1970s Swiss Emperor Smoke Dial Automatic 38mm Skin Diver
Ref: N/A
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and, therefore, comes with no original Swiss Emperor box or paperwork. It is paired with a vintage 20mm Tropic rubber strap and pin buckle. The watch is from the Circa 1970s and is sold in worn, vintage condition, with signs of wear and age throughout. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14_vKlP6vMaJelGTlhKjPrG6N90ULfGP_?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 11:41 - https://youtu.be/VIM-XjJsjko
The Watch
Here is a classic 1970s Swiss Emperor Smoke Dial Automatic Skin Diver with a 38mm satin-brushed and polished tonneau-shaped stainless steel case that comfortably sits on your wrist with flat-ended lugs, and the curved flanks lead to a lug-to-lug length of 47mm and a case thickness of 13mm. On the right side is a large coin-edged crown. The polished stainless steel bezel has coin-edge knurling for grip and an attractive “Ghost” aluminium 60-minute scale and Tritium pip at 12 o’clock. A domed crystal sits above the attractive sunburst smoked grey dial with an outer minute track with applied baton indexes filled with Tritium marks the hours, at 3 o’clock, a date window complete with a useful internal Cyclops magnification. Steel baton hands filled with Tritium are complemented by a tapered second hand; at 12 o’clock, we have the Swiss Emperor motif “25 Jewels” printed underneath, and at 6 o’clock “, Automatic Incabloc 20 ATM” completes this sporty vintage timepiece. On the reverse, a screw-down case back engraved with the details of the watch, inside an automatic AS 1902/03, 25 jewels, beating at a respectable 21,600 beats per hour. It comes paired with a vintage 20mm Tropic rubber strap and pin buckle.
Personal Note
I have sold many vintage skin divers over the years and this has to be one of the best-preserved examples I have had in stock, the dial and bezel are extraordinary and it begs to be seen in the metal. The case is in unpolished condition and it comes with a vintage tropic rubber strap to match, it doesn't get much better than this. If you are in the market for a beautiful vintage dive watch, look no further, you have found it!
The Brand
The brand "Swiss Emperor" was first officially registered in Switzerland by "Kenroy Trading, Gough et Cie" in January 1959. Kenroy Trading, founded in Neuchâtel by British nationals Kenneth Roy Gough and Jolan-Maria Ellis in September 1945, was primarily engaged in the import and export business. The company's diverse interests included a range of products from electrical equipment like Hi-Fi, radio, and TV to watches. In September 1965, Kenroy Trading transferred the ownership of the Swiss Emperor name to E. Gunzinger & Cie, another company based in Neuchâtel. However, E. Gunzinger & Cie ceased its operations in October 1983. In the UK, the Swiss Emperor brand was under the ownership of Littlewoods, a well-known mail-order company headquartered in Liverpool. From 1962 to the 1980s, Swiss Emperor watches were prominently showcased in Littlewoods catalogues.