Horological Meandering

Subexplorer
[Moderator - WristScan]
33433

• Show profile
• Show other posts

Hello Nicolas! I´m glad you like this watch and story, and ...

... I suspected you could be interested in the story behing our military diving watches, as they have certain connection with Rolex and Tudors.

We know very little about these watches, as it is very usual with historical facts in my Country, they are very difficult to come by to the true details, specially if related with the military.

Now, I can answer your questions:

These watches were originally purchased by the Argentine Navy (Armada Argentina) in the 1980´s, to be issued to their special Underwater Operation Forces, called Buzos Tacticos.

The storage was made at their Naval Stores, and distributed to the troops, and required a 5 digit number as control.

These three Citizens, plus de Tudor were bought a few months ago to a seller who specializes in buying and selling vintage watches. This man reportedly had these watches in his possesion since the mid 1990´s.

As it has been explained in this thread, these watches come with a mechanism which can set the date in oriental or in English language. I left it in the oriental one, because I usually do not pay attention to the date feature of my watches, and do not bother to set the date on them.

The date on Sunday is in red, other days in black. I am presently set in English.

we do not know the meaning of 5 numbers. I feel it is only an internal  control number requested by the Navy.
In Submariners and Tudors, the number is followed by the letters "Ci" which originally we thought it meant
"Cuerpo de Ingenieros" belonging to the Argentine Army, an special force of "zappers" who also employ military divers.

It seems now, that it is not the case. These watches are thought to belong to the Navy (Armada) and this the exact meaning of "Ci" is unknown.

My friend got a blue Tudor snowflake, with crown guards, reference 9411/0. It is marked with a 5 digit number followed by Ci on the back.

I see that the Type of numerals used in marking these backs, is very similar to that type used on Comex.
There is a strong conection between the Argentine Navy and Comex, in the perido of late 1970´s through 1980´s, with members of the prestigious Argentina Navy Escuela de Buceo (Diving School) were sent  to Comex for special deep diving training, and the Escuela received a complete renewal of the latest in equipment, hyperbaric chambers, etc. in those far years.

These changes came as result of an special traty made by the Navy with the Petrol Companies working in our land, which supplied the economic means, to finance the newest equipments and techniques, and in exchange, the Escuela supplied the required highly specialized training and technical support to civilian divers required in the maintenance of off shore oil platforms.

It is said that Rolex supplied these Rolex/Tudor watches through the Comex offices in those years, but as told, these is information that I couldn´t certify with documents, though the facts I am telling about the Oil Companies and Comex training is a very well known fact.

I will be sending you by PM two links in Spanish related with the Citizen Navy watches and some additional info soon.

Glad you find this addition to my collection of interest!
Un abrazo mi amigo!
Afectuosamente, Abel.