The history of diving goes back to antiquity, as seen in coastal civilisations with a heritage of pearl fishing or underwater hunting. Recreational diving, however, only rose in prominence after two key inventions — the aqualung in 1943 and the wetsuit in 1953. Before that, divers were either masters of breath-control (as seen in the art of freediving) or were obliged to use cumbersome equipment such as diving bells.
As the popularity of recreational diving increased, so did the number of companies catering to this newfound leisure sport. Alongside these companies were watch companies creating timepieces that were specially designed and modified for underwater use. Rotating bezels came into play, allowing divers to track their time underwater for essential safety purposes. The familiar large geometrical markings filled with luminous material that we now associate with dive watches became industry standard, as they allowed divers to clearly read the time even as visibility decreased underwater. Other features geared towards water resistance, robust wear, comfort, legibility and ease of manipulation even while wearing thick diving gloves, became common in the dive watch milieu. 
It was during this time, in the late 1950s, that Eberhard & Co released their Scafograf dive watch. The first Scafograf was launched in 1959 and initial models were water resistant to 100 or 200 metres, although subsequent models could be brought to 300 or even 1000 metres, for professional use.
Over the years, mechanical dive watches started to give way to electronic wrist-worn dive computers, but the Scafograf continued to hold a place in the hearts of mechanical dive watch enthusiasts.
Four years ago, Eberhard & Co re-released the Scafograf to wide acclaim, winning an award at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève that year. The Scafograf turned 60 recently, and to celebrate this milestone, Eberhard & Co has issued the Scafograf 300 MCMLIX Edition.
Vintage-style markers and hands define the Scafograf 300 MCMLIX Edition, in acknowledgement of the era in which the first Scafograf was released. To meet modern design codes of watchmaking, the new timepiece comes in a steel case measuring 43mm in diameter. The unidirectional rotating bezel is in ceramic, a hard-wearing, corrosion-resistant material that maintains the look of vintage aluminium bezels while offering contemporary performance standards. A helium release valve ensures that even if subjected to the demands of a sustained commercial dive, the Scafograf 300 MCMLIX Edition will deliver the same chronometric results as if it was worn during a relaxed weekend by the pool.
