A recent post got me thinking about why a lot of us enjoy vintage dive watches, even if we are not taking them deep. I definitely don't wear any of my vintage watches when I dive, but love wearing them for most daily uses. Here are a few that I have seen that I like (wearing the Enicar today) . I know that a lot of you guys have some great ones as well.
For me it's because they are simple and timeless designs. I know many people think that about the speedmaster but diver watches are almost bauhaus in their functional design, no more and no less than is needed to get the job done. I only have an omega banana but would like to buy several more in the future.
Can't seem to get this one off the wrist. The simplicity is definitely one aspect, but the wabi of the wear and aura of adventure. It makes me think of this inspiring quora post every time it's on the wrist: http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2014/02/26/what_does_it_feel_like_to_be_old.html This is a watch Stan Hayward would wear.
I agree in their appeal for their rugged simplicity. I was looking for a cheap diver to beat up when camping and desk diving and this one had a lot going for it in my eyes. Great size at 37mm, no crown guards, matte explorer dial, aged tritium, dauphine hands, etc., and it was cheap to boot. A very humble example compared to others in this thread but same premise.
Not so long ago I didn't own any vintage dive watches. Then, and luckily before the market really took off, I began to accumulate some. Now they occupy a fairly significant subset of my larger collection. Though I have owned some rare and valuable ones, I still enjoy finding those that are a bit under the radar screen, and reasonably affordable. Here are a few examples:
for whatever reason I have always been drawn to the classic dive watches...not because I dive, but just love the designs. A few of mine.
I do not own any vintage dive watches, yet. But for me it is about the glamour of scuba diving during its golden age. The watches were simple and had two functions: stay waterproof and bezel rotation. On my wanted list is a vintage SM300 or Mini PloProf or Submariner.
Dive watches from the 50's to mid 60's have great appeal to me mostly because their sole purpose was to be a tool under water. You would wear a dress watch to dinner and put your dive instruments in a case. James Bond made the dive watch sexy in a tuxedo. An explosion of average watches started in the late '60s to accommodate this fad that continues today.............of course I love the looks of just about all of them
Some superb divers posted - just fantastic. Not in the league of some of those but a couple of clean examples circa '80, a 6309 and Scubapro 500.
I did not realize I had a collection of divers watches until quite recently. I thought I collected connies, polerouters and turtle Zeniths. Somewhere along the way I sort of happened to pick up some hefty steel...also... Here is a Sinn GSG9 - once mine but now my brothers. Not really vintage but you know... Used to have these: And the super rare French version, made in Sweden - "Super Bleu". And a 5513 I would rather forget - hence no picture...
That was a nice parade Speaking of the prodigal 5513, what happened to that 16753 with shot dial that you picked up in a boat yard? Love that story @styggpyggeno1 I know it's not a diver, but with a marine connection at least