Enicar "Supertest"

The Enicar Watch Company is a name that causes people to scratch their heads, probably because it is not immediately recognizable. Enicar was founded when Artiste Racine (Racine Watch Co.) spelled his name backwards and created a timeless brand that has been recognized for its high quality for over 90 years. They were situated in La Chaux de Fonds in Switzerland right in the middle of Swiss watchmaking. They were exporters of watches to Europe & Russia and in 1914 were among the first to use Radium for glow-in-the-dark dials and hands...a real innovation at that time.

Enicar was using movements made by Adolphe Schild (AS) a well known manufacturer, but due to successful sales increases the firm expanded and moved to Langnau. Racine was giving attention to the production of rugged military watches that were in great demand. By the mid 1940s, they had engineered their own chronographs and finally their own automatics by the 1950s.

The "Sherpa" (in reference to tough and resilient local packers of the expedition) was a real winner in their line-up and were named after the 1956 Swiss Himalayan expedition to Everest which relied on Enicar timepieces. The expedition members all wore Enicar watches that could withstand the harsh mountain environs.

With the breakthrough of the Sherpa models, the Enicar company began their "golden years". 1957 Enicar made headlines as a chronometer (the Ultrasonic Sherpa) were attached to the helm of the ship Mayflower II, this voyage was an Atlantic crossing of 50 days and the watch survived without any mechanical problems or leakage.

In the 1950s, Enicar had the slogan, "Precision time in space, on the earth and over the seas". Some say that Enicar was the first watch ever to been taken to the top of Everest and not the Rolex Oyster that Sir Edmund Hillary worn on his expedition in 1953. Because of the expedition not being documented properly Enicar could not claim to be the first to the top and tried again with the team of 1956.

This particular Enicar, "Supertest" is one that is very hard to find...it is an asymetrical that will really provide excellent timekeeping and that will turn heads. It is a 23 jewel movement (very high grade) in a stainless steel case that measures 34mm wide (sans wings), by 40mm lug to lug, by 10mm thick (including the crystal) and it takes a 18mm band.

Once you put it on your wrist, you will find yourself looking in its direction more often than to just tell the time. It is very special! Our watch makers have it running, winding and keeping time just as it did when it came across the sea back in 1962. I don't know what the test standards are but this one is a "Supertest"....don't miss it.

Father Time Antiques
2108 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
773-880-5599
Father Time Antiques