It has been a year that most of us want to forget. And even though the COVID-19 crisis has been dominating the watch world in 2020 (dramatic sales figures by the traditional brands, the end of Baselworld, no Evening with Enicar or any other get-togethers) there will be no further corona related stuff in this blogpost. No Trump either. I will reflect on 2020 by sharing some Enicars posted on Instagram, my favorite fastfood medium. This is sort of a top 10, or top 11 to be precise, without a ranking. The watch posts I picked stood out, at least in my opinion, because they showed grails, unseen models or funky Enicars that ticked my boxes. Enjoy. I certainly did. This is the best of 2020!
White dial Ultradive
The Enicar Ultradive may be the most sought after Enicar dive watch of the moment. It is smoking hot. Even Ed Sheeran owns an Ultradive nowadays. The EPSA compressor case with bayonet closing system, the eye popping crown protection, the (double) lollipop secondhand: there is so much to like here. What makes this particular model even better, is the white (or is is silver?) dial. Only a handful of this variation can be found online. Matt S: you are one lucky bastard!
Sherpas Chronometer
The owner of this watch has another entrance in this list. Off course I’m talking about mister Nico Henke, better known as @_jimjupiter. In September he posted this amazingly rare Sherpas from 1956. For a short time, Enicar renamed the Seapearl model that was tested in the Himalayas ‘Sherpas’. A year later, this top model line would be named ‘Sherpa’, without the ‘s’ at the end. That alone would probably be enough to earn a spot in this overview, but the model Nico found is the ridiculously rare ‘Chronometer’ version. Can it get any better than this? I doubt it.
Red bezel Sherpa GMT
For guys with a modest wrist size, the 36mm case Enicar models are a great fit. But that is not the only reason I fancy this Sherpa GMT. The 24-hour hand is a nifty complication and it matches with the red pointer ring very well. The AR1126 movement in this rubyrotor 30 jewels variation doesn’t come along often. But it is the silver & red chapter ring that really deserves mentioning. I have only seen two of these in my whole life.
White dial Sherpa Graph MkIV
The Sherpa Graph MkIV may not be the rarest of the Enicar Valjoux 72 powered sports watches, but boy, it sure is a cool and funky piece. The white dial version seems to be a popular piece, because I have never seen so many pop up as in 2020. Many of them in pristine condition, like the one that belongs to @ctwatchguy. The other one belonged to Gianvittorio Molteni, better known to the Enicar community as GVM. Gianvottorio sadly passed away in 2020. His knowledge of vintage watches and enthusiasm for the Enicar brand are missed…
Full set NOS Aquagraph
Talking about pristine chronographs, the one above is what I would call a vault find. This 1968 Enicar Aquagraph looks stunning. Finding it with box, tags, guarantee card and original bracelet is what I hope will happen to me one day. It will ruin your savings, but will definitely make your year.
Perfect hands Sherpa OPS
Just as impressive as the earlier discussed Ultradive is this gorgeous Sherpa OPS, posted by @rarevintagewatches. The white baton hands and double lollipop secondhand are a perfect fit with the minute markers and the inner bezel. Even the often battered PVD case (although it is not the PVD as we know it) still looks solid. Who knows what this professional dive watch has seen in its 55+ years life.
Mesmerizing Quartz Privilege
This Enicar Quartz Privilege perfectly illustrates why collecting vintage Enicar watches is so much fun. This is final days Enicar, early 80s, and it is outspoken, bold and utterly crazy. The Mad Max inspired case finish and checkerboard dial balance between kitsch, an LSD trip and visionary design. This one was sold by @orangeclockwork007.
Two tone dress watch
Here’s another square case Enicar with a beautiful two tone case finish, posted by @cannonpinion. I love the engraved bumper, the stylish markers and the dauphine hands. It is the kind of watch that stays below the radar, sold often for a very affordable price. I missed the auction of this one by a few hours… Tough luck, but there are enough vintage Enicars for all of us 🙂
1964 Tokyo Olympic Super Graph
The best find of 2020? Probably. This Enicar Super Graph was worn by Swiss rifle shooter Hans Simonet during the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. As you may notice, the dial and outer bezel have been modified to create the perfect watch for the Swiss competitors. You can read the full story on the watch and its first owner on the website run by Nico Henke: www.enicar101.com.
Birks branded Big Eye
Enicar was a supplier for private labels. Birks Jewellery Store in Canada (“the Tiffany of the North”) has carried many high-endwatch lines over the years including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Tudor and Omega. They also sold watches with Birks, Rideau or both names combined on the dial. For example, the Sherpa Super-Divette was available at Birks as a Rideau watch. A number of chronographs and Star Jewels models were also re-labelled for Birks from the mid-sixties to the early seventies. This seldom seen Birks branded Enicar ‘Big Eye’ Valjoux 23 chronograph, posted by @chronopassion68, is a perfect example.
Sherpa Graph filmmaker tool watch
I have been a film buff since the age of 7. Finding a vintage tool watch with a professional filmmaker connection, is my collectors wet dream. Hardcore Enicar collector @horology_biology sourced the ultimate grail in August 2020. This variation of the Sherpa Graph MkIII has a particular scale where usually a regular tachyring sits. The bezel is marked in both frames and feet of film used in a time period. More information (nerd alert!) can be found on www.thespringbar.com and on Mats weblog www.vintageenicar.com.
Let’s wrap it up. 2020 was not the best year for many people out there, me included. But it was a great year for vintage Enicar. Stay safe, stay sound and keep rocking those Enicars!