A Fantastic Enicar Ultrasonic 100 Fathoms Dive Watch, Co-Branded with Iconic Scuba Gear Brand Healthways, In Superb Condition and Quite Rare, c.1955

Enicar Watches, a Swiss brand with roots dating back to 1913, is synonymous with precision and innovation in horology. Founded by Ariste Racine, the name “Enicar” is simply “Racine” spelled backwards. The brand gained prominence for its robust and reliable timepieces, catering to adventurers and professionals alike. Enicars pivotal moment came in the 1950s and 60s with the introduction of their Sherpa series, designed for extreme conditions and famously used during Himalayan expeditions.

Renowned for their rugged construction and distinctive designs, Enicar watches often featured automatic movements encased in durable materials. The brand’s meticulous craftsmanship ensured longevity and accuracy, making them sought-after by collectors today. Despite facing challenges in the quartz revolution era, Enicar remains an emblem of Swiss watchmaking heritage. Their timepieces continue to be celebrated for combining functional excellence with a touch of vintage charm.

Whats on Offer

This watch is pretty rare as Enicar’s go and this one is in fantastic vintage condition. An iconic dive watch, the dial bears the 100 Fathoms denotation which equates to a depth of 600ft, a decent depth for a 1950s watch. The dial also bears the co-branding ‘Healthways’, which was a pioneering scuba equipment brand which began its journey in the early 1950s.

Originally a health and wellness company, Healthways recognized the growing interest in underwater exploration and shifted focus to meet this burgeoning demand. In 1954, they introduced their first scuba regulator, the “Scuba,” which became an industry standard and revolutionized underwater breathing apparatuses.

Throughout the 1960s, Healthways continued to innovate by producing a range of diving equipment including masks, fins, snorkels, and buoyancy compensators. Their gear was known for its reliability and affordability, making scuba diving more accessible to the general public. Despite fierce competition from other emerging brands like U.S. Divers (now Aqua Lung), Healthways maintained a strong market presence.

However, by the late 1960s financial challenges led to restructuring and rebranding efforts. Eventually, Healthways’ scuba division was sold off and became known as Scubaproa name that continues to be synonymous with quality diving equipment today.

The dial is superb, those chunky lumed hour plots and corresponding hands give a striking aesthetic and a real presence. The case and unusual crab leg lugs are also in great shape and even though the watch is mid-size at 34mm, it is robust and wears larger on the wrist.

To the case back you will note the Enicar emblem, antimagnetic and incabloc, there is also a brevet/patent number.

The watch is paired with a beautiful leather strap with contrast stitch and looks fantastic, this is a great buy and a very worthy addition to any collection but particularly for those with an interest in historic dive watches.