65 Years of Squale: Master Titanium 120 ATM

Community of enthusiasts and convinced “Squalists” are you ready for the anniversary of the year? Let’s dive into it!

In the deep, romantic bond between man and sea lies the strength of Squale, a Swiss brand with an Italian heart that is one of the leaders in the dive watch sector. Founded in 1959 in Neuchâtel by Charles and Helene Von Büren, it soon became a reference for the professional diver segment. Throughout history it also played the role of supplier, starting the production of cases for brands such as: Blancpain, Tag Heuer and Doxa in their respective Fifty Fhantoms, Spirotechnique and Sub 250 Sharkhunter (still recognisable today by the iconic shark printed at 6 o’clock on the dial or visible on the caseback). 

The 1960s and 1970s witnessed the launch of Squale’s “stepping stones”. The Supermatic skin-diver (with iterations of the series 200 with steel bezel, 250 with acrylic insert and 300 with anodized aluminum bezel), the Master 1000m (with asymmetrical case, two-tone acrylic bezel inserts and applied indexes), the series 600 (forerunner of the 2002, with a “barrel” case equipped for the first time with a helium valve and a “push to release” bezel system) and the 1521 model (with a squarer case, crown at 3 o’clock and more pronounced, sharp lugs-which was followed by an update leading to the design still used today). 

Years of investment, research and development earned Squale record citations. In fact, they are the “tool watch” par excellence on the wrists of champions and legends of the freediving/diving world including: Jean Tapu, Jacques Mayol and the Italian Enzo Maiorca, several times world record holder in freediving (record of 64 metres depth achieved in 1967 with the faithful Squale Master on his wrist).

The collaboration between the Von Büren family and the Maggi family, the brand’s historic Italian distributor, began in the 1980s. This bond is consolidated thanks to numerous activities carried out in Italy (such as performance tests carried out on the island of Giglio) and over time leads to a sincere esteem and friendship between the respective families. Times are difficult (as this transition coincides with the renowned “quartz crisis”) and with the founder’s seniority, ownership is passed to the trusted Maggi family. The family treasured the brand’s heritage and values, and in the 2000s decided to relaunch Squale watches on the market, starting with the production of the most iconic models.

65 YEARS OF SQUALE: TRADITION AND INNOVATION

2024 marks 65 years of innovative creations, technical challenges, timeless designs and prestigious collaborations. 

To mark the anniversary, Squale chooses to pay tribute to the world’s best-known asymmetrical case design: the “Von Büren Case”, with its crown at 4 o’clock, straight lugs and squared right side. 

From March until December, the brand will take us on a historical excursus to rediscover the models made with this specific case, from ’59 to the present day. Each step of this “topography” will focus on a specific model, and during this tour, novelties from the Master, 1521 and Matic collections will be presented. Each novelty will be associated with a didactic/divulgative pathway that will allow enthusiasts to learn about the reasons and watches that have made Squale the benchmark of underwater watchmaking.

SQUALE MASTER TITANIUM 120 ATM

In the wake of the innovative (and limited) Squale Master for the divers of the Comsubin (Comando Subacquei e Incursori), the brand, on the occasion of its 65th anniversary, presents the new Squale Master Titanium 120 Atm. 

The timepiece reinterprets the “Master” series, the iconic collection introduced in 1965 with a 42mm diameter, 49mm lug to lug case and a thickness of 16.15mm. The 4mm thick sapphire crystal, the screw-down crown at 4 o’clock and the helium escape valve (on the case at 9 o’clock) complete the watch and make it capable of withstanding all diving activities up to 120 atmospheres.

The model has a Super-Luminova® Old Radium luminescent coating applied to the bezel (in brushed ceramic, with 120 unidirectional clicks), the dial and the hands, nostalgically reminiscent of its tritium predecessor. 

The three-layer “sandwich” dial is black, with a brushed finish and applied hour markers. Also on the dial, at 3 o’clock, is the usual date window while at 6 o’clock we find the familiar shark logo print along with the words “120 Atmos” and the red “Master” line.

The absolute novelty accompanying the Squale Master is the bracelet. Custom-designed for the “Von Büren Case” and made entirely of Grade 5 titanium, it is fitted with pins that make it easy to remove the links and adjust the length. The buckle, also made of titanium, has a deployant clasp with safety lugs that make it easy to open and close. 

CONCLUSION AND PRICE

The automatic movement in its entirety is the robust Sellita SW 200-1 Elaboré and the set also includes a 20mm lug rubber strap with a brushed titanium buckle bearing the Squale logo. The price of the first (non-limited) Squale in titanium is €. 2,590 and it too, with its extremely high-performance features, challenges the concept of the “Exit Watch”. 

By Luca Barone