Enicar Sherpa OPS

Enicar is a lesser known brand in vintage watch collector circles — but it shouldn't be. During the golden age of sporting wristwatches (1960s-1970s), this Swiss firm produced some incredibly high-quality and beautiful timepieces including divers and chronographs. With Heuer- and Omega-esque looks, Enicars often stand out for their colorful dials and unique case designs — especially those that use the unique SuperCompressor case popular in the 1960s.  This piece, a Sherpa OPS, stands out primarily due to its PVD-finished steel housing. Amongst the first of its kind (alongside the Heuer Monaco "Dark Lord" and DOXA Army), the OPS is based on the Sherpa 600, but was geared towards a decidedly military/outdoors aesthetic. Finding one in excellent condition with its correct box, furthermore, is no simple feat — but we managed to do it! Bearing the signs of a life well lived, this example features its original PVD finished 40mm Super Compressor case patented by Ervin Piquerez SA (EPSA) with large crown guard assembly, twin signed crowns, an acrylic crystal, and a screw-down steel caseback. Its dial is in stunning condition: At the periphery, a rotating internal dive bezel with white and orange accents is joined by large rectangular tritium hour indices; a luminous 'baton' handset with an orange central seconds hand; and a 'roulette' date window at 3 o'clock. Powered by an Enicar-signed automatic movement, it comes paired to a black Tropic dive strap and includes its correct red inner box. OPS models are very rarely seen and are perhaps the most collectable model from the Enicar range — we don't know when we'll see another, so don't miss a chance to snap up this honest example!