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Thread: Retro but authentic dive watch manufacturers?

  1. #1

    Retro but authentic dive watch manufacturers?

    Inspired by the looks of the 1000m Ollech and Wajs vintage style divers watch I’ve been hunting around to see what other equally legitimate examples are out there?
    I have a Doxa Sharkhunter and CWC diver which tick the authentic, legitimate retro diver box and other examples would be Squale, Zodiac Sea Wolf, various Seiko’s and Certina.
    What other examples are out there?

  2. #2
    Oris 65 divers with funky numerals.

  3. #3
    Master Christian's Avatar
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    I've been looking for a 1950s/1960s inspired retro dive watch lately but have been struggling getting one that ticks all the boxes. Here are a few covering varying price points...

    Rado Captain Cook
    Oris Diver 65 (as stated above with the funky arabics)
    Certina PH200m or PH500
    Longines Legend Diver / Skin Diver
    Omega Seamaster 300 (trilogy version is the closest remake to the 1950s model)
    Last edited by Christian; 9th May 2021 at 21:22.

  4. #4
    Master
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    Well the Certina PH200 and PH500 are certainly fine examples. I currently wear the PH500 and think it’s excellent
    Longine have produced legend divers which reflect historical issued watches. I think there 67’ Diver with the red rotating bezel was very nice.
    Maybe the ultimate retro watch is the Watchco SM300

  5. #5
    Master Christian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mark lowman View Post
    Maybe the ultimate retro watch is the Watchco SM300
    I'd never heard of the Watchco SM300 before...very interesting.

  6. #6
    Master WarrenVrs's Avatar
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    Yema pearl diver or the superman.

  7. #7
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
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    Aquadive for sure. Since Doxa moves to new ownership I feel they have lost their position and Aquadive has taken over (particularly as it is the people who re-established Doxa).

    Also look at the Aquastar Deepstar. That is THE retro diver to get, end of.

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  8. #8
    Master
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    Mido Ocean Star; dates back to ‘59.
    Image1620629297.238908.jpg


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  9. #9
    Master Christian's Avatar
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    ^^^ The name Mido Oceanstar might have been around in ‘59, but that doesn’t say retro diver to me?
    Last edited by Christian; 10th May 2021 at 08:34.

  10. #10
    Master
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    This might..?Image1620632403.320948.jpg
    But this things are very subjective


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  11. #11
    Master
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    Or the Jenny Caribbean


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  12. #12
    Master Yorkshiremadmick's Avatar
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    Retro but authentic dive watch manufacturers?

    Re read
    Last edited by Yorkshiremadmick; 10th May 2021 at 09:10. Reason: I’m dyslexic

  13. #13
    Master
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    Newmark 71.

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  14. #14
    Master
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    As RyanB has already stated Aquadive and Doxa probably the most obvious contenders - Aquadive for me

  15. #15
    Craftsman
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    Retro and authentic to the original design, the Omega Trilogy Seamaster is a strong contender for me.



    Retro with brand heritage it is Certina for me either the PH200 Heritage of probably my fave the PH500.




  16. #16
    Grand Master SimonK's Avatar
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    Triton Subphotique - back in the day (early sixties) more expensive than a Submariner and sold via Spirotechnique. The modern version is pretty faithful, except for a screwdown crown instead of a screw-off crown.





    The original




  17. #17
    Master sweets's Avatar
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    ZRC surely fall into this category too

  18. #18
    Master Christian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SteveDSSD View Post
    Retro and authentic to the original design, the Omega Trilogy Seamaster is a strong contender for me.


    That looks great. There was one on SC recently that I would have bought had I not just got the titanium non-LE SMP300 a few weeks before.

    I saw an original in Burlington Arcade at the weekend. Looked good but battered.

  19. #19
    Grand Master SimonK's Avatar
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    I'm rather fond of my Le Forban Sécurité Mer Malouine. Modern interpretation of a French watch used by the Coast Guard in the seventies.






  20. #20
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Christian View Post
    That looks great. There was one on SC recently that I would have bought had I not just got the titanium non-LE SMP300 a few weeks before.

    I saw an original in Burlington Arcade at the weekend. Looked good but battered.
    That is lovely and would do me nicely - sadly too many ££'s for me so I would plump for a Newmark 71.

  21. #21
    Craftsman Dean Learner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SimonK View Post
    I'm rather fond of my Le Forban Sécurité Mer Malouine.
    I have to say I'm rather find of your Le Forban Sécurité Mer Malouine too. Not seen that before, looks superb especially in the blue. Great size too.

  22. #22
    Master
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    Another name into the pot is Zodiac who have provided some recent retro models
    Best of all Zodiac vintage is still at obtainable prices, and was a player during the initial blossoming of dive watches .
    Though it might not be a great selling point to men. The daintiness of the size and looks are great for smaller wrists or unisex appeal

  23. #23
    Craftsman
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    Alsta's various dive watch incarnations should fit the bill.

  24. #24
    I rather like this shame there isn’t a bracelet option

    Quote Originally Posted by SimonK View Post
    I'm rather fond of my Le Forban Sécurité Mer Malouine. Modern interpretation of a French watch used by the Coast Guard in the seventies.






  25. #25
    Master Christian's Avatar
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    I’m really on the fence at the moment whether to purchase one of these. I would definitely buy one pre-owned but there aren’t many about and I’m not sure I want to commit the AD price for one…


  26. #26
    Journeyman
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    ZRC Grands Fonds is one that springs to mind, as does Alsta, which I believe has been revived.

  27. #27
    Craftsman
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    GO SeaQ is another one.

  28. #28
    Master daveyw's Avatar
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  29. #29
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Christian View Post
    That looks great. There was one on SC recently that I would have bought had I not just got the titanium non-LE SMP300 a few weeks before.

    I saw an original in Burlington Arcade at the weekend. Looked good but battered.
    An original would be awesome, I take that was in the Vintage Omega store right at the end on the left, if you entered from Piccadilly!

  30. #30
    Master Yorkshiremadmick's Avatar
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    Less than £100


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  31. #31
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by SimonK View Post
    I'm rather fond of my Le Forban Sécurité Mer Malouine. Modern interpretation of a French watch used by the Coast Guard in the seventies.
    Now that is lovely. The trouble is that there are so many really nice divers available, it makes deciding on which to get so so difficult.

  32. #32
    Master Christian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SteveDSSD View Post
    An original would be awesome, I take that was in the Vintage Omega store right at the end on the left, if you entered from Piccadilly!
    That's the one! I always have a quick look in there at the vintage Omegas.

  33. #33
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Christian View Post
    I’m really on the fence at the moment whether to purchase one of these. I would definitely buy one pre-owned but there aren’t many about and I’m not sure I want to commit the AD price for one…

    That looks spot-on, but just looked it up and it's 42mm.

    Isn't a significant (missed) aspect of many of these 'reissues' that the originals were probably 36 to 38mm?

  34. #34
    Master Christian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Brauner Hund View Post
    That looks spot-on, but just looked it up and it's 42mm.

    Isn't a significant (missed) aspect of many of these 'reissues' that the originals were probably 36 to 38mm?
    The original was 40mm I believe. I can deal with 42mm, but the lug-to-lug distance is a whopping 52.5mm which means it wears large. I really like the look and the brand though which is why I'm on the fence!

  35. #35
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
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    A second thumbs up for the ZRC Grands Fonds. The quality is superb on the watch - fab bezel

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  36. #36
    Master hhhh's Avatar
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    The Eterna Kontiki and Super Kontiki are superb watches with genuine heritage




  37. #37
    Quote Originally Posted by Brauner Hund View Post

    Isn't a significant (missed) aspect of many of these 'reissues' that the originals were probably 36 to 38mm?
    No.

  38. #38
    Master mycroft's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RAJEN View Post
    No.



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  39. #39
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
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    This landed today. Very understated!

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