NIVADA GRENCHEN Depthmaster 1000 PAC-MAN [prototypes]

Ever feel like you’re being chased by ghosts while you’re trapped in maze, and all you have to eat are these small white dots and the occasional cherry? 

Then you probably need to get out more, but it’s gonna be okay cos’ help is on the way – well, it’s almost here. 

What we have here are the first glamour shots of Nivada Grenchen’s eagerly anticipated Depthmaster 1000 in its hottest form – Pac-Man! 

Btw more traditional dial variants will release alongside this as part of the Depthmaster 1000 collection.

Fyi (just in case you live in cave) this isn’t an officially licensed Pac-Man watch (hopefully you knew that); in fact it has pretty much sod all to do with the iconic 80s arcade character of the same name but – 

watch geeks being who they are (geeks) affectionately nicknamed it such because parallels were drawn between the watch’s quirky indexes which are in fact art-deco inspired and the cherry chomping, pizza-shaped dude we all know and love.

NG have just received their final Depthmaster 1000 proto-types, and they are very pleased. This means that production will go ahead soon (Feb 2021). 

This means we might have one of these little guys on our wrists just in time for the summer (June 2021). 

Here are the final specifications: the case will be in brushed Stainless steel measuring 39mm in diameter with a lug-to-lug measurement of 47mm and a height of 13mm.

Diver’s features include: a domed sapphire crystal, unidirectional diver’s bezel with a red 15-min scale, an automatic HEV (9 o’clock) and 1’000 meters of water-resistance. 

Powering the Nivada Grenchen Depthmaster collection will be a Swiss made Sellita SW200 automatic movement. The Depthmasters will be offered with either retro or modern lume colors. 

They will be optioned with several straps that will include the black Tropic and leather ones shown. MSRP will 1’000USD.

Thoughts? As much I ’ve been absolutely loving all the vintage diving chronographs such as NG’s Chronomaster Aviator SEA DIVER, Aquastar’s DEEPSTAR and the upcoming NAVICHRON from Ollech & Wajs – it’s tool divers that really speak to me. 

There is no official word yet on an Aquatar Benthos re-issue as the Deepstar is still a relatively new release but one should be on the cards in the next year or so. 

Until that day, this is going be the must-have historic tool-diver re-issue. What do you think?

 

LeJOUR Heritage Model

LeJOUR embrace the World’s architectural heritage as well as their own with this new artdeco inspired model which comes right of the left field. While this new Heritage model is named as such; I don’t believe it is based on any one particular model form LeJOUR’s highly eclectic historic portfolio. If like me you have taken the opportunity to even vaguely research LeJOUR’s past models, you’ll discover more than a couple of old school oddities. The closest thing I found was the Jourvac – but if you really want to find something more comparable to this new offering, Vacheron Constantin’s Historiques American 1921 might be closest. You can pick up one of those Vachers in platinum for around 36’000USD or you could get this Swiss made beauty with its 42mm in diameter case in Stainless steel for just 800USD! This WIS among will no doubt be familiar with a cushion case but unless you’re au fait with more unusual non-divers, you’ve probably never come a crown placement like this before. Placed between 1 an d 2 o’clock at the top right hand corner of the case is a cabochon-style crown which is fluted, polished and topped with a black gemstone. The watch dial which is offered in 5 sunburst colors that includes champagne has been appointed with polished appliqué Arabic numerals, a white railway-track for the mins and a set of polished cathedral-style hands – an apt choice given the Heritage model’s specially engraved case-back design which features a beautiful depiction of Notre Dame Cathedral. The Heritage model gets two further vintage features: a scratch resistant domed, Sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating and a Stainless steel mesh bracelet integrated with a quick release system.

The new LeJOUR Heritage model is powered the time-tested 26 Jewel, Swiss Made Sellita SW200 Automatic movement. Water-resistance btw is 50m. 

MSRP as mentioned above is 800USD. 

DEEP BLUE Master 1000 Vintage ARROW

Deep Blue is on a retro roll – here’s another vintage inspired diver from the NY, USA based dive watch specialists. 

Introducing the Master 1000 Vintage Arrow collection taking its name from its prominent arrow-head hours hand.

In addition to the striking handset, the watch’s enamel dial is punctuated by three oversized triangular markers which imo gives the watch a really cool retro look. Measuring 44mm in diameter and a height of 15mm, the Master 1000 Vintage Arrow’s case is in Stainless steel. It is water-resistant to 300m meters (1’000ft). The case is equipped with a Sapphire crystal, a unidirectional diver’s bezel as well as a manual Helium Release Valve. This is a Deep Blue so in addition to the dial, hand indexes colors on offer, there are also several colored lumed ceramic diver’s bezels on offer.

Power comes from a Japanese made Seiko NH 35 automatic movement which can be viewed through the watch’s exhibition case-back.

 

DEEP BLUE Alpha Marine 500

There are some lovely vintage touches on this new diver from Deep Blue Watches. 

This is the new Alpha Marine 500, a 500 meter water-resistant diver powered by a trusted Japanese auto.

Measuring 44mm in diameter with a lug-to-lug measurement of 52mm and a height of 15mm, the Alpha Marine 500’s case is in Stainless steel. The case is equipped with a Sapphire crystal, a unidirectional diver’s bezel as well as an automatic Helium Escape Valve. The dial which comes in a slew of color combos is fitted with striking handset that includes: a sword for mins, a harpoon for hours and arrow seconds pointer. The dial has features some rather nice vintage script with the watch’s name “Alpha Marine 500” while a small date aperture can found at 3 o’clock. This is a Deep Blue so in addition to the dial, hand indexes colors on offer, there are also several colored lumed ceramic diver’s bezels on offer.

Power comes from a Japanese made Miyota 9015 automatic movement which can be view through the watch’s exhibition case-back. 

 

EDOX North Sea 1978 Automatic Historical SPECIAL EDITION

Nicknamed the watch of The Inverse Moon Landing, this is Edox’s second North Sea collection watch, the North Sea 1978 which joins the 1967. While the moon landings that spanned from 1961 to 1972 attracted the world’s attention, an equally daring landing of a different kind took place deep underwater. In 1978 the North Sea divers entered the record books with a 320 meter deep dive into the icy waters of the Skånevik Fjord off the Norwegian coast. The accomplishment was nicknamed The Inverse Moon Landing and was the deepest dive ever performed in the North Sea. These deep sea pioneers of SCUBA diving contributed to the discovery of huge oil riches reserves once again paving the way for Norway to invest in even more social and environmentally friendly projects. The North Sea 1978 Special Edition from Swiss watchmaker Edox, pays homage to this exceptional historic achievement with a brand new and exclusive watch. Just like its 1967 bronze, sibling the North Sea 1978 is also water-resistant to 320 meters paying tribute to the epic dive of the same depth made in 1978. The watch’s 43mm in diameter case is made from Stainless steel which has been coated in black Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC). Housed safely in the case is the Caliber 80 automatic movement which is based on a Sellita SW200. Meanwhile the watch’s hands and indices have been coated with Superluminova for enhanced visibility at night or in the depths of the North Sea. The watch’s case-back features the North Sea Divers’ official logo – a stylised dive helmet in addition to the words, The Inverse Moon Landing. The watch comes in a waterproof travel-case and comes with two straps – one exclusive dark brown leather strap and one black custom made nylon strap that you can use in water. The watch comes in two series. The official series goes by the name Edox North Sea 1978 Collection. But since Swiss Time owns the rights to the North Sea brand and is behind the design of the watches, a separate series is produced in only 70 pieces for the Norwegian market – the North Sea 1978 Collection. This series of 70 pieces is sold exclusively from swisstime.no – this unique watch is not sold anywhere else in the world. The North Sea brand is owned by Swiss Time AS in all EU countries, Norway and Switzerland for the past 13 years. Btw both Bremont and Steinhart have produced watch models named North Sea, which Swiss Time AS disputes the legality of. Swiss Time AS maintains that only they are entitled to the brand North Sea, and only Edox has been licensed to produce the Edox North Sea Collection.

Legal action is being taken by Swiss Time AS and Edox to stop the above mentioned watches. 

EDOX North Sea 1967 Automatic Historical LIMITED EDITION

Imagine working from 70 to more than 300 meters down in the frigid, pitch-black waters of the North Sea. Brrr! It’s an unforgiving environment and one in which the pioneers of the offshore commercial diving world working in the North Sea oil industry had to brave daily. The earliest oil discovery made on the Norwegian continental shelf was Balder in the North Sea in 1967. Huge oil reserves were discovered beneath the North Sea paving the way for Norway to invest in social and environmentally friendly projects that still benefit Norwegians today. The North Sea 1967 Limited Edition watch from Swiss watchmaker Edox, marks this historic achievement with an exclusive bronze diver’s watch produced in two series. A good a place as any to start for a watch like the North Sea 1967 Historical LE is its water-resistance which is good down to 320 meters. Meanwhile its 43mm in diameter case is made of solid bronze and its case-back is in polished Stainless steel to reduce any skin irritation caused by bronze. Housed safely in the case is the Caliber 80 automatic movement which is based on a Sellita SW200. The individually numbered case-back features a stylized diver’s helmet, which is the official logo of the North Sea Divers. A key feature of any working diver’s watch is its lume – so the hands and indices of the North Sea 1967 LE have been duly coated with Swiss SLN for enhanced visibility even at the bottom of the North Sea. The watch comes in a waterproof travel-case along with two additional straps; one exclusive dark brown leather strap and second black custom made nylon strap that can be worn in water. The North Sea 1967 comes in two series. The official series goes by the name Edox North Sea 1967 Collection and is available in only 320 pieces worldwide. But since Swiss Time owns the rights to the North Sea brand and is behind the design of the watches, a separate series is produced in only 30 pieces – the North Sea 1967 Collection. This series of 30 pieces is sold exclusively from swisstime.no – this unique watch is not sold anywhere else in the world - just 30 pieces are available. The North Sea brand is owned by Swiss Time AS in all EU countries, Norway and Switzerland for the past 13 years. Btw both Bremont and Steinhart have produced watch models named North Sea, which Swiss Time AS disputes the legality of.

Swiss Time AS maintains that only they are entitled to the brand North Sea, and only Edox has been licensed to produce the Edox North Sea Collection. 

Legal action is being taken by Swiss Time AS and Edox to stop the above mentioned watches!