IWC Aquatimer ref. 1822 – double crown diver – 1979

This IWC Aquatimer Ref. 1822 is what happens when late-1970s IWC engineers decided that a serious dive watch could also have a bit of personality. The stainless-steel case carries its signature double-crown setup—both crowns original, correct, and confidently standing guard like two tiny, overqualified bouncers for the internal bezel.

The dial has aged into a beautifully calm state, with vanilla-toned tritium that looks exactly how good tritium should: warm, even, and quietly proud of having survived a few decades without drama. Inside beats the dependable cal. 8541, doing what it has always done—run smoothly and ask for very little attention.

It’s fitted with a vintage dark-brown sharkskin strap, richly textured and tapering down to a tidy 16 mm buckle. It suits the watch the way a well-worn leather jacket suits its owner: not flashy, just the right kind of confident.

In short, this Ref. 1822 is an honest, charismatic Aquatimer—original crowns, graceful patina, strong movement—and a touch of that vintage attitude you can’t fake. A tool watch with a story, and just enough charm to make you smile every time you look at your wrist.