As interest in Enicar grows, the more it becomes clear that there’s a lot we don’t know about the brand. Production volumes, reference numbers, names of executives and designers, it’s basically a blur. Thank god for internet, social media and the forums. Now we can at least share the things we DO know about Enicar. Yes, I’m looking at you, Watchuseek, Uhrforum, Bold Watches and Sons of Saturn.
I’ve collected information from various sources that will clarify questions about case references, calibers and more. Please feel free to contact me if you want to share your knowledge or add information to this page. My aim is to regularly update this post, so it can be a share point for Enicar collectors.
References on case back
On the back case of your Enicar, there are various letters engraved. This following list is taken from Sammelthread Enicar Uhren on Uhrforum.de.
- A = Automatic
- a = All Stainless Steel
- B = Seapearl case, bayonet, 100% atm water resistant to 5 atm
- C = Calendar
- CH = Chronograph
- E = Electromechanical (Landeron 4750 series Electric Movement)
- M = Brass, chrome brass 20micron gold plating
- N = Sherpa case, 100% water resistant to 20 atm 200 m water depth
- P = Plaque, (Plated) 20 micron
- G = Gold
- S = Sweep second (Central)
- T = Rotating bezel with timing
- X = Rotating bezel
- Brevet + 314962 = EPSA Super Compressor Case
- Brevet + 313813 = EPSA Compressor Case
Calibres
Eric Qiao, the initiator of the enormous thread on Watchuseek called “The joy of collecting vintage Enicar watches” wrote some additional information about this calibers overview:
Enicar used 4 digits system at first, then later dropped the first digit for some movements, the most common of these are: 1140 and 1160, later became 140 and 160. This change in numbering had no impact on the actual movement, but could help you narrow down the date of the watch more accurately.
Although Enicar was a movement manufacture, in order to cut down cost and to meet demands in the late 70s and 80s, they did buy movements from other movement manufactures, notably FHF and ETA. (Some pre 70s models were also fitted with AS movements.) In the case of 3rd party movements used, the caliber usually starts with a 2, ie. 2161 (FHF manual) and 2165 (ETA auto).
Brands, sub brands and model names
Enicar launched a number of sub brands for marketing purposes. In this list, that was very kindly provided by Enicar collector Romuald Kociuba the trademarks that were registered by the Enicar company are mentioned by date. Thanks again Romuald!
Early Seapearl and EPSA
- 1953: New Enicar factory and ultrasonic cleaning process established in Oensingen
- April 10, 1953: Seapearl name registered by Enicar
- March 1955: earliest Enicar ultrasonic with EPSA brevet 98243 bayonet type compressor case dated (EPSA-STOP)
- July 16, 1954: Enicar received its first certificate of accuracy for the AR1010 17 jewel movement
- May 1955: Earliest ultrasonic with brevet 98243 compressor case marked Seapearl on the face
- July 1955: Earliest ultrasonic with brevet 98243 compressor case and N code reinforcement for Healthways 100 fathom
- September 1955: Earliest ultrasonic automatic with Enicar movement (AR1034) in brevet 98243 compressor case
- 1956: Enicar advertises Seapearl brevet 98243 for diving
- January 1956: Earliest Enicar Seapearl 600 with reinforced N code brevet 98243 compressor case
- August 31, 1956: EPSA bayonet type super compressor case brevet 314962 is patented
- June 1957: Earliest seapearl automatic using ETA 1258 automatic
- October 1957: First Seapearl with EPSA brevet 314962 super compressor case with diver’s helmet logo
- Seapearl watches with EPSA brevet 314962 bayonet super compressor case have the same waterproof rating as Sherpa Dive watches
Waterproof or not?
A word of advice: don’t take your Enicar into the water. Even if you have a dive watch on your wrist, these watches are forty, fifty or sixty years old, so you can’t trust fittings, closure rings and crowns to still be water proof. But when sold new, there was an easy way to see if your Enicar could join you for a day at the beach. On the case back, one of these three engravings were present. These were introduced in the late sixties. Before that, you could read on the case back if the watch was waterproof or not. But you just can’t compare that to a jumping shark that wants to take a bite out of Saturn, can you?
Crystals
