Here we have a beautiful example of a 1970s skin diver by Swiss Emperor. It has a full stainless-steel case with a ghosted bezel insert and a dark grey sunburst dial. It has a balanced dial with applied baton markers and date window at 3 O’clock. The original crystal has an inset magnifier. The Tritium lume strips have aged to a pumpkin tone. It is very reminiscent of the design of the Blancpain Bathyschape.
To the rear is the screwback with the fish scene engraving. Inside is the AS 1902/03 Automatic movement which has been recently serviced.
The dial is such a joy on this diver. It is a moody dark grey tone which catches the light, radiating with the brushed sunburst finish. The applied baton hour markers are in a silver tone, with the aged Tritium lume strip to the centres. The Tritium has aged to a pumpkin tone, which contrasts beautifully with the shine of the polished finish on the markers. The date window is set at 3 O’clock with the tapered design and silver framing. The minute/second track has simple white dash markers, with white signing ‘Swiss Emperor 25 jewels’ below 12. It is signed above 6 ‘Automatic, Incabloc, 20 ATM’. Either side of 6 O’clock it has the ‘T Swiss Made T’ signing. A simple yet stylish and legible dial.
The original acrylic crystal protects the dial. It has a subtle dome with the date magnifier set within the crystal. The steel bezel surrounds the crystal and has the notched edge with the beautifully ghosted aluminium insert. It has the original lume pip at 12 O’clock which is Tritium.
The case is full stainless steel and measures 38mm x 38mm, with a lug-to-lug measurement of 47mm. This is a well-proportioned diver, which fits the wrist nicely with the classic angular taper of the lugs. Also typical of skin divers, it has the sharp lug cut out which creates a dramatic angular top and bottom. It has a brushed finish to the top of the case, with a polished bevel before the flat brushed sides. The sides have a thin profile, cutting in to meet the case back. This provides symmetry between the raised design of the bezel and crystal and rear, creating a balanced case.
The case back is a screw back, with 6 notches. It has a polished finish with fish scene engraving to the face. It is engraved ‘Stainless Steel, Automatic, Swiss Made, 20ATM Super-Waterproof’. Inside, it has a brushed sunburst finish.
The movement is an AS 1902/03 automatic calibre. It has a jewel count of 25 and operates at a higher beat rate of 21,600 BPH. It is shock protected, with semi quickset date function. It has been recently serviced and is keeping time to within +/- 5 seconds a day.
The watch is presented on an increasingly uncommon genuine period Tropic rubber strap. It is in new old stock condition and completes the look on this excellent vintage skin diver.
The images really speak for themselves on this one, it’s such a balanced and stylish diver, with the right blending of aged aspects and good condition.
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
Dial:
The dial is original and is in very good condition. It has a dark grey sunburst finish. There is no noticeable wear to the finish. The applied hour markers are good, with no obvious marking. The lume strips to the hour markers are Tritium and have aged to a darker tone.
Hands:
The hands are original and in good condition. They are a silver tone which has some scratching. The lume in-fill is original and intact.
Glass:
The acrylic crystal is original and is in good condition. It has the internal date magnifier. It has some light dints with age.
Bezel:
The bezel is original with the aluminium insert. It has a good coin edge finish. The insert is good, with light marking and scratching associated with age. It has a ghosted ageing.
Crown:
The crown is original and is in good condition functioning as it should.
Case:
The case is stainless steel and is in good condition. It has a brushed satin finish to the bezel with polished bevel separating the top and sides. The sides are also brushed and have some light marks. It has one dint to the side of the top left lug. It remains unpolished.
Caseback:
The case back is Stainless Steel and is in very good condition. The engraving is clear, with the watch specifics and the fish design. It has light surface scratching associated with ageing and remains unpolished.
Strap:
The watch comes on a new old stock period Tropic rubber strap.
Movement:
The movement is an AS 1902/03. It is an automatic movement, with a jewel count of 25. It operates at a frequency of 21,600 BPH and has a power reserve of 44 hours. It has KIF shock protection a central second hand and a semi quickset date function.
The movement has been recently serviced. It’s keeping time to within +/- 5 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 310 degrees and a beat error of 0.2m/s.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 38mm
Case width with crown: 41.5mm
Case length: 38mm
Case length lug to lug: 47mm
Case Depth: 13mm
Lug width: 20mm