The VPC Type 39VM, Claimed to be the Thinnest 200m Automatic Dive Watch

Young, independent Dutch brand VPC (Venustas Per Constantiam) returns with its next release, the Type 39VM, following its debut model, the Type 37HW. Founded by Thomas van Straaten, watch journalist at Fratello, collector, and now the founder of the design-driven microbrand, VPC was created around a beauty-through-restraint approach. After setting a standard with its hand-wound everyday GADA watch, VPC now brings its minimalist, function-first vision to a classic category: the dive watch. And it is a thin one, to say the least.

The VPC Type 39VM (short for Viator Maris, or Traveller of the Sea) is a contemporary reinterpretation of the tool divers of the 1950s and 1960s. The focus this time is on comfort, ergonomics, and engineering precision, resulting in what VPC confidently calls the thinnest 200-meter automatic diver on the market, with a total height of just 9.34mm, including the crystal. The recent Mido Ocean Star 39, and its 10.5mm thickness, was already impressive… This is objectively better, at least on the thickness front.

The 200m water-resistant, 39mm case is made from stainless steel, coated to reach 1,800 Vickers hardness to resist scratches and wear. The proportions (47mm lug-to-lug, 9.34mm total thickness) make for an exceptionally slim and wearable diver. The design continues the profile first seen in the Type 37HW, including the distinctive ledge where case and bracelet meet. The 120-click unidirectional bezel with a matte black ceramic bezel insert offers tactile precision and features engraved markings rendered in lumed ceramic for legibility. The screw-down crown and optimised case construction balance thinness and strength.

For this new Type 39VM, VPC offers two dial variants, Graphite (black) and Frost (silvery white), each with a matte, finely textured finish. The applied diamond-cut indices and dauphine-style hands are filled with BGW9 Super-LumiNova, emitting a blue glow in the dark. Designer Samuel Baker, who created VPC’s original “Venustas” typography, also designed the bespoke numerals on the dive bezel, ensuring typographic consistency across the watch.

The VPC Type 39VM is powered by the slim Sellita SW300-1b (an alternative to the ETA 2892), in top-grade, COSC-certified chronometer execution. At just 3.6mm thick, it’s a good fit for the case’s slim dimensions. The automatic movement runs at 28,800 vibrations/hour and delivers a 56-hour power reserve. The Type 39VM dive watch is worn on a custom stainless steel bracelet or a black rubber strap, both of which come with VPC’s single-button quick-release system and tool-less micro-adjust clasp.

The VPC Type 39VM will be offered through a presale system (full up-front payment required), with 300-500 pieces produced. The first batch, 250 units, will be available by invitation on January 14, 2026, with the public launch on January 15, 2026, at 15:00 CET (VPC informs that early access registrations by existing customers and registered followers indicate the first batch to sell out). Delivery is expected within 7-9 months.

Pricing starts at EUR 2,768 (rubber strap), EUR 2,998 (bracelet), or EUR 3,267 (both options), excluding taxes and shipping. For more information and to put down a pre-order, please visit vpcwatch.co.