Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Squale 1521 Marina Militare Limited Edition
For its 65th anniversary, Squale partners once again with the Italian Navy.
An emblematic name for the dive watch community, Squale has gained great credibility with its solid, no-nonsense models and recognition from military forces. Created in 1959, when Charles Von Büren registered the Squale name, this year, the brand celebrates its 65th anniversary. A few months ago, Squale released the Master Titanium 120 ATM, an appealing dive watch mixing modern materials with classic looks. For the second chapter in the celebrations, the brand treats us to a military take on its most emblematic model with the 1521 Marina Militare Limited Edition.
Besides its objective visual appeal, there’s quite a lot to tell about this watch, which is the sum of several important historical elements for the brand. First of all, we’re talking about a 1521, the most emblematic watch of the brand. Indeed, this collection is a faithful tribute, or should I say a continuation of the classic “Von Büren Case” that has long been used by Squale, but also by other brands such as Blancpain with its military Fifty Fathoms watches. Asymmetric, equipped with a recessed crown at 4 o’clock, with flat flanks, topped by a large unidirectional bezel and capable of resisting pressures of 50 atm, it became a classic.
This watch is also a tribute to the military past of Squale and its connection with the Italian Navy – a.k.a Marina Militare. Back in the 1980s, Squale supplied watches based on the 1521 model to the La Spezia Scuba group, but only a handful of the original watches survive. As military-grade tools, the pieces were returned and destroyed, as per protocol – luckily, the G.O.S Museum in La Spezia has kept one.
The new Squale 1521 Marina Militare is an evocation of the past military models housed in the classic Von Büren case. At first, it might look similar to the Master Titanium, sharing the same overall design. The main difference is the water-resistance; the 1521 has a 50atm rating, while the Master offers 120atm / 1,200m. In both cases, more than enough even for professional divers. This also comes with benefits, such as a thickness of 12.5mm in this Marina Militare context vs 16mm for the Master. The watch measures 42mm in diameter and 48mm in length.
The 1521 Marina Militare is presented with classic features, such as a screw-in steel caseback, a screw-down crown at 4 o’clock, straight lugs and flat flanks. It is made from 316L steel, with brushed surfaces and polished bevels. The case is topped by a 120-click unidirectional bezel, with a black aluminium insert, a complete 60-minute scale, framing a flat sapphire crystal. And note that the white and orange scale is luminous.
Orange is the main colour, a tribute to both the Italian Navy and the famous orange minutes hand of Squale watches. The dial of this version has a more elegant feel than most models of the brand, with a sunray-brushed black base and applied steel markers. The orange Marina Militare sits proudly at 6 o’clock, and the same colour is used for a rather cool-looking precision minute/seconds track with thin, slightly elongated markers. The white hands are filled with either white or orange lume, and there’s a date window at 3 o’clock – just like the vintage models.
Inside the case is a reliable automatic movement, the Sellita SW200, an alternative to the ETA 2824-2. It beats at 4Hz and stores 38h of power reserve. The 1521 Marina Militare is delivered in a flycase with two straps, one in carbon-like microfiber with orange stitching and an additional black rubber strap.
A limited edition of 500 pieces, divided in two batches, the Squale 1521 Marina Militare is priced quite reasonably at CHF 1,340 (incl. taxes). For more details, please visit squale.ch.
