We’ve got a weakness for unique vintage watches here, and this early 1970’s Clebar Ref. 1166 mechanical watch is clearly no exception. With its multiple interchangable bezels depending on whichever activity fits your present mood - football, diving, pulsimeter, and more - and mono-bloc matte black case, this Clebar fits that "unique" category quite well. And this one comes with its original box and papers, and hang tag!
The Clebar brand, French slang for “bad dog,” is a bit of an enigma – a watch company destroyed in the wreckage of the 1970s “Quartz Crisis” initiated by Seiko’s Astron line. The Clebar name was first used by Edward Trauner Inc. on September 21st, 1925 and was registered as a trademark in mid-1955, and its main line of products included stopwatches and chronographs.
Trauner was known as the US distributor for Zodiac, Vacheron & Constantin, Leonidas (which would go on to become Heuer) and other watches of note – with Clebar being a sub-brand of Zodiac. Even more intriguing, Clebar wasn’t known for manufacturing their watches but rather branded watches from other manufacturers including Heuer.
Clebar hit its stride in the 1960s with several iterations of chronographs. With the 1964 merger of Leonidas with Ed. Heuer on the Heuer-Leonidas S.A. the 'Clebar' brand would eventually disappear during the next decade.
Back to the multiple bezel aspect of this unique mechanical – Clebar designed this watch to allow the wearer to swap out bezels, depending on the activity at hand. Included with this watch is four bezels: a red pulsimeters bezel (for medical activity), white football bezel (for measuring football games), black diving bezel (for measuring the divers air supply whilst under water), and a second black bezel for more minute measurements.
Also making this Clebar unique? Its one-piece matte black mono-bloc case design, the better to render the watch more resistent to moisture. Accompanying the watch is all of its original paperwork, hang tags, and strap.
This Clebar comes on its original black strap, and with leather strap, rugged travel case, and springbar tool.
Early 1970s Clebar Ref. 1166 Mechanical Dive Watch
DIAL: Clebar-signed black dial, which features crisp writing throughout and matching light patina'd hands.
CASE: Matte-black resin mono-block case, which measures 37mm (w/o crown, 40mm with) x 42mm. No cracks or damage to the case.
CRYSTAL: Domed acrylic crystal, deep scratch-free.
BAND: Original strap, with black accent stitching; it also comes with a dark red leather strap, which features black stainless-steel hardware.
MOVEMENT: Clebar manual-winding movement, 17 jewels.
CROWN: Stainless-steel unsigned crown.
Of note, this Clebar comes with its original box, and with all four original bezels, strap hang tag, box hang tag, basic instructions, and promotional paperwork.