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Enicar Sherpa Guide 33 (Ref. 146/001) Mk II, 1964 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Enicar Sherpa Guide 33 (Ref. 146/001) Mk II, 1964

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Enicar (maker)
Date
1964
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 43 mm
Stock no.
ENSG33146001
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (ENSG33146001)
Catalogue title (original)
1964 Enicar Sherpa Guide 33 (Ref. 146/001) Mk II (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number ENSG33146001), this is a wristwatch by Enicar, made in Switzerland, dated 1964. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 43 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

The Sherpa Guide was Enicar's rendition of a pilot's watch GMT and was a sturdy one at that, featuring numerous tools for tracking multiple locations housed within a waterproof case. The two-part outer bezel included an in-depth world-timer along with a rotating red marker, and the inner rotating "SuperCompressor" bezel is a traditional 24-hour scale. The large 43mm case housed the classic Enicar two-crown setting system, and the Mk II "33" featured the AR 1146 33-jewel movement. Patented in 1956 by Ervin Piquerez SA (EPSA), the SuperCompressor case possessed a unique sealing system that set it apart from other dive watch cases of the day. When exposed to higher water pressure, the spring-loaded case back of the SuperCompressor case is sealed even tighter. Another innovation of the SuperCompressor was its approach to securing the bezel. As most diving watch timing bezels of the era rotated outside the case, the Enicar Super Compressor’s timing bezel rotated internally and was operated externally through a secondary crown. Dozens of other brands released dive watches with SuperCompressor cases, the most notable being Jaeger-LeCoultre, Longines, Enicar, Benrus, and Wittnauer. SPECS Stock # ENSG33146001 Brand Enicar Style Sherpa Guide Model 146/001 Serial 67XXXX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Silver Millimeters 43 Bracelet NATO Strap CASE & BRACELET The excellent case is remarkably well-preserved with the case retaining all of its unique factory finishing along with its wide chamfers and angles featuring on the broad lugs. The original world time bezel is in superb condition, showing only gentle age with no notable damage, the bezel also retains its independent rotating red marker as well. The case retains its original twin crosshatch Enicar signed crowns. The case back is in exceptional condition, with all of its original factory marking present with only gentle wear. The watch comes supplied on a single-pass nylon NATO strap. DIAL & HANDS The original silver dial is simply exceptional with no real age or damage present whatsoever. The inner rotating 24-hour bezel is also in fantastic condition which is rare for these watches, only gentle age is present. The original tritium markers all remain present under U.V. light inspection with only nominal degradation present in a few plots, the tritium lume has also aged to a handsome golden color. The original tritium hands match the dial perfectly and show no degradation under U.V. light. The 24-hour hand is missing a small piece of its orange paint at its tip. ACCESSORIES

Historical context

Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)

Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.

The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking

Atlas type guide

Wristwatches

Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.

After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.

What to look for

  • The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
  • The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
  • Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
  • Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.

Dating clues

  • Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
  • Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
  • Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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