Updating…
Extremely rare and funky left-handed 42mm Jacques Ryter, vintage skin diver “frogman” wristwatch, made in early 1980s and retailed by “Jacques Ryter, Paris”. The watch is very similar to well known Jacques Bianchi, Ref. JB 200 wristwatch, made in Marseilles, France, sharing absolutely the same DNA, except Bianchi’s name on the dial.
In 1982, Jacques Bianchi — a Marseille-based watchmaker trusted by Comex for servicing its Rolex Submariners, as well as the Cousteau team’s many dive watches — produced an uncommonly robust quartz diver’s watch in small numbers, the JB200 (Jacques Bianchi 200m), with a left-sided crown and a prominent frogman printed on the dial, with the majority of the first batch of watches being sold in local diving shops near Bianchi’s workshop. By the late 80s, however, the Marine Nationale confirmed the utility of Bianchi’s JB200 design by ordering several batches for use by various subsea-going units of French Navy, including the Commando Hubert, something like the U.S. Navy SEALs. Now 80 years old, Bianchi has partnered with a small team of French watch-industry players to resurrect the JB200 for a modern audience, combining period-appropriate details with a new mechanical movement.
Watch is in overall very good condition 8/10, running and ready to wear or gift!