Dan Henry 1975 Pores and skin Diver

Pores and skin divers are at all times enjoyable as they’re usually a extra fashionable tackle professional counterparts (therefore the identify). There isn’t a tough definition, however pores and skin divers are smaller, slimmer variations of bulkier skilled divers with depth rankings between 100 and 200 metres. Some folks choose a vintage-inspired “re-edition” just like the Longines Pores and skin Diver, whereas others gravitate to fashionable interpretations like Dietrich’s SD-1. Pores and skin diving itself is leisure and requires much less gear (if any) to discover shallower depths. Dan Henry already has a powerful retro diver, the 1970 Computerized Diver 40mm, and the brand new 1975 Pores and skin Diver is available in 4 variants with accessible costs. 

The Collector 

Dan Henry isn’t only a man who created a microbrand. Many on this subject discover a horological ardour sooner or later and attempt to fill a “gap out there” with one thing new or modern. Most of the time, nonetheless, microbrand choices are extra of the identical, maybe with uncommon colors or a cool design aspect. The person behind this model has been a collector and watch fanatic from a really younger age. By the point Dan was 10 years previous, he was already buying and selling watches at college and was a critical watch collector by the late Nineties. His assortment in the present day is spectacular by any commonplace, spanning over a century of watchmaking, and he has a devoted web site with photos and descriptions: timeline.watch. 

Though Dan has amassed a large cache of watches, lots of that are uncommon and costly, he’s at all times impressed with the reasonably priced ones that stir the soul with out draining the pockets. It’s a giant a part of why he created Dan Henry Watches, to supply vintage-inspired fashions based mostly on his personal assortment and experiences that almost any fanatic can afford. His present portfolio has chronographs and divers with inspiration from particular factors in historical past – from 1937 to 1975. If there’s anybody with the data and experience to copy watches from particular many years, it’s Dan Henry, and he does it with out the aspect impact of sticker shock. 

A traditional design with attraction

The brushed/polished stainless-steel case of the Dan Henry 1975 Pores and skin Diver is the proper measurement for a retro pores and skin diver at 38mm in diameter (39mm together with the bezel), as no precise Nineteen Seventies fashions exceeded 40mm. The smallish measurement remains to be modern sufficient for many wrists in the present day. At solely 11.5mm in peak, it’s compact and stylish each out and in of the water. A heat acrylic crystal would give it a classic vibe, however a boxed-shape sapphire crystal supplies that old-school look with out the inevitable scratches and scuffs; it’s the 21^st century, in spite of everything. It’s a powerful crystal for an reasonably priced assortment and has all the best distortions at sharp angles.

There are two distinct strains inside the assortment, separated by completely different bezels and a date window with a magnifying lens on the crystal. All have unidirectional rotating diver’s bezels, however the date fashions have Tremendous-LumiNova inserts below sapphire glass, whereas the non-date fashions have metal with engraved scales in black. The 60-minute bezel markings with an in depth 15-minute scale are the identical, though they’re a bit extra legible on the metal variants. The sapphire bezels are available in two colors, black or white, matching their respective dials.

The screw-down metal casebacks have a refined, embossed octopus over a sandblasted background. The guarded crowns are push/pull solely, however water-resistance stays strong for leisure diving at 150 metres. Every watch comes with a 20mm colour-matching FKM rubber strap with a metal pin buckle and quick-release levers. They’re each very comfy and never outsized to assist match smaller wrists (which could be very a lot appreciated). A chrome steel oyster bracelet can also be an choice.

COLOURFUL SMORGASBORD

There are 4 dial colors with two kinds – date and no date – bringing numerous option to the Dan Henry 1975 Pores and skin Diver assortment. There’s a vivid orange or black dial with no date and metal bezel and a white or black/gilt dial with date and sapphire bezel. The general aesthetics are comparable sufficient to maintain them tied collectively – they’re clearly associated and a part of the identical line. All dials have utilized indices with Tremendous-LumiNova inserts, and the hour and minute fingers have lume inserts as properly. The bottom and counterweight of the 2 important fingers match the respective dial color, whereas the seconds hand is orange on all however the orange dial, which is black. Whether or not you dive or not, these are fashionable and reasonably priced all-occasion items, and every has a special vibe.  

Excessive(er) Beat Miyota Engine

Powering the gathering is the Miyota 9015 computerized. It’s a well-liked, dependable workhorse that launched in 2009 with fascinating options like hacking seconds and a 4Hz beat price. It’s additionally hand-windable and simply obtained at an reasonably priced value. It has 24 jewels, beats at 28,800vph (4Hz) with a 42-hour energy reserve. Capabilities embody central hours, minutes, hacking seconds and date (the latter is just hidden on two fashions). Accuracy is rated at -10/+30 seconds per day, which is corresponding to an entry-level ETA or Sellita calibre. It would additionally final a lifetime with periodic upkeep. 

Ideas

Dan Henry watches are extra than simply fashionable, run-of-the-mill microbrand choices. They’re well-thought extensions of a world-class watch assortment, bringing particular eras of watchmaking to lovers at reasonably priced costs. All Dan Henry collections are fairly actually dated, with this one being 1975. The color decisions are definitely numerous, with completely different moods to select from. I’ll say that the no-date black mannequin is my favorite, though I are typically conservative with my watch kinds. The boxed-shape sapphire crystal is a shock given the worth and has a retro aptitude. Bezel clicks are rock strong, match and end are glorious, and there’s no difficulty with legibility, though the black sapphire bezel tends to scrub out in sure gentle. All Dan Henry 1975 Pores and skin Diver fashions are great worth for cash, and also you gained’t discover a higher period-correct diver for much less.

Availability & Value

The no-date/metal bezel fashions retail for USD 430, whereas the date/sapphire bezel fashions are a bit extra at USD 450. All include a colour-matching FKM rubber strap, however an oyster-style metal bracelet is obtainable for USD 80 (USD 45 for a further rubber strap). 

Dan Henry can also be providing 1975 quartz variants with 36mm and 38mm case diameters. They use a Seiko VH31 hybrid mechanical (mechaquartz) with a sweeping seconds hand as an alternative of impulse ticking like a typical quartz. You get the look of an computerized with an accuracy ranking of +/- 15 seconds per thirty days, which is admittedly additionally cool. 

For extra data and to make a purchase order, please go to Dan Henry’s web site.