Pre-Owned Favre-Leuba Bathy 50 Metric Depth 40990223/AS04611

WHY WE LOVE IT

There is no doubt that dive watches hold a special place in the hearts of many collectors, ourselves included. 

In fact, Analog:Shift was founded with its eyes set squarely on vintage divers. With their simple designs and robust movements, the tool watches of the 1960s and 1970s were built to accompany the adventurer across the globe and to keep time at its greatest heights, as well as within its darkest depths. Yet for every Rolex Submariner, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, or Omega Seamaster, there were scores of other lesser-known names that ooze charm and merit consideration from the vintage watch enthusiast.

Take this vintage Bathy 50 from Swiss firm Lavre Leuba, for example. Though it may be an obscure model, it features a wildly innovative, little-known feature — an analog depth gauge. That’s right! As you dive, a special hand indicates the depth in meters on the dial. When paired with a rotating dive bezel, this was a wildly useful complication in the mid-20th century, long before the advent of the dive computer.

This particular Bathy 50 from circa 1968 features a 40mm stainless steel case, a bidirectional acrylic dive bezel, an unsigned service crown, and a black luminous dial with stylized handset, depth gauge indicator in meters, and sub-seconds. Powered by the Peseux 320 manually-wound movement, it comes on a new Tropic dive strap and features a strong case with an evenly patinated dial.

If you’re looking for a quirky, functional, and endlessly charming dive watch from the golden era of sports watches, you have to give this one a look!

OVERALL CONDITION

Case is in excellent, strong condition overall showing normal signs of wear consistent with age and use. Black Tritium dial with depth gauge and red accents is in equally excellent condition, showing even patination throughout with matching handset. Unsigned service crown.