When it comes to the one that started it all, the Deep Sea Special holds a special place in dive watch lore. Originally intended as a dive watch test instrument that was strapped to the outside of a diving vessel to record the effects of high pressure on a dive watch and to collect the prized record for the watch that had been to the deepest point in sea and lived to tell the tale.

The official documentation for the watch is vague as it wasn’t intended to be produced as a commercially available watch. Our research showed that there were 3 different versions for the watch and we have documented it here. We however only made two homages, the DSS1960 and the DSSD. The DSSD1960 was the first version we did as a homage to the one that was used in 1960. The main difference between them is the tall dome glass which we made out of plexiglass as that was possibly the original material used, to keep the weight manageable and to make a sapphire equivalent was going to be very expensive.

The construction is also very different between the DSS1960 and DSSD. The case shape is curvier, the structure of the crown and crown guard is different, the endlink protrudes above the level of the lugs, is more angular and the endlinks/ crown tubes are plated in yellow gold. Only 5 pieces of this iconic watch has been produced and comes supplied in a wooden collector’s box and a black leather nato strap with gold plated hardware.

The DSS1960 may not be the first watch you reach for in your collection as an everyday wearer, but is a must for the serious dive watch collector either just as a conversation piece or to finally add to the collection.  Now you are able to complete your dive watch collection and finish the timeline for the progress of dive watches of that era.