Reviewer: Mike W aka UKWolfeman
Watch Donated for Review
Watch Being Reviewed: 50 ATMOS - 1521 - 026 PVD
Company Website: http://www.squale.ch/
Company Address:
Squale s.r.l
via S. Maria Valle, 4 20123 - Milano (MI)
Phone: +39 02863887
Email: info@squale.ch
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DivingWatches?ref=ts&fref=ts
History/About (Direct from website): "The great Swiss tradition of precision watchmaking, combined with a love of the sea and diving, were the two factors that led C. Von Büren to work exclusively on the construction of professional divers’ watches from the early ‘50s.
Initially the "Squale" mark appeared on the cases of Swiss watches of various makes, as a sign of fine production and a quality symbol. Then, in the '60s, Von Büren started to produce watches that also had the Squale mark on their dials, starting the brand’s institutional and commercial history.
The first sporting successes, such as the world diving title won in Cuba in '68, were linked to the names of products that had become as legendary as the medium, Master 50 atm. The '70s saw the birth of the first "1000 metre" watch with glass on flexible mounting and snap-on lunette which could be turned in both directions.Squale continued to produce for other brands and started to supply the elite corps of a large number of armed forces, including the parachutists of Italy’s Folgore Brigade and the Italian Navy’s Diving Corps.All this has made Squale synonymous with quality and the benchmark brand for divers’ watches internationally, a status it has enjoyed for several decades."
Specifications:
Sub 500 meters
Eta Swiss 2824-2 self-winding movement
Power Reserve 38 - 40 Hours
316L Steel case PVD
Case diameter 42 mm
Screw-down caseback, acid etched
Screw-down Crown signed with "VON" logo
60 clicks Bezel
Flat Sapphire crystal
Swiss Made
Squale Box and Papers included
Weight: 5.7oz/162 grams
Consumer Cost: Approximately $830 USD
Watch Donated for Review
Watch Being Reviewed: 50 ATMOS - 1521 - 026 PVD
Company Website: http://www.squale.ch/
Company Address:
Squale s.r.l
via S. Maria Valle, 4 20123 - Milano (MI)
Phone: +39 02863887
Email: info@squale.ch
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DivingWatches?ref=ts&fref=ts
History/About (Direct from website): "The great Swiss tradition of precision watchmaking, combined with a love of the sea and diving, were the two factors that led C. Von Büren to work exclusively on the construction of professional divers’ watches from the early ‘50s.
Initially the "Squale" mark appeared on the cases of Swiss watches of various makes, as a sign of fine production and a quality symbol. Then, in the '60s, Von Büren started to produce watches that also had the Squale mark on their dials, starting the brand’s institutional and commercial history.
The first sporting successes, such as the world diving title won in Cuba in '68, were linked to the names of products that had become as legendary as the medium, Master 50 atm. The '70s saw the birth of the first "1000 metre" watch with glass on flexible mounting and snap-on lunette which could be turned in both directions.Squale continued to produce for other brands and started to supply the elite corps of a large number of armed forces, including the parachutists of Italy’s Folgore Brigade and the Italian Navy’s Diving Corps.All this has made Squale synonymous with quality and the benchmark brand for divers’ watches internationally, a status it has enjoyed for several decades."
Specifications:
Sub 500 meters
Eta Swiss 2824-2 self-winding movement
Power Reserve 38 - 40 Hours
316L Steel case PVD
Case diameter 42 mm
Screw-down caseback, acid etched
Screw-down Crown signed with "VON" logo
60 clicks Bezel
Flat Sapphire crystal
Swiss Made
Squale Box and Papers included
Weight: 5.7oz/162 grams
Consumer Cost: Approximately $830 USD
Packaging: The packaging is what I consider standard starting with an outer blue cardboard box with the Squale name and logo printed on the lid. Inside the outer cardboard box is a blue leather case also with the Squale name and logo printed on the lid. The inside of the case is nicely padded and protects the watch well. The underside of the lid is also has logo and brand name printed on it.. The watch comparment is a removable tray and the warranty card is stored underneath. The presentation overall I consider decent but not extraordinary in any way as it should be, not overstated.
Case (Crown Side): This view provides for an excellent perspective of the "von Büren" case. I am really impressed with the case overall as the design has a real retro/vintage style appearance. The case just isn't seen every day or catalog product off the shelf which is always refreshing. The case measures 42mm and slightly over 44mm including the crown.
The 5.5mm signed screw down crown glides when engaging and zero play or wiggle. The crown is signed with the Squale von Buren "Von" logo paying respect to the founder of the Squale brand. The aspect I really like about the crown is that it is recessed into the case eliminating the need for crown guards. Even though the crown is recessed unscrewing is still rather easy as the crown is coin edged. The PVD finish is very even throughout and seems to be well applied case and crown alike.
I had heard somewhere but can't remember the exact source that the older Squale 50 ATM watches had a "Mod. Depose" marking on the case-back which indicated Registered Model or patented. The designation would mean that in the past every brand that used this case-shape had to have a business agreement with Squale / von Büren. Some well known brands seem to have connections with this design such as the Blancpain Fifthy Fathoms Bund and Heuer Spirotechnique. From a historical perspective the case design has some heritage that is for certain.
The 5.5mm signed screw down crown glides when engaging and zero play or wiggle. The crown is signed with the Squale von Buren "Von" logo paying respect to the founder of the Squale brand. The aspect I really like about the crown is that it is recessed into the case eliminating the need for crown guards. Even though the crown is recessed unscrewing is still rather easy as the crown is coin edged. The PVD finish is very even throughout and seems to be well applied case and crown alike.
I had heard somewhere but can't remember the exact source that the older Squale 50 ATM watches had a "Mod. Depose" marking on the case-back which indicated Registered Model or patented. The designation would mean that in the past every brand that used this case-shape had to have a business agreement with Squale / von Büren. Some well known brands seem to have connections with this design such as the Blancpain Fifthy Fathoms Bund and Heuer Spirotechnique. From a historical perspective the case design has some heritage that is for certain.
Case (Non-Crown): This side of the case provides another good view of the PVD finish. Nothing else remarkable of note. The lug to lug measurement is around 49mm. While Squale indicates the case thickness at over 14mm my measurement comes in at around 13mm. The one aspect that I would like to see modified would be drilled spring bar lug holes for easier strap changes to prevent potential scratching to the underside of the lugs.
Bezel, Crystal, Dial and Hands: The bezel is coin edged, 60 click and unidirectional. There is no play in the bezel and each click is quite precise. Grasping the bezel for rotation is also rather easy as the bezel edges extend ever so slightly beyond the case edges. The 60 sec/min bezel insert is the painted metal variety with lume PIP at the 12. I understand the insert used to provide a more vintage appearance but an engraved bezel or insert filled with lume would be stunning and only enhance the overall appearance.
The Atmos is fitted with a sapphire crystal. The dial opening measures approximately 31mm. Beneath the sapphire crystal is a matte black lacquered dial with lume markers applied at the usual positions. The company name and logos are painted on the dial in white above and below center dial.. A white date window with black numerals of appropriate size is positioned at the 3 position on the dial.
The Atmos is fitted with rather typical but appropriate style hands found on many divers. The minute hand is painted orange while the hour and second hands are panted white. The hour and minute hands are filled with Superluminova and the second hand has a section near the tip also filled with Superluminova. The dial is very clean and uncluttered and the use of the Orange minute hand provides some color to the dial area another one of my favorite aspects of this diver.
The Atmos is fitted with a sapphire crystal. The dial opening measures approximately 31mm. Beneath the sapphire crystal is a matte black lacquered dial with lume markers applied at the usual positions. The company name and logos are painted on the dial in white above and below center dial.. A white date window with black numerals of appropriate size is positioned at the 3 position on the dial.
The Atmos is fitted with rather typical but appropriate style hands found on many divers. The minute hand is painted orange while the hour and second hands are panted white. The hour and minute hands are filled with Superluminova and the second hand has a section near the tip also filled with Superluminova. The dial is very clean and uncluttered and the use of the Orange minute hand provides some color to the dial area another one of my favorite aspects of this diver.
Case Back and Movement: The screw down case back is high polished stainless steel and not PVD finished like the case of the watch. I agree with no PVD as the finish would ultimately end up scratched due to servicing when that occurs. The center of the case back is acid etched displaying the company name, logo, series and other various specifications and exactly how a diver case back should be designed in my humble opinion.
As far as the movement is concerned Squale has housed an Elabore Grade ETA 2824-2 automatic movement in the Atmos 50. The movement is also gold plated and according to Squale representatives is manually adjusted at the time of encasing. According to Squale all watches in this series have the identical movement. The ETA movement has been performing flawlessly since arrival with negligible gain or loss of time.
As far as the movement is concerned Squale has housed an Elabore Grade ETA 2824-2 automatic movement in the Atmos 50. The movement is also gold plated and according to Squale representatives is manually adjusted at the time of encasing. According to Squale all watches in this series have the identical movement. The ETA movement has been performing flawlessly since arrival with negligible gain or loss of time.
No comments:
Post a Comment