Aquadive Automatic (Ref. 503.305) "Monnin Case", 1970s

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

The 1960s and 1970s are filled to the brim with dive watches routinely referred to by a singular and possibly overused, but inescapable word, "funky". It seems to be the only signifier in the English language that can properly capture an aesthetic which while highly particular, is also quite wide in its spectrum. Here we have a fantastically designed Aquadive, ref. 503.305, which sits perfectly somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. Stock # AD503305 Brand Aquadive Style Automatic Diver Model 503.305 Serial 10835 Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black/ Orange Millimeters 42 Bracelet 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The watch features a sizeable 42mm stainless steel case, more precisely the famous "Monnin Case". The Monnin style case gets its name from the famous Heuer 844, the brand's first dive watch which they outsourced to a French company, I hope you guessed it, Monnin. After more or less saving Heuer during the Quartz Crisis, the case design language took off and was used by many brands including Zodiac, Technos, CWC, and as seen here, Aquadive. While lightly worn, the unpolished case retains sharp lines, bevels, and its amazing tapered crown guards. The watch is supplied on a 2pc leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The dial is where the real funk comes in. The combination of colors interweaves to create a truly unique feel. The dial starts black in the center but quickly reaches a tangerine inner ring which is periodically broken by the long tritium hour markers. These markers run all the way to the end of the dial, cutting their way through a lightly aged grey outer seconds track. The design layering is really something to see in person. It's then topped off by a bright orange seconds hand with its huge diamond block of aged tritium, and day and date wheel in a mix of red and black. ACCESSORIES