Squale Squalematic 60 Atmos Watch Review

Squale Squalematic 60 Atmos Watch Review

Squale Squalematic 60 Atmos Watch Review

The vintage-inspired trend that overshadows the timepiece market these past couple of years continues to be evolving, with many companies pretty much digging within their archives, looking for vintage designs, to create it well in existence. Even though this may show the tough position from the Swiss watch industry in general, it may be contended it has some benefits. Possibly the most crucial one would be that the market is filled with new watches. One of these simple is perhaps the brand new Squale Squalematic 60 Atmos, a classic-inspired dive watch that develops from a company with great pedigree. Therefore we placed it underneath the Monochrome microscope and listed here are our ideas.

Background And ORIGINS OF SQUALE

Outsourcing would be a popular practice among Swiss watch brands previously. The large names in the market used a comprehensive network of businesses which were focused on manufacturing specific components. Movements originated from one place, dials and hands from another, cases and crystals from again another. For example, most dials from some well known brands specified for and made by Singer, while there are lots of discussions among collectors concerning the Speedmaster cases, that have been built by Centrale Bo?tes S.A and Huguenin Frères. Perhaps, there have been apparent advantages letting specialists stay with the things they did best in most cases, big companies labored along with a supplier to create a brand new situation design (or they just chose from your existing catalogue).

Squale Squalematic 60 Atmos Watch Review

Possibly probably the most apparent illustration of this practice was the look of the emblem of Erwin Piquerez SA (EPSA) around the two-crown Super Compressor watches from Longines, Wittnauer, Enicar, and numerous others. Another example was the Monnin diver situation. Late 1970s, Heuer wanted to get involved with the dive/sports watch market, but to prevent large investments, they outsourced the tooling to Monnin in France. This line demonstrated very popular for Heuer but still this situation can be used around the CWC RN divers. Jenny provides an execllent example. The organization produced the very first monobloc ref.702 1000m diver situation that was utilized by Ollech and Wajs (O&W), Jaquet Droz, Haste luxurious, Philip and Jenny themselves (to mention a couple of).

Of these suppliers was Squale, among the large dive watch situation-makers from the 1960s and 1970s. 

As the Squale name goes back to 1959, the organization history really dates back to 1948, when Charles Von Buren required a desire for the game and never lengthy after started crafting dive watch cases in Neuchatel, Europe. Among the first examples was the characteristic Von-Buren situation, utilized on the 50 Atmos divers. This legendary situation was - and perhaps is still - a factor of beauty, since it had fluid lines and it was highly ergonomic while supplying excellent protection. Its three primary characteristics would be the downward lugs that hug the wrist, the bezel which protrudes slightly in the situation, thus supplying nice grip, and also the crown within the 4 o’ clock position.

In 1959, Von Buren made a decision to differentiate his diving watches by following a name “Squale”, and simultaneously the “Squale” or even the VB mark began to look around the installments of Swiss watches of numerous makes, as an indication of fine production along with a quality symbol. Examples are plenty of. Within the mid-1970s, the German Kriegsmarine contacted Blancpain for any revised form of its Fifty Fathoms. Consequently, Blancpain switched to Von-Buren/Squale for any situation and also the result was the now-famous “Bund” Fifty Fathoms. Other notable clients of numerous Von-Buren cases were Auricoste, Doxa, Zenith, Sinn and (TAG) Heuer, various dive gear the likes of in france they Spirotechnique and also the American Dacor, and lesser-known the likes of Berios, Bald eagle Star Genève and Blanford Sea Diver.

Obviously, additionally to the subcontracted situation-building, Squale also offered watches for diving under its very own name. The late ’60s, saw the birth from the 100 Atmos, Squale-Master. This model were built with a fatter situation of comparable design using the 50 Atmos, a domed acrylic very and also the crown in both three or four o’clock position. In those days, Squale watches were well considered by divers, and frequently received as prizes for freediving and spearfishing competitions and were worn by champion divers (Tony Salvatori, Jean Tapu). However, the nearest Squale found getting a brandname ambassador was Jacques Mayol, in france they freediving pioneer. Mayol used a Squale while setting a depth record in 1970 and it was a buddy from the Von Buren family. Other less famous but notable users of Squale diver watches were an italian man , Folgore Brigade and also the Italian frogmen located in La Spezia, home from the Commando Subacqueo Incursori, also known as COMSUBIN.

Recently, the Squale name continues to be elevated. Though the organization isn't underneath the Von Buren name any longer, it's still a little family-run business located in Milan, with all of production and set up still completed in Europe. Actually, the company has become of the Maggi family, Squale’s longtime Italian distributor. The all-time classic 50 Atmos may be the core collection and it is offered in a variety of situation finishes and dial configurations. Up to lately, it had been supported through the 101 Atmos, a vintage 1970s dive watch design having a rounded lug-less situation as well as an ingenious top-mounted lock ring set up, which houses the push and switch Bakelite bezel as well as the “Tiger” ( a push button bezel lock similar to the legendary Omega Ploprof). The brand new model, that is known as the Squalematic, was introduced this past year at Baselworld.

THE SQUALE SQUALEMATIC 60 ATMOS

The organization, quite right for me, leaped within the bandwagon of retro re-editions by presenting this dive watch, which will come in three editions: Aqua-Blue, Black having a satin-finish situation and Gray / Black having a polished situation. The Squalematic 60 Atmos is certainly a vintage dive watch with Squale’s DNA throughout it. Her same familiar “von Buren” situation-style, utilized by the organization on their own extremely popular 1521 models. For me personally, this situation is really a work of art, since it is ergonomic, nicely designed also it provids enough defense against potential shocks. The downward lugs hug the wrist nicely and also the crown at 4 is a superb choice. However, about this model the scale increased. The situation is 42,7mm across and 44mm when we appraise the bezel, which, inside a characteristic Squale fashion, slightly protrudes for much better grip. However, don’t let figures scare you, because all Squale watches for diving put on smaller sized than their dimensions denote. We have a 51mm lug to lug dimension a 22mm lug space along with a thickness of 15.8mm (such as the azure very).

The Squalematic 60 Atmos (meaning 600m water proofing) utilizes a double domed azure very. It oozes class and retro character, during parallel it makes excellent light distortions around the dial. The unidirectional bezel is tight and clicks positively (it may be loosened and removed for simple maintenance with 4 screws quietly). The highlight from the bezel may be the beautiful Bakelite inlay with multifaceted steel markers, hands-set in it on the multi-stage process. It makes sense a glance that improves the vintage character from the Squalematic - similar to 1970s Squale watches for diving.

The dial is yet another fantastic aspect of the 550d. Around the satin situation model, there exists a matte black dial with orange details. Around the Blue and Gray / Black versions, the dial is sunburst, having a great retro appeal. On the 3 variations, the dial features applied matte steel markers with Superluminova, for superb low light visibility. The Squalematic includes a depth rating of 60 atmospheres (600 meters). The timepiece is operated by a workhorse, an ETA 2824. Thus, donrrrt worry to possess. It will likely be precise and reliable. Around the watch I'd for review, I tested  7sec each day. The Squalematic 60 Atmos is going to be provided with a qualitative tropic rubber strap or perhaps a excellent leather strap - a mesh steel bracelet is optional. Having a retail cost close to 1100 euro, this can be a killer retro dive watch, which may also be tough, reliable and provides you with that vintage feel with modern specs and sturdiness.