Pierre Kunz Spirit Diver Depth Gauge Watch
Jul 2, 2009
By Ariel Adams for ViaLuxe.com
The new “Holy Grail” complication for luxury mechanical diving watches is an included depth gauge – applied in various techniques. Many of the established luxury brands who make diving watches have a depth gauge model (such as IWC, Panerai, and Jaeger-LeCoultre). However, in this instance Pierre Kunz’s very first diving watch will be fitted with a depth gauge module. As you can see, the depth gauge will accurately measure depths up to 80 meters (the majority of divers will not exceed this depth) and is placed as a module on the left side of the 44mm wide decorated steel (or Blacktop steel) case with a rubber strap. The watch itself is water resistant to 100 meters. The little touches on the watch are where the luxury comes in from the extremely fine detailing and finishing to the designer dial. Applied hour markers, a multi-level dial, and a quirky subsidiary seconds disc, make for a fantastic style. The dial is done in a material known as texalium (black or silver) or in the pictured lacquered “diver’s flag.”
Inside the watch is a PK Calibre 2001-1219B, base ETA 2892-A2 automatic movement. Despite the addition of the depth meter tube, the watch is still just 13.75mm thick which is very reasonable for a diver’s watch. Despite troubles at Pierre Kunz parent company Franck Muller, it is good to see the release of new models from the company that are so marketable, and with interesting novelties such as this. This could mean that there is a good chance the brand will survive in ‘the end.’
Ariel Adams publishes the popular luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.