AQUADIVE's NOS Model 77

This just in from AQUADIVE -
AQUADIVE is proud to be the only watch company in the world today to offer an updated NOS version of their vintage iconic timepieces. The soon to be released AQUADIVE NOS Model 77 (December 2012), is based on the iconic 70's design and model, the 1977 AQUADIVE MARITIME.

Courtesy of Aquadive

The NOS Model 77 is a classic beauty, housed in a genuine NOS vintage case with a unique 70's Swiss design. Only a limited quantity of these cases are still available in our inventory. The NOS Model 77 case is all original with beautiful stainless steel suburst finish and extremely durable PVD coating on the lower part of the case. In the 70's, AQUADIVE would be one of very few companies who applied a layer of copper alloy to the case to make the PVD coating extremely durable. The original unidirectional rotating bezel has a black aluminum insert and operates on a very precise and solid 60 click mechanism. The model 77 case measures 41mm wide - excluding crown - by 48mm long, and has 22mm lugs.

Courtesy of AQUADIVE

The NOS Model 77 is supplied on a specially designed NATO or rubber dive strap. The case, bezel, case back, and Anton Schild automatic movement are vintage genuine NOS parts originally manufactured in the mid 70's in Switzerland. The crystal, gaskets, galvanized dial, hands, and ETA movements are all new Swiss made parts. The new 5mm thick crystal and gasket insure much higher depth rating than the original. So the NOS Model 77 case is now depth rated beyond 200m/660ft. An HRV was also added at 2'clock to insure that the model 77 can also be used by professional divers.

Courtesy of AQUADIVE

The modern black dial is a two piece galvanized and all Swiss made construction. The hands are a 100% reproduction of the original hands found in the vintage automatic version. The NOS self-winding 21 Jewel Anton Schild movements are regulated to 20 seconds a day, due to age and features of this particular movement. They have all been disassembled, oiled, cleaned, and serviced by our master watchmaker. They are the movements that were originally used in this case back in the mid to late 70's. The vintage date wheels in the Anton Schild movement are white with red digits. Back in the 70's, it was a common feature for date wheels in terms of legibility. So to stay true to the vintage heritage of this model, AQUADIVE did not switch the date wheels over to modern black versions on these vintage movements. With the modern ETA 2836 Elabore movements, the date wheel is black.

The Model 77 was first developed in the early 70's, and is entirely constructed and manufactured in Switzerland. The case was originally designed to accommodate a mechanical three hand, or chronograph, automatic movement; hence the thickness of the case back. In preparation for the digital revolution, it was later adapted and offered with a US developed LED module from the mid 70's until the early 80's. The LED module displayed hours, minutes, seconds, month, and date. Only a limited amount of this model were ever produced with the automatic movements. And very few used examples of this model - in either form - even exist today. And that makes them highly coveted by dive watch collectors around the world. When first manufactured, the case was depth rated to 20ATM.


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