The Alsta Nautoscaph made its debut in the late 1960s, at a time when skin diver watches were gaining popularity among both professionals and weekend adventurers. Housing reliable Swiss automatic movements from ETA and E. Schild, and offering excellent legibility and water resistance, the Nautoscaph became a trusted companion for divers and outdoor enthusiasts.

While other brands leaned on prestige or mass-market appeal, Alsta focused on purpose-built design and quiet confidence. The result was a timepiece that didn’t shout—but stood out.

Contrary to modern naming conventions, ‘Nautoscaph’ originally referred to Alsta’s line of water-resistant cases rated to 30 ATM (999 feet), rather than a single model. These early designs took inspiration from contemporaries such as the Aquastar 60 and Seiko 62MAS, eventually evolving into the cushion-case shape that became the Nautoscaph Superautomatic—made iconic in Jaws (1975).

Some Alsta Nautoscaph cases were even supplied to other watch brands, including Wakmann, which later became part of Breitling's legacy. This cross-brand use underscores the Nautoscaph’s reliability and appeal within the wider industry.

• Rotating bezel for dive timing
• Swiss automatic movement
• Highly legible dial with luminous markers
• Compact yet robust 36mm stainless steel case
• Available in no-date, date, and day-date configurations

The 1960s were a golden era for skin diver watches. Here’s how the Alsta Nautoscaph compared to other notable models:

ZODIAC SEA WOLF

One of the earliest dive watches made widely accessible to the public. Its rugged, compact design made it a favourite among amateur divers.

BULOVA SNORKEL & OCEANOGRAPHER

Known for bold dials and reliability, these watches were designed for lifestyle adventurers and weekend explorers.

ENICAR SHERPA DIVE SERIES

Featuring innovative EPSA compressor cases and inner bezels, Sherpa models leaned slightly more technical but targeted a similar audience.

DOXA SUB

Launched in the late ’60s, the Doxa Sub brought serious diving credentials, including a 300m rating and the now-famous no-decompression bezel. While more specialised, it competed directly with the later Alsta Superautomatic.

SQUALE SKIN DIVERS

Squale supplied cases for many dive watch brands, including their own line of skin divers—very much aligned in style, performance, and pricing with the Alsta Nautoscaph.

TISSOT SEASTAR

Balancing elegance and utility, the Seastar series had broad appeal. Tissot’s brand recognition gave it commercial leverage, though Alsta remained the choice for buyers seeking a more unconventional path.