The Squale 2001 collection represents a milestone in the history of dive watches. It was born in the pioneering era of the 1960s, when new technologies transformed simple timepieces into reliable tools for professionals of the sea. This collection introduced significant innovations.

The original Squale 2001, with its iconic case featuring hidden lugs, was the first watch to incorporate the "push to release" technology, allowing the bezel to be locked after setting the dive times. With its extraordinary resistance to 100 atmospheres, it became a symbol of dive watchmaking and paved the way for iconic collections like the Squale 2002 and 2003.

The Squale 2001 was chosen by the legendary explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau as a gift for Michel Laval, the first officer of the Calypso, at the start of the 1972 Antarctic expedition. The watch, already rich in symbolic value, became even more special due to the personalized engraving on the case back, featuring Cousteau's initials and Laval's full name. At that time, it was a well-established tradition to give meaningful symbolic objects to key crew members.

This new limited edition, consisting of only 300 pieces, is a faithful reproduction of the model chosen by Jacques Cousteau. The new version of the Squale 2001 retains the exact proportions and dimensions of the original. The asymmetric barrel-shaped case, with hidden lugs, makes the 43 mm length feel more compact. The overall diameter is 40 mm, with a crown positioned at 4 o'clock, perfectly integrated into the case.

The two-tone bezel, in black and orange, recalls the vintage style of watches from the 1960s. Made of sapphire crystal for superior resistance to shocks and scratches, it features the "push to release" system, which allows the bezel to be unlocked in both directions only with perpendicular pressure, ensuring maximum security even in case of accidental impacts.

The design is fully vintage-inspired, with a black dial surrounded by a white rehaut with contrasting minute markers. The polished steel indices are applied and coated in SuperLuminova C3, ensuring optimal legibility even in low-light conditions. The word "Saphir" appears on the dial, just like on historical models, indicating the presence of a sapphire crystal to protect the watch.

The watch's discreet elegance is combined with reliability provided by the well tried and tested Swiss made Sellita SW 200 automatic movement which provides mechanical reliability and accuracy under the toughest circumstances. It has a quickset date funcion and displays the date at the 3 o'clock position.

Water resistance is guaranteed up to 60 atmospheres, thanks to the combination of sapphire crystal and the 316L stainless steel case with a polished finish. This limited edition Squale dive watch is completed by a rubber Tropic-style strap, paying tribute to the model worn by Michel Laval.