LIP Nautic Automatic Divers Watch, Super Compressor, circa 1966

Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist

A very Clean, Vintage, LiP Nautic Automatic "Calendrier" Super Compressor, Diving Watch from c.1966. Frederic Samuel Lipmann, grandson of Emmanuel and son of Ernest was born in Besançon on November 2, 1905. After a chaotic schooling in Paris, he failed the baccalaureate exam in 1922. His father then brought him back to the family cradle and puts him in the watchmaking school of Besançon. After completing his military service, he left for the United States in 1928 on a study tour where he visited the watchmaking factories and assembly plants of the Harley Davidson and Indian motorcycles. This trip and his passion for motorsport will influence his vision and methods. In August 1931 he joined the family company. "Genius" for some, "crazy", for others, "Fred" upsets traditions. Under his direction, Lip Sa innovates and becomes the first watchmaker in France. 1954 marks the peak of the company with 1,500 employees, 300,000 watches a year, and in 1960, the Palente factory. But Fred Lipmann cannot adapt to the watchmaking market in full evolution with the arrival of quartz and in February 1971, passes the hand. He will die in Paris on November 9th, 1996. About Super-Compressor; Super Compressor is a trademarked name for specific case designs made by the case manufacturer Ervin Piquerez S.A. (EPSA). They designed a patented case sealing method that actually became more water-tight the deeper the watch went. The deeper you went, the more pressure was applied to the case-back, pressing it against the O-ring gasket. What’s On Offer A rare and sought-after LiP diving watch, using a 36mm EPSA Super-Compressor case, it is Lip’s interpretation of the coveted two (cross-hatched) crown diver watch from the mid-1960s. Existing in three versions (manual, self-winding with or without date), this is the most complicated "Calendrier" version with a date window at 3 o’clock and the automatic movement. This is a really unique piece that has aged beautifully over the years. The black dial has a speckling of attractive patina whilst the Lip signature, minute markers, and date window remain sharp. The oversize Arabic numerals and chunky hands give a real contemporary aesthetic as do the substantial proportions of the watch. A stylish and comfortable everyday wearer that would transition happily between occasions. We love the retro feel and classic lines of this watch, paired with a handmade leather strap in tan leather it is comfortable on the wrist, runs like a dream, and keeps great time. What more could you possibly want?