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The Depthmaster name carries real weight in the history of Swiss dive watchmaking. Nivada Grenchen built its reputation across the 1950s and 1960s in part through the ruggedness and reliability of its tool watches, and the Depthmaster was the clearest expression of that reputation applied to underwater timekeeping. These were watches designed for use in actual diving conditions, not for poolside aesthetics or maritime styling.
The water resistance figures cited on the original models were tested figures, not aspirational ones, and the case and crown engineering behind them reflected a brand that understood the consequences of a watch failing at depth.
The defining visual feature of the Depthmaster Numerals Black is the dial, and specifically the numerals from which the watch takes its name. The bold Art Deco numeral font used for the hour markers on this dial is one of the most graphically striking choices in contemporary Swiss dive watch design, and it is a choice rooted in function as much as aesthetics.
The water resistance rating of the Depthmaster Numerals Black is 100 ATM, equivalent to 1000 metres of depth. This is not a recreational specification. It is a professional one.
A watch rated at 10 ATM (100 metres) is suitable for swimming and snorkelling. A watch rated at 20 ATM (200 metres) covers recreational scuba diving comfortably. The ISO 6425 standard for dive watches requires a minimum of 10 ATM, and the majority of watches marketed as dive watches operate at 20 to 30 ATM. The Depthmaster Numerals Black is rated to five times the professional diving standard, placing it in the category of saturation diving capable instruments.
Case
38mm, 316L stainless steel, cushion shape
Glass
Sapphire crystal
Dial
Matte black with white Super-LumiNova
Movement
Soprod P024 automatic
Crown
Screw-down
Water resistance
100 ATM / 1000 m
strap
Rubber Tropic or leather strap
The cushion shaped case of the Depthmaster Numerals Black is one of its most visually distinctive features and one of the clearest links to the original 1960s design language. The cushion case format, with its rounded square geometry and pronounced lug curvature, was a signature of Swiss sport and dive watch design in the late 1950s and 1960s, used by several respected manufacturers to achieve a case profile that was simultaneously more visually interesting than a round case and more comfortable against the wrist due to its curved underside.
A Swiss automatic movement inside a 1000 metre rated dive watch is the correct specification for a watch of this character. The self winding mechanism ensures the watch remains running during active use without requiring the wearer to remember to wind it before a dive. The movement is robustly constructed and can be serviced by any qualified watchmaker globally, ensuring that the Depthmaster Numerals Black remains operational for decades with appropriate maintenance.
The P024 is manufactured in Switzerland to Swiss Made certification standards and provides a reliable, serviceable foundation for a watch designed for serious use in demanding environments.
