Face Off: Vintage Super Compressors

A recurring type of watch that seems to keep appearing in our weekly Market Watch(ing) series are vintage super compressors. On and off the wrist, they are one of the best looking vintage dive watches with a design that still holds up today. A super compressor is a design that was patented by case manufacturer Ervin Piquerez S.A. (EPSA). The name refers to this case’s feature where, because of the spring-loaded caseback, the case actually becomes sealed tighter as water pressure increases. While that design trait isn’t immediately perceptible, the trademark dual crowns at 2 and 4 with inner rotating bezel is the identifier for most watch enthusiasts. Several years ago, many vintage super compressors could be easily had for under or around $1,000. Well, apparently the secret is out. Decent examples are now seen for several thousand dollars depending on condition and rarity. A vintage IWC Aquatimer or JLC Polaris are in a different class altogether and can easily exceed many vintage Rolexes in price. I’m going to try and keep things a little more reasonable this time and compare some classic yet affordable vintage super compressors. There are countless options out there but here are just a few examples.

Longines 7150-1 — Photo courtesy of Watches to Buy.

Longines has a fine history of super compressor watches. So much so that they left their design essentially unchanged when they released their Legend Diver a few years ago, an outstanding modern super compressor. On that note, their vintage diver reference 7150-1 is one of the best looking vintage super compressors. It’s easy to see why Longines left the design almost entirely intact. The balance and proportion between the hands, markers, minute track, and bezel is just about perfect. The dial is clean with just the right amount of text — not cluttered, but not boringly sterile. At 42mm in diameter, it’s on the larger size for watches of that era, but fits in perfectly with today’s standards. Fortunately, the slim case design and curved lugs allow for it to wear nice and low and will look good on nearly any wrist. The downside is the price. I’m starting to see excellent examples exceed $6,000. I think the reputation of the modern reference has had an effect on the vintage piece and increased awareness and demand — not to mention Longines’ increasing popularity on the vintage market in general.

Wittnauer Super compressor – courtesy WUS member, Glenn-N

Wittnauer is one of my favorite lesser known vintage brands when it comes to dive watches. I’m a huge fan of the 7004A on which the new Longines Heritage Divers 1967 was based, but it’s their super compressor that first attracted me to the brand. At 36mm, it’s the right size for a vintage watch from the ’60s. Inside is a 17-jewel caliber C11KAS movement which shares its DNA with the Longines cal. 501. Although the Wittnauer looks similar to the Longines, that’s not a bad thing. You can get your “poor man’s 7150-1” at a fraction of the cost. There also seems to be a flood of these on the market recently so you’ll have plenty of options. Try to pay around $1,500, although nice examples are starting to approach $2,000. That’s still a fairly good deal for a vintage dive watch that looks this good. As far as a combination of price and cool factor goes, this one is hard to beat.

Benrus Ultra Deep – from modernvintageclassicwatches.com

Although the case is essentially the same as the others, the dial is what sets the Benrus Ultra Deep 666 apart from the crowd. It looks straight out of the ’60s with the maxi style dial and quasi-cathedral hands. I’m also partial to any watch with the number of the beast on the dial. Prices for the Benrus have continued to increase as well. A few years ago they could be had a for a few hundred dollars, but they are now around $1,500 and can easily come close to $2,000 depending on condition. The ETA 2472 is accurate and reliable and will serve you well. Compared to the Longines, the 36mm case size shared with the Wittnauer is small by today’s standards. I say less is more, and it will wear well on most wrists. I’m also partial to the Benrus because it’s an American company, and this watch, along with several others they produced, have been seen on the wrists of service members throughout several conflicts.

Enicar Sherpa Super-Dive – courtesy watchtime.ch

Enicar is great for their sheer variety of super compressors. They’ve produced both oversize and midsize models, GMTs, and watches for the Polish Navy. For this article I’ll stick with the Sherpa Super-Dive. The Super-Dive has a 42mm case, inside of which beats Enicar’s AR 1145 movement. This is a quality movement that boasts accuracy and reliability. The Super-Dive is on the larger end of watches within this group, but like the Longines above, the slim case profile mitigates the heft of the diameter. This dial is a little more unique than the Longines or Wittnauer. It features markers only, with no numbers, which helps to keep a clean utilitarian look. The tritium dots are also offset. Note the hexagonal 6, 9, and 12 markers on the outside of their corresponding applied markers, while the square plots of the other hours lay on the inside. Occasionally, a gray hue develops on the inner bezel which helps to frame the case and provide a slight contrast against the black dial, making it really stand out. It’s a captivating watch to look at. If you’re looking for a more subtle size, Enicar’s Super-Divette is essentially the same watch with just slightly smaller dimensions at 36mm. Finding one of these Enicars on a beads-of-rice bracelet is key, as the bracelet rounds off the killer look.

Super Compressor Caseback — Photo courtesy of Scubawatch.org

Remember to look out for a few things. There should be the trademark diver’s helmet on the inside of the caseback. Check to see if it’s worn away from overpolishing or gone all together because of replacement. The crowns should have a crosshatch design (the Enicars had a crosshatch with their logo laid on top of it). It is common to see these replaced with sterile version. Regarding the dial, ensure the patina is even throughout and watch out for lume plots that have fallen of altogether. Many of the vintage dials have raised plots at 3, 6, and 9 which can occasionally come off the dial, specifically with Enicars. Tropical dials seem to be popular but I would stay away from a tropical dial that looks completely burnt, unless of course you’re into that. Unfortunately, I have been seeing more and more dials that have been re-lumed. To me, nothing ruins a good vintage dial more than a terrible lume job.

Now, which one should you choose? I have no idea but I’ll tell you which one I’d choose. I like the Longines but they are becoming price prohibitive for what they are. It’s a great watch, but for that kind of money, you’re in vintage Sub or Sea Dweller territory. Additionally, the modern Legend Diver from Longines is such a faithful rendition of the original, I’d be more inclined to purchase that, actually use it to dive with, and have plenty of money left over. The Benrus is great for those that want the most quirky and unique dial. In a sea of super compressors, nothing else looks like it. The price is still reasonable, but if it continues to climb, the juice wouldn’t be worth the squeeze. The Wittnauer has also been subjected to steady price increases. It also looks just a little too much like the Longines (of course they were part of Longines by the ’60s). Like I mentioned, that’s not a bad thing. It just takes away from it being more unique, a quality which I like in my vintage divers. Above, I said it was hard to beat, not unbeatable. For my money, I would go with the Enicar Sherpa Super-Dive. Among the examples here, the Enicar has the right combination of looks, size, proportion, with a quality reputation from the manufacture. The dial layout has the rare combination of a vintage design while still looking just as good today. This package is all available at a price that is still a bargain when you consider what you’re getting. If you don’t like the Super-Dive, they have several other super compressors, all of which look great. Fortunately these, among many others, are all great watches that have carved out a unique niche within the vintage watch market. You’ll be happy with any of these choices. I will caution you that Enicars in general have been getting a lot of attention (like those highly desirable Sherpa Graphs), so get in while the gettin’ is good.

Super-Dive – courtesy WUS member, ckot

This is obviously just a small selection of great vintage super compressors. There are many more references from Bulova, Droz, Vulcain, Hamilton, and many more. Luckily the super compressor is a vintage dive watch that has remained affordable and is still as cool as ever. It’s influence is still apparent today, and we’re seeing more modern brands release their version of this classic case. Since the production numbers were high but the demand has been much lower than other vintage dive watches, there are countless pieces still out there to choose from. Whichever you choose, my advice would be to wait for a quality example and try not to jump on the first one you find on eBay. Good luck with your search and be proud of having an affordable vintage diver that looks like a million bucks.

Featured image courtesy of our friends at Luxuwrist.com.

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