Vintage diver, what is the best model and brand for you?

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Aditor

·Sep 21, 2025

In my small collection, the diver selection is fixed on a few models in particular, including the Master 300, which I certainly find to be of almost unquestionable charm, but other models are equally beautiful and in their form absolutely leading at that time and in that market. Give me your opinions as to what Maison and models could be extremely valid and beautiful in the 60's/70's. Houses such as Blancpain, Zenith, Philip Watch, JLC, Seiko, Breitling etc etc, made equally beautiful and captivating models even if less successful give me your opinion or your ranking as to which models you consider the most beautiful and fascinating

 

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Aditor

·Sep 21, 2025

..

 

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Aditor

·Sep 21, 2025

.

 

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Dan S

·Sep 21, 2025

That’s a very nice grouping.

Big thread here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/obscure-and-vintage-dive-watches.20373/

Edited: Sep 21, 2025

 

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dsio

·Sep 21, 2025·Ash @ ΩF

Lovely trio there, I’m actually a big fan of the Longines, it’s the one you see the fewest of and it’s a lovely example

 

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Dan S

·Sep 21, 2025

Here are a couple of photos I have of a black-dial skin diver group, and a non-black-dial professional diver group. Many more where these came from. 🤪

 

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Aditor

·Sep 22, 2025

dsio

Lovely trio there, I’m actually a big fan of the Longines, it’s the one you see the fewest of and it’s a lovely example

thanks!!

 

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Aditor

·Sep 22, 2025

Dan S

Here are a couple of photos I have of a black-dial skin diver group, and a non-black-dial professional diver group. Many more where these came from. 🤪

fantastic!!!

 

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JimJupiter

·Sep 22, 2025

I am missing Enicar in your list, which had a huge success starting in the mid 50s with the EPSA Compressor case, that was used wither every (!!) watch that had Sherpa on the dial.

Nico

 

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Aditor

·Sep 22, 2025

JimJupiter

I am missing Enicar in your list, which had a huge success starting in the mid 50s with the EPSA Compressor case, that was used wither every (!!) watch that had Sherpa on the dial.

Nico

G R E A T S ! ! !

 

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Davidt

·Sep 22, 2025

I think the SM120 is the perfect balance between quality, aesthetics, heritage and value.
I dont know why but there’s something about them that makes me prefer them to the SM300. It’s something to do with their slim profile and no crown guards giving it a ‘big crown’ effect.

 

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Dan S

·Sep 22, 2025

Not necessarily the best example, but the Kontiki Super deserves a mention.

 

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noelekal

·Sep 22, 2025·Home For Wayward Watches

This thread needs a Zodiac Sea Wolf, a really early production example shown here.

 

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Aditor

·Sep 22, 2025

.

 

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calalum

·Sep 22, 2025

UTR

 

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HadgeBadge

·Sep 22, 2025

How can one pick a favourite with so many stunning examples around, but I’ll throw up my SM60 Big Crown as a contender.

I love the Bakelite bezel!

 

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Dan S

·Sep 22, 2025

And let's not forget the Favre Leuba Deep Blue.

 

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Vitezi

·Sep 22, 2025

1958 T-12. The "12" referred to its 12 atmos depth rating.

 

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JimJupiter

·Sep 23, 2025

Vitezi

1958 T-12. The "12" referred to its 12 atmos depth rating.

Never seen this kind of T.12 before. What is written above "Seastar"? Military Submarin? Any story about the watch? Cheers 😀

 

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Vitezi

·Sep 23, 2025

JimJupiter

Never seen this kind of T.12 before. What is written above "Seastar"? Military Submarin? Any story about the watch? Cheers 😀

Yes, Militar and Submarin are also printed on the dial. This specific watch was fished out of the markets in South America, where (to my understanding) Tissot's Militar model line was popular in the 1940s and 50s, and so that name was often added to Tissot's dials. "Submarin" describes the watch's underwater attribute.

For a brief time in 1955, Tissot also had a Submarine model, as a precursor to the T.12:

The company also produced the Seastar, beginning in 1953, as its original scuba diver/skindiver/water sports model. Here are all three models, from the late 1950s: