1960 Longines Super Compressor Ref 7042-3

Patented in 1956 by Ervin Piquerez SA (EPSA), the SuperCompressor case possessed a unique sealing system that set it apart from other dive watch cases of the day. When exposed to higher water pressure, the spring-loaded case back of the SuperCompressor case sealed even tighter. Another innovation with the SuperCompressor was its a three-pronged approach to securing the bezel. Whereas the bezels of most dive watches of the period rotated in both directions--running the risk of the diver miscalculating the amount of air left in his tank--the bezel of the SuperCompressor included an internal timing ring, only rotated in one direction, and locked.  The diver must rotate the bezel with an additional crown, giving the SuperCompressor case its distinctive twin crown appearance. While not the best innovation in practice (due to the difficulty of manipulating a crown with diving gloves), the SuperCompressor case gained popularity. Dozens of other brands released dive watches with SuperCompressor cases, the most notable being Jaeger-LeCoultre, Universal Genève, and IWC.

ESPA ceased production of the SuperCompressor case in the 1970s. Of all the companies that used it, it is those by Jaeger-LeCoultre, Universal Genève, and Longines that remain the rarest. Often imitated, often duplicated--to paraphrase the old commercial--the Longines SuperCompressor diver remains a classic.

This specific Longines Super Compressor Ref 7042-3 has all of the key elements that we love here at Craft and Tailored about vintage dive watches The case back adorned with the skin diver carrying a spear gun and the dual crown EPSA designed case is something unique and special.  The inner rotating bezel, the original cross-hatch crowns, screw-down case back with divers insignia are all elements that embody super compressor style dive watches from the golden era of timepieces.