Vulcain Reintroduces the Skindiver Chronograph, an Underwater Jewel of the 1960s
In 2023, Vulcain reignited interest in its historic dive watch lineage with the return of the Skindiver Nautique. Now, the Le Locle-based tradition brand brings back its sibling: the Skindiver Chronograph, water resistant to 200 meters and available in two stunning versions in the sought after panda style and reverse-panda style.
The Skindiver Chronograph traces its lineage to the golden age of underwater exploration. Vulcain, which made history with its 1961 Nautical, the first dive watch to incorporate an alarm function and featured a decompression table on the dial, has once again tapped into its archive of professional-grade diving instruments from the 1960s. Though visually distinct from the legendary diver, this newcomer beautifully captures Vulcain's signature retro aesthetic while meeting modern standards.
The watch is offered with either a matte black dial with brown Super-LumiNova or a matte silver dial with white luminescent coating, ensuring legibility in low-light environments. The chronograph layout is traditional yet refined: a running seconds sub dial at 9 o’clock and a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, the latter accented in either red or orange depending on the dial configuration. Protected by a domed sapphire crystal, the dial also displays a rare decimal scale, which divides each minute into 100 parts instead of 60. It is framed by a knurled, bidirectional bezel fitted with a black ceramic insert. A tachymeter scale, which can be used to measure distances, offers additional functionality.
The Skindiver Chronograph is housed in a 39.7 x 13mm mm stainless steel case with mushroom-style pushers. It is powered by the ETA 7753 self-winding movement, which operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and offers a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. This tried-and-tested caliber ticks behind a closed case back with an engraved diver.
Complementing the case is a selection of straps: black or brown leather, or a solid stainless steel bracelet, each secured by a 316L stainless steel buckle.
Pricing starts from CHF 2,900 or approximately $3,570 when converted to USD.
To learn more, visit Vulcain, here.
