17. januar 2015

Cordura Sea-Gull vintage divers watch

This is my second buy from eBay. The dial reads in full: Cordura 17 Jewels Selfwinding Sea-Gull Waterresistant T Swiss Made T. The price was a very low 102 Euros.

In my view the Cordura Sea-Gull is a true classic 70s diver with a distinct styling.

The Cordura Sea-Gull has a shiny, brass plated case, not steel, this was a everymans watch. It has a Submariner-style external divers bezel, but with originally protruded numbers and lines. A fixed internal scale inspired by watches with internal bezels. And a purple dial that ages really well with almost no fading.

Some pictures from the ad on eBay:

Measurements:
Width w/o crown: 41,7 mm
Width with crown: 44,0 mm
Length: 45,2 mm
Depth: 14 mm
Lugs: 20,2 mm

Compared to most watches from the 70s it is large, but actually it doesn't wear that big on the wrist. I have changed the strap to a rubber divers strap with notching.

The movement is a Baumgartner Frères S.A. BFG 158 31/7, automatic with day and date. Full specifications in Ranfft

Nice articles about service of Cordura Sea-Gull's from the Watch Guy here and here. A commenter tells that he bought his Sea-Gull in 1975 and that it came shipped in a container filled with water! Probably to underline that it was a divers watch. 

Strangely Mikrolisk doesn’t list ”Cordura” in their database. But everybody on the internet seems to agree that Cordura was a brand from Sicura – and the evidence is clear. The back of the case with the two seahorses is unmistakenly from Sicura. Furthermore exact the same model can be found with "Sicura" on the dial.

Some wristshots from the net:
A really hires photo:

One guy has collected an entire flock of Cordura Sea-Gulls:
He tells that even if most Sea-Gulls look exactly the same there has been slight variations in the design and choice of movements. Originally the Cordura Sea-Gull came with a tropic strap.

Fun fact. Sicura even made a tiny Cordura Lady Sea-Gull measuring only 29 mm in width:


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