Anker KR Diver, Cal. UMF 24, Men’s Diving Vintage Watch

High-Contrast Diver Dial with Red and White Minute Markers

The dial is the strongest visual feature of this Anker KR. A deep black center is surrounded by a broad white minute track, with paired red-and-black accents marking the hours and large stylized Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9. Broad luminous blocks between the numerals continue the functional sports-watch layout, giving the dial excellent visual contrast even before the rotating bezel is considered.

ANKER and the small KR emblem are positioned below 12 o’clock, while the simple three-hand display keeps the center of the dial relatively open. Broad luminous-filled hour and minute hands are joined by a slender central seconds hand with a rectangular luminous section near its tip. The combination of stark white graphics, red accents and black background gives the watch a much more assertive appearance than the restrained dress watches commonly associated with inexpensive German mechanical production of the same era.

39 mm Diver-Style Case and Black Rotating Timing Bezel

At approximately 39 mm across and 44 mm lug to lug, the watch has substantial proportions for a late-1970s hand-wound model. The broad case uses sharply defined, sweeping shoulders around the round dial opening, while brushed upper surfaces contrast with polished case sides. Its relatively short 44 mm length keeps the watch compact enough to sit securely on the wrist despite the broad overall profile.

The black rotating bezel carries a clear elapsed-time scale with a triangle at zero, prominent 10-minute numerals and fine intermediate markings. Together with the oversized crown and high-contrast dial, it gives the watch an unmistakable vintage diving-watch character. No specific original depth rating is confirmed for this example, so it is best understood as a period diver-style sports watch rather than being assigned an unsupported water-resistance specification. Present-day water resistance should not be assumed without pressure testing. Similar designs can be found among our vintage diving watches.

Ruhla UMF 24 Hand-Wound Movement — Fully Serviced

Inside is a movement from the Ruhla UMF 24 family, one of the characteristic mechanical movement ranges produced by Uhren- und Maschinenfabrik Ruhla in East Germany. The family uses a traditional pin-lever escapement and operates at 18,000 vibrations per hour, reflecting the straightforward, durable construction for which mass-produced Ruhla movements became known. The exact UMF 24 sub-variant is not assigned here because several versions were produced with differing layouts and specifications.

The movement has been completely serviced and is currently running at approximately +9 seconds per day under present test conditions. That figure represents its current measured performance rather than a permanent accuracy guarantee. A 12-month movement warranty is included. Buyers interested in similar traditional mechanical watches can also browse our manual-wind vintage watches.

Anker KR and the Link Between West and East German Watchmaking

The KR marking is associated with Karl Rexer of Pforzheim, a West German case manufacturer and watch business that distributed watches from East German manufacturers from the late 1960s onward. Surviving Anker KR watches are documented with Ruhla movements, making the combination of Anker branding and UMF mechanics historically consistent with that cross-border commercial relationship during the divided-Germany era.

This 1978 example retains its original watch components and combines that industrial background with unusually strong visual design: a broad sports case, black timing bezel, graphic red-and-white dial and compact hand-wound movement. The fitted black NATO-style strap is a modern wear component and complements the tool-watch character without being presented as original to the watch.