Name: ELVIA Day/Date Military Divers Watch with Sapphire Crystal and Quartz Movement
SKU: ELVIA-QZ-DIV
Availability: InStock

SKU:B ELVIA-QZ-DIV

ELVIA ** first made military specification divers watches of this type and case design in the 1970s for the FrenchB MN Marine Nationale (French Navy) and this watch is very much in the spirit of their original watches.

ELVIA were an officially authorized military contractor to theB Marine NationaleB alongsideB Beuchat,B Tudor, Rolex,B Heuer, Luxia,B MN Auricoste,B Triton and ZRC, hence ELVIA was among a large number of companies which either used or continue to use this case pattern to the current day such as ourselves and CWC.

The current ELVIA watches just like the original watches in the 1970s and 80s areB closelyB based on a caseB pattern originally made by the famous Swiss caseB making firmB MRP S.A, other thanB a few minor updates the case is much the same as in the late 1970s, MRPB was named after its founders M archand, R oth and P etignat, it was founded in 1953 and bought by Georges Hauert in 1979. The entire share capital now belongs to Mr Patrick Hauert so unlike many other major companies in the watch industry this company is still independent and going strong, the company website is hereB https://www.mrp-sa.chB InB addition toB ELVIA otherB watchesB using this case pattern have been producedB by ourselves and companies such as Precista, NilaxB andB Heuer whoB were the predecessors to Tag Heuer and made the Heuer 844-1 in 1979,B Chronosport another manufacturer made theB Sea Quartz 30 – worn by Tom Selleck in the Magnum PI TV show, moving toB otherB present manufacturers CWC also continue to use this caseB designB as doB various other companies. It’s interesting that few people realise how historically significant this case pattern is nor how well it has stood the test of time having been in continuous production for well over 40 years.

The watch measures 45mm including the crown and 40mm excluding the crown although it uses the same 20mm military nylon webbing strap as many other current military divers watches which enables you to choose from a vast variety of NATO strap variants.B

Dimensions and Specification:

Casing: Stainless Steel with non reflective light sand blasted finish
Crown: Screwdown Locking
Water Resistance: 30ATM/300m/1000ft
Movement: Swiss RondaB 517 Day/DateB
Battery Life: 45 Months
Dimensions: Width Inc Crown 45mm (Exc Crown 40mm)
Thickness: 12mm
Lug to Lug: 46.5mm
Crystal Diameter 31mm
Crystal Type: Sapphire with non reflective coating *
Luminous Paint Type: Luminova
120 Click Unidirectional Bezel
Weight: 89.5g
Strap:B Elasticated Nylon French Military Webbing Strap and alsoB a standardB NATO patternB strap.
Spring Bars
Guarantee: 24 Months

* A lot of people ask us what are the benefits of sapphire crystal over a standard mineral crystal? The answer is that synthetic sapphire is by far the best material for watch crystals because it is very strong and also shatter and scratch-resistant, these characteristics make it very appealing to military and security personnel, police officers, and people who lead active outdoor lifestyles, these groups account for over 70% of our customers. To get things into perspective we find that when clients have accidents with watches resulting in a cracked crystal over 90% usually watches with mineral glass crystals, even factoring in that we use hardened mineral crystals they still do not come close to sapphire for durability under adverse conditions. The reason that sapphire crystals are so strong is that after the sapphire glass is manufactured it is also heat-treated to remove its internal stressesb which can cause weaknessb it is then made into the watch crystals and two layers of anti-reflective coating are applied, interestingly sapphire crystal is now used on the latest iPhone. Of course, sapphire crystal comes at a price hence you find that it’s normally only fitted to higher-end watches.

B ** MWC are official distributors forB ELVIA watches.B