CREPAS 'TEKTITE' [a tribute to an odyssey]

By TLex OceanicTime is proud to present to you CREPAS Watches' 2nd outing, the TEKTITE. CREPAS Watches, who have brought us three models to date; Le Grand, El Buzo 'The Diver' and the TC1 from their Military Division, t.a.c.t.i.c.o, say that although the TEKTITE is their third release, it had always been planned as their first model. However they had wanted to gain some manufacturing experience before embarking on their true calling . . .



TEKTITE The name 'Tektite' is taken from the 'Tektite Missions' of the late 60s and early 70s. Tektite I, which took place on February 15th, 1969, saw four US Department of the Interior scientists; Conrad Mahnken, Ed Clifton, John VanDerwalker and Richard Waller descended to the ocean floor in Great Lameshur Bay in the US Virgin Islands to embark on an epic underwater project that would see the four aquanauts establish a new SAT diving world record.



On April 15th of that year after 58 days underwater and armed with as many days of scientific data the team returned to the surface. They spent more than 19 hours in decompression. The Tektite II missions were carried out similarly in 1970. These underwater pursuits comprised of ten missions, which each lasted 10-20 days with four scientists and an engineer. The name TEKTITE is a fitting tribute to their odyssey . . .



INSPIRED The TEKTITE watch is inspired by the CERTINA DS2 500m, a favorite of CREPAS Watches' engineers, and what is in their opinion probably one of if not the best dive watches made in the second half of the 60s. In those days, the DS2 was actually more expensive to buy than the Omega Seamaster 300 or even a Rolex Submariner and was quite unique from its contemporaries.



MODERN INTERPRETATION CREPAS Watches have done the same with the TEKTITE as they did with Le Grand; thinking about how the watch would be if it had been created nowadays. They have kept the crystal retainer ring, which allows a self blocking bezel and they have retained the original case shape. However the sides of the case have been beautifully beveled, which helps to give the watch a more organic and elegant feel. They have used a 5mm thick sapphire crystal with AR coating on both sides and a 4.5mm thick screwdown case back. There is also an anti-magnetic movement housing to protect the caliber.



The vintage styled dial is a comprised of two pieces; the bottom part in a modern black ceramic and the top part with its orange framed square markers. Text on the dial has been kept to a minimum to maintain a clean look: So only necessary text such as: CREPAS, TEKTITE and 1200M has remained.



CREPAS have used high quality materials and components for the TEKTITE. Its movement is a Swiss made ETA 2824-2 TOP grade, all bezels come with sapphire crystals inlays, the AR coating is on both sides, the movement is completely protected from magnetic fields (there is also a 2nd soft iron disc under the dial), it has a partly ceramic dial, an automatic HEV, a custom rubber strap and a mesh bracelet with divers clasp. The TEKTITE will be a Limited Edition of just 199 examples.



We can expect to see the first TEKTITE prototype ready on or around the end of November with an expected delivery time in May 2012.



DIMENSIONS
- Diameter of the bezel: 45,00mm
- Diameter of the case: 45,00mm
- Thickness: 17,90mm
- Length: 51mm
- Thickness of the crystal: 5,00mm
- Diameter of the crystal: 30,00mm
- Space between lugs: 22mm
- Diameter of the crown: 7,50mm
- Thickness of the bezel: 3,50mm
- Thickness of the case back cover: 4,50mm



MATERIALS
- Case, bezel, crown, case cover 316L stainless steel
- Brushed and polished finished
- Crystal and bezel inlay made of sapphire crystal
- Gaskets made of Viton and Tefzel
- Bottom of dial in ceramic
- Nylon strap
- Rubber strap
- Stainless Steel mesh bracelet
- Hands, dial and bezel with C3 SuperLuminova



FEATURES
- Swiss ETASA 2824 TOP grade
- Water-resistance 120 atmos / 1’200 meters / 4’000 feet
- Screw down crown and caseback
- Antimagnetic: 70’000A/m
- AR coated anti-scratch sapphire crystal
- Screwed bars
- Auto blocking 120 positions bezel
- Automatic helium escape valve (9 o’clock)



PRICING
Price during manufacturing period, 670€ plus 18% Spanish VAT (Sales outside EU are without Spanish VAT)

Shipping cost to EU 40€, outside EU 60€

Price after manufacturing period, 839€ plus 18% Spanish VAT (Sales outside EU are without Spanish VAT)

Shipping cost to EU 40€, outside EU 60€

You can make your reservation by emailing CREPAS Watches