During the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s, watch brands were dying left and right. Luckily, recent years have seen some of these old companies revived, just like Triton, whose Spirotechnique was among the most expensive divers of the ‘60s, at a time when the category was really booming with luxury options (consider the Rolex Submariner or the Omega Seamaster). Needless to say, the Spirotechnique was dwarfed in popularity by its more iconic contemporaries.
In 2015, Triton came back to life thanks to a couple of watch enthusiasts. However, until now, we have yet to see the resurrection of one of its most emblematic models.
The Birth of the Spirotechnique
Made for its namesake company La Spirotechnique (known as Aqualung today), a SCUBA equipment brand founded by famed explorer and oceanographer Jacques Cousteau in 1946, the Triton Spirotechnique became a cult favorite for many divers in both U.S. and French navies. It was developed by Jean René Parmentier, a former French Air Force colonel, who invented its protected crown system at the 12 o’clock position. This is accomplished via an articulating lug connection bar that runs above it, as you can see in the picture at the top of the article.
Triton Spirotechnique Reissue Basics
While the original Spirotechnique was made in France, the reissue is Swiss-made. Sized up from the 37mm case of the original, the 39mm stainless steel case features a unidirectional bezel with a lumed 60-minute scale on the black sapphire insert. Just like the ‘63 model, this one also boasts 200m of water resistance and a box-shaped sapphire crystal over the dial.
From an aesthetic POV, the watch reminds me of a Seiko Prospex diver, which actually debuted two years after the Spirotechnique but has obviously garnered more of a pedigree over the years. Available in two variants, with either Super-LumiNova C3 applied indices or vintage-looking Old Radium Super-LumiNova painted indices — both over black lacquered dials, however the former features a sunray finish. Another oddity of this watch is the date display, which alternates colors from red and black depending on whether the number is odd or even.
This time around, the watch is powered by a Triton G100, which utilizes a La Joux-Perret G100 automatic movement with 68 hours of power reserve. Lastly, the watch is strapped with a black tropic-style rubber strap with large rally-style holes down the center.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 39mm
Case Thickness: 12.25mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 200m
Movement: Triton G100 automatic (LJP G100 base)
Band: Black tropic rubber strap
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
Part of Triton’s permanent range, the Spirotechnique is available now at €5,200 (~$5,660). Head over to Triton’s website to learn more.
Recap
Triton Spirotechnique Reissue
Triton revives its Spirotechnique diver from 1963, which was commissioned by Jacques Cousteau’s SCUBA brand and features a unique top-side crown guard.
