Enicar Aquagraph

Enicar is a brand that has been picking up traction in the vintage watch market, but the quality of their watches certainly explains their recent popularity.

Driven by a desire to produce robust watches that could be worn in any environment, Enicar launched a line of wristwatches for the sporting gentleman and called it the Seapearl.

In 1956, members of a Swiss expedition to the summit of Mt. Everest strapped Enicar Seapearl watches to their wrists. Following that feat, Enicar renamed their Seapearl line to Sherpa. Over 100 different models of Sherpa were released, for every conceivable sport—above or beneath the waves, high up in the mountains, or cruising around the curves at your favorite local race track.

1960 saw the first Sherpa in chronograph form, the Sherpa Graph. With a large 40mm case (made especially for Enicar by Ervin Piquerez SA, or EPSA, makers of the SuperCompressor case), the Sherpa Graph was legible enough to be used by race car drivers. F1 legends Stirling Moss and Jim Clark wore Sherpa Graphs, the former even appearing in ads that proclaimed, “The Enicar Sherpa is definitely the watch I have always wanted.”

But the size, as well as the waterproof case, made the Sherpa Graph an ideal choice for another kind of sportsmen: divers.

So in 1966 Enicar released a new version of Sherpa Graph with a rotating bezel, a common feature of other dive watches. This feature allowed divers to “record either time elapsed or time available by setting the cursor and the bezel.” Enicar trumpeted the chronograph’s suitability for aquatic recreation, announcing in ads that it was “for men whose lives depend on it.”

Early versions of Aquagraph featured paddle hands like those found in the Sherpa Graph, which later transitioned to lollipop hands later in the model’s run. The bezel was also very similar to the bezel of the Sherpa Dive, with a red triangle at the 60 minute mark and numerals at 10, 20, 40, and 50 minutes; however, later on in the model’s run, the bezel gained numerals at every five minutes.

As with the Sherpa Graph, the Aquagraph came with a variety of dials, from the silver-on-silver to the white-on-black “reverse panda” configuration featured here.

And inside beats the ubiquitous (but still amazing) Valjoux 72, a robust hand-cranked movement that disproves the old adage “familiarity breeds contempt.” With over 750,000 units being sold, to it’s not hard to see why brands from Rolex to Fortis used the calibre. Nowadays, the presence of a Valjoux 72 within a watch’s case is a tremendous selling point.

Coming complete with outer box and pamphlet, this Aquagraph combines tremendous looks with a bonafide aquatic heritage, making it an ideal all-weather companion. 

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.