SHERPA Watches ULTRADIVE & OPS [¿ expensive homage watch brand or benevolent custodians of a sacred name?]

The Sherpa name is a name that is synonymous with Mount Everest and of course Tenzing Norgay AKA Sherpa Tenzing, the Nepali-Indian Sherpa mountaineer; 

who was one of the first two known climbers to successfully summit Mount Everest, which he did with Kiwi, Sir Edmund Hillary on May 29th 1953.

The Sherpa people are a Tibetan ethnic group native to the most mountainous regions of Nepal, Tingri County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and the Himalayas. 

At this point I really need to say; “FREE TIBET! Don’t get me started on the CCP!” 

I digress, the term Sherpa is often used when referring to those extraordinary local guides and climbing supporters hired for mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas.

However this iconic name associated with the World’s highest mountain peak was once the model name of one the most famous compressor diver’s watches from the last century – that name is back! 

A new German high-end, homage brand called Sherpa Watches has launched, and their debut lineup includes a pair of compressor divers based on those once bearing the same name from Enicar S.A.

Enicar is an historic Swiss brand dating back to 1914; back in the day they made some pretty epic watches besides those famous Sherpa compressor models that included the Sherpa Ops, a personal favorite of mine. 

The stunning Graphomatic (as good looking as any Speedy imho), the Sherpa Star Diver just as special as the Doxa ARMY, the quirky Ultrasonic Healthways 100 Fathom with its oversized markers and a segmented seconds hand - all are worthy of our attention but it was the Sherpa compressor models that endured.

Enicar seem to be in a state of dormancy since 2015, we haven't heard much of anything about them recently as they became one of these Sino-Swiss brands with a large portfolio of derivative-style, semi luxury watches. 

They are currently owned by the Hong Kong-based wholesale distributors of jewelry, precious stones and metals, costume jewelry, watches, clocks, and silverware - Wah Ming Hong Limited who were founded in 1967.

The new Sherpa Ultradive and the OPS are based on the Enicar Sherpa OG models, once favorite of pro deep-sea and military divers from a bygone era as well as cult actors like, Alain Delon who wore one of these robust super compressor case models. 

The OG models measured 40mm in diameter, excluding their dual crowns and crown protections guards - with those they measure around 43-44mm.

Both case size and crown protection guards are identical to the OG Sherpa models from 1968, just like the revolutionary water-resistant technology as developed by Ervin Piquerez S.A. (EPSA) – updated to today’s technologies. 

Even the unique bayonet compressor case-back construction, originally named EPSA-STOP, and the re-invented MONOFLEX compressor crowns are present in the new Ultradive and OPS offering a highly authentic functioning Compressor Dive Watch experience.

Sherpa Watches is also planning to bring back other legendary watch models; perhaps like those mentioned above. 

If the Ultradive and Ops models are well received we could eventually see a homage Graphomatic or Sherpa Star Diver resurrected in a similar fashion to these. Scroll down for full specs.

Thoughts? Enicar’s Sherpa Ops and Star Diver models have been favorites of mine for years. 

I have this file on my desktop named ‘treasure’ with images that I’ve scavenged from all the top auctions sites showing all my vintage grails inside; the Sherpa Ops is in there. What can I say I’m a sick man! However I never buy vintage watches because if you don’t know your sh!t inside out it can be a minefield, but I do love a good revival watch as much the next watch geek. 

I'm kinda' smitten by these new Sherpa watches which have been lovingly and faithfully recreated to the very last detail – design, tech, even the Sherpa brand logo recalls the Enicar logo with its use of two circles. There is no denying the watches are breathtakingly stunning and are a perfect modern equivalent of the OG watches and no doubt beautifully made to boot.

But the pricing seems a little askew. Whichever way you cut it, these are homage watches, h o m a g e  w a t c h e s ! If they (Sherpa) had committed to buying the Enicar brand itself, it would have been one thing; perhaps they did try to buy the brand but failed and thought f*ck it, we’ll do it anyway? I dunno’. 

But what I do know is that €5’900 for a homage watch is a tad optimistic and €5’900 for a Sellita SW200-1 (even in Top Grade) from an untried, untested, startup with zero heritage is pretty darn audacious! If they’d thrown a Manufacture movement into the mix like Aquastar did with the DEEPSTAR or a ton of their own diver’s watch innovations like ZRC did with the GF300 when they re-birthed their historic models, there would have been a lot more justification for the pricing. The entire design, all the watch's compressor tech, such as the EPSA-STOP brevet bayonet type compressor case-back, thingamabob – no matter how revered comes straight off the OG model.

It isn't anything new is it? So should it add up to nearly 6'000euros? You tell me. Case in point; look at Christopher Ward’s C65 SUPER COMPRESSOR for comparison or even the Circula SUPERSPORT. But what do you think? Sherpa Ultradive 

360° rotating inner bezel, marked with Super-LumiNova X1 for optimal readability underwater 

EPSA-STOP bayonet compressor case back construction

Top crown to operate the inner bezel 

Full crown protection, to avoid entanglement with seaweed while diving 

Bottom crown to operate the hands and set the date 

Domed crystal that withstands 20 bar of water pressure 

Retail price: €5.900 incl. 19% VAT 16 

 

Sherpa OPS 

Very durable satin black DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coating 

Fully water resistant up to 20 bar (200 m) 

Swiss made Sellita Caliber SW200-1 (Top Grade) automatic watch movement with 38 hrs power reserve 

Sculpted lugs with 20mm band width, ready to fit your favorite watch strap or bracelet 

Tropic style watch strap, made of robust vulcanized rubber 

Retail price: €5.800 incl. 19% VAT