Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Squale 2001 Marina Militare, Developed for the Italian Navy, Available for the Public
A military-issued dive watch from a storied brand.
When it comes to dive watches, some brands might be sort of a niche for a wide audience, but still carry a great legacy for the diving community. So is Squale, a brand that celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2024 and was created by Charles Von Büren, a renowned case maker. Since then, several models have stood the test of time, such as 2001 collection, a watch that was once selected by Jacques-Yves Cousteau as a gift to the first officer of the Calypso. Its origins date back to the 1960s, when it became one of the first professional dive watches to feature the crown positioned at 4 o’clock. Recently, this cushion-shaped dive watch was selected by the Marina Militare, a.k.a the Italian Navy, for a special version reserved for military personnel. But the Squale 2001 Marina Militare is now available as a limited edition for the public.
This once military-issued version of the 2001 dive watch follows the reintroduction of the model in 2025. Compared to the Squale Master, the 2001 comes in a barrel-shaped case with hidden lugs and was the first watch to incorporate the “push to release” technology, allowing the bezel to be locked after setting the dive times. A solid watch with 100ATM water-resistance, it paved the way for iconic collections like the Squale 2002 and 2003. The Squale 2001 Marina Militare, however, isn’t the same watch as the classic editions launched last year. It has its own dimensions and design cues.
Still built around a cushion-shaped case with the crown at 4 o’clock, the Marina Militare edition is a more solid piece that measures 41.5mm in diameter and 13mm in thickness, and has a decent length of about 47mm. No other Squale references exist with this exact geometry outside of the Marina Militare version. Not a variation, but a one-of-a-kind project… It is, however, still equipped with the signature bi-directional bezel with push-to-release rotation system, and a sapphire crystal insert. It is here, at the request of the Navy, rendered in blue. It features a fully-graduated 60min scale with luminous inserts for enhanced legibility. As a true dive watch and part of the 2001 collection, it is water-resistant to 600m and features a screwed solid steel caseback with dedicated engravings.
There are more Navy-inspired features on this Squale 2001 Marina Militare… And that has to do with the dial, which is once again unique to this version. The centre of the dial is here done with a sunray-brushed pattern in a dark blue tone. It is paired with domed applied indexes that ensure maximum legibility even in low-visibility underwater conditions. Classic for Squale, the hands are white with SLN, except for the all-important minute hand, painted in orange. The Marina Militare logo proudly sits at 6 o’clock.
Inside the case is a tried-and-tested movement, the automatic Sellita SW 200-1 in Elaboré grade. This alternative to the ETA 2824 runs at 4Hz and stores about 38 hours of power reserve. The watch comes equipped with a 19/16mm blue rubber strap (again, unique to this edition) and a stainless-steel bracelet is also included in the box.
When the 2001 Marina Militare entered production in 2025, it was distributed exclusively through military channels and made available only to personnel of the Italian Navy. Now, under an agreement established with the Italian Navy, this specific combination is also available to the public in a limited run of 500 individually numbered pieces. It will be priced at CHF 1,750, EUR 1,990 or USD 1,965. For more details, please visit squale.ch.
