Which Vintage Reissued Skin Diver?
Im looking at a second skindiver watch in the smaller size. So we have had in the last couple of months and as recently in the last week vintaged reissue of skindiver watches launched by
Nivada - Antarctic Diver @ 38mm with Soprod P024 (eta 2824 clone) US$900 exclusive of taxes.
Vulcain - Skin Diver @ 38mm with ETA 2824 US$1644
Aquastar Model 60 @ 37mm with a a fantastic spec LA JOUX PERRET G100 calibre $US$990 excluding taxes online launch price.Then to US$1200 after initial run!
I love all three watches given their sizes and the design eras that these watches come from . I am very familiar with the brands.
I have a Nivada Super Antarctic @ 38mm with Soprod P024 its a great watch well made with a sturdy calibre. Though I find this Nevada skindiver has a rather busy face/dial. If anything I would rather pick up their Chrono.
https://nivadagrenchenofficial.com/products/antarctic-diver
The Vulcain another great historical brand. Love the design of this diver, a cleaner dial/face (in Black, Blue or Salmon simply stunning) which comes across as being more versatile eg to wear for fun in a sun/water or under a shirt cuff at the office (with more rounded lugs)- and has a work horse ETA 2824 movement you can fix anywhere in the world through a good watch maker. Overall a great watch from one of our more niche brands. Even though it is pricey I do love the aesthetics of this watch and with 20mm lug band options are endless.
https://vulcain.ch/collections/nautique-diver/products/vulcain-diver-black
Lastly the Aquastar - I currently wear their DeepStar 2 (so why would the Nivada Diver busy face worry me). So the Model 60 (first launched in 1957) size specs is exactly the same size as the Deepstar 2 - so I know how this watch wears. The model 60 dial I find very clean even with the date window @ 3 with out magnifier the watch face looks balance. I love the design of the watch, its architecture is of the 1950s which was the period of brutalism architecture back then. So its design is distinctive that it is a diver watch. I am certainly taken by the Calibre in this watch very impressed by the specifications with a 68 hour power reserve. The Beads of Rice bracelet u can get with this watch is probably one of the best out there in th emarket place
https://aquastar.ch/aquastar-model-60/
So at the moment im leaning between the Vulcain and Aquastar - but still to make up mind at the moment.
What are others thoughts on what they might select?
Curator of "Watch The Time" a Flipboard Magazine
For you, the Vulcain would be the logical choice as it'd be a new marque for your collection.
Personally I like the Nivada looks the most (but dislike the date) . I love a retro diver myself, my favourite is my Seamaster 300 (2014) - I guess that's a little too mainstream for your tastes.
Any of the above would be very cool 😉 👍🏻
For you, the Vulcain would be the logical choice as it'd be a new marque for your collection.
Personally I like the Nivada looks the most (but dislike the date) . I love a retro diver myself, my favourite is my Seamaster 300 (2014) - I guess that's a little too mainstream for your tastes.
Any of the above would be very cool 😉 👍🏻
Good point on the Vulcain plus has shorter lugs 44mm (I have 6.5 inch wrist) compared to the Aquastar @ 47mm - but I do love the unobtrusive date window on the Aquastar - even after a year of wearing no date watches I still often look at them to check the date! Dont mind the seamster 300 but just too big even the 39mm doesn't sit right! But your right a bit too main stream!
Good point on the Vulcain plus has shorter lugs 44mm (I have 6.5 inch wrist) compared to the Aquastar @ 47mm - but I do love the unobtrusive date window on the Aquastar - even after a year of wearing no date watches I still often look at them to check the date! Dont mind the seamster 300 but just too big even the 39mm doesn't sit right! But your right a bit too main stream!
Just been looking at the Deepstar 2 you've got. That's blummin'gorgeous!! Very tempting 😍
I've 7.25" wrist and 53 year old eyes to give you some context.
Cheers mate 🍻
Just been looking at the Deepstar 2 you've got. That's blummin'gorgeous!! Very tempting 😍
I've 7.25" wrist and 53 year old eyes to give you some context.
Cheers mate 🍻
Same here 52 yr old eyes with glasses. My Deepstar is the grey dial but the blue is fantastic and green chrono (comes in at 39mm) oh man.
Out of the three, I would probably go for the Vulcain, but in reality I will probably end up buying the new 37mm San Martin Skin Diver...
Out of the three, I would probably go for the Vulcain, but in reality I will probably end up buying the new 37mm San Martin Skin Diver...
Another vote for the Vulcain - though the San Martin is a solid watch too!
Out of the three, I would probably go for the Vulcain, but in reality I will probably end up buying the new 37mm San Martin Skin Diver...
Would that be the SN004G?
Another vote for the Vulcain,but I'd put it on a black NATO or rubber strap
Another vote for the Vulcain,but I'd put it on a black NATO or rubber strap
totally agree a tropic strap or Artem sailcloth strap
https://artemstraps.com
These guys so far are the only guys I know that make a shorter tropic strap
115mm x 75mm
https://www.rubstrap.com
The Vulcain Skindiver in Salmon Dial!
totally agree a tropic strap or Artem sailcloth strap
https://artemstraps.com
These guys so far are the only guys I know that make a shorter tropic strap
115mm x 75mm
https://www.rubstrap.com
Meraud. Though only the blue is currently in stock
112mm ⨉ 73mm
https://meraud-watches.com/en-us/collections/meraud-tropic-strap
I don't think the vulcain can be justified at that price, especially when you'll be paying a couple hundred (?) in important duties on top of that. The design is fairly bland in my eyes, the movement is the same as the sellita 200 (found in watches a third the price) and if the finishing is similar to nivada (same owners, presumably the same level of quality) then it's not worth it. I don't know if that's very helpful but just my two cents.
I think the Vulcain is the best looking of the group, but the price…
For some reason, I always want a modern Vulcain until I see the price.
I don't think the vulcain can be justified at that price, especially when you'll be paying a couple hundred (?) in important duties on top of that. The design is fairly bland in my eyes, the movement is the same as the sellita 200 (found in watches a third the price) and if the finishing is similar to nivada (same owners, presumably the same level of quality) then it's not worth it. I don't know if that's very helpful but just my two cents.
I have no issue on the design it is essentially a reissue - but I get you on the price does an eta 2824 equate to a significantly higher price than a sw200 - but when you compare these calibres as to what's in the Aquastar Model 60 - they appear substantially inferior IMHO! As for finishing im sort of expecting a higher grade on this - its appeal that way from reviews.
Honestly? I'd give the YEMA Pearl Diver a look.
It's not a straight reissue, but it's heavily influenced by their 1970s Navygraf II model.
https://en.yema.com/products/yema-pearldiver-ycl1-mr
$800, 38mm, in-house movement, heritage. A sexy watch in anyone's language, I think.
And although not promoted as a limited edition, I note that they're down to the last 83 watches, and I wonder whether it will be like other YEMA models that go out of production, seemingly for good, like my bronze/burgundy Superman which sold out some time back and doesn't seem to be coming back.
Would that be the SN004G?
Nope, that would be the SN0007X-1.
That Vulcain is gorgeous....
Nice choice of three…
If you would like a curveball: Woolbrook, and the Douglas are nice classic references, but any of the three you have would be a cracking watch. Vulcain on looks.
out of the three I think the Vulcan is where its at. Buuuut I would go for a Oris divers sixty-five for a vintage skin-diver.
What is a skin diver? How is it different from a regular diver?
What is a skin diver? How is it different from a regular diver?
Here is a good article to read - I always felt a skindiver was a watch your effectively wore on the wrist on the skin (snorkling or shadow scuba dividing" as apposed to over a wetsuit - but that's my interpretation
https://wornandwound.com/love-skin-youre-lightweight-skin-diver/
"At the far end of the spectrum from the professionals, however, are the lightweights. Skin divers, as they’re sometimes called or branded, tend to be a bit smaller, slimmer, and oftentimes a bit less water resistant (generally 100 to 200 meters) but offer a dressier, more refined approach. (Some watches marked “Skin Diver” or “Skindiver” on the dial featured higher water-resistance ratings and even helium-release valves, so this isn’t a hard rule.)"
Nice choice of three…
If you would like a curveball: Woolbrook, and the Douglas are nice classic references, but any of the three you have would be a cracking watch. Vulcain on looks.
Yeah could be an alternative though at 40mm if it doesn't wear at a true 40mm then it won't work - but damn do Wolbrook/Douglas have a great range of rubber tropic straps!
Yeah could be an alternative though at 40mm if it doesn't wear at a true 40mm then it won't work - but damn do Wolbrook/Douglas have a great range of rubber tropic straps!
Hence the curveball… I am nothing if not unhelpful
Hence the curveball… I am nothing if not unhelpful
Still great watches Holbrook/Douglas - if someone was offering to give me a Holbrook wouldn't knock it back - I think they are tough durable watches.
Same here 52 yr old eyes with glasses. My Deepstar is the grey dial but the blue is fantastic and green chrono (comes in at 39mm) oh man.
Just gorgeous 😍
I love the steel bezel if the Aquastar, I think that’s my favorite.
I think you're the first to like the Aquastar which I think has an even cleaner dial than the vulcain and fantastic calibre . But then again the Vulcain doe shave good brand recognition and is a stunning watch in its own right.
I think you're the first to like the Aquastar which I think has an even cleaner dial than the vulcain and fantastic calibre . But then again the Vulcain doe shave good brand recognition and is a stunning watch in its own right.
I love a steel bezel on a diver!
I love a steel bezel on a diver!
same here - sometimes it just the simple things that just works - no ceramic no nothing - just cold hard steel.
I can see why you’d have trouble btw the Aquastar and Vulcain.
Personally I’d pick the Vulcain (because I don’t feel I can pull off the look of the Aquastar), but if you like them equally aesthetically, the Aquastar is better value of movement and has a bracelet option.
I can see why you’d have trouble btw the Aquastar and Vulcain.
Personally I’d pick the Vulcain (because I don’t feel I can pull off the look of the Aquastar), but if you like them equally aesthetically, the Aquastar is better value of movement and has a bracelet option.
It certainly not easy. I do currently wear a Aquastar Deepstar 2 - which is the exact same size as the Model 60. I have skinny wrist and barely make it to a 6.5inch wrist. But you might be surprised you could pull it off. Anyway a shot of my Deepstar 2 . And that movement they have is stunning - I might end up getting both!