The Sicura Hexa 400 Marks the Return of a Forgotten Swiss Tool Watch Name

Few now remember the Swiss watchmaking name Sicura. Founded in Grenchen in 1939, the brand enjoyed success during the 1960s and 1970s under Ernest Schneider, producing affordable, unconventional watches that combined unusual functions with bold styling. Sicura experimented with everything from compressor-style divers and jump-hour displays to LED watches, solar-powered and multi-function tool watches, all under the slogan “The Specialist for Specialities”. In 1979, Schneider bought Breitling, used Sicura’s facilities for production, effectively bringing Sicura’s story to an end in 1993, when Montres Sicura AG changed its name to Breitling AG.

Forty-seven years later, the name returns with a cool new dive watch. Rather than reviving one of its more eccentric creations, the brand, now managed by the Netherlands-based D Group with a modest portfolio of watch brands such as Blanchet and Stewart Dowson, but also close relationships with Squale, has chosen one of its strongest historical foundations: the 1968 Diver 400. The new Hexa 400 is a modern dive watch that faithfully borrows the distinctive silhouette and dual-crown layout of its predecessor, with virtually every component updated to contemporary standards.

The robust Sicura Hexa 400 diver

The relatively compact 40mm case of the new Sicura Hexa 400 retains the original’s angular hexagonal construction, yet its execution is considerably sharper and more refined. Made from 316L stainless steel, brushed with polished chamfers, it measures 14mm in thickness and 46mm lug-to-lug. On paper, these are restrained dimensions, but the Hexa 400 has genuine wrist presence and heft. The solid build, broad bezel and integrated bracelet give it the reassuring heft expected from a purpose-built professional dive watch. The sapphire crystal gets both anti-reflective and anti-fingerprint coatings.

Thanks to the screw-down crowns and a screw-down caseback, the case is water-resistant to 400 metres. The external bezel is now a modern 120-click unidirectional design, with a black ceramic insert and improved tactile operation compared to the bidirectional metal bezel of the vintage model. The insert features a 60-minute Super-LumiNova scale.

One of the greatest features carried over from the original is the dual-crown design. The upper crown here controls a bi-colour inner rotating ring (blue-yellow, black-yellow or orange-white, depending on the reference) used to track a second time zone. It is a simple mechanical solution that avoids the complexity of a GMT movement while adding genuine everyday usefulness. Combined with the external bezel, the Hexa 400 offers an unusual combination of elapsed-time measurement and dual-time functionality. The lower crown is for setting the time and date, and winding. On the original Sicura Diver 400, the crown functions were reversed.

Three Dial Variants and reliable mechanics

The dial, available in black, blue and orange, also reflects the brand’s tool-watch personality. It has been cleaned up compared to the original Diver 400, with some text removed and the emphasis placed on legibility. Applied Super-LumiNova-filled indices with a prominent 12 at noon, and broad faceted hands provide excellent contrast against the matte dial.

Powering the Hexa 400 is the Sellita SW200 automatic movement. Delivering hours, minutes, central seconds and date, together with a 38-hour power reserve, this tried-and-tested, robust alternative to the ETA 2824-2 is entirely appropriate for the watch’s purpose. The new Sicura Hexa is worn on a solid three-link stainless steel bracelet, closed with a deployant clasp featuring double push-buttons, a secure safety lock and, importantly, a tool-free micro-adjustment system.

Priced at EUR 1,450, the Hexa 400 offers a distinctive historical design and solid specs, adds a bracelet with on-the-fly adjustment, and signals that Sicura’s return starts on a convincing note. For more, visit sicura-watches.com.