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Movado Super Sub Sea Diver Ref. 206-704-501, 1960s — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Movado Super Sub Sea Diver Ref. 206-704-501, 1960s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
1960s
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 41 mm
Stock no.
BV64SNKL-2
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (BV64SNKL-2)
Catalogue title (original)
1960s Movado Super Sub Sea Diver Ref. 206-704-501 (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number BV64SNKL-2), this is a wristwatch, dated 1960s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 41 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

Movado released water-resistant wristwatches in the mid-1930's, by the early 1960s Movado was producing dive watches to contend with the era's greater-known offerings from names like Rolex, Omega, Heuer & Tudor. The Super Sub Sea is one of the most desirable Movado dive watches to come from the brand during this era. family. The Super Sub Sea Chronograph like the example we are featuring here at Craft & Tailored is an absolute rarity. The earliest variations of this chronograph contain the M95 movement that was first developed by Piguet which has the distinction of being the first modular chronograph movement ever produced. At first glance, you may think that this is a Zenith reference A277 as they almost look identical as both Zenith and Movado were both manufactured in the 1960's when the two brands worked closely together under the same parent company. This specific piece is what we like to call a "Time Capsule" here at craft and tailored due to the fact that it is in flawless vintage condition. The Movado Sub Sea Chronographs are becoming increasingly harder to find especially in this condition as the collector market is holding onto examples such as the one we are featuring here at Craft & Tailored and due to low production numbers of this example when it was in production during 1960's. SPECS Stock # MOVSSDIV60 Brand Movado Style Diver Chronograph Model Ref. 206-704-501 Serial N/A Size Men's Material SS Dial Black " Reverse-Panda" Millimeters 41mm Bracelet Origional SS Movado Flip Lock Ladder Bracelet CASE & BRACELET The case of this Movado Super Sub Sea is in an absolutely stunning condition which we believe to remain in unpolished condition. The original and elusively rare Movado ladder flip lock bracelet remains in wonderful condition showing very minimal stretch and possesses the original end links. The insert has taken on a stunning and even light gray fade and does not show any major scratching or blemishing and retains its original tritium filled pearl at the 12 o'clock position. DIAL & HANDS The striking "Reverse Panda" dial remains in original condition showing no blemishing or imperfection. The original hands remain fully intact and are original to the piece. The tritium lume on the dial and within the hands shows no visible degradation when viewed under U.V. light and has taken on a wonderful golden yellow patina. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is running at spec and is in perfect working condition.

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

Dive and water-resistant watches

Keeping water and dust out of a wristwatch was a long-standing challenge. Rolex's screw-down Oyster case (1926) and Omega's Marine (1932) were landmarks; in the early 1950s Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms and Rolex's Submariner defined the professional dive watch with rotating bezels for timing dives, luminous dials and high water resistance. The ISO 6425 standard (1982) later codified what a 'diver's watch' must do.

Dive watches became icons of post-war design and exploration, and their evolution — helium escape valves, ceramic bezels, saturation-diving depth ratings — records the history of underwater work.

What to look for

  • Unidirectional or bidirectional rotating bezel with minute markings.
  • Screw-down crown and case back; depth rating printed on the dial.
  • Luminous hands and markers (radium before c. 1960, tritium c. 1960–1998, then Super-LumiNova).
  • Reference numbers on the case between the lugs or inside the back.

Dating clues

  • Screw-down Oyster cases: from 1926.
  • Professional dive watches: from 1953.
  • Tritium 'T' marks on dials: c. 1960–1998.

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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