Why This Watch Matters One of our favorite designs, this classic 1960s Skin Diver by Alpha and shows the utilitarian nature of vintage watches. The Full Story The first commercial diving watches hit the market in the 1950s. These models were focused on the professional diver and many times said so right on the dial. As professional divers made it mainstream in the 1960s, such as Jacques Cousteau, recreational diving became a cultural fad. Think of it like yoga or CrossFit today, but instead of a mat or kettlebell, you needed a mask and a wristwatch to get in on the trend. Skin divers, manufactured by a handful of brands including Alpha, aimed to serve this end of the market and had great success doing so. While the Alpha brand name has been co-opted through acquisition to create "homages" of well-known designs from larger brands, back in the day, this was a brand trying to make it of their own volition. Look no further than this skin diver. Yes, the case and movement were used by a group of manufacturers including Wittnauer, but the dial design here is differentiated with large, arrowhead-shaped, and lume-filled hour markers as well as broad arrow-style and lollipop hands. The gloss finish on the dial really pops, especially when found in killer condition like the one we have here. We paired this Alpha with our calfskin watch strap in honey gold to match the outstanding patina to the lume. The look is classy and noticeably vintage from across the room. The Fine Print Maker: AlphaModel: Skin DiverReference: N/AYear: 1960sCase No: 698601Material: Stainless steelDimensions: 36mm diameter; 12.5mm thickness Crystal: PlexiglassLume: Yes, tritiumCaliber: Felsa, self-winding, caliber 4007NBracelet/Strap: HODINKEE Honey Gold Calfskin Watch StrapLug Width: 19mmBox/Papers: No What We Love And What You Should Know Things We Love: - Classic Skin Diver look and feel- Interesting hour markers and handset- Glossy black dial Things To Know: - Light scratches on case- Slight patina to dial surface This Skin Diver is in overall excellent and honest condition. The case is strong and shows some scratches. The reverse side of the lugs have scratches from strap placement and removal. The engraving on the caseback is clearly visible. There is a personal engraving from a previous owner on the caseback reading "ART." The numbers and text on the caseback are clearly visible. The dial is in great condition and has retained a gorgeous glossy black finish. The dial has some patina and small spots throughout, but they are hard to notice. There is some patina around the hour markers. The lume on the handset and dial has all aged to a matching creamy patina. The lume in the minute hand has a bit of patina around the edge of the lume. The bezel is in good condition retaining its lume pip at 12 o'clock and with sharp notches on the edge. The edge of the bezel has some scratches and light nicks. Some of the black paint in the bezel numerals has been lost over the years. The crown is unsigned and of the correct shape for this case and era. The dial is signed by Alpha. This watch was photographed on a 175mm/6.9inch wrist.
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