ELVIA first produced military specification diver's watches of this type and case design in the 1970s for the French MN Marine Nationale (French Navy). This watch stays true to the spirit of those original models.
ELVIA was an officially authorized military contractor to the Marine Nationale, alongside renowned brands such as Beuchat, Tudor, Rolex, Heuer, Luxia, MN Auricoste, Triton, and ZRC. Many of these companies, including MWC and CWC, either used or continue to use this case pattern to this day.
The current ELVIA watches, much like their predecessors from the 1970s and 80s, are based on a case pattern originally created by the famous Swiss case-making firm MRP S.A. Apart from a few minor updates, the case remains very similar to the late 1970s design. MRP S.A. was founded in 1953 by Marchand, Roth, and Petignat. The company was acquired by Georges Hauert in 1979 and is now fully owned by Patrick Hauert. Unlike many other major watch companies, MRP S.A. remains independent and thriving. You can visit their website here: MRP S.A..
In addition to ELVIA, watches using this case pattern have been produced by companies such as Precista, Nilax, and Heuer (predecessor to TAG Heuer, which produced the Heuer 844-1 in 1979). Chronosport, another manufacturer, made the Sea Quartz 30, famously worn by Tom Selleck in Magnum P.I. Today, companies like CWC and others continue to use this case design. Despite its historical significance, many people are unaware of how well this case pattern has stood the test of time, having been in continuous production for over 40 years.
The watch measures 45mm with the crown and 40mm without it. It uses a 20mm military nylon webbing strap, similar to many current military diver's watches, offering a wide variety of NATO strap options.
Dimensions and Specifications:
Casing: Stainless Steel with a non-reflective, light sandblasted finish
Crown: Screw-down locking
Water Resistance: 30 ATM / 300m / 1000ft
Movement: Swiss Ronda 517 Day/Date Quartz
Battery Life: 45 months
Dimensions:
Width (with crown): 45mm
Width (without crown): 40mm
Thickness: 12mm
Lug to Lug: 46.5mm
Crystal Diameter: 31mm
Crystal Type: Sapphire with non-reflective coating
Luminous Paint: Luminova
Bezel: 120-click unidirectional
Weight: 89.5g
Strap: Elasticated nylon French military webbing strap, plus a standard NATO pattern strap
Spring Bars: Included
Guarantee: 24 months
Why choose sapphire crystal over standard mineral crystal?
Sapphire crystal is by far the best material for watch crystals due to its strength, shatter resistance, and scratch resistance. These qualities make it particularly appealing to military personnel, security forces, police officers, and those who lead active outdoor lifestyles—groups that account for over 70% of our customers.
From our experience, when clients have accidents that result in a cracked crystal, over 90% of the cases involve watches with mineral glass crystals. Even though we use hardened mineral crystals, they do not come close to sapphire in terms of durability under harsh conditions.
The strength of sapphire crystal comes from the heat-treatment process, which removes internal stresses that can weaken the glass. Once the sapphire is made into watch crystals, two layers of anti-reflective coating are applied. Interestingly, sapphire crystal is now used on the latest iPhone models. While sapphire does come at a higher cost, it is typically fitted to higher-end watches due to its superior durability. Instructions
