Vintage: Diver Aqualung watch

This is a watch I have never before seen in my life. I actually have never heard of it. But when I saw it for the first time, I was impressed by its history, and by the looks. Unique looks. And unique history. So I asked Jerome if he would mind to write a contribution about this rare bird, and he agreed. I hope you will enjoy this as much as I do.

The simple diver “U.S Divers CO” says “aqualung” is more expensive than a Blancpain ?

Good question for this « small » diver who has such a complex name: « US diver CO », « Aqua-lung », « Orator », « Date-O-Matic »…

This divers watch was particularly proposed in the US Diver catalogue with other diving items and other watches. The products were named « Aqua-lung » and the symbol of the brand was a scuba tank : A very “sexy” logo if you look at it !!!

You can see in this 1965 Catalogue about the « aqua-lung » that there are differents items about diving and watches.

Complex name ? We are talking about a watch with différent names like “Orator” or “Date-O-Matic” or misnamed “Aqualung Diver” when you read all of this catalogue:

In fact, « Aqualung » was a brand of “L’Air Liquide” established in 1947 and they have filed this name at the time of the invention of the regulator and diving equipment, and to support the exploration using inventions of Mr. Cousteau and Mr Gagnan.

In fact, the original name was difficult to pronounce in the US market : « Spirotechnique »

“US Divers” was the US subsidiary of Aqualung. This watch was for the US market only and you can see 2 versions : the « Date-O-Matic » and the « Chronomatic »

About the watch itself:

The case is brushed steel, 38mm diameter by 12mm thick with no name or logo on the crown. When you see the case it’s a little « rough », tough and resistant. It is a real professional divers watch.

The bezel is black and easy to turn with pure dive indications : 15/30/45. You can see a crown at 12 and small « diamond » for the other index. A crown you can also find on the dial at 12 ant the date is located at 3.

Two big hands for H/M garantee easy visibility on a glossy dial.

The movement is an “A Schild and Co” and is signed on the oscillating weight. This is an automatic caliber Felsa 4004 (17 jewels).

On the back case, nothing inside but outside you can see the number « 1573/666 ». After research it’s seems to be the reference number of the watch and all the aqualung divers have the « 666 ».

You can find the « 666 » on the back of this other aqualung diver chrono for example.

(Credit Samos OTD.)

Finally, to finish this review, we must answer the question …is it truly worth more than a Blancpain?

Yes !!! if you see the attached catalog with the two divers and for 5 dollars « less » a Blancpain “time o matic” was offered, then you know that it once was more expensive at least back then….40 years later though the price of the vintage is really not the same any more…

Keep the faith

Djayrom

(This contribution is courtesy of Jerome in Paris.)