Sherpa Watches resurfaces OPS & ultradive true compressor dive watches

Sherpa Watches salvage the OPS and Ultradive from the depths of history

Although a brand new company, Sherpa Watches is rich in heritage as it revives two iconic timepieces. Named the OPS and Ultradive, the timepieces depict the rebirth of the true compressor dive watches after 60 years of extinction, hidden in the treasure chests of collectors. The re-editions go a step further, though, modernizing material and technological innovations as well as inventing the mantramatic movement – featuring wheels inside the mechanical watch movement that are engraved with Buddhist mantra. In fact, this movement acts as a traditional Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel.

Profit percentages from the watches sales are donated to co-fund projects in the brand’s eponymous region and people in Nepal.

Sherpa Watches was founded by Swiss-born mechanical engineer, watch enthusiast and Buddhist Martin Klocke

All images courtesy of Sherpa Watches

Founded by Swiss-born mechanical engineer, watch enthusiast and Buddhist Martin Klocke, Sherpa Watches’ OPS and Ultradive models are visually and functionally high quality. The founder delved deep into swiss horological archives to rediscover the knowledge and technical prowess to rebirth the two models. Each were inspired by the mid-sixties classics from swiss watch manufacturer Enicar S.A. Lengnau, which closed its doors in the 1980s.

‘Like the originals from the past, the engineering, manufacturing, and assembling of each watch and its components is done in Switzerland and Germany, making Sherpa Watches a fully European enterprise. For an independent brand like ours, that was a challenging goal to reach, especially in the middle of a pandemic,’ explains Martin Klocke to designboom.

The brand revives two true compressor dive watches after 60 years of extinction

‘The timeless designs of the Ultradive and the OPS did not need much fine-tuning, as their look and feel are as outspoken today as they were half a century ago. On a technical level, our watches surpass their predecessors in terms of accuracy, water tightness and durability,’ continues the Sherpa Watches founder.

The original timepieces are wrist favorites for collectors, thanks to their famous waterproof case with bayonet compressor lock closure (EPSA-STOP) and twin compressor crowns (MONOFLEX) invented by legendary watch case maker Ervin Piquerez S.A. The new watches enhance newly developed compressor technology for the MONOFLEX crowns and EPSA-STOP case backs. Updates with modern materials and production technologies further improve performance. Both offer full water resistance up to 20 bar.

The OPS pairs its all-black dial with a diamond like carbon-finished case

THE OPS: sleek yet also durable and highly visible

The stainless steel case of the OPS is coated in a satin black DLC (diamond like carbon). The texture is durable whilst appearing sleek in style. Anti-reflex coating and inner black metalization feature on the outer rim of the domed sapphire box glass. Around the dial, a 360-degree rotating inner bezel is marked with Swiss Super-Luminova grade X1. A tropic style strap, made from robust vulcanized rubber, extrudes from the sculpted lugs.

The Ultradive is unique with a white outer rim/inner dive bezel encircling the black dial

THE ULTRADIVE: a Black and white classic

The Ultradive also reveals a black dial face encased by a stainless steel body, although unique with its white rim/white dive bezel. Marked custom special Sherpa Orange Swiss Super-Luminova grade X1, the 360-degree rotating inner bezel is housed within a domed sapphire box glass. a tropic style strap, again made from vulcanized rubber, is paired in either black or white for a classic finishing aesthetic.

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Each watch was inspired by the mid-sixties classics from swiss watch manufacturer Enicar S.A (OPS pictured here)

The timepieces reveal a unique feature hidden below the surface of the dials. Dubbed mantramatic, the OPS and Ultradive contain a traditional Tibetan Buddhist mantra laser engraved onto the wheels inside the movement. The designs are said to be the world’s first good vibe watches, and work exactly like a traditional Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel.

‘We microscopically laser engraved the Tibetan Buddhist mantra OM MANI PEME HUNG, very commonly used in the Sherpa region, on two of the wheels. Following widespread Himalayan Buddhist tradition used in prayer-wheels, the gears in the movement rotate constantly, sending out vibes of love, wisdom, and compassion from your wrist straight into the world – 30 million times per years. With the naked eye, you will not notice the mantra is there. Instead, you will feel it,’ confirms Martin.

The watches enhance newly developed compressor technology for the MONOFLEX crowns and EPSA-STOP case backs (OPS pictured here)

Sherpa Watches’ profit percentages of OPS and ULTRADIVE donated to Nepal

A percentage of each watch sold will be donated to co-fund projects for the Sherpa people in Nepal. It reinforces the brand’s wish to give back to its namesake region and community.

‘Sherpa Watches will donate a percentage of every watch sold and give it to a good cause in the Sherpa area in Nepal. for our first two watch models, we chose Sagarmatha next in the Khumbu region and the Nepal Himalaya Sherpa foundation in Kathmandu, both supporting different projects in the Sherpa regions of Nepal,’ concludes Martin Klocke, founder of Sherpa Watches.

Updates with modern materials and production technologies further improve performance, including full water resistance up to 20 bar (OPS pictured here)

A tropic style strap, made from robust vulcanized rubber, extrudes from the sculpted lugs of the OPS

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Dubbed mantramatic, the watches contain a traditional Tibetan Buddhist mantra laser engraved onto the movement wheels inside

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The watches invent the mantramatic– movement which contains wheels inside the mechanisms that are engraved with Buddhist mantra and contains good wishes for all beings