Alsta are back with a ‘splash’ as they announce a brand new collection of watches including the highly demanded Alsta Nautoscaph Superautomatic 1970 Jaws Re-Edition. The limited edition of 1975 pieces is a faithful resurgence of the original Alsta watch worn by Oceanographer Matt Hooper, played by Richard Dreyfuss, in the iconic 1975 movie Jaws.
You’d be completely forgiven if you had never heard of Alsta before. The Swiss watch manufacturer was unfortunately one of the many brands that fell victim to the quartz crisis in the mid 1970’s. Before they succumbed in 1982, they were renowned for creating beautifully engineered watches for those that required only the best in precision and robustness. Much to the delight of those of us at Horologii and many luxury watch enthusiasts around the world, Alsta made a come back in 2014 with their Nautoscaph II dive watch. Since then, they have also released the Nautoscaph III, the Surf n Ski and the breathtaking Alsta Nautoscaph Superautomatic 1970 Jaws Re-Edition.
During the design of the Alsta Nautoscaph Superautomatic 1970 Jaws Limited Edition, the brand made a steadfast decision to ensure they didn’t create just a carbon copy of an old watch but a reliable re-edition that used modern materials and technology. Still assembled entirely in Switzerland, the new timepiece now includes a larger case size, a Japanese-made Seiko automatic movement and several other incredible technologies to ensure it can withstand the pressures of any underwater, mountain or adrenaline filled adventure.
Measuring to 38mm in size, the case of the Alsta Nautoscaph Superautomatic 1970 Jaws watch is cushion-shaped and crafted from 316L graded stainless steel. This grade of stainless steel is the standard molybdenum bearing grade which means it has high corrosion resistant properties and a particularly high resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments. The case is also equipped with a triple-lock mechanism crown to ensure a water resistant rating of 300 metres. It’s unidirectional bezel also provides optimal use for diving and removes the risk of it being accidentally knocked while underwater which could result in a fatal miscalculation of dive time.
Another improvement made to the Alsta Nautoscaph Superautomatic 1970 Re-edition is the use of scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass. The original design made use of mineral crystal which is not as legible or durable as its higher quality counterpart. Nevertheless, the glass remains in a vintage-inspired dome shape. Additionally, the original watch worn by Matt Hooper had a magnifying ‘cyclops’ window over the date, yet due to contemporary tastes and to reduce the risk of damage to the crystal, the brand decided against the magnifier.
The matte black dial looks almost exactly the same with tapered sword shaped hour and minute hand coated in Superluminova, vintage shaped indexes and large Arabic numerals. Hidden beneath the dial of the the Alsta Nautoscaph Superautomatic 1970 Jaws Limited Edition is a legendary Seiko automatic winding movement. The NH35A 24 jewelled calibre provides central hands for hour, minutes and seconds, a date window at 3 o clock and a power reserve of 41 hours. To complete the look of the re-edition, the case is fitted with a ‘Tropic’ brand black rubber strap.
Retailing at an extraordinary price of only £795, we don’t expect the 1,975 limited edition pieces of the Alsta Nautoscaph Superautomatic 1970 Jaws Re-Edition watch to be around for long. If you would like to order your own, head to the Jura Watches website today where you can also find free delivery and interest free finance options available.
Specifications: Alsta Nautoscaph Superautomatic 1970 Jaws Re-Edition
- Case Size: 38mm
- Case Material: 316L stainless steel
- Crown: Screw down
- Glass: Sapphire crystal
- Case Back: Stainless steel, engraved
- Water Resistance: 300 metres
- Movement: Seiko NH35A automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Power Reserve: 41 hours
- Jewels: 24
- Frequency: 21,600bph
- Dial: Matte black with applied Superluminova hands and indexes
- Strap: Black rubber
- Limited Edition: 1,975 pieces
- RRP: £795
