Enicar: Your (Sherpa) Guide to an Amazing Vintage Watch Brand

Welcome to the captivating world of vintage watches! Join me as your Sherpa guide on an exhilarating journey through the remarkable Enicar brand. Just like the legendary Jim Clark on the racetrack, I'll speed through this exploration, thanks to the invaluable research from passionate experts in the field. If you're eager to delve deeper, consult the video description and references for more details.
Enicar's story began in 1897 when Ariste Racine's parents established a workshop in Lengnau, Switzerland, producing cylinder escapement watches. After relocating to Kirchmatte in 1902, the brand faced some challenging years. However, in 1913, Ariste Racine and his wife Emma Blatt founded their own business, laying the foundation for modern-day Enicar. The brand's evolution included producing trench watches embedded with compasses for the Great War, eventually moving back to Lengnau and establishing their own movement production.
During World War II, Enicar played a mysterious role, allegedly selling watches to both sides, which possibly prevented them from being chosen for the prestigious "dirty dozen" contract. Enicar supplied pocket watches to the British and potentially the Germans as well. Their timepieces gained popularity among American military personnel visiting Europe during the war.
In the late 1940s, Enicar adopted their iconic Saturn logo, a symbol that still catches collectors' eyes today. The brand's watches in the early 1950s showcased a range of features such as chronographs, shock protection systems, moonphases, and date windows. Enicar also introduced the Sea Pearl 600, tested alongside renowned watches like the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and Rolex Submariner by the U.S. Navy.
The pivotal moment for Enicar came in 1956 when mountaineers wearing Enicar ultrasonic Seapearl 600 watches climbed Mount Everest and Lhotse. This expedition marked the beginning of Enicar's strong association with adventure and exploration. Over the years, Enicar timepieces adorned the wrists of mountaineers, divers, explorers, and even F1 drivers like Stirling Moss and Jim Clark.
Enicar's diverse lineup included the Sherpa Guide, featuring a GMT bezel for jet-age enthusiasts, and the Sherpa Jet and Super Jet watches, which catered to the style of the time. The brand expanded into chronographs with models like the Sherpa Graph, Jet Graph, Aqua Graph, and Graph-o-matic. Enicar's tool watches impressed with their robustness and functionality, captivating divers and explorers alike.
Collaborations with prominent figures like Eddy Merckx in cycling and Ken Rosewall in tennis further showcased Enicar's versatility. The brand even ventured into the electric watch and quartz era, releasing the Sherpa Electric and Super Quartz series.
As you immerse yourself in Enicar's history, you'll discover a world of captivating collaborations, diverse designs, and innovative timepieces. Join me on this adventure through vintage watchdom as we unravel the mysteries and celebrate the brilliance of Enicar. Together, we'll delve into the fascinating stories behind each timepiece, uncovering the hidden gems of this extraordinary brand.
Amazing sources I particularly need to call out - the rest are in the references are:
Martijn Van Der Ven - Time for a Change: Discovering Vintage Enicar
Enicar.org: enicar.org
Enicar 101 website : enicar101.com
Spring bar guides to Enicar: thespringbar.com/blogs/guides...
Most of the Newspaper clippings are from my subscription from Newspapers.com
Chapters:
0:42 Early History
2:48 Going Ultrasonic
4:53 Jet (Multi-time)
6:06 I like Driving Enicar (Chronographs)
7:25 Lets Dive In (Dive watches)
8:41 Star-range cases (Sherpa Star watches)
9:15 She’s Electric (Electric, Quartz and Digital)

[@martijnvanderven3668]

What a great video! Thank you for sharing the Enicar virus. The brand deserves to be discovered by the vintage watch community as it combines quality with daring designs and amazing stories.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

No Thankyou sir! Your book is the gateway for most new collectors I suspect. Really appreciate you taking a look and for the amazing research you did over a long period on this awesome brand .

[@TheGrenadier97]

These Enicar divers are absolutely fantastic. So much more interesting in style than the Submariner-influenced divers of today...

[@jaimefontbona1907]

I love that logo... I think it is the best retro logo after the rocket of Systema brand, but Enicar is so much more innovative watch. Thanks for putting your attention on this type of brands. Great video!

[@HorologyBiology]

Great video and well made. You really did your research on this one which is appreciated. Congrats 🎉

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou! I was definitely the beneficiary of pre-existing research that was already very high quality on this one.

[@HorologyBiology]

@@IlluminatingWatches oh for sure, Martijn is a great guy and did a hell of a lot of research for the book. I have a whole playlist on my channel dedicated to Vintage Enicar.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Oh nice I’ll definitely check that out. I really found there was a lack of enicar videos around which was a surprise when you see all the amazing written history

[@jamesblonde2271]

Huge Enicar fan, great vintage name that was a cultural force right through the 70's and still affordable now.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Me too - some cool stories and references!

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

In North America people don't remember them as well as in Europe in general. From my personal experience, there's a lot of Frankenstein out there be safe guys 😅

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Yes indeed - high risk market unless you buy from a proper collector

[@zornikzornuk3187]

Great video, never heard of Enicar...From the trench watch with the compass to 7 dials ones they have lot of great model. thanks for sharing

[@johanvandersandt8904]

What a cool out there watch company! Dare I say that watches of old were more exciting? I wonder...

[@berndschroder4400]

👏🏻 Thanks for this video of an great brand!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Much appreciated Thankyou!

[@garethsigrist8714]

Another amazing dive into the world of Enicar! That Saturn logo was so cool! Enicar have got some fantastic designs in their back catalog! It’s a shame they fell by the wayside like so many other Swiss watch companies. As a big motorsport fan I’d particularly love one of those Sherpa Graphs as advertised by Stirling Moss and Jim Clark 🏎️

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Those chronos are super cool! I want one too! Expensive though!!!

[@juanluisgomezregalado6434]

Dude you just made my year. ENICAR was my dads favourite brand . . . . still got those ;) Oasis selection, top notch. Cheers from Mexico City !

[@IlluminatingWatches]

So pleased to hear that! This video hasn’t been so popular but I’m hopeful that a few people will really enjoy it

[@TheGrenadier97]

If i recall correctly, the US Navy liked the Enicar' dial and price, although they end up with the also excellent Blancpain. The Rolex Submariner failed pressure tests, which is sort of ridiculous.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

That’s exactly right!

[@ednammansfield8553]

I really enjoyed this video of a brand I have never heard of before. Some great looking watches shown and so much history behind the company. Thank you for all your research in putting this video together.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thanks so much! Really glad you enjoyed the video and that it introduced enicar to you!

[@choond]

Very cool video

[@paulgraham1465]

Thanks for this. I was interested in obtaining a vintage Enicar, but decided against it, due to not being sure about the authenticity of some of them. Can you please do a similar video on Wyler. I have 2 vintage pieces of theirs and are also interesting to me.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Yes indeed I’ve also been nervous of purchasing for similar reasons. Would need to get from a collector who knows their stuff. Not really looked into Wyler, I’ll take a look!

[@Beechhill]

Xlnt stuff, mate! Read recently that Magnum (of P.I. fame) wore a ChronoSport quartz, popular with GI's in Vietnam, the first seasons before upgrading to a GMT-Master. I wonder if Enicar had anything to do with that one?!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou! I definitely need to look into that now!!

[@thetimebombardier]

nice vid dude, a brand that's seen on fleabay a lot but never met anyone wearing one LOL

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Lots of non-genuine ones out there sadly!

[@thetimebombardier]

@@IlluminatingWatches ah yes and sadly most from one country... 😆

[@shutyoudown2462]

Thanks for sharing. I just bought one from one of their stores in hong kong. I was looking for a watch that’s completely colored in gold. And enicar was the most affordable one in a perfect size I want. It costed around US$1400. I checked online after I bought and found it’s not a very recognizable brand…… Would you say the $1400 is too high to buy one…

[@zillsburyy1]

what do u think about the new WS1600H casio?

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Very cool! I see just one more watch covered it recently

[@alexkastano96]

Dude you're the best of the best (no ass kissing here),but for god sake SLOW down!!! Please! 😁

[@harryboothole]

these watches are affordable, until someone makes a video about them….

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Sadly I think the secret is already out - if you check the latest prices on the decent condition Sherpa models they aren’t cheap!

[@hgger69]

Great video with a lot of correct facts and that’s always appreciated among us Enicaristis! 🙏🏻🤗🪐