The Compressor Case: History, Design, and Legacy

by Brent Robillard Introduction Among vintage dive watches—and tool watches in general—there’s a certain silhouette that tends to catch the eye—and more often than not, it features two crowns, no crown guards, and a minimalist dial with an internal rotating bezel. It’s a look that screams mid-century function-forward cool, and chances are, it’s based on what collectors affectionately refer to as the “compressor case.” But … Continue reading The Compressor Case: History, Design, and Legacy

Off the Cuff: Spinnaker Bradner

The Bradner takes its name from American physicist, Hugh Bradner. During his time at the University of California, Bradner was credited with inventing the neoprene wetsuit. The buoyant, flexible material would revolutionize recreational diving by using an ambient layer of water, trapped between the diver’s body and the interior wall of the neoprene, to keep the wearer warm. Continue reading Off the Cuff: Spinnaker Bradner