Royal Navy Issued Precista Dive Watch with 0552 Case Back Markings, 'Snakehead' Minute Hand, circa 1982

Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist

A very rare Precista 0552 dive watch with "Snakehead" Minute Hand - The Watch that Replaced the Sought After MilSub! Precista is a British watch brand that was known for producing reliable and durable watches for the British Military, including dive watches during the 20th century. They were originally a brand label for Southern Watch & Clock Supplies Ltd. This watch, the "Snakehead", was only made and issued in the year 1982, as they had a contract to make it for the British Ministry of Defence that year only. The MoD then quickly moved to more cost-effective quartz watches. It is speculated that there were not very many produced, and certainly not many have ever surfaced and sold to the collector market, so very rare indeed! What's on offer The rarity of this Precista "Snakehead" dive watch cannot be overstated. Just 250 examples were produced under the 1982 MoD contract, and only 6 original issued examples are currently known to have surfaced on the market. This is one of them. The watch features a black dial under a plexiglass crystal, with a black rotatable bezel. Unlike the contemporary CWC Royal Navy divers and the earlier Omega Seamaster 300, the Precista returned to a simpler dot and baton dial layout, reminiscent of the Rolex Military Submariner. The handset is equally distinctive, pairing a large lollipop sweep seconds hand with broad hour and spear-shaped minute hands. The latter has become known among collectors as the "Snakehead" hand , its broad, pointed profile providing exceptional underwater legibility while giving the watch its enduring nickname. The watch is powered by an automatic 25-jewel ETA 2783 calibre movement, housed within a stainless steel case with a screw-down crown. The case was manufactured by Racine, identifiable by the "RACINE SWISS" stamp found inside the caseback. Its asymmetrical profile, integrated crown guards, and screw-down caseback are reminiscent of the American-issued Benrus Type I and Type II military dive watches. The watch is also fitted with a NATO-style grey textile strap , using its fixed lug bars (commonly found on military-issued watches) which complements the overall aesthetic. The caseback is engraved 0552/923-7697/|\ 1360/82. The "0552" denotes a British Royal Navy military-issued watch, while "923-7697" identifies it as a divers' watch. The "1360" is the watch's unique serial number, and "82" denotes the year of issue, 1982. Together, these markings provide compelling evidence of its authenticity as an original "Snakehead." Aside from a few scratches on the plexiglass, which can be removed should you wish, the overall condition of the watch is excellent. There are some faint marks on the case, cherished by some collectors as they add character and allude to a history of active military service.