Favre-Leuba Bathy 50 Metric Depth

There is no doubt that dive watches hold a special place in the hearts of many collectors, ourselves included. 

In fact, Analog:Shift was founded with its eyes set squarely on vintage divers. With their simple designs and robust movements, the tool watches of the 1960s and 1970s were built to accompany the adventurer across the globe and to keep time at its greatest heights, as well as within its darkest depths. Yet for every Rolex Submariner, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, or Omega Seamaster, there were scores of other lesser-known names that ooze charm and merit consideration from the vintage watch enthusiast.

Take this vintage Bathy 50 from Swiss firm Lavre Leuba, for example. Though it may be an obscure model, it features a wildly innovative, little-known feature — an analog depth gauge. That’s right! As you dive, a special hand indicates the depth in meters on the dial. When paired with a rotating dive bezel, this was a wildly useful complication in the mid-20th century, long before the advent of the dive computer.

This particular Bathy 50 from circa 1968 features a 40mm stainless steel case, a bidirectional acrylic dive bezel, an unsigned service crown, and a black luminous dial with stylized handset, depth gauge indicator in meters, and sub-seconds. Powered by the Peseux 320 manually-wound movement, it comes on a new Tropic dive strap and features a strong case with an evenly patinated dial.

If you’re looking for a quirky, functional, and endlessly charming dive watch from the golden era of sports watches, you have to give this one a look!

While not a household name, Favre-Leuba can trace its impressive roots back to the early 18th century in Le Locle, Switzerland. Founded by Abraham Favre in 1737, the company expanded under the leadership of Henry-Auguste Favre and joined with Auguste Leuba in 1815, following which it became popular around the world. However it wasn’t until the mid-1900's that the brand came into its own, creating some of the esoteric and fascinating watches that vintage enthusiasts know and seek today.
After first focusing on precise chronometer-grade timepieces, the brand began experimenting with technologies that would be tasked with adventure and exploration: In 1960, they debuted the Deep Blue, one of the first wristwatches with a water resistance rating of 200 meters. 1962 saw the release of the Bivouac, the first wristwatch equipped with an altimeter, while in 1968, they released the Bathy, the first wristwatch equipped with a mechanical depth gauge. Though the company has made many fine watches in their history, it is these daring designs that cemented it in the hearts of enthusiasts.
Though Favre-Leuba folded during the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s, it was resurrected in 2016. Today the brand lives on, having released a handful of modern iterations of their designs of the past.

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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

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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.

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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.