Stowa Diver, Cal. PUW 14.61, Men’s Diving Vintage Watch, 1968

Vintage Stowa Diver Diving Vintage Watch from 1968, men’s automatic movement with PUW 14.61 caliber, featuring a matte black dial with gilt baton markers and a bidirectional bezel, offering a timeless blend of utility and vintage charm.

Stowa Diver 1968 — First impression Automatic PUW 14.61

The 1968 Stowa Diver embodies the practical elegance of late-1960s tool watches, combining robust engineering with understated style. Measuring 36 mm in diameter and crafted in stainless steel, it houses the dependable PUW 14.61 automatic movement. Its compact proportions, paired with a slim bezel and well-balanced dial, create an appealing presence on the wrist. Originally designed for underwater exploration, it offers clear legibility, a date complication, and a distinctive mid-century diver aesthetic. This piece bridges vintage Swiss watchmaking sensibilities with purposeful design, making it an ideal choice for collectors seeking authentic period-correct dive watches.

Stowa Diver - Matte Black Baton Marker Dial

The matte black dial is an exercise in clarity and restraint. Slim gold-toned baton hour markers are filled with aged luminous material, providing a warm patina that enhances its vintage appeal. A fine white minute track circles the perimeter, aiding precision timekeeping. The “Stowa” signature at 12 o’clock and “25 Rubis Automatic” text at 6 o’clock are crisply printed, maintaining perfect visual balance. The date window at 3 o’clock is practical yet unobtrusive, set with a white date wheel and black numerals to ensure easy reading under various lighting conditions.

Stowa Diver 1968 - Sword-Style Hands

The hands reflect the tool-watch ethos of the era—slender sword-shaped hour and minute hands with luminous centers offer quick recognition in dim environments. A fine central seconds hand, tipped with a luminous dot, glides across the dial, complementing the baton markers. The polished finish of the hands catches ambient light, ensuring excellent visibility without compromising the watch’s understated character.

1968 Stowa Diver — Stainless Steel Case

The stainless steel case, with its 36 mm diameter and 44 mm lug-to-lug span, delivers a balanced fit suitable for daily wear. Brushed upper surfaces contrast with polished chamfers, underscoring both durability and refinement. The bidirectional friction bezel, featuring a black insert with clear white numerals and a lume pip at 12 o’clock, reinforces its diving heritage. Absence of crown guards around the screw-down crown is characteristic of late-60s Stowa divers, lending it an authentic vintage profile. Drilled lugs facilitate quick strap changes, allowing versatility without compromising originality.

Heritage of the Stowa Diver in Late 1960s Design

In the late 1960s, Stowa was already a respected name in precision timekeeping, recognized for creating functional wristwatches that balanced affordability with Swiss mechanical reliability. The Diver line, equipped with the PUW 14.61, represented a pragmatic approach to underwater timing—aiding both recreational divers and professional users. This model reflects the era’s shift toward more compact dive watches, favoring versatility over oversized designs. Today, it serves as a collectible reminder of a time when diving instruments were crafted with both ruggedness and elegance in mind, preserving the heritage of mid-century Swiss watchmaking.

Stowa Diver — Condition, Originality & Collectibility

This example remains in excellent condition for its age, retaining all original components including the case, bezel, dial, hands, and movement. The watch has been fully serviced and is in perfect working order, supported by a 12-month warranty. Its NATO strap is a practical modern replacement that complements the vintage tool-watch character. With worldwide shipping available, this piece is a compelling opportunity for collectors seeking an authentic late-1960s diver with mechanical integrity and enduring design appeal. Explore our diving vintage watches with gilt baton markers and PUW 14.61 caliber for similar historic timepieces.