Hands-On: Squale Master Marina Militare Review

Squale, one of the prominent Italian watch brands, comes back with its classic reissue that calls for vintage reissue enthusiasts. In this Squale Marina Militare review, we’re going to scrutinize what heritage this exceptional timepiece carries and how it performs as a tool watch.

With a history deeply intertwined with the art of diving and a commitment to precision craftsmanship, Squale Marina Militare has become synonymous with high-performance diving watches that are both functional and stylish. The watch is a homage to the original watch in the 1980s designed for Italy’s Marina Militare Navy.

On this particular occasion, Squale produced only a limited number of 500 pieces, allowing the wearer to feel the exclusivity. When it comes to performance, Italian diving watches are equal counterparts to Swiss, Japanese, and German ones. Yet, the Italian dive watch tends to feel more solid and compact with its clean design.

Those facts make the Squale Marina Militare more appealing, especially as a vintage reissue watch. The watch itself seamlessly combines an appealing military-inspired design, contemporary materials, and impressive underwater capabilities.

This timepiece is brimming with intriguing attributes for professional divers and passionate watch aficionados alike. Notably, this marks the inaugural instance of Squale presenting its iconic dive watches constructed from durable titanium material.

Squale and Italian Navy Connection

Since the 1980s, Squale has maintained a longstanding collaboration with the Italian Navy, a partnership that first emerged when Squale secured the contract to provide professional dive watches to Italy’s Diving Operations Group (GOS), stationed at the coastal port of La Spezia.

Presently, elevated standards have been achieved through the creation of a watch utilizing grade 5 titanium, affording military divers the capability to explore astounding depths of up to 1200 meters.

This particular dive watch was exclusively developed for Marina Militare’s Palombari Comsubin unit, with a designated allocation of 200 units. The Palombari members are integral to the illustrious Comsubin diving division, a unit divided into the Operational Divers Group (GOS) and the Operational Raiders Group (GOI), both of which continue to be a source of pride for the Italian Navy.

Iconic Designs and Enduring Appeal

An appealing and robust dive watch from Squale

Movement	Automatic Sellita SW 200-1 Elaboré
Dimensions	41.65mm in diameter, 48.9mm lug to lug, 16.15mm thick
Material	Grade 5 Titanium
Strap	Rubber Tropic Strap (Made in Italy)
Water resistance	1200m
Price	$1,680.00 USD

Beyond technical advancements, Squale Marina Militare watches are celebrated for their timeless design aesthetics. The brand’s signature cushion-shaped cases, often referred to as “squale cases,” have become iconic representations of robustness and sophistication.

These cases, with their polished and brushed finishes, evoke a sense of elegance that seamlessly transitions from underwater exploration to formal occasions.

The brand’s commitment to aesthetics is complemented by its dedication to legibility. Dials characterized by large, luminescent markers and hands ensure that Squale watches are readable even in the darkest depths of the ocean.

The blend of functionality and style has garnered the brand a loyal following among divers, watch enthusiasts, and collectors alike. This Squale Marina Militare review will take you closer to see the intricate beauty and performance of the watch.

An Appealing Dial of the Squale Master Marina Militare

A legible dial with large markers to ensure readability at any condition

The logo and brand’s name on top of the layout

The dial of the Squale Master Marina Militare Comsubin watch reflects both the brand’s dedication to functionality and its nod to the rich heritage of the Italian Navy’s diving division. The design of the dial is thoughtfully crafted to ensure legibility and practicality, making it a reliable companion for divers and watch enthusiasts alike. This is also an attentive consideration as part of military watches.

To infuse a contemporary flair, the dial’s hour indicators, which encompass the 12 o’clock triangle, undergo treatment with BGW9 Super-LumiNova luminescence. This imparts a sophisticated professional appearance during daylight hours and emits a vivid luminescent gleam in low-light conditions.

The markers have been well-applied with the SuperLuminovaBGW9

Taking a closer look, the dial features a sunburst blue dial with its substantial round and block-shaped hour markers and broad pencil-style hands. Every element is made in a large size to further enhance the legibility of the watch. Another highlight of this Marina Militare watch is Squale’s sandwich dial design.

In this distinctive design, the sunburst blue dial is layered atop the markers, creating a captivating two-tiered effect. Beneath the vast depths of the ocean’s darkness, conquering the limited light and reduced readability presents a formidable obstacle for divers.

Focusing on remarkable aquatic capabilities, the titanium diving watch features a substantial 4mm sapphire crystal that resists scratches, safeguarding the intricate dial. Additionally, the watch incorporates a screw-down case back.

At the 3 o’clock position, there is a subtle date window to add more practicality to the watch. It sits nicely without causing distraction for the overall readability. The diver’s helmet stands as a powerful emblem of the Marina Militare’s distinction in leading the way in underwater exploration.

Other than the watch markers, the dial also comes with the Squale logo at the 12 o’clock position and the Palombari Comsubin emblem at the 6 o’clock position.

Robust yet Lightweight Watch Case

A robust case made of grade 5 titanium which ensures durability and optimal comfort

A slim profile and angular case design to ensure the watch would perfectly sit on the wearer’s wrist

The iconic case of this Squale Marina Militare is a remarkable testament to both functionality and aesthetics, a perfect embodiment of Squale’s expertise in crafting diving watches that meet the stringent demands of professional divers while showcasing a distinctive and appealing design.

It is constructed using grade 5 titanium and is highly satin-polished, a material renowned for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. This choice of material not only ensures the watch’s ability to withstand the extreme pressures encountered in deep-sea dives but also contributes to a lightweight and comfortable wearing experience.

For the highlight, the case is designed distinctively inspired by the renowned “Von Büren case,” – which is reminiscent of the 1960s. Positioned at 4 o’clock, the screw-down crown is ingeniously integrated into the case structure, effectively reducing the chances of unintended impacts that could potentially damage the movement.

As one of Squale’s most reliable diving and military watches, the brand decided to go beyond the standard requirements. Equipped with an additional helium escape valve at the 9 o’clock position, the watch boasts an impressive 1200m of water resistance.

Moving on to the watch dimensions, this Marina Mlitare bears a sweet spot on almost every wrist size. Following the essence of the initial Fifty Fathoms 3H Bund, it boasts a satisfying case diameter of 41.65mm, a lug-to-lug span of 48.9mm, and a case thickness of 16.15mm.

Another vital feature of a diving timepiece is the bezel. The ceramic bezel of the blue 120-click unidirectional dive bezel, resistant to scratches, displays an appealing shine from various viewpoints, capturing a practical appearance with its dark minute indicators.

To introduce a contemporary element, each hour marker on the watch face, including the triangular marker at 12 o’clock, is coated with BGW9 Super-LumiNova luminescence. This imparts a sophisticated professional appearance while providing a vivid luminescent glow in low-light conditions.

A canvas strap with a blue camouflage pattern

Pairing with this Marina Militare is a 20mm canvas strap in a blue camouflage pattern, along with an additional black strap featuring a textured carbon-fiber design and a leather underside to ensure optimal comfort. The camo strap has been meticulously designed to harmonize with the Palombari’s blue uniform, and intriguingly, it is produced by the same manufacturer.

Reliable Watch Movement for Daring Ventures

The Squale Marina Militare is known for incorporating reliable and proven movement options. Brands like ETA and Sellita are commonly used by Squale for their watches, given their history of producing dependable movements.

In this particular Squale Master Marina Militare Comsubin, the watch is driven by the Swiss-made Sellita SW200 Elaboré grade automatic movement. It is characterized by a 4 Hz frequency equating to 28,800 vibrations per hour (VPH) for enhanced precision.

This 26-jewel mechanism, recognized as a dependable and steadfast “workhorse” movement, is celebrated for its impeccable dependability. It encompasses both manual winding and hacking features and boasts a power reserve lasting 38 hours.

Final Thought

In this Squale Marina Militare, you might notice the legacy of the watch is one of perseverance, innovation, and a deep-rooted connection to the world of diving. From its collaboration with the Italian Navy to its pioneering technical advancements, the brand has consistently demonstrated its dedication to producing watches that are as reliable in the depths of the ocean as they are elegant on land.

With its iconic designs, commitment to quality, and enduring appeal, Squale Marina Militare continues to capture the hearts of watch enthusiasts and divers, ensuring that its legacy will endure for generations to come. With all the reliable features that this Marina Militare has, Squale offers $1,680.00 USD for the price that you can get in our Gnomon Watches store.