1993 issued Precista Royal Navy diver - rare watch
Rare issued watch - very good condition
£3150.00
Out of stock
CWC supplied divers watches to the MoD from 1980, onwards, and still do to this day in the form of the SBS diver.
However, for a few years during this period, small numbers of divers watches were also procured from Southern Clock and Watch Company ('Southerns'), who at that time owned the Precista Brand. They supplied G10s in 1982 and 1984, but in 1982, 1988/1989 and 1993 supplied divers watches to the MoD. There were three different designs - the 82 having an automatic movement and the others quartz. The 1982 and 1993 designs were later re-created and produced by Timefactors, which acquired the Precista brand when Southerns went out of business.
The 1993 design has an asymmetric case, similar to the Gallet navigator watches (Adanac and Marathon) but has a much chunkier metal rotating bezel, giving the 40mm watch a much heavier and more muscular feel. The watch also features, as you would expect, screw back and screwdown crown. It also has a bullet-proof 3mm mineral crystal - the thickest of any RN issued diver. The watch is powered by the reliable and maintainable ISA1198 quartz movement.
With only around 300 issued and far fewer still in circulation, this is a very rare watch indeed.
This example is in very good original condition and recently serviced as described in the condition report.
The watch is supplied on a good quality Admiralty Grey 20mm heat-bonded NATO-type strap
Overall the watch is in very good original condition. There are some small marks to the case and surface marks to the case back, but both in overall very good conidtion. It should be noted that the case back markings on the '93 Precista diver are quite small and faint, which is completely normal for this watch, but this example has quite well defined markings. The 3mm thick crystal has been replaced and is in unmarked condition. The original crystal has some marks but is in fair condition and will be supplied with the watch. The dial and hands are near perfect with very nice buttery/buff-coloured tritium on the dial. The bezel insert is in very good condition with no significant marks or wear.
The watch was fully stripped, cleaned and serviced in July 2025.
The original ISA 1198 movement was in near perfect condition and was fully stripped, mechanically and ultrasonically cleaned using waterless solutions and hot air dried. The movement was rebuilt and lubricated using Moebius oils. Images of the movement rebuild are included in the listing. The watch hacks and sets from the crown correctly and the crown screws down tightly. The unidirectional bezel rotates very nicely with a lovely smooth action and nice soft clicking sound, having been removed and cleaned prior to refitting. The case back gasket was also replaced and greased and a new 395 battery was fitted.
The watch is complete with the correct black plastic spacer ring.
Please examine the images to assess cosmetic condition for yourself. The images form an important part of the description.
The watch is absolutely suitable for everyday use, but it is vintage watch so is not recommended for sports or use in extreme conditions. The watch has not been pressure tested so water resistance is not guaranteed. This watch is covered by our non-waterproof 6 month guarantee.
Issued: Yes
Issue details: UK, Royal Navy/Royal Marines
Date of manufacture: 1993
Rarity: 300 issued (only 100 estimated to be left in circulation)
Movement: ISA 1198
Diameter: 40mm
Lug width: 20mm
Hacking: Yes
Case back: Screw down
Screwdown crown: Yes
Bracelet: 20mm Admiralty Grey heat-bonded NATO-type strap
Other features: Unidirectional rotating bezel
MoD issue (RN)
One year of issue only in this variant - very rare watch
ISA 1198 movement
Recently serviced
Good original condition
Supplied on 20mm heat-bonded Admiralty Grey strap
6 months non-waterproof guarantee
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