Compressor Watch Suggestions

[sulak]

I am now interesting in Compressor case watch but can't find a brand that still make the watch with compressor case with affordable price. I know that JLC and IWC are still making them but their prices are above my budget.

Do you have any suggestion ?

[Ozy]

How affordable? like Longines Legend Diver affordable? or cornflake packet toy affordable?

[Taswell]

Since EPSA, the company that made all super compressor cases closed down many years ago you're going to have to search for vintage watches.
Otherwise you're looking at modern super compressor inspired designs.
For something a little less expensive than JLC, these include the Halios Laguna and the discontinued Prometheus Ocean Diver
You could look at kits and made up watches from this French seller ..
watches-mania | eBay
You will often find used examples of their watches on ebay as well.
Here's one ..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LANDERON-XL-SIZE-COMPRESSOR-TWIN-CROWN-DIVER-WATCH-RETRO-AUTO-MUST-SEE-/360483427784?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item53ee7c95c8



While you're thinking of super compressors here are a couple of the the real thing from 1961 and 1966 for inspiration.

[sulak]

Thanks Taswell. I see why all compressor type I have seen mostly vintage watch. The kits you mentioned looks interested.

I also forgot about Longines that Ozy mentioned.

[jdmfetish]

LLD new roughly $2000
LLD used roughly $1500

they come with and without date

[occamsrazor]

Or a second-hand Pleamar (Spanish forum watch)

[jdmfetish]

i grabbed a pleamar about 3 weeks ago as i was browsing the FS section for an LLD
i actually have it on today

love it

also they have marine master by fortis on the bay , all the time
usually run less than $1000

[lexvil]

There are a few "compressor style" watches available but far from common, My new favorite is the Pleamar and at 42mm it fits just about everyone but the lugs are pretty long


Nice thickness or actually lack of thickness, the Hamilton is a bit thinner

I am over the whole giant watch thing for me its 42mm plus or minus 1mm or it has to be titanium

Nice and light even on mesh, I can put this on and not notice it being there unless I look

The Hamilton is sold because the Pleamar is so much better suited to my use, the Hamilton has screw down crowns, fine for the main crown but if you can't adjust the bezel while the watch is in the water it's pretty much useless for me.
The Pleamar comes well equipped in a travel type case, case wrench for the back, loupe, tools for strap changes and just in case you feel the need to go fully retro an acrylic crystal that you can have switched in place of the sapphire one on the watch.

I added a modified Helson mesh and love the way it looks on this watch.

Sadly they only made 199 of these so finding one can be a challenge, I lucked out and found this one at a fair price at the dive watch connection site, it came from Spain where most of them were sold. Mine keeps fantastic time and runs +1/2 sec per day on the wrist.

[argilag]

Legend Diver.



Laguna.



Pleamar



El Buzo.

[caesarmascetti]

I am now interesting in Compressor case watch but can't find a brand that still make the watch with compressor case with affordable price. I know that JLC and IWC are still making them but their prices are above my budget.

Do you have any suggestion ?

If you don't mind vintage this was my choice a Tissot




I was fortunate I picked this up for like $80 or so, and spent another $180 having it restored, it has a perfect crystal now, and it even passed a pressure test