Enicar Sherpa Diver (2 Crown Models)
INTRODUCTION
An earlier article covered the single crown Enicar Sherpa diver models.
In 1964 Enicar announced a new two crown dive watch, and this article moves to the two crown models based on the automatic AR1145 calibre movement.
Two crown Enicar Sherpa diver watches had been rarely seen before. Below is a model with Enicar in Saturn and 4 hands with a rotating bezel, and arrow pointer. This was possibly a GMT watch.
Dr Hans Hass was a well-known researcher who featured in advertising using the single crown Enicar diver models. Since the Divette was their single crown brand, Enicar used the brand Super Divette for the two crown model. And, Dr Hans Hass also featured in the advertising.
The watch below is an Enicar Sherpa diver watch but does not carry the Super Divette model name, rather it has no model name. It appears identical to the illustration in the above advertisement, but the watch has an extra GMT hand as in the model above. The hands are baton-shaped, with broad inverted T lumes at the ends. The outer bezel is identical with that in the advertisement, with a split trapezium at the 60-minute marker, and dot minute markers from 20 to 60. All the 2 crown Sherpa dive watches have supercompressor Seapearl bayonet cases, discussed in an earlier article, and these will not be discussed here.
ENICAR SHERPA SUPER DIVETTE
An early Super Divette model with the divided 60 marker on the bezel is shown below. As in the advertisement above it has lines for the markers from 0 to 20 minutes, and dots for the markers from 20 minutes to 60 minutes. The dial reads 17 JEWELS beneath ENICAR at 12 o’clock. Seapearl oyster caseback, numbered 125/005.
Another early Super Divette model with the divided 60 marker on the bezel is shown below. This model has the markers on the bezel as uniform in height, while the advertisement above has dots for the markers from 20 minutes to 60 minutes.
This is a 33 jewel model, with calibre AR1145, and has automatic under the Enicar logo. The early divided 60 marker models are numbered 125/004 but the more general model number is either 145/003 or 144-35-01. A Sherpa 600 supercompressor case was used on the model below, with a thin second hand.
This model below has a second hand with a lollipop dot. Original bracelet, Serial no. 665137, Case no. 126/002 125/004.
This model also has the split trapezium marker at 60 on the bezel, but this also has uniform markers. Again an automatic 33 jewel model. Seapearl case engraved 126/002 and 125/004 beneath.
The model is 36mm diameter without crowns. The crowns were usually 3mm, but some replace these with 4mm crowns.
The lumes on the baton hands are broad inverted T lumes as in the advertisement above.
The bezel ceased to have the split trapezium at 60 at about this time, and the markers from 0 to 20 are longer than the other markers on the bezel. The second hand is a dot lollipop.
The model is Super Divette “T”, meaning that Tritium has been used for the lumes.
Below is a 33 jewel model, without automatic on the dial and marked T < 25 mc (25 milli Curies).
Tritium was used for lumes from the 1960s until the late 1990s. Like radium which it replaced in 1960, it is also radio-active.
The half-life is approximately 12.3 years and after that, Tritium (in most cases) will not glow anymore.
There were two types of Tritium employed at the time:
- a) dials emitting radio-activity of less than 25 mC. Dials were often marked “SWISS T < 25”
- b) and more commonly, dials emitting radio-activity of less than 7.5 mC. Dials often marked “T SWISS T” or “T SWISS MADE T”.
This model below has a thin pencil lume added to the minute hand.
A cream dial model above, and below a gold dial model was less common, but tropic dials also exist.
Mark III Sherpa Guide type hands also existed as below, with a thin pencil line down the minute hand and a lozenge lume on the hour hand. Triangular second hands fitted in with this hand change.
Lollipop second hand
The next model change was to provide a bezel which had markers of the same size but was coloured to 45 minutes. Some models had a red triangle second hand, as in the Mark III Sherpa Guide.
The bezel had markers of the same size but was coloured to 45 minutes, and featured a triangle at 60 minutes.
Below is a NOS Super Divette, model 144-35-01, with a red triangle second hand.
Model 144-35-01 with later hand style and lollipop dot second hand and crosshatched crowns and a Seapearl case.
SUPER DIVETTE MKII
The Mark II model has the pillowcase or short lug style, and a late 1960’s model is shown below model 165-35-05. The Saturn logo now has 2 rings and a dot on the bezel at 60 which is coloured to 45 minutes.
Movement: Enicar Cal 165 or rarely Enicar 1147 BD automatic, the latter being day/date.
Case without crown: 38mm, and lug to lug: 42mm
A yellow bezel model.
There was also a black (PVD) anodised version as shown below.
ENICA SHERPA 600 LADY DIVER
In the late 1960s Enicar released the Sherpa 600 Lady Diver.
It was a small watch based on the AR765 movement, in an oval case without lugs. The dial was so small that it could not accommodate the Saturn logo. The watch was 26mm inside crowns, and 29mm long, and was 12mm between lugs.
It featured a bezel coloured red from 0 to 15, similar to the Super Divette above, with red markers at the 5-minute markers. The indices were narrow and partly coated with lume.
SUPER DIVE
SUPER DIVE MARK I MODEL
The Super Dive at 42mm is larger than the Super Divette.
This is Enicar model number was originally model 125/006 with the AR1125 movement, and then 145/006 (but this changed to 144-35-02) and dates from early 1965, with the AR 1145 movement. The 125/006 model had thinner crowns, “T SWISS MADE T” on the dial and a Seapearl caseback. The 145/006 models had thick crowns. Later 144-35-02 models had Sherpa 600 case backs.
Shown on the left in the image below left is a rare dauphine hand model and on the above right the most frequent model with baton hands.
All markers on the bezel are the same height from 0 to 60 minutes, with a trapezium at the 60-minute mark.
Dauphine hand model above and baton hand models below, with Sherpa 600 case back. The watch on the left is one of the last models of the series and has a triangular tapered second hand, and hour hand with lozenge lume.
Below are images from a September 1966 model, 144-35-02.
Three Super Dive models are shown on the left of the photo below for comparison.
The Super Dive went through similar model changes to the Super Divette. Firstly the 125/006 with a split marker on the bezel at 12, larger markers from 0 to 20, and square baton hands. This is similar to the Divette advertisement at the start of the article.
Then a revised bezel and a thin pencil lume in the minute hand from about June 1965. This is sometimes called the tuning fork hand. This model was 145/006 in a Seapearl caseback. The more rare dauphine hand models were from the same period.
Then the Enicar Sherpa Diver model gained more rounded tipped baton hands. Black versions also exist. The second hand is sometimes just a thin pointer.
SUPER DIVE MARK I POLISH NAVY
The Polish Navy (Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej) issued this model to their divers. These were engraved on side and rear of case for security. The rear case was not engraved as much at the Enicar factory as were normal production models. Both dauphine hands and baton hands were used in the production run.
SUPER DIVE 33 MARK I
The models below are Enicar model number 125/006 and 145/006.
The earliest Super Dive 33 model has a split marker at 12 and bigger markers on the bezel to 20, similar to the early Super Divette. The hand are baton with inverted T lumes. Second hands are mostly thin pointer style.
Below is a later 125/006 model with a solid marker at 12, and uniform minute markers around the bezel. The index markers at 6, 9, and 12 are fluted as in other Enicar 33 models. 33 jewel AR1125 movement. Seapearl case back.
SUPER DIVE MARK II MODEL
This is Enicar Sherpa Diver model 167.08.02. It is a 43mm diameter cushion, pillowcase or short lug style, with a change to the 2 ring Saturn in the logo was produced in 1967. It features a day/date AR167 caliber with day/date at 6 o’clock.
The bezel is red/orange from 0 to 15 and dark blue for the remainder. There is a red chapter ring at the minute markers. The case was a Sherpa 600 supercompressor.
Below is a pillowcase version of the 144-35-02 model in a black anodised finish. Sherpa case back and model number 165-35-05, similar to the Sherpa Guide 165-35-05.
SHERPA ULTRADIVE
The Ultradive at 40 mm is the same size as the Super Dive. It has an crown protection infill between the crowns to help minimise snagging.
It features the AR1144 calibre movement.
The early models can be seen in the advertisements above. The bezel is evenly divided. The hands are baton with a broad inverted T lume on the hour hand. The minute hand has a continuous pencil stripe, and the hour hand a pencil stripe at the tip, as in earlier Dive and Divette models. Some models have 2 dots on the second hand. The bezel is variously coloured, commonly white, yellow, or black.
The model below has a single dot lollipop second hand. Seapearl supercompressor case back.
Here is a later model with revised Mark III Sherpa Guide type hour and minute hands, but with a two dot second hand.
And this model also has the red tapered triangular second hand.
Later the bezel changed in style, with a broader triangle lume at 60 and an outer coloured chapter ring between 0 and 40 minutes and a black chapter ring for the remainder between 40 and 60 minutes. These have a Sherpa 600 oyster case back, engraved Sherpa 144-35-03.
Later models have the 2 ring Saturn Enicar logo. The model had a 2 dot lollipop second hand, or a red tapered triangle second hand.
Red triangle second hand.
SHERPA OPS
MARK I OPS
The OPS model also went through various versions. The photo below shows the Mark I OPS with baton hands and a 2 dot lollipop second hand, and a black date. This had a Sherpa 600 case back.
The index markers and lumes are much broader than used on the Ultradive dial.
It had a 40mm Seapearl or Sherpa 600 Super Compressor case like all the preceding models and was Cal AR1145B. The case was black anodised stainless steel, with a crown protector between crowns as in the Ultradive. Model number 144-35-03.
Triangular second hand below.
Chronosport 1969 catalogue below.
The model below has the same bezel as the advertisement, but a tapered triangular second hand, and Mark III Sherpa Guide hands.
MARK II OPS
The model above has similar hands to those in the advertisement and as in the Mark III Sherpa Guide, but the bezel has highlights to the 15 minute mark. The 1/59 marker on the bezel is an orange trapezium, and the 60 marker is a silver triangle. The model number is 144/35/03A.
MARK III OPS
This model has raised index markers and a 2 ring Saturn logo. The lumes are reversed in position when compared with the previous model, and those at 6, 9 and 12 are trapezoidal in shape. These are very similar to the Ultradive of the same era.
The Mark III Sherpa OPS is similar to the Ultradive in size and in dial layout as can be seen below. The case is black anodised stainless steel.
ENICAR SHERPA DIVER CALIBRES
RECOMMENDATIONS
ENTRY
The entry model is likely to be the most recent models of the Super Divette or Super Dive releases. Expect to pay $1000 plus for good models.
THE KEEPER
A rare model is the Polish Navy model which is a Super Dive with scratchy hand engraving. The Navy obviously were not seeking to enhance retail value when the made sure others could see even from the side that the watch belonged to them. If you can find one of these you are likely to find you have to keep it. Because of the rarity a price of $4000 is likely.
THE GRAIL
The grail would be a Sherpa OPS with the black anodised aluminium case. Expect to pay $3000 plus for a good model.
From The Spring Bar Store:
