This is an original Sheffield Allsport, a classic example of the affordable Swiss “skin diver” watches that became popular during the recreational diving boom of the 1960s and early 1970s. Despite the British-sounding name, Sheffield watches were Swiss-made and were heavily marketed to the American market, where accessible dive watches were becoming increasingly popular.
At 36.1mm across, 43.2mm lug-to-lug and 13.3mm thick, it has excellent vintage sports-watch proportions. The substantial thickness is largely due to the heavily domed acrylic crystal, giving the watch the characteristic depth and profile of a period skin diver.
The dial has a fantastic utilitarian appearance, with bold outward-pointing coffin-style markers and the distinctive arrowhead hour hand. The aged luminous material has developed a warm creamy patina, while the “T SWISS MADE T” marking indicates the use of tritium. A simple date window at 3 o'clock adds useful functionality without taking away from the clean diver aesthetic.
The watch is fitted with a bidirectional friction bezel, another characteristic feature of many affordable skin divers of the period. Unlike the ratcheting unidirectional bezels found on later professional dive watches, these simpler bezels were part of the more recreational, accessible design philosophy of the skin-diver category.
Inside is a Swiss manual-winding mechanical movement, with examples of the Allsport commonly found using reliable pin-lever calibres such as the RL 1215. The case was originally rated to 10 ATM, or approximately 100 metres, reflecting its intended aquatic use when new. Given its age, however, the original seals should not be assumed to retain their water resistance without professional testing.
Sheffield's story is particularly interesting today because the brand disappeared around the end of the mechanical era, only for the name and design to later be revived by a modern microbrand. The original Allsport therefore represents the genuine vintage version of a design that continues to inspire modern watches.
With its 36mm case, aged tritium, bold diver dial, domed acrylic crystal and unmistakable 1960s/70s skin-diver character, this is a fantastic example of the affordable Swiss dive-watch culture that helped define the era.
This is an original Sheffield Allsport, a classic example of the affordable Swiss “skin diver” watches that became popular during the recreational diving boom of the 1960s and early 1970s. Despite the British-sounding name, Sheffield watches were Swiss-made and were heavily marketed to the American market, where accessible dive watches were becoming increasingly popular.
At 36.1mm across, 43.2mm lug-to-lug and 13.3mm thick, it has excellent vintage sports-watch proportions. The substantial thickness is largely due to the heavily domed acrylic crystal, giving the watch the characteristic depth and profile of a period skin diver.
The dial has a fantastic utilitarian appearance, with bold outward-pointing coffin-style markers and the distinctive arrowhead hour hand. The aged luminous material has developed a warm creamy patina, while the “T SWISS MADE T” marking indicates the use of tritium. A simple date window at 3 o'clock adds useful functionality without taking away from the clean diver aesthetic.
The watch is fitted with a bidirectional friction bezel, another characteristic feature of many affordable skin divers of the period. Unlike the ratcheting unidirectional bezels found on later professional dive watches, these simpler bezels were part of the more recreational, accessible design philosophy of the skin-diver category.
Inside is a Swiss manual-winding mechanical movement, with examples of the Allsport commonly found using reliable pin-lever calibres such as the RL 1215. The case was originally rated to 10 ATM, or approximately 100 metres, reflecting its intended aquatic use when new. Given its age, however, the original seals should not be assumed to retain their water resistance without professional testing.
Sheffield's story is particularly interesting today because the brand disappeared around the end of the mechanical era, only for the name and design to later be revived by a modern microbrand. The original Allsport therefore represents the genuine vintage version of a design that continues to inspire modern watches.
With its 36mm case, aged tritium, bold diver dial, domed acrylic crystal and unmistakable 1960s/70s skin-diver character, this is a fantastic example of the affordable Swiss dive-watch culture that helped define the era.