Enicar watch Ocean Pearl Star Jewel 144-39-16 Vintage 1960s Cal AR 1145

SPECIFICATION

Reference : Enicar 144-39-16
Movement : AR 1145 24 jewels
Age : circa 1960s
Case Size : 35mm
Case Thickness : 10mm
Lug to Lug : 40mm
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : used Enicar watch
Box & Papers : No
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty

 POINTS TO MENTION

• In great pre-owned condition, with some light wear 
• Case and bezel have some light scratch and marks
• Stunning matte black dial
• Red date model
• Signed Enicar crown
• Fully serviced movement
• Paired on an unworn black hybrid rubber and leather strap

The Ocean Pearl features a 35mm cushion-shaped case, often crafted from stainless steel or gold-plated brass. The case back is engraved with a shark motif encircling the "Ocean Pearl" name, adding a unique touch to its design.

The “Star Jewels” designation refers to a series of dress watches Enicar produced, often during the 1950s through the 1970s, known for their elegant design and often surprisingly high jewel counts in the movement.

The term “Star Jewels” was partly marketing flair, meant to emphasize the number of jewels used in the watch movements—typically ranging from 17 to even 30+ jewels in some models. While more jewels don’t necessarily equate to better performance beyond a certain point, at the time, it was a selling point, suggesting precision and durability.

The inhouse AR 1145 movement is part of Enicar's 1140 series, which includes various manual and automatic movements from the 1960s. This series was known for features like Incabloc shock protection and being fully jeweled, with automatic versions like the AR 1145 offering additional jewels on the minute and automatic wheels. It was introduced in the 1960s, notable for its robust functionality and precision. It has 24 jewels, operates at a frequency of 18,000 bph and provides a power reserve of approximately 41 hours.

A BIT OF TRIVIA

Enicar, a Swiss watch brand with a distinctive legacy, was founded in 1913 by Ariste Racine in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Interestingly, the brand name "Enicar" is simply "Racine" spelled backwards—a clever play on the founder's surname. From its early days, Enicar focused on producing high-quality timepieces with precision and reliability at the forefront. The brand gained recognition in the early 20th century for crafting watches that combined Swiss engineering with a flair for modern design, eventually carving out a niche for itself in both professional and adventurous circles.

In the mid-20th century, Enicar truly came into its own, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s. The company developed the "Sherpa" line of watches—robust, reliable timepieces named after the Sherpa people of the Himalayas. These watches were put to the test in extreme conditions, including the 1956 Swiss expedition to Mount Everest. The success of the Sherpa watches during these expeditions helped solidify Enicar’s reputation for durability and adventure-ready design. The Sherpa models included dive watches, chronographs, and GMT models, many of which are now considered highly collectible.

By the 1970s, Enicar had become known for its innovative use of materials and colorful, bold designs, aligning with the aesthetic trends of the decade. However, like many Swiss watchmakers, Enicar struggled during the Quartz Crisis—a period during which the rise of inexpensive, accurate quartz watches disrupted the mechanical watch industry. Enicar ceased operations in the 1980s, but the brand was later revived by new ownership. Vintage Enicar watches, especially from the Sherpa series, continue to attract interest among collectors for their unique blend of style, history, and technical merit.

OUR THOUGHTS

Today, the Ocean Pearl aren't as hyped as the Sherpa models, but they have their own niche appeal, especially among vintage collectors who appreciate understated elegance or want a reliable mechanical watch that’s a bit under the radar. Its a sweet watch with a memorising matt black dial, with a freshly serviced AR1145, this is watch will run and keep you smiling for years to come.