1960's Enicar Sherpa Graph Mark III 072-02-01

The Enicar Sherpa Graph models are extremely desirable for collectors and very difficult to find. The present watch is a fantastic example with the case made by E. Piquerez SA (also called EPSA). With a stunning reverse panda dial, beautifully aged tritium, and the Valjoux 72 automatic movement.

Reference: 072-02-01

Production #'s: About 3,200 Made

Serial: 940XXX

Circa: 1960’s

Dial: Tritium - Black with Grey Subdials

Hands: Tritium

Bracelet: Enicar Stainless Steel Jubilee Style Bracelet

Case Size: 40mm x 13.5mm Thickness X 49.3mm Lug to Lug

Lug Width: 20mm

Case: Stainless steel EPSA compressor case with bajonet lock

Functions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Chronograph

Accessories: None

Crystal: Plexiglass

Bracelet size: 7.5”

Caseback: 072-02-01

Caliber: Valjoux Caliber 72 - Running (+3 s/d 290 amp) - Manual

The case has light wear with nothing notable. Dial and hands are in great shape with lume intact and have become a nice orange/beige color. The crystal is in great shape as well. Running (+3 s/d 290 amp). Caseback showing a well pronounced sea pearl medallion at the center, slightly faded text.

Enicar was founded in 1913 by Ariste Racine in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The brand name is simply "Racine" spelled backward—a subtle nod to its founder’s legacy. From its earliest years, Enicar built its reputation on precision and durability, producing reliable timepieces that gained recognition among professionals and explorers alike. By the 1950s and '60s, Enicar had become a go-to name for rugged tool watches, particularly its chronometers and automatic divers. The brand achieved international fame when members of a Swiss Himalayan expedition wore Enicar Sherpa watches to the summit of Lhotse and Everest in 1956, proving the watches’ durability in extreme conditions.

Enicar’s most iconic line, the Sherpa, became a cornerstone of the brand’s identity. From the Sherpa Graph chronograph to the Sherpa Dive and Jet models, these watches were known for their distinctive compressor cases, bold designs, and robust engineering. Enicar was also one of the first Swiss brands to fully embrace automatic movements and radium-free luminescence, positioning itself as both innovative and ahead of its time. Though production ceased during the quartz crisis, Enicar watches remain highly sought after by collectors today for their tool-watch appeal, colorful aesthetics, and underrated mechanical quality.