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BIFORA “SKIN DIVER” Black Dial on Stainless Steel Bracelet
2.520,00 €
BIFORA “Skin Diver” – Bold Design, Underwater Spirit
In the golden age of mechanical tool watches, the 1960s gave rise to a new breed of timepiece: the Skin Diver. Sleek, rugged, and built for adventure, these watches were made for those who craved the thrill of the deep — or simply the look of it.
BIFORA’s take on the Skin Diver was every bit as compelling as its more famous Swiss cousins. With its sharply defined case, bold rotating bezel, and highly luminous hands and indices, this model was designed for legibility and durability. The standout feature? A striking arrow-shaped hour hand, now affectionately referred to by collectors as “Broad Arrow Hands” — a detail that gives this watch both character and clarity.
Available with either a crisp white or deep black dial, the BIFORA Skin Diver offered versatility without compromising its tool-watch roots. While it may not have been made for professional saturation diving, it perfectly embodied the adventurous spirit of the era — whether worn on the beach, in the surf, or under a cuff.
Today, these watches are prized for their robust German construction, minimalist charm, and undeniable vintage appeal. The BIFORA Skin Diver is more than a functional timepiece — it’s a time capsule from a bold and brilliant chapter in watchmaking history.
BIFORA Skin Diver – 1960s German-Made Dive Watch with Broad Arrow Hands
This classic 1960s BIFORA Skin Diver is a robust example of mid-century German tool-watch design, featuring a manually wound in-house BIFORA movement — a rarity in a market dominated by Swiss ébauches.
The watch showcases a stainless steel case with prominent lugs and a bidirectional rotating bezel marked with a 60-minute diving scale, designed for basic dive timing functionality. Large luminous hour markers and bold hands — including a distinctive broad arrow-style hour hand — ensure excellent legibility in low-light conditions. The dials were offered in both matte black and high-contrast white configurations, each providing a highly readable layout under a domed acrylic crystal.
While not a professional-grade dive instrument by modern standards, this model reflects the era’s growing interest in recreational diving and sports watches. The screw-down case back (note: no crown guard), luminous tritium-based paint, and 3 ATM water resistance (typical for the type) classify this as a “skin diver” — a watch made for surface swimming, snorkeling, or everyday wear with a rugged edge.
Powered by BIFORA’s own caliber (frequently seen in their 12xx series), this watch stands out for its fully German-made movement — a point of pride in a landscape where most brands outsourced calibers. The Skin Diver remains a sought-after model today thanks to its distinctive design, solid construction, and rarity on the vintage market.
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