Alsta · The Collection
Nautoscaph
Built for the adventure.
Shaped by the sea, made for everything beyond the shoreline. A dive watch for those who go further, and deeper.
Before theicon.
Before the Superautomatic, there was the Nautoscaph — a slimmer, more elegant expression of the dive watch.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Alsta became known for its distinctive skin divers.
Before the arrival of the Superautomatic, the company focused primarily on smaller, thinner waterproof sports watches designed to accompany their owners across land, air and sea.
These watches were known as skin divers: slimmer and more understated than professional dive watches, while still offering the waterproofing needed for life beneath the surface.
Rugged and waterproof, yet sufficiently thin and elegant to wear beneath a shirt cuff.
Always an early mover when new ideas and trends began to emerge, Alsta captured the spirit of the era with the release of its first waterproof sports watch in the mid-1960s.
The Nautoscaph emerged during a time when the possibilities for human endeavour seemed almost limitless.
Apollo astronauts were heading into space and plans to reach the moon were becoming reality. James Bond was travelling the world, while Jacques Cousteau was introducing audiences to previously unimagined creatures beneath the oceans.
For these adventurers, accurate timekeeping was essential. The wristwatch became part of the equipment itself — a practical tool, but also a symbol of exploration and discovery.
At the same time, snorkelling and diving were becoming increasingly accessible as leisure activities.
A growing audience wanted to take part in this new world of adventure — and to own the equipment that represented it.
Dive watches became part of that experience. But there was a desire for something more: a watch rugged enough for the water, yet refined enough to wear away from it.
This was the idea behind the Alsta Nautoscaph.
The icon,reimagined.
In 2017, the Nautoscaph returned — bringing the character of the original 1960s design into a new era.
Nautoscaph · In Detail
Clarity
that lasts.
The Nautoscaph is fitted with sapphire crystal, offering exceptional scratch resistance and lasting clarity while protecting the dial beneath.
Built for
the long haul.
The modern Nautoscaph features a ceramic bezel, chosen for its scratch resistance, rich finish and enduring performance in and out of the water.
From 100M
to 300M.
The original Nautoscaph was rated to 100 metres. Today, the modern Nautoscaph is rated to 300 metres (999FT), giving you greater confidence wherever the adventure takes you.
Brighter
by nature.
With the introduction of Super-LumiNova, the Nautoscaph delivers brighter, longer-lasting illumination for improved readability in low light and underwater.
The lineage
Swipe or use the arrows- Original The original Nautoscaph
A slim waterproof skin diver, made for land, air and sea.
- II Nautoscaph II
Alsta returns, in steel and bronze, with new dial colours.
- III Nautoscaph III
A limited edition in black PVD, water-resistant to 999FT/300M.
- IV Nautoscaph IV
Black, Blue Shark and All Red, rated to 300M.
Shop the collection - V Nautoscaph V · Anacapri & Porcelana
CuSn8 bronze that develops its own patina over time.
Shop bronze - Limited edition Nautoscaph IV Tropic
A limited edition, available by enquiry.
Enquire
The Nautoscaph was the ideal choice for Alsta to return to the watch world in 2017 with the launch of the Nautoscaph II.
Inspired by the original Nautoscaph of the 1960s, the new generation followed the same distinctive design language while introducing modern materials, contemporary proportions and updated construction.
It was presented on a Milanese-style mesh bracelet — a refined interpretation of the original’s practical, understated character.
The original Nautoscaph watches were predominantly crafted in steel and were most commonly paired with black dials, although a small number were produced with blue dials.
The modern Nautoscaph II expanded on this foundation with high-quality stainless steel and high-grade bronze cases, alongside a broader selection of dial colours.
Steel models were paired with steel bracelets, while bronze models were complemented by handmade Italian leather straps.
In 2018, Alsta introduced the limited-edition Nautoscaph III.
Closely related to the Nautoscaph II, the Nautoscaph III introduced a black PVD-coated case, creating a darker and more contemporary interpretation of the original design.
It retained Alsta’s 999FT/300M water-resistance standard and was presented on a black leather strap with a matching PVD-coated buckle.
In 2022, Alsta introduced two new bronze interpretations of the Nautoscaph: the Anacapri and the Porcelana.
Both were crafted from high-grade CuSn8 bronze — an alloy composed primarily of copper with tin and phosphorus.
The material was selected for its resistance to corrosion and, uniquely, for the way bronze develops a natural patina over time.
No two bronze watches age in exactly the same way.
Anacapri
The Anacapri takes its inspiration from the Italian island of Capri — its vivid blue waters, clear skies and unmistakable Mediterranean character.
The blue dial and handmade Italian blue strap are paired with a warm bronze case, creating a combination that reflects the atmosphere of the island.
The spirit of Anacapri also recalls the sophisticated Mediterranean imagery captured during the 1950s and 1960s by photographer Slim Aarons.
Porcelana
The Porcelana takes a warmer direction.
Inspired by the transition from summer into autumn, its rich brown tones reflect the changing palette of the season — from brighter colours toward deeper, warmer shades.
The brown dial draws inspiration from the warm tones associated with Porcelana cocoa, one of the world’s rarest and most prized varieties of cacao.
The result is a more restrained expression of the Nautoscaph, centred around warmth, rarity and sophistication.
Toward the end of 2023, two further bronze variants joined the Nautoscaph collection: Bronze Black and Bronze Silver.
These watches combine the robustness and water resistance expected of a Nautoscaph with the distinctive character of a bronze case.
The cases develop a naturally evolving patina, gradually giving each watch its own appearance.
Black, hard-wearing rubber straps add a practical dimension, while bronze buckles carry the material through to the smallest details.
Rooted inthe original.
From stainless steel to PVD and bronze, from black to blue and warm autumnal tones, the Nautoscaph has continued to evolve without losing sight of where it began.
The proportions, character and spirit of the original 1960s watch remain at its core. The materials, finishes and expressions have simply moved forward.
A design from another era, made relevant for today.
Alwaysmoving forward.
The Nautoscaph has evolved with the times, but its purpose has remained remarkably consistent.
A refined profile rooted in the original skin diver.
Mechanical performance designed for a life of exploration.
Purposeful design that remains at home anywhere.
The future of the Nautoscaph begins with its past.
The modern Nautoscaph continues to draw from the design language of the original, while allowing the collection to evolve with the world around it.
Colour has expanded. Materials have evolved. Bronze has joined stainless steel. Dimensions have grown to meet contemporary expectations.
Yet the fundamental character remains: a watch that is purposeful, refined and unmistakably a Nautoscaph.
Ruggedness and water resistance remain fundamental to the Nautoscaph.
Beneath its elegant appearance is a watch designed to withstand the knocks, bumps and conditions that come with a life of adventure.
- 100MWater resistance300M · 999FT
- SteelCaseSteel & bronze
- Black, a few blueDialsA broader palette
- Skin diverCharacterSkin diver
Still askin diver.
The Nautoscaph began life as a skin diver, and that remains its character today.
Its modern construction allows it to withstand depths associated with professional diving, but its spirit remains rooted in the original idea: a slim, capable and elegant watch made for everyday adventure.
This is where the Nautoscaph will continue to sit within the Alsta collection.
Tough enough for the mountain face or the ocean. Elegant enough for the boardroom or the dinner table.
