph markets without sacrificing quality
Want to revisit the Sears Catalogs. Visit: https://christmas.musetechnical.com/
The true cherry on top is the bracelet: an original Tradition-signed coffin-link bracelet. In my many years of collecting, I’ve never encountered another Tradition-branded bracelet, making this an exceptionally rare find. Reunited with the watch, the complete package truly punches well above its weight.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, Sears, Roebuck & Company—one of the largest retailers in the United States—partnered with several Swiss manufacturers to produce watches under its Tradition label. For chronographs, Sears commonly relied on Heuer and Hamilton, while Mondia served as the primary manufacturer for the Skin Diver line.
A key aspect of Mondia’s U.S. market presence was its close relationship with Sears, with watches sold either under the Tradition name or as Stellaris, a Mondia sub-brand registered in 1963. The Tradition trademark itself, registered by Sears in 1954, became synonymous with offering high-quality yet affordable alternatives to more prominent Swiss brands.
The Tradition Skin Diver was produced in two distinct case styles: the classic skin-diver case with squared lugs (Ref. 10466) and the more conventional dive-watch case seen here (Ref. 10577). Ref. 10577 may represent the earlier variant, as it is the only version I’ve found documented in Sears catalog, appearing in Winter 1968 and Spring 1970. Given that the two references are otherwise identical, it’s also possible they were sold concurrently, with case selection driven by availability and market demand rather than a clear generational progression.
Positioned above standard Sears-branded watches, the Tradition line typically featured robust all-stainless-steel cases, Swiss automatic movements—such as the A. Schild 1903 family, also used by brands including Blancpain, Waltham, and Aquastar—as well as Valjoux 7733/34 movements for their sports chronographs, shared with respected makers like Heuer, Hamilton, and Zodiac. These watches offered an accessible entry point into the diver and chronograph markets without sacrificing quality
Want to revisit the Sears Catalogs. Visit: https://christmas.musetechnical.com/
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