1970s Enicar Sherpa Guide

What’s so special about the watch

The Enicar Sherpa Guide is one of those legendary tool watches from the 1960s–70s, designed for travelers and adventurers before the era of digital flight computers. With its world time bezel and 24-hour GMT inner ring, it allowed globetrotters to keep track of multiple time zones at once. Enicar’s Sherpa line has grown into a cult following for their rugged compressor cases and daring dial designs, and the Guide stands out as one of the most charismatic. This piece carries decades of honest wear — a watch that wears its history proudly.

What are the functions of the watch

This watch tells the hours, minutes, and central seconds, with a date display at 3 o’clock. It also features a rotating inner 24-hour GMT disc, operated by the upper crown, to track a second time zone. The outer bezel, printed with major world cities, allows for quick world-time calculations. Together, it’s a practical and highly collectible traveler’s tool.

Let me tell you about the case

The steel compressor-style case measures around 43mm, giving it presence without being overbearing. Dual crowns sit at 2 and 4 o’clock, one for adjusting the time/date and the other for controlling the inner 24-hour disc. The case has softened over time with wear, showing scratches and marks that reflect its decades of service. Lugs remain strong, and the watch still has that rugged Sherpa tool-watch character that collectors chase.

And now the dial

The dial has aged beautifully into a warm, tropical patina, with a creamy, mottled surface that adds unique depth and charm. Applied indices and lume plots show even aging, matching well with the hands. The inner rotating 24-hour ring is intact, while the red accent circle keeps the dial visually striking. It’s a perfect example of how vintage Enicar dials develop personality over time.

Let’s not forget the hands

The wide baton-style hands, filled with lume, are classic to the Sherpa series. They have aged to match the patina of the dial, maintaining balance and harmony. The slim red-tipped seconds hand adds contrast and legibility, tying in nicely with the red circle on the dial and the world time accents. Also not forgetting that iconic checkered red-and-black GMT hand that seems so out of place and perfectly made at the same time!

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Specifications:

• Hour and minute hands with date and 24hr GMT function

• Heavily patina'd silver dial 

• 43mm stainless steel case

• 51mm lug-to-lug

• 22mm lug width

• Enicar 1146 Automatic chronograph @ 18,000vph 

• Acrylic crystal

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Asking Price: $1,880 (ex. shipping)

This watch is for sale. If you would like to add this watch to your personal collection, drop me a message and let's discuss.