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Fine, extremely rare vintage stainless steel pre-production AQUADIVE “Time-Depth” Model 50 barrel shaped cased 47mm electric diver’s wristwatch with mechanical depth gauge to 60 meters (200 ft.) made circa 1973. Powered by modified electronic ESA 9154 movement. ESA/ETA 9154 is not quartz or a tuning fork. Instead this is an electronic movement that uses power from a battery to energise a balance wheel, in the same manner as the stored energy of the mainspring does in a purely mechanical watch. The outer orange bezel can be rotated anti-clockwise to set minutes remaining from 0 to 60. Great condition, fully working order, comes with brand new ISOfrane 24mm orange strap.
This pre-production watch was used for early advertisements and show a different dial, different bezel and a longer minute hand, that Aquadive chose not to continue to use in the production. At the time the Aquadive brand was owned by N.A.C Sales (Cal) Inc., based in Los Angeles, California, the price was $225 in 1973 and was advertised as being approved and endorsed by Astronaut Scott Carpenter, who by this time was also a world famous Aquanaut after his SEALAB adventures.
C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screw done caseback, uni-directional rotating orange bezel, acrylic crystal. D. Orange and yellow with red Arabic numerals from 0 to 200 graduated in feet, luminous hour and minute hands, white center sweep seconds hand, and a red depth gauge hand. Dial marked AQUADIVE, TIME DEPTH, ELECTRONIC, SWISS MADE. M. Electronic Cal. modified ESA 9154, 13 jewels. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 47 mm.
Runs great and all functions work as expected. Please take a look at the photos for condition. Watch is in very good condition 8/10, running and ready to wear or gift!