In this insightful post, hmmmcamu delves into the distinctive characteristics of the vintage Citizen 62-6198 Challenge 150M Diver. This article provides a detailed comparison with its sibling, the 52-0110, highlighting the subtle yet significant differences that define this robust tool watch. hmmmcamu's expertise illuminates why these globally marketed divers often show signs of extensive use, a testament to their intended purpose.
CITIZEN 62-6198 Challenge 150M Diver dial type-1
Citizen’s first dive watches stayed mostly in Japan’s domestic market, but in 1969 the Challenge divers series were marketed worldwide.
The 62-6198 share the same case, the same screw-in large crown as the 52-0110 Unlike the 52-0110 it has a red date wheel.
The lume plot on the 52-0110 is joined/connected to the date window, the 62-6198 has the lume plot next to it.It has a bidirectional friction mounted bezel insert whose marking are different from a 52-0110.
It uses a different seconds sweep hand (lollipop)
Case @ 40mm (minus crown) Lugs @ 20mm
The reason you see so many of these Vintage Citizen 150M challenge divers in such bad condition is because they were used as they were meant to be, as A TOOL watch by both professional and recreational divers
Misc:
In 1963 the company staged a brilliant marketing campaign, attaching 130 self-winding Para-Water Jet automatic wristwatches to buoys and releasing them from a ship into the Pacific Ocean. After floating on ocean currents the buoys were retrieved near the North American coast a year later all 130 watches were still working.
