{"product_id":"iwc-aquatimer-super-compressor-as03025","title":"IWC Aquatimer Super-Compressor","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy We Love It\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen it comes to vintage dive watches, the first generation IWC Aquatimer is a model that often gets forgotten - despite the popularity of their current collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduced in the 1960's (and still thriving), the Aquatimer was IWC's first dive model making it a significant and foundational piece in the brand's history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Aquatimer Reference 812 features a 36.5mm EPSA Super Compressor case and a rarely seen two-tone dial with silver center and black inner-rotating dive timing bezel. Fitted with correct Jenny-signed crowns, this particular example was treated to a full factory servicing in Schaffhausen a few years back, ensuring reliability and authenticity. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe can't stress the rarity of this model. In fact this is only the \u003cem\u003esecond\u003c\/em\u003e example we've ever had the opportunity to offer. And while other surviving Aquatimer examples bear the scars from a lifetime of hard use, ours has blessedly escaped that fate. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAs IWC’s first dive watch, the Aquatimer holds a special place in the hearts of vintage watch enthusiasts. IWC came to the dive watch game late, over a decade after Rolex and Blancpain dipped their toes into that vast sea. In fact, with the Fifty Fathoms’ endorsement by Jacques Cousteau, and the Submariner's as-then unsurpassed depth rating of 200m, there seemed little room for improvement in dive watches. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBut IWC quietly started developing a prototype of a dive watch in 1964; three years later, the Aquatimer would emerge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFor its design and internals, IWC took its popular anti-magnetic watch, the Ingenieur, as inspiration. Indeed, in appearance the Aquatimer owed much to the Ingeniuer, having a similar dial and bracelet. However, IWC built the Aquatimer with its aquatic destiny in mind, fitting it with a thicker bezel and sealing the case with a patented technology.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eMoreover, the case itself was the very same SuperCompressor design used by brands as diverse as Longines and Jaeger-LeCoultre. The SuperCompressor, conceived by EPSA, relied on a spring-loaded case back to keep water out. IWC further improved this with a sealing technology of its own, resulting in a watch that was as robust as it is handsome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAlthough IWC would go on to improve and perfect the Aquatimer, and still produces it to this day—even releasing a reissue of this exact design a few years back—the original is a qualified classic… and a rarely seen one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIn fact, it’s only the second time we’ve been able to offer one for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"IWC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":19665792729175,"sku":null,"price":15800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/IWC_AQUATIMER_AS03025_6.jpg?v=1553871843","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/iwc-aquatimer-super-compressor-as03025","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}