ZRC Ressurects Its 1960s Securicode Dive Watch

ZRC (Zuccolo Rochet & Cie) isn’t a household name in the dive community like Rolex, Doxa, Blancpain or Omega (or even Seiko, if we cross a few time zones), but it certainly has a place in history. Responding to the French Navy’s request for deep dive watches in 1958, the brand developed the S1 diver for testing in 1959. This became ZRC’s first watch after approval, the Grands Fonds 300 (ZRC focused on bracelets and straps prior). The Securicode followed in 1965 and won the top prize at the 11^th Inventors’ Exhibition in Brussels with its unique way of providing advanced immersion times at various depths with a central dial calculator. Later editions were also made using more traditional dials. To celebrate its 120^th anniversary, ZRC has rebooted the Securicode name with three dive watch models faithful to the original S1 aesthetic. 

By the mid-1960s, the Grands Fonds had its crown positioned at 6 o’clock that just slipped under a cutout in the bracelet so it couldn’t be worn without the crown fully secured for a watertight seal. The new Securicode models don’t adopt this design as ZRC already has a modern Grands Fonds collection, but it exhibits other familiar dial and bezel elements that can be found in the late 1950s S1 and even the 1965 Securicode. 

The three 2024 models are separated by case materials, but all are 39mm in diameter with sapphire crystals featuring a blue anti-reflective coating. It’s a good, conservative size for a wide variety of wrists. Water resistance is rated at 300 metres for pro diving (although tested to 800m) and the screwed programmed deformation case back has two parts like a submarine airlock – a clamping ring and shielded case back. This leaves the case back itself free of the case threads, allowing it to independently seal with the gasket under pressure without directly impacting the case. Innovative yet not entirely necessary for a modern diver.

There are two satin-finished stainless steel models with circular brushing separated by the unidirectional bezel inserts – one is steel and the other is black ceramic. Both bezels have simple diver’s marks with lume. The all-steel model comes with a retro steel expansion band, while the ceramic bezel model has a black tropic-style FKM rubber strap. 

The third model is a limited edition of 200 pieces and combines the black ceramic bezel insert with a bronze case, while the case back remains steel. It’s fitted with a vegetal-tanned leather strap with faux patina and off-white stitching. The bezel marks and dial elements take on a gold tone to match the bronze case. All models meet the ISO764 standard: 4800 A/m for magnetic resistance. 

The brass dials are black with ZRC’s S1-style, Magnum-type hour/minute hands and a lollipop seconds hand, all with lume inserts. Applied, faceted indices mark the hours with a double index at 12 o’clock, while small lume dots sit just inside for nighttime visibility. A detailed minute/seconds track sits on an angled flange at the perimeter. Dial element colours are silver on the steel models with green lume and gold on the bronze model with tan lume. A framed date window sits at 3 o’clock with a dial-matching background on the bronze and steel/ceramic models, but the all-steel model is time-only. 

Powering the new ZRC Securicode models is a Sellita SW200-1 Elaborated automatic, which is a clone of the ETA 2824-2. This Elaboré grade is adjusted in three positions for an accuracy rating of +/-7 seconds per day. It has 26 jewels, beats at 28,800vph (4Hz) and comes with a 38-hour power reserve. Functions include central hours, minutes, hacking seconds and date. The all-steel model features the no-date variant (SW200-1 b).

All models are available to order now at three different prices. The all-steel model is CHF 2,490, the steel/ceramic bezel model is a bit more at CHF 2,690 and the bronze model is CHF 3,290, and limited to 200 pieces. For more information and to place an order, please visit ZRC’s website.