Vintage diving watches

In the aftermath of World War II, fueled by the rise of vacations and paid leave, a new passion became accessible to all: recreational scuba diving. This opened the door to a silent and fascinating underwater world, though extremely inhospitable to humans. As a result, new brands and diving models were created, becoming essential tools for divers. Aquastar launched the DEEPSTAR chronograph, used by Cousteau's team aboard the Calypso. In 1964, ZRC introduced the Grands Fonds model, a legendary watch equipped with a crown at 6 o'clock. It was used by the French Navy divers as well as the Paris Fire Brigade. The Triton Spirotechnique, emblematic of this era and produced in the 1960s, also equipped military divers of the French Navy and featured a distinctive, innovative design.

Doxa, ZRC, Aquastar, Triton, Spirotechnique, Chronofixe, Aqualung—these are brands that may be lesser-known to the general public today but are highly sought after by collectors worldwide. For example, a ZRC was auctioned for 8,200 euros in March 2020.

Contact our expert for appraisals on vintage diving watches.