Hamilton Super Compressor 600 Diver

Never heard of a ‘Super Compressor’ before? Check it out — this is dive watch history, right here:

The Super Compressor name refers to an innovative case design that utilizes a ‘compressor’ system to increase watertightness the deeper a watch was submerged. As the atmospheric pressure increased, the case back compressed, pushing on the gaskets and creating a tighter seal.

Despite the logic of the design, the compressor case wasn’t any better at preventing water intrusion than the garden-variety screw-down crown — in fact, it was less effective in many models — but due to their good looks, compressor cases proved to be wildly popular during the 1960s. Eager to get into the burgeoning dive watch market, many of the best Swiss brands turned to EPSA (Ervin Piquerez, S.A.), the leading manufacturer of compressor cases at the time, for cases within which to house their divers.

This particular Super Compressor is from Hamilton, which had moved its American manufacturing base to Switzerland in the 1960s.

Dating to circa the early 1970s, it features a stainless steel Super Compressor case, an acrylic crystal, twin, cross-hatched crowns, a polished bezel, and a sunburst silver Tritium dial with applied indices and a date window at 3 o’clock, a matching handset, and a inner, rotating black timing ring. What's more, this piece comes with a correct, multi-link stainless steel bracelet with a signed locking clasp.

Awesome.

While the technology of the Super Compressor may be superfluous considering the simple, effective design of the contemporary diver with screw-down crown, vintage Super Compressor watches themselves continue to fascinate collectors with their history and good looks. This piece marks an important era in dive watch history, and does so for a fraction of the cost of many other notable divers.

Try this one on, and we’ll sure you’ll find it as compelling as we do!

Hamilton is an inseparable strand of the tapestry of American horological history.
The brand is perhaps best known to modern collectors for their historically significant tool watches: robust field watches issued to the U.S. military from the Vietnam War to the 1980s, bulky precision chronographs, or divers in EPSA SuperCompressor cases.
But during the Golden Age of American watchmaking, Hamilton was master of all trades, from railroad timers to dress watches fit for kings. Their catalogs from the 1930s and 1940s were filled with elegant and innovative pieces that have all but faded to obscurity. A casual glance at these Art Deco masterpieces gives the picture of a company whose mass-production methods belied its heightened sense of style and design.

During WWII, Hamilton completely converted its production to accommodate Department of Defense contracts, supplying marine chronometers, wristwatches and more to the American armed forces. So prolific and important was this output that the firm was awarded the Army-Navy “E” Award for excellence in manufacturing in 1943. Its place in the annals of exploration and flight is no less storied or important, having provided timepieces to numerous expeditions over the years.

Today, Hamilton is part of the Swatch Group, a large Swiss conglomerate of brands such as Tissot, Certina and Omega. Though the firm is no longer American-owned, it continues to produce modern versions of some of its most classic and enduring designs.

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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.