History of - The Military Diver’s Watch

Mitch Buchannon

Here is a link to a very interesting article on the history of the Military Divers Watch.

Enjoy.

http://www.timezone.com/2012/07/07/the-military-divers-watch-a-revisionist-view-by-james-dowling/

Wibbs

Good article. Love the steampunk Longines. I'm surprised he left out the US BUSHIPs models of the mid to late 40's made by a couple of companies, Elgin foremost among them.

Military spec'd and issued pure divers watches much earlier than the mil spec Rolexes*(save for the Panerai custom jobs with "rolex" movements). They're not popular today because they're Effin Tiny(tm)(horology term).

Going waaaay back the earliest wristwatch specific waterproof case, the Depollier case of the mid teens, used by a couple of companies to house movements and aimed at the military and explorers(Years back I did see one on a forum that had US army markings so may have been bought by some units);

One of my "grails" that one. Go for mad money sadly. Screwback and front, lockdown crown over a decade before the Rolex Oyster patent. Coated in black to cut down reflections, with radium dials for low light conditions. They even had a plate of solid gold in the back in order to shield the watch movement and oil from bodyheat(which at that stage they considered injurious to movements).

If any of ye have one of them in a drawer somewhere I will have your babies/sign over my will/give you a kidney.


*the author of that article has some gorgeous watches. Never read a boring article by the chap I have to say. Serious Rolex buff and historian. He has the horn for Rollies the way I have for Longines and early trench watches" I'm surprised the other makes got a look in

Miklos

Great read, thanks for the link!